Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flowing water decreases hydrodynamic signal detection in a fish with an epidermal lateral-line system

The lateral-line system of the common bully, Gobiomorphus cotidianus, is unusual in that it possesses an extensive array of superficial neuromasts. Fish were trained to orientate to a small vibrating bead (50 Hz). By manipulating the amplitude of vibration to determine the threshold level for the behaviour, the hydrodynamic detection capabilities of the common bully were characterised in both still- and flowing-water. In still water, the common bully attained a detection threshold (calculated as the amplitude of water particle displacement at the snout) of 3.3 × 10-5 cm at 50 Hz. Successive elevations in the background flow caused a 10-fold decrease in detection sensitivity. At a background flow of 4.5 cm s–1 the detection threshold increased to 3 × 10-4 cm. These findings demonstrate that a lateral-line system that lacks sub-surface canal neuromasts is most sensitive in still-water conditions (low-noise). However, this system is compromised under flowing-water conditions such that sensitivity is reduced at current velocities >1.5 cm s–1.
Patterns of Trophic-level Diversity Associated with Herbaceous Dune Vegetation Across a Primary Successional Gradient

Abstract While ecologists have studied succession for well over 100 y, there has been little characterization of diversity patterns in nonplant organisms or their interactions across successional gradients. In this study we examined herbaceous vertical vegetation structure and diversity in plants, arthropods, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in three Great Lakes sand dune chronosequences. Plant species richness increased linearly across the primary successional gradients at the three sampling sites, while plant vertical structure remained constant. Total arthropod abundance and species richness were positively associated with plant vertical cover, while AMF spore abundance and morpho-type richness were positively associated with plant species richness. Carnivore and herbivore functional groups of arthropods responded differently to plant vertical cover and species richness. Diversity across early primary successional gradients does not consistently increase among different trophic levels, and the vertical structure of vegetation can be important in explaining richness and abundance in other trophic levels across a successional gradient.
The VpreB protein of the surrogate light‐chain can pair with some μ  heavy‐chains in the absence of the λ 5 protein

Nineteen different μ heavy‐chains, seven of them not capable of forming a pre B cell receptor were expressed in Drosophila melanogaster Schneider cells together with either VpreB1, VpreB2, λ5, or the complete surrogate light‐chain to study their interactions in the formation of the pre B cell receptor. The λ5 protein alone was unable to bind properly to any of the μ heavy‐chains, while the VpreB proteins alone formed complexes with five of the μ heavy‐chains. All μ heavy‐chains incapable of forming a pre B cell receptor with surrogate light‐chain were also incapable of complex formation with VpreB. The possible role of the VpreB/μ heavy‐chain in allelic exclusion of the heavy‐chain locus during B cell development is discussed.
Changes in feeding niche widths of perch and roach following biomanipulation, revealed by stable isotope analysis

Summary 1. We made an empirical test of a recent proposal that feeding niche widths might be determined as variance of stable isotope values. We determined δ13C and δ15N values of perch (Perca fluviatilis), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and their prey from a biomanipulated lake, when the mass removal of fish led to reduced inter- and intra-specific competition and increases in zooplankton abundance and body size. 2. After the first fish removals, both perch and roach mean δ13C values decreased and mean δ15N values increased, indicating a greater diet contribution from pelagic sources. 3. Variances of both δ13C and δ15N values first increased in both fish populations, indicating a wider food spectrum and expanded feeding niche width following reduced fish abundances. Observed changes were greater for the perch population than for roach. 4. In 2006, the perch population abruptly changed its diet so that most individuals were primarily consuming the abundant young-of-the-year fish, and this was reflected in significantly reduced variances of both δ13C and δ15N values. 5. We conclude that isotopic variance can indeed reflect changes in feeding niche width and offers a promising way to study such general ecological concepts.
Environmental influence on the infection of wheat by Mycosphaerella graminicola

Mycosphaerella graminicolo (anamorph, Septoria tritici), the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch on wheat, can cause a significant yield loss for most commercially grown wheat cultivars and in many wheatgrowing areas. Environmental factors which affect infection and disease development such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture have been studied extensively. Yet, reports on specific effects of temperature and leaf wetness period on the infection process are limited []
Use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) in Brain Development Research

