Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison in disease development and gas exchange rate of Pinus densiflora seedlings artificially inoculated with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B. mucronatus

Four‐year‐old seedlings of Pinus densiflora were inoculated with a suspension of B. xylophilus, or B. mucronatus adjusted to 3,000 nematodes per 50 μL sterilized distilled water in a greenhouse on July 21, 2008 to evaluate initial symptom development and the changes of gas exchange rate. B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus were distinguished by four restriction enzymes except Rsa I, and the result of ITS‐RFLP of B. xylophilus used in this experiment was completely matched to that of pine wood nematode reported previously. Needle dehydration and subsequent yellowing were observed in all seedlings inoculated with B. xylophilus isolate while the appearance of the seedlings was normal in all seedlings inoculated with B. mucronatus and control. Needle dehydration was observed in most seedlings inoculated with B. xylophilus between 2 and 3 weeks after inoculation. In seedlings inoculated with B. xylophilus, continuous decrease in photosynthetic rate was observed after 6 days of inoculation. Photosynthetic rate decreased more markedly after 12 days of inoculation when external symptoms appeared in most seedlings, and ceased almost completely 19 days after inoculation. Photosynthetic decline in seedlings inoculated with B. mucronatus was only observed at 19 days after inoculation but recovered above control level after 25 days of inoculation. We found that disease development and the changes of gas exchange rate in the seedlings of Pinus densiflora inoculated with B. xylophilus were not observed on those inoculated with B. mucronatus.
Morphological studies of five species of Peyssonnelia (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from southeastern Brazil

Abstract During a survey of red marine algae from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, five species of Peyssonnelia were collected in the intertidal zone or as drift material: Peyssonnelia armorica (P.Crouan et H.Crouan) Weber-van Bosse in Borgesen, P. borgesenii Weber-van Bosse in Borgesen (the first South Atlantic record), P. boudouresquei Yoneshigue, P. capensis Montagne, and P. inamoena Pilger. Detailed studies of thallus structure and reproductive development are presented. Reproductive structures, early postfertilization stages, and carposporophyte development have been investigated previously for only a few Peyssonnelia species; the present study aims to improve our knowledge of the genus.
Effect of Grewia spp. biopolymer on floc properties of coagulated laterite suspension

Effect of Grewia spp. biopolymer on the morphological characteristics and strength of laterite flocs coagulated using two common inorganic coagulants was studied. Physicochemical properties of the biopolymer obtained from Grewia spp. barks were determined using elemental analysis, gel permeation chromatography, zeta potential measurement, IR and NMR spectroscopy, etc. Zeta potential (–24.64 ± 0.49 mV) measured in aqueous medium at pH 7 revealed that the polymer is anionic in nature. Polysaccharides were identified as the major constituent of the polymer responsible for its flocculation property. Aqueous laterite suspension was subjected to jar test at different pH using iron [Fe2(SO4)3] or alum [Al2(SO4)3] as coagulant either alone or in combination with Grewia spp. biopolymer. The fractal characteristics of the flocs under different experimental conditions were investigated using a non-invasive image analysis tool. Floc properties were found to be dependent on the pH of the aqueous suspension. Compact flocs were formed in lower pH. An increase in pH resulted in a looser floc structure. Grewia spp. biopolymer in combination with iron or alum resulted in more compact floc formation. Fractal dimensions of only iron-coagulated flocs having floc strength 51.22%–59.94% increased from (1.27 ± 0.09, 1.29 ± 0.06 and 1.23 ± 0.04) to (1.84 ± 0.12, 1.75 ± 0.14 and 1.62 ± 0.09) at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively with floc strength as high as 81.58%–94.99%. Only alum-coagulated flocs having floc strength ranging between 54.81% and 56.38% and fractal dimensions 1.24 ± 0.06, 1.28 ± 0.07 and 1.23 ± 0.07 at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively became more compact in presence of the biopolymer (floc strength 87.30%–91.80% and fractal dimensions 1.75 ± 0.07, 1.64 ± 0.08, 1.62 ± 0.11 at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively). The present study demonstrates that Grewia spp. biopolymer has the potential to be used as an effective coagulant aid over a wide pH range.
Comparison of in vitro vitellogenin synthesis among different nonylphenol products using primary cultures of tilapia hepatocytes

