Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regeneration of the foreleg tibia and tarsi of Ephippiger ephippiger (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

The regenerative power of Ephippiger ephippiger (Tettigoniidae) after the experimental removal at hatching of both tibia and tarsi of the foreleg was investigated. The lost leg parts were successively regenerated with increasing degrees of morphological differentiation. This process has an effect on the postembryonic development because, subsequently, the first larval stage is prolonged. In adults, the regenerated limb is one-quarter of the length of normal tibia and tarsi together, but it often has the gross morphology of a normal leg. The pattern of innervation and the distribution of receptor is completely changed, and the complex tibial organ is not reformed. The tympanic nerve is missing, and the axons of the regenerated receptor cells form new nerves that join the leg nerve. Physiological recordings of acoustic-vibratory, ventral nerve cord neurons revealed the possibility of excitatory input from the contralateral, intact acoustic receptors. However, the magnitude of the response is not fully restored. Behavioral experiments showed that the operated animals are not able to compensate for the unilateral deprivation of sensory input and fail in localization of the conspecific song.
Higher education, causality and growth: a comparison of France and Germany before the Second World War

Economists were long unaware of the influence of knowledge upon the growth process. With theories of human capital and theories of endogenous growth, knowledge gained a central position in the growth process. However, this has not been proved in many industrialized countries. The nature of the relations between education and growth is hence far from having been perfectly determined. It is therefore of interest to examine the links between education and economic growth. From this point of view, three questions are addressed. Does higher education play a part in the growth process? Which sector of education is involved? Is its role the same in different countries? Using the notion of causality developed by Granger, the relationship between higher education and economic growth is compared in France and Germany before the Second World War. The results show that higher education has an influence on gross domestic product but only in the case of France. Germany does not seem to obey the dominant theory whereby education is the cause of growth. Moreover, economic growth increases the number of students in Germany. This is consistent with the idea that education is a growth‐driven accompanying investment.
Testing For Indirect Effects of Predation in an Intertidal Soft‐Bottom Community

The killifish Fundulus heteroclitus and the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio are abundant predators in salt marshes along most of the United States Atlantic coast. Both species feed on benthic invertebrates, but large (>70 mm total length) killifish also prey on grass shrimp. As a test of the hypothesis that killifish have a positive indirect effect on some benthic invertebrates by controlling the abundance of grass shrimp, I maintained both predators together and separately in 5-M2 cages on the intertidal marsh surface for 10 wk. Predation by killifish significantly reduced the survival of grass shrimp in cages to which both predators were added, and the numerical responses of the dwarf mud anemone Nematostella vectensis provided unequivocal evidence for a positive indirect effect of kil- lifish in this system. However, most benthic prey taxa were not significantly affected by the predator treatment. Either predation is generally unimportant in this community or another intermediate predator has a greater effect than P. pugio. Larval killifish and post- larval grass shrimp, which invaded the cages and became abundant in predator-exclusion treatments, may have confounded the predator effects.
The Seasonal Variations in Length of Some Marine Planktonic Copepods From the Eastern Mediterranean At Alexandria