The development of several new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques has facilitated serial observations of the developing human brain in utero. For example, the noninvasive technique of functional MRI, which is used to study brain anatomy, function and metabolism in both humans and animals, has already enhanced our understanding of brain development and behavior relations. Currently, three main kinds of functional MRI techniques are used to study the developing brain: blood oxygenation level-dependent imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When used in developmental research, these techniques can detect variations and injury, which conventional MRI cannot. Thus, they offer far greater opportunities to explore the relationships between structure and function, and to interpret developmental mechanisms, as well as to detect malformations and pathologies at the cognitive, emotional and behavioral level. These methodologies and their application to brain development are reviewed in this paper.
Post-Embryonic Development in Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to determine the number of instars of Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970, a fly that is considered a pest on fig plantations; analyze the pupation process; and characterize the morphology of the immature stages. This information would fill a gap in the knowledge regarding Z. indianus development. The post-embryonic development of this species was studied by using Dyar's rule to characterize the immature stages of the fly. In addition, the morphological structures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Following Dyar's rule, Z. indianus exhibited three larval instars. Pupae were formed in higher numbers during the morning, and 5 d was the average time until adult emergence. The male:female sex ratio in this population was 1:1, with a higher emergence of females during the first 72 h. During the morphological analysis, the following structures were observed: (egg) chorionic cells, respiratory filaments, and micropyle; (larvae) body segments, intersegmental spines, antennae, the maxillary palp complex, sensilla, tubercles, and anterior and posterior spiracles; and (pupae) filaments that originated in the anterior spiracles and the presence of spines along these filaments. Some of these characteristics were slightly different from those observed in other drosophilids, which provides a taxonomic quality to these characteristics. In addition, these results may facilitate future studies on the biology, ecology, and control of this species.
Block Third Derivative Trigonometrically-Fitted Methods for Stiff and Periodic Problems

This article constructed and implemented a family of a third derivative trigonometric fitted method of order k + 3 whose coefficients are functions of frequency and step size for the integration of systems of first-order stiff and periodic Initial Value Problems. The Block Third Derivative Trigonometric Fitted methods (BTDTFMs) are constructed via multistep collocation technique and applied in block form as simultaneous numerical integrators which make them self-starting. The basic properties of the BTDTFMs are analyzed and presented. The accuracy and efficiency of the methods based on number of function evaluation are established through some standard numerical examples which are either stiff or periodic in nature.
Evaluation of antioxidant extracts from Uruguayan native plants: importance of sensory characteristics Evaluación de extractos antioxidantes de plantas nativas uruguayas: importancia de las características sensoriales

There is increasing interest in the development of antioxidant extracts as functional ingredients. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the sensory profile, the polyphenolic (PP) content and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity of solvent extracts of three native Uruguayan plants: Achyrocline satureoides, Baccharis trimera, and Mikania guaco. Extraction solvent and native plant remarkably affected the PP content, the radical scavenging capacity, and the sensory profile of the extracts. Water extracts were the most effective radical scavengers and showed the highest polyphenolic concentration and the lowest intensity of bitter, astringent, and characteristic flavor. The bitterness, astringency and characteristic flavor of the extracts could limit their use as functional ingredients. Thus, when optimizing the extraction of antioxidant compounds from plants, apart from studying the influence of extraction solvents on yield, PP content and antioxidant capacity, the sensory characteristics of the antioxidant extracts should also be taken into account. Existe creciente interés en el desarrollo de extractos antioxidantes como ingredientes funcionales. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar el perfil sensorial, el contenido de polifenoles y la capacidad de secuestrar radicales DPPH de extractos de tres plantas nativas uruguayas: Achyrocline satureoides, Baccharis trimera y Mikania guaco. Tanto el solvente como la planta nativa tuvieron un efecto significativo en el contenido de polifenoles, la capacidad de secuestrar radicales DPPH y el perfil sensorial de los extractos. Los extractos acuosos fueron los más eficientes secuestrantes de radicales DPPH y presentaron el mayor contenido de polifenoles y la menor intensidad de amargor, astringencia y sabor característico. El amargor, astringencia y sabor característico de los extractos podrían limitar su aplicación como ingredientes funcionales. Estos resultados sugieren que durante la optimización de las condiciones de extracción de compuestos antioxidantes de plantas, además de la influencia de la capacidad antioxidante y el rendimiento, deben tenerse en cuenta las características sensoriales de los extractos.
Update on microbe-induced epigenetic changes: bacterial effectors and viral oncoproteins as epigenetic dysregulators

