Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Behaviour of Chum, Pink and Coho Salmon in Relation to their Seaward Migration

In fresh water, chum and pink salmon fry form schools or mills, are constantly active both day and night, show positive rheotaxis and move into fast water. This activity takes them into the swiftest currents. At night loss of visual and contact stimuli reduces the intensity of the rheotactic response and results in downstream movement. An active swimming downstream occurs only with unusually high temperatures. Coho salmon fry occupy and defend territory, maintain definite positions in relation to particular objects in their environment, show a less marked tendency to move into fast water and are quiet at night. They are thus displaced downstream to a much lesser degree. Coho smolts, in contrast to the fry, demonstrate a lowered threshold for stimulation both day and night, a tendency to aggregate and a lessening in territory behaviour. During the day smolts group in deeper water or under cover. At night they rise to the surface and manifest increased activity which, in swift water, will result in displace.
Responses to olfactory and visual cues by over‐wintered and summer generations of the pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus

Abstract Behavioural responses to odours of oilseed rape in bud and flower stage and to green and yellow colours are studied for the two main phenological stages of pollen beetles, Meligethes aeneus, a major pest of oilseed rape, Brassica napus. Over‐wintered individuals oviposit in buds of oilseed rape. Adults of the new generation (i.e. the summer generation) feed on flowers of different plant species before over wintering. In olfactometer experiments, the over‐wintered beetles display a higher preference for odour of oilseed rape at the bud stage compared with the summer generation, both with and without colour stimuli. Flower odours are preferred in combination with yellow colour. Colour stimuli presented alone do not affect the behaviour. The summer generation beetles respond to both bud and flower odour. Adding colour stimuli changes the summer generations preference towards yellow and flower odour.
Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms

The effect of a strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria on symptoms in 18 fibromyalgia patients during and after a 3-month intervention period in an open, non-randomized controlled study was evaluated. As control 15 patients continued their omnivorous diet. The groups did not differ significantly from each other in the beginning of the study in any other parameters except in pain and urine sodium. The results revealed significant improvements in Visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) (p=0.005), joint stiffness (p=0.001), quality of sleep (p=0.0001), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) (p=0.031), General health questionnaire (GHQ) (p=0.021), and a rheumatologist's own questionnaire (p=0.038). The majority of patients were overweight to some extent at the beginning of the study and shifting to a vegan food caused a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) (p=0.0001). Total serum cholesterol showed a statistically significant lowering (p=0.003). Urine sodium dropped to 1/3 of the beginning values (p=0.0001) indicating good diet compliance. It can be concluded that vegan diet had beneficial effects on fibromyalgia symptoms at least in the short run.
Treatment of menorrhagia before hysterectomy in a district general hospital. A retrospective review

Between March 1996 and March 1998 236 women had a hysterectomy at Tameside District General Hospital. Of these, women, the indication in 132 was idiopathic menorrhagia and their treatments before hysterectomy were reviewed. It was found that luteal phase progestogens were the drug treatment of choice for menorrhagia by the general practitioners (GPs) and hospital doctors (46% and 40·5%, respectively). Fifty-two (39%) of the women had no medical treatment before hysterectomy while 38 (29%) had only one type of drug treatment. The decision to perform a hysterectomy was taken at the first clinic visit in 40 (30%) of the women and in 77 (58%) of them by the second visit. Transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE) was tried in 11% of the women, while none had the levonorgestrel impregnated intrauterine system (Mirena IUS) fitted. Objective assessment of menstrual loss was not performed before treatment. Our data suggest an early recourse to hysterectomy in the treatment of idiopathic menorrhagia and the hypothesis that hysterectomy follows failure of appropriate medical and alternative treatment of menorrhagia was not confirmed.
Risk factors for gestational impaired glucose tolerance in the Maltese population: a cross-sectional study

