Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do individual seabirds specialize in fisheries' waste? The case of black‐browed albatrosses foraging over the Patagonian Shelf

Fisheries can have profound impacts on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems and affect seabird populations. For seabirds, impacts can include direct mortality in fishing gear, but fisheries also represent an abundant source of food that may otherwise be inaccessible. Previous studies with seabirds have revealed the occurrence of individual foraging specializations, and therefore in scavenging species some individuals may have a higher propensity to feed on fisheries discharges than the rest of the population. Here we used recently developed techniques (spatio‐temporal match of positions) to detect interactions between black‐browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and fishing vessels, and also stable isotope analysis of tissues with different turnovers, to investigate long‐term individual specialization in fishery waste products. We combined global positioning system tracking data from 89 birds with vessel monitoring system data from the entire fleet operating around the Falklands Islands, in 2009 and 2011. Interactions with vessels (freezer/factory bottom trawlers) occurred in 15 out of 89 independent albatross trips. Among individuals tracked in both years, those that associated with fisheries in 2009 were not more likely to do so again in 2011. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures in whole blood and feathers of albatrosses that interacted with trawlers were similar to those of individuals that did not. Also, we found no correlation between feather and blood isotopic ratios of carbon or nitrogen, indicating no long‐term consistency in the isotopic niche of study birds. These results suggest no specialization of individual albatrosses with regard to fisheries. Studies of other albatrosses have also failed to show long‐term trophic consistency, which may indicate that scavenging albatrosses, a group particularly threatened by fisheries activity, do not specialize in discards. Therefore, any management actions leading to a reduction of discards will be beneficial, decreasing the numbers of birds behind vessels and consequently the likelihood of incidental mortality.
OCCURRENCE OF ISOPRENOID COMPOUNDS IN GRAM- NEGATIVE METHANOL-, METHANE-, AND METHYLAMINE-UTILIZING BACTERIA

The isoprenoid compounds in gram-negative methanol-, methane-, and methylamine-utilizing bacteria were investigated. All strains tested contained ubiquinone, but none contained menaquinone. The ubiquinone types were Q-8, Q-9, or Q-10. The so-called obligate methylotrophs and methanotrophs (genus Methylobacillus, Methylophaga, Methylomonas, Methylococcus, and Methylovibrio) contained ubiquinone Q-8. The Hyphomicrobium strains contained Q-9. The other facultative methylotrophs and methylamine-utilizing bacteria contained Q-10. A large amount of squalene occurred in the Methylobacillus, Methylophaga, Methylomonas, and Methylococcus strains which utilize one-carbon compounds via the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The Protomonas extorquens and Methylobacterium organophilum strains contained a large amount of sterols (Hop-22(29)-ene and Hopan-22-ol), carotenoid pigments, and a small amount of squalene. The Hyphomicrobium strains contained a small amount of squalene and Hop-22(29)-ene. The Xanthobacter strains contained a large amount of carotenoid pigments (zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin monorhamnoside, and zeaxanthin dirhamnoside). The Protomonas and Methylobacterium strains were unique in the existence of sterols and large amounts of total isoprenoid compounds, 4.68 to 7.97mg/g of dry cell. The distribution of squalene, sterols, quinones, and carotenoid pigments conforms with the morphological, physiological, and other chemo- taxonomic characteristics in gram-negative methanol-, methane-, and methylamine-utilizing bacteria.
Impact of Teacher Training Course on Iranian EFL Teachers’ Beliefs