Effect of nonylphenol (NP) products from different companies on in vitro vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis was compared using tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) hepatocytes cultures. Addition of NP at a concentration of 10−3 M to the medium caused death of hepatocytes (NP-A and NP-B) and delay of monolayer formation (NP-C). No cell death was observed at a concentration of 10−4 M (NP-A, -B and -C) but cell adhesion was slower than control. These results suggest that high concentration of NP is toxic against tilapia hepatocytes. When effects of estradiol-17β (E2, 10−7 M) and NP (10−4 M) on in vitro VTG synthesis were examined, addition of E2 and NP-A and NP-B to the media resulted in elevation of VTG. NP-C did not induce VTG in the medium. Co-treatment of NP-B and tamoxifen, a non-steroidal anti-estrogen, reduced VTG synthesis. These results suggest that NP has estrogenic potential in primary cultures of tilapia hepatocytes and acts through binding to the estrogen receptor, and that there is a difference in the induction level of VTG among different NP products.
NUMBER OF WORKER BEES NECESSARY TO ATTEND INSTRUMENTALLY INSEMINATED QUEENS KEPT IN AN INCUBATOR

Honeybee queens were instrumentally inseminated with 8 mm’ of semen. Next they were kept without workers in nursery cages in a colony, or with 0 up to 350 attendant worker bees in small boxes placed in an incubator at 34 °C. The queens were killed and dissected two days after insemination. Queens kept in nursery cages had on the average 2.5 million spermatoza in their spermatheca. An increasing number of attendant workers resulted in a higher number of spermatozoa penetrating queens spermatheca. The highest number of 4.5 million of spermatozoa was found in the spermatheca of queens kept with 250 workers after instrumental insemination. These queens had 1.8 times more spermatozoa in the spermatheca than those kept without workers. It is recommended to keep queens for two days in an incubator after instrumental insemination, with 250 attendant workers.
The blood vasculature of the gastrointestinal tract in chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), and coho, O. kisutch (Walbaum), salmon

The venous and arterial vasculature of the chinook and coho salmon gastrointestinal tract were examined using corrosion casts and India ink injection techniques. Observations derived from 28 individuals of various sizes and of both sexes were used to construct simplified venous and arterial plans. Examination of the blood vasculature revealed the presence of a variety of anastomoses hitherto undescribed in teleosts.
Physiological Characteristics and Carbohydrate Contents of Spring-lifted Picea glauca Bareroot Seedlings Following Low-temperature Storage

This study examined the effects of low-temperature storage of white spruce [ Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] bareroot seedlings to determine whether the time between lifting and planting of spring-lifted seedlings could be extended. Seedlings were lifted from the nursery beds on May 4, 1994, and stored at- 2C (frozen storage) and 4C (cold storage) for 3, 5 and 7 weeks. Frozen storage of spring-lifted seedlings resulted in an increase in sugar levels in roots and needles that progressed with storage duration. Seedlings stored in cold storage maintained a relatively constant sugar content. Needle starch content decreased with storage duration in both frozen and cold storage. In the roots of cold-stored seedlings, starch content remained relatively constant during storage; however, in the frozen-stored seedlings, root starch levels sharply declined during the initial 3 weeks of storage. The levels of total non-structural carbohydrates (starch and sugars) decreased in both types of storage in needles, but not in roots. However, the decrease was more pronounced in the cold-stored than in the frozen-stored seedlings. Gas exchange, root growth potential and number of days to bud break were similar in frozen- and cold-stored seedlings planted in the greenhouse. However, following planting in the forest, cold-stored seedlings flushed buds earlier than did frozen-stored seedlings. The results indicate that tree nurseries could consider frozen storage of spring-lifted white spruce seedlings to facilitate lifting and planting schedules.
Pursuing Sustainable Happiness through Participation in Exercise for South Korean Students: Structural Relationships among Exercise, Mental Health Factors, School Satisfaction, and Happiness