Screening criteria for impaired carbohydrate metabolism problems during pregnancy include the use of specified risk factors, which are generally considered to be inadequate. The value of these risk factors in a population characterised by a high prevalence of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism is investigated. The study identified biological characteristics such as a maternal age >35 years, previous early pregnancy loss, a maternal family history of DM/IGT, pre-prandial glucosuria and an operative delivery with resuscitation as significant risk factors for the development of G-IGT. There appeared to be no statistical association with a history of multiparity, previous perinatal loss, congenital anomalies or macrosomia and a parental and grandparent family history of DM/IGT. There appeared to be a statistical difference in fasting blood glucose values, but no difference in glycosated haemoglobin. The risk factors for the development of G-IGT are shown to have a high specificity and negative predictive value, but overall moderate to low sensitivity and positive predictive values when used in isolation. The prevalence of the various identified risk factors was very high, a feature which would require at least a third of the population to be screened with an oral glucose tolerance test. These features suggest that the historical and clinical risk criteria are not ideal screening tools to identify G-IGT and a routine early third-trimester oral glucose tolerance test remains the ideal screening tool to identify these cases.
Competition for Food Between Redside Shiners (Richardsonius balteatus) and Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) in Two British Columbia Lakes

The distribution, movements, behaviour and food of trout and shiners in Paul and Pinantan Lakes were studied to determine the items and mechanisms of interspecific competition between them. Data from recent years were compared with data for years when trout alone inhabited the lakes.No interspecific aggression was observed. The possibility that the two species were competing for space was discounted. Stomach contents of shiners in Pinantan Lake revealed a marked qualitative diurnal food cycle. In Paul Lake, shiners have drastically reduced the Gammarus population relative to its pre-shiner abundance, forcing trout, as well as the shiners themselves, to shift their diets to other foods. This overgrazing was caused by the concentration of large numbers of shiners over the shoals where Gammarus are also present in their highest concentrations, and the ability of shiners to pursue food deeper into the weeds and to graze an area more thoroughly than trout. In Pinantan Lake, shiners have apparently reduced the .
Demonstration of Pollinator-Mediated Reproductive Isolation in Sexually Deceptive Species of Chiloglottis (Orchidaceae: Caladeniinae)

Three designs of field choice experiments were used to demonstrate complete reproductive isolation by sexually deceived thynnine pollinators (Neozeleboria Rohwer spp.) in eight species of Chiloglottis R.Br. Four species, Chiloglottis diphylla R.Br. , C. formicifera Fitzg. , C. pluricallata D.L. Jones and C. valida D.L. Jones, attracted only one wasp species, but the other four, C. platyptera D.L. Jones, C. seminuda D.L. Jones, C. trilabra Fitzg. and C. reflexa Labill. Druce exhibited multiple species attraction. Wasps visiting orchids were classified as major responders if they exhibited behaviour which could potentially result in pollination, by contrast to minor responders which did not. Major responders occurring sympatrically with the orchid were termed confirmed, potential or putative pollinators on the basis of observation of pollinia removal or deposition, pseudocopulation with the labellum, or arrival at bait flowers with pollinia from local orchid populations, respectively. Each Chiloglottis species had a single Neozeleboria species as confirmed or potential pollinator. The data confirmed that field pollinator choice tests can be used to distinguish cryptic sexually deceptive orchid species, and that specific pollinators may be used reliably as taxonomic characters in Chiloglottis.
Acupressure treatment of morning sickness in pregnancy. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Objective - To find out whether acupressure wristband can alleviate nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Design - Double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects - 97 women with mean gestational length completed 8-12 weeks. Main outcome measures - Symptoms were recorded according to intensity, duration and nature of complaints. Results - 71% of women in the intervention group reported both less intensive morning sickness and reduced duration of symptoms. The same tendency was seen in the placebo group, with 59% reporting less intensity and 63% shorter duration of symptoms. However, a significance level of 5% was reached only in the case of duration of symptoms, which was reduced by 2.74 hours in the intervention group compared to 0.85 hours in the placebo group (p = 0.018). Conclusions ? Acupressure wristband might be an alternative therapy for morning sickness in early pregnancy, especially before pharmaceutical treatment is considered.
Morfologia polínica de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae)