Beliefs are an important aspect of any learning program as they affect the way teachers and students define their roles, and the way they approach their duties and responsibilities. Besides, they highly affect teachers’ practices, methods, and lesson plans. The importance of beliefs inspired the present researchers to evaluate and compare EFL teachers’ beliefs before and after a teacher training course (TTC) at language institutes in Isfahan to see if teacher training program influence the enrolled teachers’ beliefs about different aspects of a learning situation. To this purpose, a modified version of Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) was administered to a total of 110 Iranian EFL teachers in Isfahan. The teachers came from different majors (TEFL, translation, English literature, and other non-English majors), and were further divided into two groups: those who had participated in at least a TTC, and those who had no experience of attending a TTC. The BALLI scores of the teachers were then classified and analyzed by a t test and an ANOVA. The results revealed that beliefs about language learning did not significantly change in the wake of attending a TTC, and that no significant difference was observed as far as the participants’ field of study was concerned.
Effect of NAFLD on Regulation of Hepatic Transporters and Metaboic Enzymes Using a High Fat/ High Cholesterol Dietary Model in Rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is affecting an increasing population worldwide. NAFLD is closely associated with obesity and diabetes. Research has shown that the expression of some important hepatic transporters and enzymes are altered under inflammatory conditions. We examined the effect of NAFLD on the gene expression of several hepatic transporters and enzymes, as well as the impact of exercise in attenuating the effect of NAFLD.We have demonstrated that the mRNA expression of several hepatic transporters and enzymes, as well as FXR were significantly downregulated in liver of rats treated with a HFHCD. We concluded that HFHCD-induced hepatic steatosis, together with the reduced expression of FXR, contributed to the downregulation of expression of hepatic transporters and enzymes. The mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β were unaffected. Interestingly, exercise was found to improve the expression levels of some transporters and enzymes.
Comparison of Fusarium Populations In Grasslands of Minnesota and Iceland

Six species of Fusarium were found in both Minnesota and Icelandic soils; F. oxysporum predominated in Minnesota but F. roseum predominated in Iceland. The order of prevalence of Fusarium spp. differed in the two locations but the six species occurred as frequently on roots as in soil in each location except for F. episphaeria which in Iceland was common in soil but not in grass roots. Of the F. roseum cultivars on roots, 'Avenaceum' and 'Graminearum' predominated in Minnesota, and 'Acuminatum' in Iceland; however in Icelandic soil, 'Sambucinum' predominated.
Impact of water provision on herbaceous community composition in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Abstract We studied the relationship between herbaceous plant community composition and distance from water to test whether the provision of water in the Kruger National Park has an impact on community composition. Composition at watering points has shifted to disturbance related annual species (e.g. Urochloa mosambicensis, Tra‐gus berteronianus, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Amaran‐thus thunbergii and Alternanthera pungens) whereas perennial species (e.g. Digitaria eriantha, Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus) tended to increase in presence with distance from water. There was a significant relationship between the first axis coordinates of ordinations of community composition in transects and distance from water. Results show that permanent water troughs for large herbivores in the Kruger National Park have an impact on the herbaceous community composition. Community composition along transects radiating from watering points is satisfactorily described by the logistic equation and parameters derived .
Effect of light: dark cycles and cell apical length on the sexual reproduction of the pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries (Bacillariophyceae) in culture

Abstract Sexual reproduction in the domoic acid–producing pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries (Hasle) Hasle is dioecious and involves pairing of two morphologically isogamous parent cells (gametangia) and the production of two gametes per gametangium. Gamete fusion leads to the formation of zygotes, which elongate into auxospores. Within each auxospore, a long initial cell is formed, thereby restoring the longer cell sizes in the population. Mating experiments were performed by mixing active “male” and passive “female” cells from pairs of clones and growing them under different light : dark (L : D) cycle regimes. Two pairs of clones were studied: one pair was ontogenetically older and therefore shorter than the other. After mating, the relative abundance of gametes, zygotes, auxospores, and initial cells was determined for a minimum of four consecutive days. Cell size, which reflects population age, influences sexualization. The short-celled clones had a lower maximum proportion of gametes per vegetative cell (4%) than the long-celled clones (49%), suggesting that the former were nearing the minimal cell length capable of sexualization. The size range within which P. multiseries is able to reproduce sexually is 23–70% of the maximum cell length. A positive correlation was found between hours of light exposure per 24 h at approximately 100 μmol photons m−2 s−1 and sexual cell production of the ontogenetically younger clones. Greatest production of initial cells per female gamete (26%) occurred in 10 h of light. Results from this study indicate that the most biologically successful light regimen in culture corresponds in nature to the day length of the fall bloom from which these clones were isolated.
A Micropropagation Protocol for Mass Multiplication and Off-Site Conservation of Celastrus paniculatus-