Pathoepigenetics is a new discipline describing how disturbances in epigenetic regulation alter the epigenotype and gene-expression pattern of human, animal or plant cells. Such ‘epigenetic reprogramming’ may play an important role in the initiation and progression of a wide variety of diseases. Infectious diseases also belong to this category: recent data demonstrated that microbial pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, are capable of dysregulating the epigenetic machinery of their host cell. The resulting heritable changes in host cell gene expression may favor the colonization, growth or spread of infectious pathogens. It may also facilitate the establishment of latency and malignant cell transformation. In this article, we review how bacterial epigenetic effectors and inflammatory processes elicited by bacteria alter the host cell epigenotype, and describe how oncoproteins encoded by human tumor viruses act as epigenetic dysregulators to alter the phenotype and behavior of host cells.
Team sensemaking

Team sensemaking, in many ways, is more critical than individual sensemaking. It poses additional coordination requirements and it offers additional ways for sensemaking to break down. It is more difficult to accomplish, and it may be a larger contributor to accidents than failures at the individual level. In this article, we describe team sensemaking as a macrocognitive function–the sensemaking that has to be performed by a team rather than by individuals. Team sensemaking is defined as the process by which a team manages and coordinates its efforts to explain the current situation and to anticipate future situations, typically under uncertain or ambiguous conditions. We describe emergent strategies for accomplishing different aspects of team sensemaking and describe emergent requirements for sensemaking at the team level. We use an example to illustrate team sensemaking in action and its emergent strategies and requirements. Finally, we identify some research methods for studying team sensemaking.
Physical Characteristics of Frozen Desserts Made with Cream, Anhydrous Milk Fat, or Milk Fat Fractions

Vanilla ice creams (10% fat) were prepared with or without emulsifier and by substituting anhydrous milk fat, a low melting milk fat fraction, and a very high melting milk fat fraction for cream. Viscosity of the ice cream mixes was affected by the source of milk fat and the addition of emulsifier. Ice cream mixes that were made with a very high melting milk fat fraction had the highest solidified fat, and mixes made with a low melting milk fat fraction had the lowest solidified fat. Rates of solidification were faster in the presence of emulsifier. The amount of adsorbed protein at the surface of fat globules in ice cream mixes in the presence of emulsifier was higher than when no emulsifier was used. The use of the very high melting milk fat fraction led to decreased adsorption of protein. More fat was agglomerated in ice cream made with emulsifier than in ice cream without emulsifier. Hardness of the ice creams made with different milk fat sources were not significantly different. Ice cream made with emulsifier was significantly harder than ice cream made without emulsifier. Meltdown of the samples made with the very high melting fraction was slower than meltdown of ice creams made with other milk fat sources. The results suggested that frozen dessert could be made using low melting and very high melting milk fat fractions in place of cream and that the ice cream made with the very high melting fraction was especially practical for use in warm climates.
Testosterone changes during the period of adolescence in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Testosterone levels of 59 male rhesus monkeys were monitored over a period of 5 years. Longitudinal comparisons revealed consistent rises in mid‐morning levels of circulating hormone in successive years from age 2.5 to 6.5 years of age, whereas cross‐sectional comparisons failed to detect significant differences among the older subjects. The first mid‐morning hormonal elevation could be detected in some males as young as 2.5 years of age, whereas other males showed no detectable rises until age 5.5 years. Males showing first rises at later ages did not show hormonal levels consistently below age peers who had shown earlier rises. Extreme month‐to‐month variability and a failure to manifest the seasonal normal curve of fully adult males was characteristic of younger males, but some of these males, nonetheless, proved capable of fertilizing females. Although hormonal and agonistic dominance measures failed to show consistent correlations, the alpha male in an age cohort significantly more often had the highest testosterone levels. These data are used to argue that adolescence is a process that takes place over several years and that classification of adolescent animals as adults, based on a single criterion like fertility, has confounded many prior studies involving cross taxa comparisons as well as developmental variables.
Streptomyces alni as a biocontrol agent to root-rot of grapevine and increasing their efficiency by biofertilisers inocula