The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility that exercise participation can be an important factor in the pursuit of sustainable happiness. For this purpose, this study focused on the causal relationships among the frequency of exercise, self-esteem, stress, depression, school satisfaction and degree of happiness in elementary, junior high and high school students (n = 11,132) in South Korea. The data used for this study were collected in 2016 by the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI) for the “UN convention on the rights of the child. ” The results were as follows; firstly, the exercise frequency had a significant causal relationship with self-esteem, stress, school satisfaction and happiness but not with depression. However, it was found that exercise frequency had an indirect effect on depression through stress. In detail, exercise frequency could positively reduce stress, and less stress affects depression. Secondly, there were significant direct or indirect effects on self-esteem, stress, depression, degree of happiness and school satisfaction. Lastly, only depression did not affect school satisfaction and happiness.
Habitat structure influences the presence of sand skinks (Plestiodon reynoldsi) in altered habitats

We studied a fossorial endemic lizard (the sand skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi) to determine habitat structural and vegetation associations in altered habitats at micro-, local, and macroscales. Lizards were present in each of the structural categories and vegetation types we studied, although active orange groves negatively influenced distribution and relative density (determined as the proportion of coverboards within a sampling plot containing signs of sand skink presence). Conversely, relative densities were highest in forested habitats, which contain structural features similar to natural habitats. Sand skinks readily used the two soil types at our site, although the greatest densities were in sampling plots containing both types. We conclude that conditions are suitable for sand skink habitation within a variety of habitats with different structures, including those altered by humans. However, in all cases the underlying soil was also loose and dry, making fossorial locomotion possible for this species. Three lines of evidence suggest that populations in altered habitats were resident, rather than transient: (1) sand skinks are still present in altered habitats more than 35 skink generations after alteration occurred; (2) there was no relationship between sand skink density and distance to natural habitat; and (3) a very small portion of our site (<2%) consisted of natural habitat, which is most likely too small to be a long-term source population to nearby altered habitats. Our results indicate that although P. reynoldsi is often considered habitat-specific, this notion may be due to focusing sampling efforts on natural rather than disturbed habitats. Therefore, relying on preconceived notions of habitat associations may not be sufficient to understand the ecological relationships and local-scale distribution of this threatened species. Using such misinformation may lead to the design and implementation of inadequate conservation plans that ignore altered habitats in which focal species occur.
Instagram use frequency is associated with problematic smartphone use, but not with depression and anxiety symptom severity

Studies have demonstrated that social media use, as well as problematic smartphone use (PSU), are associated with psychopathology variables, such as depression and anxiety. However, it has not been studied how Instagram use frequency is associated with depression, anxiety, and PSU. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Instagram use frequency is related to these psychopathology variables. Three hundred and five active Instagram users (Mage = 23.61, SDage = 5.33; 82.2% female) comprised the effective sample in this study. They responded to an online survey that included questionnaires regarding their Instagram and smartphone use, as well as about experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. We also retrieved objectively measured Instagram use data. The results showed that although Instagram use frequency, depression, and anxiety were associated with PSU in bivariate analysis, Instagram use frequency did not have indirect effects in the relations between psychopathology variables and PSU. Furthermore, while younger age and female sex predicted Instagram use frequency, these socio-demographic variables did not predict PSU. According to our findings Instagram use frequency contributes to PSU, but it is not related to depression and anxiety.
Does Experimentally Induced Conspicuous Coloration Increase Risk of Predation and Conspecific Aggression in First-Year Collared Lizard Males?