Foram examinados os graos de polen de sete exsicatas de C. echinata. O material polinico foi acetolisado, medido, descrito e fotodigitalizado sob microscopia optica e microscopia eletronica de varredura. Os graos de polen de C. echinata sao, medios a grandes, suboblatos a oblato-esferoidais, âmbito circular, 3-brevicolporados, colpo com margem bem larga, microrreticulada, formada por um afinamento da sexina nessa regiao, endoabertura lolongada, exina reticulada e heterorreticulada.
ORANGE PECTINESTERASE: PURIFICATION, PROPERTIES, AND EFFECT ON CLOUD STABILITY

Orange pectinesterase was isolated by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by ion exchange on CM-Sephadex column. Two pectinesterase peaks were observed, The same pH and temperature optima (pH 7.5, temp 60°C), almost equal Michaelis constants (0.029%, 0.031%) and energy of activation values (5,600 cal mol-1, 5,740 cal mol-1) were obtained for the two pectinesterase fractions. Both enzyme fractions were inhibited by EDTA and polygalacturonic acid and were found to cause clarification of orange juice in a pattern similar to that obtained with natural juice. It can be assumed that the two pectinesterase chromatographic entities have similar catalytic properties.
A Sitz bath does not improve wound healing after elective episiotomy

Introduction A Sitz bath is a common form of nursing care of the patients with perineal injury or episiotomy repair (Marinho, 1986). It is believed to improve circulation and offer pain relief to the patient as is the practice in patients with anorectal problems and anorectal surgery (Beazley, 1995). The pain relief can be achieved better with potent analgesic (Zlatnik, 1994). A once daily Sitz bath is often `prescribed’ to patients with an episiotomy repair, at the discretion of the obstetricians, in an attempt to promote healing and prevent or reduce the risk of infection and/or wound dehiscence. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of Sitz bath on episiotomy wound healing.
Dyslipidaemia and impaired well-being in middle-aged women reporting low Sense of Coherence: The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHLA) Study

Objective - A low Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a concept related to a feeling of ill health. Not much is known about possible relationships between SOC and biological factors. Setting - Population-based study of middle-aged women. Subjects and methods - Four-hundred-and-fifty women participated as a subgroup of a larger study of cardiovascular risk factor screening. A self-administered questionnaire with 29 questions related to SOC was completed in addition to questions on social background factors and medical history. Results - The mean score of SOC was 150.9 (SD 23.4). HDL cholesterol was lower (p<0.05) and triglyceride levels higher (p<0.05) in women with low SOC (1.5 and 2.1 mmol/L) compared to women with medium (1.8 and 1.4 mmol/L) or high SOC (1.7 and 1.5 mmol/L). In multiple regression analysis, a low HDL cholesterol level was still significantly associated with low SOC (p<0.05) after adjustment for possible confounders. Women reporting low SOC were further characterised by a higher proportion of subjects with regular clinical visits for health care (49% vs 35% and 29%). Conclusions - Middle-aged women reporting low SOC showed lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglyceride levels, and reported more clinical visits and medical symptoms than women with higher SOC.
Studies on the survival of the non-parasitic stages of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus in three climatically dissimilar districts of North Queensland