Jahreszeitlich bedingte Variationen in der Korperlange wurden bei sieben Arten planktonischer Copepoden aus der Nahe von Alexandrien analysiert. Die Reihenfolge der Generationen dieser Copepoden konnte aus ihren Langenveranderungen erschlossen werden. Bis jetzt lassen sich zwei Faktoren nachweisen, welche die Lange der Copepoden beeinflussen: Temperatur und Phytoplankton. Im Untersuchungsgebiet betragt die jahrliche Temperaturamplitude etwa 12° C (16° bis 28° C); eine geringe Winter-Phytoplanktonblute wechselt ab mit einer ausgepragten Phytoplanktonblute im Spatsommer oder Fruhherbst bei maximalen Wassertemperaturen. Die augenfalligsten Haupt-ergebnisse, die sich aus den Beziehungen zwischen Copepoden-Lange, Temperatur und Phytoplanktonauftreten ergeben, sind: (1) Es besteht eine signifikante negative Korrelation zwischen Temperatur und durchschnittlicher Totallange bei den meisten Arten. (2) Von Januar bis Juli fallt das Auftreten der grosswuchsigen Generationen zusammen mit der Winter-Phytoplanktonblute oder schliesst sich direkt daran an. Die kleinwuchsigen Sommer-Generationen treten auf, wenn das Phytoplanktonangebot gering ist. (3) Die Generationen, welche wahrend oder sogar 2 Monate nach der Hauptphytoplanktonblute erscheinen, behalten die geringere Sommergrosse ihrer Eltern. (4) Die Entwicklung einer reichen Phytoplanktonblute in warmem Wasser "stimuliert" nicht das Erscheinen grosser wuchsiger Generationen.
Differences in plasticity between invasive and native plants from a low resource environment

1 Phenotypic plasticity is often cited as an important mechanism of plant invasion. However, few studies have evaluated the plasticity of a diverse set of traits among invasive and native species, particularly in low resource habitats, and none have examined the functional significance of these traits. 2 I explored trait plasticity in response to variation in light and nutrient availability in five phylogenetically related pairs of native and invasive species occurring in a nutrient‐poor habitat. In addition to the magnitude of trait plasticity, I assessed the correlation between 16 leaf‐ and plant‐level traits and plant performance, as measured by total plant biomass. Because plasticity for morphological and physiological traits is thought to be limited in low resource environments (where native species usually display traits associated with resource conservation), I predicted that native and invasive species would display similar, low levels of trait plasticity. 3 Across treatments, invasive and native species within pairs differed with respect to many of the traits measured; however, invasive species as a group did not show consistent patterns in the direction of trait values. Relative to native species, invasive species displayed high plasticity in traits pertaining to biomass partitioning and leaf‐level nitrogen and light use, but only in response to nutrient availability. Invasive and native species showed similar levels of resource‐use efficiency and there was no relationship between species plasticity and resource‐use efficiency across species. 4 Traits associated with carbon fixation were strongly correlated with performance in invasive species while only a single resource conservation trait was strongly correlated with performance in multiple native species. Several highly plastic traits were not strongly correlated with performance which underscores the difficulty in assessing the functional significance of resource conservation traits over short timescales and calls into question the relevance of simple, quantitative assessments of trait plasticity. 5 Synthesis. My data support the idea that invasive species display high trait plasticity. The degree of plasticity observed here for species occurring in low resource systems corresponds with values observed in high resource systems, which contradicts the general paradigm that trait plasticity is constrained in low resource systems. Several traits were positively correlated with plant performance suggesting that trait plasticity will influence plant fitness.
Comportement de chasse des orques (Orcinus orca) autour des îles Crozet

Killer whales around Crozet Islands consume a great variety of preys, including fish, penguins (Eudyptes sp.), elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), and, occasionally, large cetacea. Predation techniques used on elephant seals and penguins, which are easily observed from the shore, are described. Hydrophones were used to record the acoustic behaviour of the whales during their hunts for both types of prey. The successful predation of 29 elephant seals was observed, 24 of which were weaned pups. Seals were captured along the banks (n = 3), near river outlets (n = 14), by voluntary stranding of the whales on the beaches (n = 7), or by attack of seals swimming in bays (n = 5). Hunting techniques were routinely used in "strategic" points apparently chosen specifically according to the location and climatic factors. King penguins were hunted along the banks (n = 13), particularly where algae prevailed, or offshore (n = 32). While hunting, whales tended to be very quiet and used acoustic signals sparingly, emittin.
The diet of Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) in west Hudson Strait and northeast Hudson Bay