Abstract A protocol was developed using nodal shoot segments as explants for mass/clonal propagation of Celastrus paniculatus-an important threatened medicinal plant. Four to five shoots differentiated from nodal region within 15-20 days on Murashige and Skoog's (MS; 1962) medium containing 1.5 mg 1−1 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) + 0.1 mg 1−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) + additives (50 mg 1−1 ascorbic acid and 25 mg 1−1 each of adenine sulfate, arginine and citric acid) at 28 ± 2°C temperature and 36 µmol m−28−1 photonflux density, 10 h/day photoperiod. In vitro produced shoots were further multiplied by subculturing on modified Murashige and Skoog's (MMS) medium containing 0.8 mg 1−1 BAP + 0.1 mg 1−1 NAA + additives. Five to seven shoots regenerated from each node of subcultured shoots; on subsequent sub-culturing rates of multiplication were increased to 10-15 folds. The mother explant could also be repeatedly transferred onto fresh medium to yield fresh crops of shoots. After 10-12 culture cycles the cultures exhibited hyperhydration and callusing. These could be checked by lowering the BAP concentrations to 0.25 mg 1−1 and that of NAAto 0.01 mg 1 . The clonally-produced shoots were treated with a solution containing 100 mg 1−1 each of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and β-naphthoxy acetic acid (NOA). The auxin-pulsed shoots were subsequently treated with 10.0 mg 1−1 solution of chlorogenic acid for 3 minutes. The pulsed shoots were kept in glass bottles containing soilrite in greenhouse at 28 ± 2°C. Of these 83% rooted ex vitro. The ex vitro rooted plantlets were hardened and transferred to polybags/earthen pots containing black soil, fine sand, farm yard manure and soilrite in the ratio of 4:2:l:l(v/v). To date 7500 shoots have been produced from 10 explants originating from a single plant. Two thousand plantlets have been hardened and acclimatized. It is suggested that within a period of 6 months 3000 plants can be produced from single explant of C. paniculatus by this protocol. The protocol developed can be useful for cloning and conservation of germplasm of C. paniculatus.
Phylogeography of the freshwater red alga Sirodotia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in Brazil

Considering the lack of knowledge on genetic variation on members of the freshwater red algal of the order Batrachospermales in tropical regions, phylogeographic patterns in Sirodotia populations were investigated using two mitochondrial regions: the cox2‐3 spacer and partial cox1 gene (barcode). Individuals identified as Sirodotia delicatula were analyzed from 14 stream segments across its distribution in Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large sub‐unit gene showed three clades, one representing S. delicatula, from all locations in southeastern Brazil and other regions from Brazil. The remaining samples formed two clades, which were highly divergent and distantly positioned from those of S. delicatula: 2.5–2.7% and 3.4–3.7%. This level of variation would warrant the species split of these taxa from mid‐western Brazil. A total of eight cox2‐3 spacer and nine cox1 haplotypes were observed among the 122 individuals studied. One location had two cox2‐3 haplotypes and three locations had two cox1 haplotypes; all others had a single dominant haplotype each. The existence of high intraspecific genetic variation among individuals of distinct locations (several haplotypes), but little variation within a location seems to be a pattern for the Batrachospermales. Haplotype networks showed low variation among the haplotypes from southeastern Brazil (10 locations with divergence of 0.3–1.1% for cox2‐3, 0.1–0.3% for cox1) and high variation among the haplotypes from the mid‐west region (four locations, 4.0–9.3% for cox2‐3, 6.2–8.4% for cox1). Thus, the present data clearly suggest the existence of cryptic species in Sirodotia in Brazil.
Effective teacher ↔ student dialogue: a model from biological education