Survival of the non-parasitic stages of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini), has been investigated over a period of 5 years in 25, 40, and 80 in. rainfall districts of north Queensland. Engorged ticks were exposed regularly in field plots and in Stevenson screens, and the times of egg hatchmg (prehatch period) and periods of survival of the larvae were observed. The prehatch period in the three districts followed the same pattern and was related to seasonal temperature changes, varying from less than 4 weeks in midsummer to over 13 weeks in midwinter. A relationship between minimum prehatch period and mean air temperature for ticks exposed in screens was established, but the data from ticks exposed in the field were too variable to establish a relationship between prehatch periods and soil temperatures. Hatching was recorded in every month of the year from all districts, but during the driest months in the 25 in. rainfall areas many ticks in exposed situations failed to reproduce. Larval survival and total longevity also followed a similar pattern in all districts. The longest survival periods were recorded for the progeny of ticks exposed late in the wet season from March to April, and the shortest survival periods for the progeny of ticks exposed during the dry season from August to September. Mean maximum total longevity for ticks exposed in field plots in the 25 in. rainfall district varied from 10 to 22 weeks, in the 40 in. rainfall district from 14 to 22 weeks, and in the 80 in. rainfall district from 15 to 26 weeks. The data on prehatch and survival periods are a suitable basis for formulating recommendations for tick control by pasture spelling and planned dipping.
Vasectomy in developing countries

Vasectomy is an acceptable technique of sterilisation in affluent societies; however, cultural barriers exist in most parts of Africa. The object of this study was to establish the prevalence of vasectomies at King George V Hospital (KGH), Durban, over a 3-year period, to determine attitudes towards vasectomy, and to identify ways of improving its acceptability. This was a retrospective study. Clinical details of case files were analysed and interviews of clients who had vasectomy were conducted telephonically or through home visits. A total of 308 (88·3%) clients were contacted. The mean age at vasectomy was 35 years (range 15-51 years). The majority, 50·3%, were Indians; 21% whites, 15·6% coloured and 12·3% were Africans; 290 of the men were married with a mean duration of marriage of 10·3 years (3-25 years). Ninety-four per cent were in a monogamous relationship and all remained married to date. Sixty-four per cent had above-matriculation educational status. Most of the patients became aware of vasectomy through family planning clinics or health personnel; only 4·9% received information through the media. Fifty-three per cent ( n =164) of couples had problems with previously used contraception prior to decision for vasectomy. The complication rate was 6·5% while 1% regretted having had the procedure. Only two men (0·7%) desired reversal. On direct questioning, sexual activity remained unchanged in 95·1%, and actually improved in 3·2% of the men following vasectomy. Most believed that there is not enough information on vasectomy available, especially through the media, and that with appropriate counselling vasectomy is a safe permanent contraception that should be actively promoted.
On the Sexual Reproduction of Caulerpa (Preliminary Note)

The announcement by DOSTAL (1928) of the discovery of papillae on the frond of Caulerpa prolifera acted as an impetus to the study of reproduction in Caulerpa, with the result that not long after it the ciliated cells were discovered by DOSTAL (1929) and SCHUSSNIG (1929), and confirmed by SCHWARZ (1930). The works of the above mentioned investigators on the Mediterranean species of Caulerpa show that the ciliated cells are all of the same size, having two cilia, one chloroplast, and an eye-spot. They failed to observe any con jugation of the cells. ERNST (1932), however, in the course of his sojourn in Java, examined Caulerpa clavifera, and arrived at a somewhat different conclusion. He found that the ciliated cells are of two sizes, the larger having a brownish green chloroplast and the smaller a light green chromatophore. These two kinds of cells conjugate and form a zygote with two chromatophores. The process of conjugation of the gametes has not been followed. Soon after the publication of DOSTAL'S first paper we began our studies on Caulerpa. Our observations and experiments were con ducted mainly in the Marine Biological Station at Misaki, about 50 miles south west of Tokyo. We studied chiefly Caulerpa brachypus, although Caulerpa Okamurai were occasionally observed. In the summer of 1929 we were able to observe the ciliated cells of Caulerpa brachypus without knowledge of the findings by DOSTAL (1929) and SCHUSSNIG (1929). In the summer of 1932, we had already discovered the dioecism and anisogamy in Caulerpa brachti pus independently of ERNST (1932). Our continued studies on Caulerpa during the last nine summers resulted in elucidating the life history of Caulerpa to a farther ex tent than has been done by any previous investigator. The forma tion of gametes in Caulerpa brachypus and their liberation occur in
Fasting followed by vegetarian diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review