We collected feeding adult Thick-billed Murres at several different localities within the foraging range of the colonies at Digges Sound through the breeding seasons in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Examination of prey remains from the stomach and foregut showed that the majority of birds contained prey covering a range of sizes from 0.01 to 47 g wet weight at ingestion. The total energy equivalent of prey found in the majority of stomachs was less than 10% of the birds' probable daily requirements. Comparison of species diversity of prey with that recorded for Thick-billed Murres in the high Arctic suggested that a greater range of prey is available in the low Arctic waters of Hudson Strait. We found little indication of consistent variation in pery occurrence among different feeding areas or within seasons. However, significant variation in diet occurred among years. Problems inherent in the method and the extent of variation among individual birds from the same sample make it difficult to make valid generaliza.
Age at Menarche in Urban-Rural Punjabi Jat Sikh Girls

Abstract The present investigation has been undertaken with an objective of studying the differences in the age at menarche of Jat Sikh girls residing in urban and rural areas of Ludhiana district. Total of 404 girls ranging in age from 14 to 16 years were studied in this project. Out of these 202 girls were from urban and 202 girls were from rural areas of Ludhiana district. The age of menarche of each girl was noted by recall method. The total data was grouped into four different age groups. Age of menarche is delayed in the rural girls as compare to the urban girls.
Nutritional composition of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) as influenced by basic fertilization

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) deficiencies are a widespread phenomenon throughout the world, and are one of the most common nutritional disorders in Turkish hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivation. In this research, the effects of macronutrient fertilizers on mineral contents and some biochemical contents of ‘Tombul’ hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) variety cultivated in the Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated, and the contribution of these nuts to human nutrition was determined. The trials were carried out at ‘Tombul’ hazelnut orchards, and the hazelnuts were fertilized with five different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in each year for three consecutive years. The basic fertilizers (N, P2O5, and K2O) significantly affected some biochemical contents and mineral compositions of the hazelnuts. In order to improve the biochemical and mineral compositions of hazelnut, 200 kg ha−1 and 400 kg ha−1 N fertilizations, 120 kg ha−1 and 160 kg ha−1 P2O5 fertilizations, and 400 kg ha−1 and 600 kg ha−1 K2O fertilizations could be recommended for practice. According to the daily mineral element requirements, 100 g of hazelnuts provided about 43.5% P, 13.2% K, 19.4% Ca, 37.0% Mg, 0.2% Na, 53.8% Fe, 24.5% Zn, 14.5% B, and 66.7% Mo of the recommended dietary allowances. Cu and Mn contents of 100 g hazelnut were higher than the respective daily requirements. These results indicated that the mineral composition of hazelnut depended not only on the variety but also on the cultivation techniques such as soil condition and especially basic fertilization practices.
Age and gender differences in morningness–eveningness in Turkish adolescents and young adults

The aim of this study was to analyze gender and age differences in chronotype preference in a Turkish sample using the Composite Scale of Morningness. Four thousand four hundred and twenty three participants were randomly sampled from students in Turkey. Ages ranged from 11 to 23 and the average age was 16.39 years. There was a significant influence of age and gender. After controlling for age, girls were more morning oriented with one exception: At the age of 16 years, girls had a higher evening orientation than boys, while at the age of 13, 17, and 19 boys showed higher eveningness. Turkish girls become morning oriented from the early age of 15 years onwards, while boys reported their peak of eveningness at the age of 19. This is fascinating, since it is the earliest age reported for a turn to morningness in girls compared to previous studies. Interestingly, girls perform a second turn towards eveningness between the ages of 17 and 19. Cultural background may imprint the early shift back to morningness in girls, since Turkish parenting styles are different for boys and girls with a more authoritarian parenting style for girls, e.g. girls help their mothers. Later on, enrolment in university might foster more independence and promote the drift back to eveningness.
A First Estimate of the Population Size of the Critically Endangered Lancehead, Bothrops insularis

