Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Staminal hairs enhance fecundity in the pollen-rewarding self-incompatible lily Bulbine abyssinica

Flowering plants typically use floral rewards to attract animal pollinators. Unlike nectar, pollen rewards are usually visible and may thus function as a signal that influences landing decisions by pollen-seeking insects. Here we artificially manipulate the presence of both pollen and staminal hairs (a putative false signal of pollen reward availability) in the hermaphroditic lily Bulbine abyssinica (Xanthorrhoeaceae) to investigate their effects on bee visitation and fecundity, and also test for trade-offs between pollen production and seed production. Honeybees, the primary floral visitors, are probably not able to distinguish between colours of petals, staminal hairs and pollen of B. abyssinica, according to analysis of reflectance spectra in a bee vision model. Flowers with both pollen and hairs removed had the lowest levels of bee visitation, seed set and seed abortions. Flowers containing hairs had an ∼50% increase in visitation rate and seed set compared with emasculated flowers, while intact controls had the highest seed abortion rate. Ovule discounting in intact flowers is probably due to ovarian self-incompatibility (or strong early inbreeding depression) as ovules penetrated by tubes from self-pollen uniformly failed to develop into seeds. These results show that staminal hairs can enhance plant fecundity by increasing attraction of pollen-seeking insects to flowers without increasing the risk of ovule discounting through pollinator-mediated self-pollination. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177, 481–490.
Antifungal and Anti-inflammatory Activity of the Genus Echinacea

The antifungal activity and 5-lipoxygenase-inhibiting activity of extracts of five wild and three commercially used taxa of the genus Echinacea were investigated. The near-UV mediated antifungal bioassays included clinically isolated Cryptococcus neoformans, two Candida albicans isolates (D10 and CN1A) with amphotericin B resistance, as well as established and emerging filamentous fungal pathogens (Trichophyton tonsurans, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Pseudallescheria boydii). Root extracts of the eight Echinacea taxa showed antifungal activity against most of the pathogenic fungi. The inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme of the arachadonic acid pathway was determined by HPLC detection of a direct metabolic product (LTB 4) of 5-LOX derived from stimulated rat basophilic cells. Root extracts of the three commercial species of Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. pallida var. angustifolia, E. pallida var. pallida) inhibited the 5-LOX enzyme. E. pallida var. angustifolia was the most potent of the three. The results show that Echinacea spp: have significant antifungal and antiinflammatory activity.
Physiological changes in Mytilus edulis L. induced by temperature and nutritive stress

Three levels of oxygen consumption rate are identified, viz. standard, routine and active. Animals fed above the maintenance energy requirement adjust their oxygen consumption rate to a routine level. Animals fed below the maintenance requirement reduce their oxygen consumption rate to a standard level within 35–40 days. The routine rate is seasonally variable, with high values in the winter and low values in the summer. The standard rate also varies seasonally. The exponent that relates routine oxygen consumption to body size varies from a high value in the summer to a lower value in the winter.
Hormesis: Why it is important to toxicology and toxicologists

This article provides a comprehensive review of hormesis, a dose‐response concept that is characterized by a low‐dose stimulation and a high‐dose inhibition. The article traces the historical foundations of hormesis, its quantitative features and mechanistic foundations, and its risk assessment implications. The article indicates that the hormetic dose response is the most fundamental dose response, significantly outcompeting other leading dose‐response models in large‐scale, head‐to‐head evaluations. The hormetic dose response is highly generalizable, being independent of biological model, endpoint measured, chemical class, and interindividual variability. Hormesis also provides a framework for the study and assessment of chemical mixtures, incorporating the concept of additivity and synergism. Because the hormetic biphasic dose response represents a general pattern of biological responsiveness, it is expected that it will become progressively more significant within toxicological evaluation and risk assessment practices as well as have numerous biomedical applications.
Foliar pubescence and resistance to potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella, in Lycopersicon hirsutum