Abstract I used paint to manipulate the coloration of first-year collared lizard males in the field to test whether conspicuous coloration increases risk of predation and/or aggression from dominant same-sex conspecifics, or resulted in decreased activity as a consequence of either or both increased attention from predators or socially dominant conspecifics. First-year collared lizard males are a good system for this study because their coloration is less developed than that of older males, they may suffer significant predation pressure, and instead of defending territories, they use stealthy tactics to avoid aggression from older socially-dominant males. To test these potential costs, I enhanced the coloration of first-year males in a conspicuous group by painting them similar to older territorial males, used brown paint similar to that of conspecific females to alter coloration in an inconspicuous group, and painted a control group with water. I then recorded census and focal observation data on these males for 40 d to examine survivorship, receipt of aggression by dominant males, and two indices of their activity; the number of censuses when first-year males were emergent, and their rates of travel. Both rates of predation and the frequency of aggressive acts received from territorial males were low overall and did not differ among the three treatment groups. Moreover, males in the three treatment groups did not differ in either the number of censuses when they were sighted or their rates of travel. These results are not consistent with the hypothesis that conspicuous coloration increases risk of predator attack or aggression from dominant conspecific males, suggesting that other costs may explain the observation that conspicuous coloration develops gradually in first-year collared lizard males.
Antioxidant property of Rubia cordifolia extract and its comparison with vitamin E and parabenzoquinone

This report investigates the antioxidant properties of R. cordifolia extract for protection against lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in rat liver homogenate compared with vitamin E and parabenzoquinone (PBQ). R. cordifolia protects against depletion of glutathione in a dose and time dependent manner, an inverse correlation was observed between reduced glutathione depletion and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Interestingly, parabenzoquinone showed a better response than R. cordifolia on cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) induced malon‐dialdehyde (MDA) release but there was no response in the rate of reduced glutathione (GHS) depletion. Thus it appears that R. cordifolia is a potent antiperoxidative and antioxidant. The mechanism of action is different to that of vitamin E and parabenzoquinone (PBQ).
Responses of Florida panthers to recreational deer and hog hunting

Big Cypress National Preserve constitutes approximately one-third of the range of the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Because recreational hunting is allowed in Big Cypress National Preserve, we examined 8 response variables (activity rates, movement rates, predation success, home-range size, home-range shifts, proximity to off-road vehicle trails, use of areas with concentrated human activity, and habitat selection) to evaluate how Florida panthers respond to human activity associated with deer and hog hunting. Data consisted of panther radiolocations collected since 1981 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Park Service, which we augmented with radiolocations and activity monitoring from 1994 to 1998. A split-plot (treatment and control) study design with repeated measures of the variables for each panther taken before, during, and after the hunting season was used. We did not detect responses to hunting for variables most directly related to panther energy intake or expenditure (i.e., activity rates, movement rates, predation success of females; P>0.10). However, panthers reduced their use of Bear Island (P = 0.021), an area of concentrated human activity, and were found farther from off-road vehicle trails (P ≤ 0.001) during the hunting season, which was indicative of a reaction to human disturbance. Whereas the reaction to human activity on off-road vehicle trails probably has minor biological implications and may be linked to prey behavior, the decreased use of Bear Island is most likely a direct reaction to human activity and resulted in increased use of adjacent private lands. Future habitat loss on those private lands could exacerbate the negative consequences of this response by panthers.
Increasing the Numbers of Homeless Veterans Served by the Veterans Health Administration from 2008 to 2015: maintaining focus on the intended target population and on sustaining service intensity

ABSTRACT In 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) set a goal of ending veteran homelessness by expanding health care and housing services. The process of expanding programs on a large scale can lead to erosion of focus on program goals, especially if it involves serving a target population that is challenging to assist and that may require delivery of services at a high level of intensity. This study examined changes from 2008 to 2015 in the numbers of homeless veterans served; changes in in the target population served (socio-demographic and diagnoses treated); and changes in the intensity of services provided (number of mental health contacts per veteran annually). The number of homeless veterans served increased 125% (by over 134,000/year) as compared to only 15% for non-homeless veterans. Housing subsidies provided through HUD vouchers increased 75-fold from less than 1000 to almost 60,000. These large expansions were accomplished with little evidence of changes in sociodemographic characteristics or diagnoses among those treated, or reductions in the numbers of mental health services provided per veteran. These data demonstrate a large expansion of services for homeless veterans, especially supported housing, and successful maintenance of focus on the intended target population.
Growth, spatial distribution, and abundance of benthic stages of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, Canada