Clinical experience suggests that fasting followed by vegetarian diet may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We reviewed the available scientific evidence, because patients frequently ask for dietary advice, and exclusive pharmacological treatment of RA is often not satisfying. Fasting studies in RA were searched in MEDLINE and by checking references in relevant reports. The results of the controlled studies which reported follow-up data for at least three months after fasting were quantitatively pooled. Thirty-one reports of fasting studies in patients with RA were found. Only four controlled studies investigated the effects of fasting and subsequent diets for at least three months. The pooling of these studies showed a statistically and clinically significant beneficial long-term effect. Thus, available evidence suggests that fasting followed by vegetarian diets might be useful in the treatment of RA. More randomised long-term studies are needed to confirm this view by methodologically convincing data.
Patterns of niche breadth and feeding overlap of the fish fauna in the seasonal Brazilian Pantanal, Cuiabá River basin

Spatial and temporal variations in patterns of niche breadth and feeding overlap were investigated for the fish fauna in the Pantanal region, aiming to determine the factors that account for species coexistence. Samples were conducted in the Cuiaba River and Chacorore pond, in the upper Pantanal region, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, during one hydrological cycle (March 2000 to February 2001), (designed spatial-seasonal units). Mean niche breadth values were overall low for the fish assemblage (0.2-0.3). Differences between periods were not statistically significant. Feeding overlap values ranged between 0 and 0.4, whereas the mean was always inferior to 0.05 in all spatial-temporal units, and differences between periods were not statistically significant. The highest and lowest mean values were both observed in the pond; the former during the drought period and the latter during the flood period. All feeding overlap mean values were significantly higher than the values expected at random in the null model, using both "scrambled-zeros" (RA3) and "conserved-zeros" (RA4) algorithms. Thus, the foraging patterns show evidences of food sharing. The variance generated in the null model had a pattern similar to the niche overlap pattern: observed variance was higher than expected by chance in all spatial-temporal units, suggesting that the fish fauna is structured in trophic guilds. The patterns of food resource use and the different trophic guilds identified, suggest that species probably have different roles in this ecosystem. Our results suggest that food sharing allows coexistence of different fish species.
Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists - preliminary results

Objective: The serotonin system presumably is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Results from a few studies led to the hypothesis of a “postsynaptic hyperresponsiveness” in CFS. Therefore we intended to evaluate the efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the treatment of CFS. Patients and Methods: 2 patient groups (10 patients each; CFS according to the CDC classification criteria) received either oral tropisetron (5 mg once daily) or oral ondansetron (2 2 8 mg daily), open-labelled. Treatment duration was 15 days. Treatment response was evaluated by visual analog scales (VAS) for fatigue and capability. Results: 19 patients finished their respective study. In the tropisetron group 6/9 (VAS fatigue) and 7/9 (VAS capability) patients documented benefit, 8/10 rsp. 8/10 patients in the ondansetron group. The score changes (VAS before and after treatment) in case of response were more pronounced in the tropisetron group. The frequency of concomitant symptoms did not differ significantly in the treatment groups. The overall analysis of both studies showed a remarkable improvement ( S 35%) of approximately one third of the patients in both VAS. Treatment was well tolerated. Conclusion: Our preliminary results encourage to perform placebo-controlled, double-blind studies to further evaluate the efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the treatment of CFS.
[Conversion of acetic acid to methane by thermophiles]. Progress report, May 15, 1989--May 14, 1993

The primary goal of this project is to obtain a better understanding of thermophilic microorganisms which convert acetic acid to CH{sub 4}. The previous funding period represents a departure from earlier research in this laboratory, which was more physiological and ecological. The present work is centered on the biochemistry of the thermophile Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. this organism presents a unique opportunity, with its purity and relatively rapid growth, to do comparative biochemical studies with the other major acetotrophic genus Methanosarcina. We previously found that Methanothrix is capable of using acetate at concentrations 100 fold lower than Methanosarcina. This finding suggests that there are significant differences in the pathways of methanogenesis from acetate in the two genera.