This article considers effective dialogue between teacher and student essential for promoting meaningful learning in the classroom. Effective dialogue enables teachers and students to be active in the construction of shared understanding by making explicit the overlap between the perspective held by novice (student) and expert (teacher). Concept maps provide a visual tool to illustrate such overlap in understanding and create something tangible to promote meaningful discussion. A description of a model of practice to help uncover and explore this overlap is given.
PLUGGING A HOLE IN THE OCEAN: THE EMERGING SCIENCE OF MARINE RESERVES1

2Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-2914 USA 3Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA 4Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106 USA WNational Center for Ecological Analysis and'Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California 93101-5504 USA
Effects of Oak-hickory Woodland Restoration Treatments on Native Groundcover Vegetation and the Invasive Grass, Microstegium vimineum

An important goal of restoring fire to upland oak-dominated communities that have experienced fire exclusion is restoring groundcover plant species diversity and composition indicative of fire-maintained open habitats. Treatment-driven declines in rare forest specialists and increases in widespread ruderals and competitive non-native species, however, could negate the benefits of ecological restoration in these ecosystems. We tested the effects of treatment-related disturbances on native groundcover vegetation, density and proliferation of patches of an invasive grass, Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), and the net effects of treatment and the invasive grass on native groundcover vegetation. Results from multiple years of monitoring at two replicate sites in north Mississippi showed that thinning and burning significantly increased both groundcover species richness and the abundance of species indicative of fire-maintained open habitats. We found subtle increases in forest species in response to treatments, whereas most native ruderals did not increase significantly in response to the treatments over the long term. The density and competitive effect of the invasive Japanese stiltgrass increased dramatically at both sites in response to the restoration treatments. However, new patches of Japanese stiltgrass established in response to the treatments only at the site with the more recent history of agricultural disturbance. Results suggest that fire restoration treatments were effective in the absence of past agricultural disturbance and in areas lacking Japanese stiltgrass. At sites with a history of agriculture and large populations of Japanese stiltgrass, effective restoration may require eradication of Japanese stiltgrass and reintroduction or augmentation of competitive, native specialists of fire-maintained open habitats.
Foliar form influences ovipositional behaviour of the onion fly

ABSTRACT. When presented with dishes containing a range of ‘foliar’ shapes, the onion fly, Delia antiqua (Meigen), laid the most eggs around narrow (4 mm) vertical cylinders. Response to cylinders diminished when their diameter was increased or decreased, when cylinder height was reduced to less than 2 cm, and when cylinder/substrate angle deviated from 90d̀. Differences in egg numbers on stimulatory and non‐stimulatory forms reflected primarily differences in post‐alighting pre‐ovipositional behaviours. Females alighting on narrow vertical cylinders initiated and completed stem runs rapidly and without interruptions, and frequently went on to probe and oviposit. Females alighting on other shapes, or larger, smaller, or non‐vertical cylinders, either did not initiate or did not complete stem runs, or did not go on to probe after completing a stem run. Such females rarely oviposited. Possible causes of such examining behaviours are discussed.
Light relationships in grass-clover swards

Grass-clover swards were grown at four levels of nitrogen to provide a range from extreme clover dominance to extreme grass dominance. Yield, botanical composition, leaf area index, and light density were measured at 3.5 cm vertical intervals in each of the mixed swards throughout the growth period. It was directly demonstrated that the growth of clover in these mixed swards was governed by a series of relationships, namely: (a) Increasing rates of nitrogen application gave increased yields of grass (positive). (b) Increased yields of grass gave higher leaf areas of grass disposed above the clover leaf canopy (positive). (c) Higher leaf areas of grass above the clover reduced the light density at the clover leaf canopy (negative). (d) Reduced light density at the clover leaf canopy caused a reduced growth of the clover (positive). Under conditions of heavy grass growth and of consequent low light density at the clover canopy, the growth of clover not only became slow but eventually was strongly negative, leading to a marked reduction in both the number of clover plants and the yield of clover.
Growth response of Hakonechloa macra (Makino) 'Aureola' to fertilizer formulation and concentration, and to dolomitic lime in the potting mix