The growth and spatial distribution of postlarval snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) from a relatively unexploitated stock in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland (Gulf of St. Lawrence), were described from the analysis of size distributions from trawls and a dredge sampled between 1988 and 1993. Immature crabs molted twice a year for instars I-V and then molted annually until females reached a terminal molt at maturity (instar X or XI) and males a juvenile stage (instar VIII). Thereafter, juvenile males could molt to another juvenile size, skip a molt, or achieve a terminal molt at the onset of the morphometric differentiation of their claws depending on the relative abundance of mature males. The life expectancy of females and males was 13 and 19 years, respectively. Males should recruit to the commercial size of 95 mm carapace width at instar XII, 9 years or more after settlement. Relative abundance of early benthic to commercial-size individuals suggests that small immature crabs (instar V) migrate from shallow rocky.
Neuropeptide Regulation of Feeding and Growth Hormone Secretion in Fish

In goldfish bombesin (BBS)/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like and cholecystokinin (CCK)/gastrin-likc immunoreactive (IR) peptidcs are present in the pituitary, and ventro-posterior hypothalamus and hypothalamic inferior lobes of the brain feeding centre. Receptor autoradiography studies in goldfish indicate BBS/GRP and CCK/ gastrin specific binding sites in similar pituitary and brain areas. BBS and sulfated CCK8 inhibit food intake in goldfish when administered either intraperitoneally (ip) or into the brain third ventricle (icv), and act concomitantly to elevate serum growth hormone (GH). BBS and CCK also stimulate GH release from perifused goldfish pituitary fragments. Overall, BBS and CCK have potent satiety effects in goldfish, and may provide links to the neuroendocrine system for postprandial GH regulation. Other neuroendocrine factors involved in the regulation of GH secretion, including neuropeptide Y, gonadotropin-releasing hormone and GH-releasing hormone may also play a role in altering food intake in fish.
Human tumstatin and human endostatin exhibit distinct antiangiogenic activities mediated by αvβ3 and α5β1 integrins

Tumstatin and endostatin are two inhibitors of angiogenesis derived from precursor human collagen molecules known as α3 chain of type IV collagen and α1 chain of type XVIII collagen, respectively. Although both these inhibitors are noncollagenous (NC1) domain fragments of collagens, they only share a 14% amino acid homology. In the present study we evaluated the functional receptors, mechanism of action, and intracellular signaling induced by these two collagen-derived inhibitors. Human tumstatin prevents angiogenesis via inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis with no effect on migration, whereas human endostatin prevents endothelial cell migration with no effect on proliferation. We demonstrate that human tumstatin binds to αvβ3 integrin in a vitronectin/fibronectin/RGD cyclic peptide independent manner, whereas human endostatin competes with fibronectin/RGD cyclic peptide to bind α5β1 integrin. The activity of human tumstatin is mediated by αvβ3 integrin, whereas the activity of human endostatin is mediated by α5β1 integrin. Additionally, although human tumstatin binding to αvβ3 integrin leads to the inhibition of Cap-dependent translation (protein synthesis) mediated by focal adhesion kinase/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR/4E-BP1 pathway, human endostatin binding to α5β1 integrin leads to the inhibition of focal adhesion kinase/c-Raf/MEK1/2/p38/ERK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, with no effect on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR/4E-BP1 and Cap-dependent translation. Collectively, such distinct properties of human tumstatin and human endostatin provide the first insight into their diverse antiangiogenic actions and argue for combining them for targeting tumor angiogenesis.