Pubescence characteristics for six accessions of Lycopersicon hirsutum Dunal and five accessions of L. hirsutum f. glabratum CH Mull. were determined and compared with those of an accession of cultivated tomato (L. esculentum Mill.). Removal of trichome exudates from excised leaflets using ethanol solution resulted in a reduced mortality and increased survival of potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)) neonates for the accessions that were most lethal when not treated with ethanol solution. No such treatment effect was evident for L. esculentum or for the L. hirsutum accession with least effect on neonates when its trichomes were intact. In a glasshouse experiment with caged intact plants, mortality of neonate P. operculella placed on the abaxial surface was greater on seven accessions than for L. esculentum. Neonates were less severely affected on the adaxial surface. Eleven days after inoculation, no live larvae were found on LA 1927, PI 127827, PI 134418, and PI 134428, and numbers on other accessions were lower than for L. esculentum. Eventual emergence of adults followed a similar trend. Multiple regression of insect data against pubescence indicated a significant correlation between density of type IV and VI trichomes and neonate mortality, decreased larval development and decreased adult emergence. Non‐glandular type V trichomes were positively correlated with high survival of insects to 11 days and to adult. Though factors other than glandular trichomes are likely to be important, increased density of type IV and VI, along with reduced type V, are shown to be important to select in breeding for P. operculella resistance.
Chronic kidney disease in women: a cross sectional screening in a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease is no longer considered just a health burden today but a major health priority owing to its high treatment costs and poor outcome. World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day in 2018 coincided, thus offering an opportunity to refl ect on the importance of women’s health, and specifi cally their kidney health. The current study aims to identify chronic kidney disease in women through a cross sectional screening in hospital based camp in Varanasi on World Kidney Day.
Roles of bootstrap resampling, measure of central tendency, and method for calculating thermal units when developing phenology models for pest management

The successful development of phenology models from field studies depends on many factors, some of which are entirely under the control of pest managers. For example, one such factor is the choice of method for calculating thermal units. In this study, we have demonstrated that four methods for calculating thermal units provided for acceptable predictions of one phenological event of one insect species, while another method for calculating thermal units did not. The measure of central tendency (mean or median) that is used to estimate lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. Here, we show that predictions that were made when using phenology models based on median lower developmental temperatures and median required thermal summations were superior to predictions that were made when using phenology models based on mean lower developmental temperatures and mean required thermal summations. The use of bootstrap vs. non-bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is yet another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. In this study, we found that calculating and using bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations in phenology models did not improve the predictions of one phenological event for one insect species. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.
Determination of the seasonal changes on total fatty acid composition of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss in Ivriz Dam Lake, Turkey

Total fatty acid compositions and seasonal variations of Oncorhynchus mykiss in Ivriz Dam Lake, Turkey were investigated using gas chromatographic method. A total of 38 different fatty acids were determined in the fatty acid composition of rainbow trout. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found to be higher than saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in all seasons. Oleic acid (C18:1 9) is the major MUFA in all seasons. Palmitic acid (C16:0) was identified as the major SFA in four seasons. Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 3), linoleic acid (C18:2 6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 3) had the highest levels among the PUFAs. In the present study, 3 /6 ratios were found to be 1.24, 1.68, 0.61 and 0.98 in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively.
Exploring the nutritional basis of starvation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Food limitation is the most common environmental challenge faced by animals and the capacity of animals to survive prolonged periods of starvation is linked to their diet and nutritional status. The fruit flies of the genus Drosophila have been widely used to study the ecology and evolution of starvation resistance (SR), but the nutritional basis of their resistance to starvation has not yet been fully explored. We have taken a nutritionally explicit approach to investigate the quantitative and qualitative effects of nutrition on SR in Drosophila melanogaster using state-space geometric models of nutrition. Experimental flies were given ad libitum access to artificial diets differing in concentrations and ratios of protein and carbohydrate for 5 days before they were assayed for starvation time, body composition and life-history parameters. The main objectives of this study were to determine the most critical nutritional factor of SR and to understand the utilization patterns of endogenous metabolic fuels during starvation in Drosophila. Starvation resistance in Drosophila was greatly influenced by the dietary protein : carbohydrate (P : C) ratio, but neither by the caloric content of the diet nor by carbohydrate alone. SR was strongest at the lowest P : C ratio and decreased with rising P : C ratio. When fed on low P : C diets, Drosophila not only deposited more lipids, but also lowered the minimum body weight required for tolerating starvation. During starvation, Drosophila exhibited a dramatic transition in the utilization of endogenous fuels. In the early phase of starvation, Drosophila exclusively used nonlipid substrates, but switched to the late phase during which they mobilized lipids to maintain life under starvation. Our results highlight the important role that nutrition plays in determining the phenotypic expression of SR in Drosophila and provide broad implications for understanding starvation responses in other species, including humans. This study introduces how the recent advances in nutritional physiology can offer new insights into the ecology and evolution of starvation responses.
Altura do epitélio da tuba uterina normal e patológica de porcas nas fases folicular e luteínica