Abstract Although Bothrops insularis is critically endangered, there is no estimate of its population size based on field quantifications. Here we provide the first estimate of its population size based on plot surveys conducted at the Queimada Grande Island. We distributed 26 quadrat plots regularly in a trail that crosses the island. Plots were sampled twice in 2002. Of the 26 plots we sampled, 21 were located in forests and five in grassy areas. For the first survey, mean estimates of population size for plots located in forests and grassy areas were 2134.3 and 224.0 snakes, and the Percentage Relative Precision for these estimates were 38.6% and 277.6%, respectively. For the second survey, no snakes were found in grassy areas, whereas the mean estimate of population size for plots located in forests was 1304.3 snakes and the Percentage Relative Precision for these estimates was 93.7%. Although suffering from relatively low precision, our best estimate of population size in B. insularis is around the lower end of the guesses found in the literature (2000–4000 individuals for the entire island). Furthermore, based on encounter rates obtained in a non-systematic way in the last 12 years, we have the impression that the density of B. insularis decreased in this period and we have evidence for the illegal removal of snakes from the island in the last few years. Our results suggest the urgent need of enforcement to restrain the illegal removal of snakes from the island and of a monitoring program to track future changes in the population size of B. insularis.
THROUGH THE GAUNTLET AGAIN: DEMOGRAPHIC RESTRUCTURING OF AMERICAN SHAD BY MIGRATION

Long-distance migration in fishes is one of the more spectacular examples of ontogenetic niche switching, yet details are often obscured because of the difficulty in making direct observations on individual migrants. Juvenile emigration and ultimate re- cruitment to the spawning population were studied retrospectively in American shad (Alosa sapidissima), to look for patterns of size-biased survivorship as a consequence of migration. Adults were collected on or near the spawning grounds in the Hudson River, New York, USA, in spring 1995. Their early life histories were reconstructed by measuring strontium and calcium concentrations in the inner portions of their otoliths, which were deposited when the fish were young-of-the-year (YOY). Sudden elevations of the Sr:Ca ratio were interpreted as seaward migration events, and the physical location of these elevations on the otolith could be related to the age and size at which the fish first emigrated from fresh water. Recruited adults showed distributions of first emigration that were bimodal with respect to size and age, and these patterns were repeated in three of four year classes analyzed. In 1989 and 1990, years when YOY data were available, size distributions of apparently emigrating YOY do not agree with the distributions displayed in the otoliths of returning adults from the same year classes, suggesting that differential mortality had occurred, which was dependent on the timing of emigration. Detailed analysis was possible for the 1990 year class, which showed strong evidence in both sexes of at least two major recruitment bottlenecks-one affecting larvae hatched early, and the second affecting em- igrating juveniles hatched from late cohorts. Potential causes of differential mortality on emigrating juveniles include the presence of large predators outside of the Hudson, as well as the presence of hypoxic waters into which the fish may have entered. This study indicates that long-distance migration of juveniles can be a strong factor that restructures the de- mography of a year class of fish.
A Comparison of Atlantic Salmon Embryo and Fry Stocking in the Salmon River, New York

Abstract To assess the feasibility of restoring an extirpated species, it is crucial to identify the method of reintroduction that optimizes juvenile survival and growth so that adequate adult populations may be established. Because Atlantic salmon Salmo salar fry are relatively expensive to rear, we compared the efficacies of two embryo-stocking methods and one fry-stocking method in producing age-0 Atlantic salmon parr in the Salmon River, New York. As measured by resulting parr densities, there were no differences in survival rates between embryos stocked with and without protective hatching boxes; the mean survival of embryo-stocked fish to late summer was less than 0.01%. Fry stocking produced significantly greater densities of late-summer parr than did embryo stocking, with site-specific survival ranging up to 8%; the mean survival of fry was 2%. Considering the hatchery costs of rearing each life stage, the labor involved in stocking, and the resulting late-summer parr abundances, we recommend plan.
Sex‐ and strain‐specific induction of renal tumors by ochratoxin A in rats correlates with DNA adduction