The shade-tolerant, variegated grass Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' is a valuable ornamental. In an experiment replicated in two growing seasons, Hakonechloa plants were fertilized at each irrigation (fertigation) with factorial combinations of three fertilizer formulations (N:P molar ratios 5:1, 10:1, and 20:1) at five N concentrations (2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mmol.L -1 ), along with an unfertilized control, to determine the effect of N:P ratio and N concentration on vegetative growth and to establish fertility guidelines for production. Root dry weight and tiller bud growth increased slightly as N:P ratio increased. Fertilizer N concentration of 16 mmol.L -1 promoted the most shoot growth, whereas the number of tiller buds and root growth were greatest at 2 and 4 mmol.L -1 N. No interaction occurred between N:Pratio and fertilizer concentration. Results indicate that an N concentration of 8 mmol.L -1 , with an N:P ratio of 10:1 or 20:1 is optimal for production of Hakonechloa. At this fertilizer concentration, the mean electrical conductivity of extracts obtained by a solution displacement extraction (pour-through) procedure was 2.3 ± 0.45 dS.m -1 (mean ± standard deviation). Tissue nutrient concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were (in mg.g -1 ): 24.0, 2.8, 14.3, 2.1, and 2.1, respectively. In a concurrent study, Hakonechloa plants were grown in pine bark: peat: sand mix with dolomitic lime added at 0, 1.2, 3.6, and 9.5 kg.m -3 producing pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.2. Growth of Hakonechloa was greatest with no lime (pH 4.5) and declined markedly as the rate of lime increased. Concentrations of N, P, and K in shoot tissue were greatest at a pH between 4.5 and 5.6 (0 and 1.2 kg.m -3 dolomitic lime). These findings clearly support recommending production of Hakonechloa in soilless potting mix with pH 4.5 and constant fertigation with N at 8 mmol.L -1 .
Expression of MUM1/IRF4 selectively clusters with primary effusion lymphoma among lymphomatous effusions: implications for disease histogenesis and pathogenesis.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a peculiar B-cell lymphoma characterized by infection by human herpesvirus type-8/Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8/KSHV) and by preferential growth in the serous body cavities. Histogenetic studies have suggested that PEL originates from B cells at a late stage of differentiation. In this study, we have investigated PEL for the expression status of MUM1/IRF4 (multiple myeloma 1/interferon regulatory factor 4) protein, which is involved in physiological B-cell maturation and represents a histogenetic marker of late B-cell differentiation. Using multiple detection assays, all cases of PEL (n = 22) were found to express MUM1/IRF4 molecules. MUM1/IRF4 expression was a selective feature of PEL among lymphomas involving the serous body cavities as secondary lymphomatous effusions generally failed to express the protein. In reactive lymphoid tissues, MUM1/ IRF4 expression clustered with advanced stages of B-cell differentiation. Comparison of MUM1/IRF4 expression with that of other histogenetic markers defined two phenotypic variants of PEL, i.e. MUM1/IRF4+, CD138/syndecan-1+, B-cell antigen- (20 out of 22 cases) and MUM1/IRF4+, CD138/syndecan-1-, B-cell antigen+ (2 out of 22 cases), suggesting a certain degree of heterogeneity in the disease histogenesis. The implications of these data are threefold. First, MUM1/IRF4 expression corroborates the notion that PEL originates from post-germinal centre, preterminally differentiated B-cells. Second, MUM1/IRF4 may help in the differential diagnosis of PEL among other lymphomas involving the serous body cavities. Finally, MUM1/IRF4 may interact with HHV-8/KSHV-encoded interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) and thus contribute to PEL escape from interferon-mediated control of viral infection.