The aim of this work was to perform a morphometric analysis of the uterine tube epithelium of sexually mature sows, with or without pathological changes. The sows were either in follicular or luteal phases. One hundred and twenty-four uterine tubes of sixty-two sows were obtained from slaughterhouses. Sections of the uterine tube, uterus and ovary were processed for morphometrical evaluation. The uterine tubes were divided into four groups. The first (LSP) group was composed by animals in luteal phase without pathological changes (n=45), the second (LCP) by animals in luteal phase with pathological changes (n=19), the third (FSP) by animals in follicular phase without pathological changes (n=45) and the fourth (FCP) by animals in follicular phase with pathological changes (n=15). In the follicular phase (FSP), the ampulla had a higher epithelium, followed by the infundibulum and the isthmus (P<0.05). Tubal epithelium was higher in the animals of FSP and FCP groups when compared to LSP and LCP, suggesting that estrogens influence epithelial height. In the isthmus, there were significant differences between FSP and LSP groups (P<0.05). These results indicate that the porcine uterine tube epithelium changes its height during the estrous cycle. The epithelial height does not appear to be influenced by tubarian pathologies.
Using Sport and Wellness Technology to Promote Physical Activity: An Intervention Study among Teenagers

Life-long physical activity patterns are established during teenage years. Thus, promoting physical activity for teenagers is important. Sport and wellness technology shows promise for promoting physical activity. Yet, its research with teenage populations is sparse. This intervention study focused on whether using a sport and wellness technology application could affect the physical activity intention of teenagers, its antecedents, and the antecedents’ effects on intention by using the theory of planned behavior combined with the concept of self-efficacy as a theoretical framework. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and the control group in terms of the means and variances of the four constructs in our theoretical model. However, we found a statistically significant difference in the effect of self-efficacy on intention in the intervention group. The results show potential in using sport and wellness technology in physical activity interventions for teenagers. However, further research is needed.
Student Constructions of Authority in the Framework Era: A Bibliometric Pilot Study Using a Faceted Taxonomy

Using bibliometric data and a faceted taxonomy first published by Leeder, Markey, and Yakel, this pilot study examines student constructions of authority generated from a sample of 60 research papers by students in a freshman-level English composition course. The taxonomy classifies each source using subfacet attributes of author identity, editorial process, and publication purpose facets that, in combination, provide insight into how students navigate today’s information ecosystem. The findings suggest that students use a similar array of sources regardless of their demographic background or their academic ability, and that the characteristics of these sources have important implications for information literacy instruction and collection development.
The effect of darkness on the leghemoglobin content and amino acid levels in the root nodules of pea plants.

The dependence of the nitrogen fixing system in the root nodules of pea plants (Pisum sativum) L. cv. Torsdag II) on light induced reactions was studied. The pots of the inoculated pea plants, after the nolules had fixed nitrogen for a fornight, were transferred to a dark room. The control plants were kept under normal lighting conditions. The decay of leghemoglobin was measured after photosynthesis had ceased. In the dark the red nodules turned green in three days, when about half of the haem had been broken down. The plants in normal lighting conditions had maintained the red nodules. The appearence of leghemoglobin and bacteroids was simultaneouos. In normal lighting conditions the number of bacteroids was about 1.6 × 108 per g fresh nodules. The appearance of leghemoglobin and bacteroids was simultaneous. In normal lighting conditons the number of bacteroids was bout 1.6 × 108 per g fresh nodules. At the same time as the nodules turned green in the dark most of the bacteroids disappeared and the number of rod-shaped bacteria increased. After five days int the dark thenumber of bacteria of the green nodules was 2.2 × 108 per g fresh nodules. A large increase of of bacteria in the nodules is one of the results after the termination of effective symbiosis. Quantitative estimations were made with an automatic amino acid analysator of the amino acid composition in the root nodules of pea plants grown in the light and of pea plants grown in the dark. Altogether 27 amino acids and amides and 3 unknown ninhydrin positive compounds were found in the free amino acid fraction. In the red N-fixing nodules asparagine, the amide of aspartic acid, was the most prominent (more than 50 per cent of the total amino acid fraction), indicating the energy charge of the nitrogen fixation. 5 days in the dark affected the proportions of the amino acids as follows. Asparagine, homoserine, γ-aminobutyric acid and ethanolamine were decreased and the most of the others increased. In the hydrolysate of the non-soluble protein fraction 25 amino acids could be detected. The proportions of the amino acids in the root nodules of light-grown and dark-grown pea plants were very similar. Hydroxyproline and α, γ-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) were found in these fraction. Most of the DAP was contained in the peptide fraction. Also hydroxyproline was found to a small extent. It was assumed that the amino acids in this fraction were derived from the peptides of both plant cells and rhizobia.
Do Archival Light-Level Geolocators and Stable Hydrogen Isotopes Provide Comparable Estimates of Breeding-Ground Origin?