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a nephrotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin, has been implicated as an etiologic agent in the Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a chronic disease affecting populations in the Balkans. Compared with unaffected individuals, patients suffering from BEN and/or urinary tract tumors were more frequently found to have a capacity for rapid debrisoquine (DB) metabolism, a metabolic reaction related mostly to cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D in humans. Earlier studies, using female DA and Lewis rats phenotyped as poor or extensive DB metabolizers respectively, revealed a parallelism between DB‐4 hydroxylation and OTA‐4 hydroxylation. To investigate whether genetic polymorphism modifies tumor induction, we have compared both OTA‐induced renal carcinogenicity and DNA adducts in DA and Lewis rats of both sexes. OTA induced renal adenocarcinoma, DA male rats being most responsive, while DA females were resistant. Lewis rats showed an intermediate renal tumor response. OTA also induced malignant transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder in DA male rats only. DNA adducts in the kidney, as judged by the nature of spots and prevalence in OTA‐treated animals, were significantly correlated with renal carcinogenicity of OTA, being highest in DA males and lowest in DA females. A parallelism between karyomegalies and tumors of the kidney was observed. In conclusion, our results classify OTA as a genotoxic carcinogen in rats, with sex‐specific response controlled in part by drug‐metabolizing enzymes that convert OTA into reactive intermediates. Int. J. Cancer 77:70–75, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The food and feeding habits of five freshwater and brackish-water fish species in Nigeria

The food and feeding habits of five economically important fresh-and brackish-water fishes, Channa obscura, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Heterotis niloticus, Synodontis nigrita and Trachinotus maxillosus, were investigated. A number of techniques were used to carry out gut content analysis, including the Hynes 'point' system based on volume estimations expressed as relative percentages. Juveniles of C. nigrodigitatus were omnivorous, consuming 32% gastropods, 30% nematodes, 14% diatoms and 8% crustaceans, while adults were planktotrophic, consuming 23% diatoms, 33% Chlorophyceae and 22% crustaceans. Synodontis nigrita juveniles fed almost exclusively (91%) on nematodes, while adults were predominantly planktotrophic, their diet comprising 50% diatoms and 50% crustaceans. Trachinotus maxillosus was exclusively benthotrophic, consuming 99.5% gastropods and 0.46% nematodes. Heterotis niloticus was planktotrophic at the adult stage and consumed 72% crustaceans, 12% gastropods, 3% fish and about 90% planktotrophic at the juvenile phase. Chrysichthys obscura was purely benthotrophic at the juvenile stage, feeding 100% on nematodes, but fed mainly (89%) on fish at the adult stage.
How inhibitory and excitatory inputs gate output of the inferior olive

The inferior olive provides the climbing fibers to Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex, where they elicit all-or-none complex spikes and control major forms of plasticity. Given their important role in both short-term and long-term coordination of cerebellum-dependent behaviors, it is paramount to understand the factors that determine the output of olivary neurons. Here, we investigate how the inhibitory and excitatory inputs to the olivary neurons interact with each other, generating spiking patterns of olivary neurons that ride on their intrinsic oscillations. Using dual color optogenetic stimulation and whole cell recordings we demonstrate how intervals between the inhibitory input from the cerebellar nuclei and excitatory input from the mesodiencephalic junction affect phase and gain of the olivary output at both the sub- and suprathreshold level. When the excitatory input is activated approximately 50 ms after the inhibitory input, the phase of the intrinsic oscillations becomes remarkably unstable and the excitatory input can hardly generate any olivary spike. Instead, when the excitatory input is activated approximately 150 ms after the inhibitory input, the excitatory input can optimally drive olivary spiking, riding on top of the first cycle of the subthreshold oscillations that have been powerfully reset by the preceding inhibitory input. Simulations of a large-scale network model of the inferior olive highlight to what extent the synaptic interactions penetrate in the neuropil, generating quasi-oscillatory spiking patterns in large parts of the olivary subnuclei, the size of which also depends on the relative timing of the inhibitory and excitatory inputs.