ABSTRACT. Migratory connectivity for small migratory passerines has been quantified primarily with stable hydrogen isotopes in feathers (&dgr;2HF) because, until recently, we lacked the technology to track small organisms over long distances. Direct tracking of small passerines throughout the annual cycle is now possible with archival light-level geolocators. Our objective was to evaluate whether &dgr;2HF and geolocators produce similar breeding-origin assignments for the same individual birds sampled during the non-breeding season. We estimated breeding origin with geolocators and &dgr;2HF and validated those estimates using a population of Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) from a known breeding location at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. We also deployed geolocators on Ovenbirds in Jamaica and Florida during March 2010–2011. We performed stable hydrogen isotope analysis on feathers of birds whose geolocators we recovered (Jamaica: n = 9; Florida: n = 3). Probabilistic assignments of &dgr;2HF that accounted for regional variation in feather-isotope discrimination predicted breeding origins that agreed with kernel density estimates of origin derived from geolocators. By contrast, assignments of &dgr;2HF using the common assumption of a consistent feather-isotope discrimination across space predicted breeding origins that overlapped minimally with those from geolocators. Finally, Bayesian analyses that incorporated prior information of Ovenbird abundance across the breeding range yielded more accurate assignments for both site-independent and site-specific discrimination factors. Our findings suggest that creating more detailed feather isoscapes by increasing the number of validation locations and sampling underrepresented portions of species distributions could increase the accuracy of geographic assignments using &dgr;2HF.
Black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus (Scorpaenidae): a first record in the eastern English Channel

This is the first record of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus being found in the eastern English Channel. A specimen was caught on 15 October 2012 off the port of Courseulles-sur-mer. It measured 31.6 cm and weighted 800 g. From a study of its sagittal otolith, this specimen appeared to be 9 years old.
The German Fast-Start Finance Contribution

Industrialized countries have repeatedly committed to provide new and additional finance to help developing countries transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient growth. This assessment addresses German efforts to provide “fast start finance” (FSF) as a contribution to the pledge by developed countries to provide USD 30 billion from 2010 to 2012 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
In situ litter decomposition and litter quality in a Mojave Desert ecosystem: effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and interannual climate variability

Rising atmospheric CO2 has been predicted to reduce litter decomposition as a result of CO2‐induced reductions in litter quality. However, available data have not supported this hypothesis in mesic ecosystems, and no data are available for desert or semi‐arid ecosystems, which account for more than 35% of the Earth's land area. The objective of our study was to explore controls on litter decomposition in the Mojave Desert using elevated CO2 and interannual climate variability as driving environmental factors. In particular, we sought to evaluate the extent to which decomposition is modulated by litter chemistry (C:N) and litter species and tissue composition. Naturally senesced litter was collected from each of nine 25 m diameter experimental plots, with six plots exposed to ambient [CO2] or 367 μL CO2 L−1 and three plots continuously fumigated with elevated [CO2] (550 μL CO2 L−1) using FACE technology beginning in April 1997. All litter collected in 1998 (a wet, or El Niño year; 306 mm precipitation) was pooled as was litter collected in 1999 (a dry year; 94 mm). Samples were allowed to decompose for 4 and 12 months starting in May 2001 in mesh litterbags in the locations from which litter was collected. Decomposition of litter produced under elevated CO2 and ambient CO2 did not differ. Litter produced in the wetter year showed more rapid initial decomposition (over the first 4 months) than that produced in the drier year (27±2% yr−1 or 7.8±0.7 g m−2 yr−1 for 1998 litter; 18±3% yr−1 or 2.2±0.4 g m−2 yr−1 for 1999 litter). C:N ratios of litter produced under elevated CO2 (wet year: 37±0.5; dry year: 42±2.5) were higher than those of litter produced under ambient CO2 (wet year: 34±1.1; dry year: 35±1.4). Litter production in the wet year (amb. CO2: 25.1±1.1 g m−2 yr−1; elev. CO2: 35.0±1.1 g m−2 yr−1) was more than twice as high as that in the dry year (amb. CO2: 11.6±1.7 g m−2, elev. CO2: 13.3±3.4 g m−2), and contained a greater proportion of Lycium pallidum and a lower proportion of Larrea tridentata than litter produced in the dry year. Decomposition, viewed across all treatments, decreased with increasing C:N ratios, decreased with increasing proportions of Larrea tridentata and increased with increasing proportions of Lycium pallidum and Lycium andersonii. Because litter C:N did not vary by litter production year, and CO2 did not alter decomposition or litter species/tissue composition, it is likely that the impact of year‐to‐year variation in precipitation on the proportion of key plant species in the litter may be the most important way in which litter decomposition will be modulated in the Mojave Desert under future rising atmospheric CO2.