Root-rotted samples of grapevine cv. superior were collected from Nobaria province, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Fusarium oxysporum Schlech. was the most fungal causing root-rot syndrome of grapevine and directly affected the yield productivity. Seven isolates of Streptomyces were isolated from grapevine rhizospheric soil and screened for antagonistic activities against F. oxysporum on dual culture plate. All isolates showed antifungal activity, but isolate No. 1 exhibited the highest activity. It was identified as Streptomyces alni according to morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical studies. The properties of the antagonism were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of F. oxysporum and S. alni on PDA medium. The forms of antagonism found in this study according to the interaction between the S. alni and the pathogen indicated a hyperparasite, including inhibition of fungal growth and colonisation of S. alni over F. oxysporum hyphae. Also, malformation and lysis of F. oxysporum hyphae and conidiophores were observed. Conidia and normal branches of fungal hyphae were absent. Greenhouse and field studies were performed to evaluate the ability of S. alni and some commercial biofertilisers incorporated into the soil for root-rot control. Pot trails indicated that antagonistic S. alni isolate and biofertilisers i.e. blue green algae, phosphoren and rhizobacterin reduced the root-rot incidence of grapevine plants Cv. superior. Soil treatment before sowing with 50 ml of S. alni suspension (1 × 108 spore/ml) + 50 g of rhizobacterin for each pot was the best and significant treatment reduced root-rot of grapevine plants. Also, the total count of F. oxysporum in rhizosphere soil of grapevine treated plants was reduced compared with control. Under field conditions, drenching soil of diseased grape trees with a spore suspension of S. alni (1 × 108 spore/ml) 200 ml/tree + 250 g/tree of rhizobacterien caused a significant reduction in root rot of treated grapevine trees as well as high fruit yield/tree when compared with other treatments. The obtained results suggest that S. alni could be used successfully in combination with biofertilisers, as environmentally safe, for controlling root-rot of grapevine and other soil-borne plant pathogens especially with organic farming systems.
Three predominant species groups of deep-sea whelks (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) in the Sea of Japan: their molecular taxonomy and geographic distribution

Based on 3,484 specimens collected from a series of surveys, we revealed that three species groups of deep-sea whelks (Buccinidae) are distributed predominantly in the Sea of Japan (off Honshu Island, 200–1,900 m in depth). The first species group is composed of species of the genus Neptunea. Although N. intersculpta and N. constricta have been considered as representatives of the Sea of Japan, our mitochondrial (mt) 16SrDNA data showed no clear reason to recognize more than one taxonomic unit for them. The second is composed of Buccinum tsubai; three haplogroups off Honshu Island were reconfirmed using 16SrDNA sequences. The present study demonstrated two of these haplogroups distributed in the same region near the Noto Peninsula. The last group, made up of B. striatissimum and related taxa, is still problematic despite our present morphological and molecular analyses. In our tentative conclusion, two different species are widely distributed off Honshu Island, one is B. striatissimum inhabiting in shallower regions (< ca. 500 m in deep) and another is B. tenuissimum in deeper regions. To overcome the remaining uncertainty related to the genetic differentiation of these two species, further clarification of their taxonomic relationship is needed. Geographical distributions of these three species groups are detailed based on the present study.
EVOLUTIONARY MORPHOLOGY AND PHYLOGENY OF ARAGHNIDA

Abstract— This paper reports results from a cladistic analysis of the 11 Recent arachnid orders. The polarities of 64 newly discovered and traditional characters were determined through outgroup comparisons that included Eurypterida, Xiphosura, Trilobita and Crustacea. A branch‐and‐bound algorithm was used to discover a single tree (consistency index 0–59). The relationships suggested by this analysis differ substantially from previous interpretations of arachnid phylogeny, and a new taxonomic system is introduced to accommodate these results. This analysis suggests that Arachnida is monophyletic and composed of two principal lineages, Micrura and Dromopoda. Possible synapomorphies of Micrura include a pygidmm, tntosternum, six principal lateral eyes, poorly sclerotized postgenital appendages, coxal gland orifices near leg 1, an array of micxotubules associated with the spermatozoan nucleus, and absence of coxal endites on the walking legs. The micruran orders appear to have the following relationships: (Palpigradi (Araneae (Amblypygi (I helyphonida, Schizomida)))) (Ricinulei, Acari). Possible synapomorphies of Dromopoda include transverse carapaeal furrows, greatly reduced prosomal sternum, prosomal endosternite with two segmental components, stomotheca, bicondylar femoropatellar and patellotibial joints and extensor muscles. The dromopodan orders appear to have the following relationships: Opiliones (Scorpioncs (Pscudo‐scorpiones, Solifugae)).
Oxidation of Milk Fat Globule Membrane Material. II. Relation of Ascorbic Acid and Membrane Concentrations

Summary The rate of development of oxidized flavor in model systems as influenced by the initial concentration of ascorbic acid was measured by the thiobarbituric acid reaction. At constant fat globule membrane material (FGMM) concentration, the rate of lipid oxidation increased with increasing initial concentration of ascorbic acid up to 20-40mg/liter. Further increases effected inhibition of lipid oxidation in relation to the concentration of ascorbic acid. At constant initial ascorbic acid concentration, the rate of lipid oxidation increased directly with FGMM concentration. The initial reaction rate appears to follow zero-order kinetics over-all. Energy of activation was 11.9 k cal/mole. The rate of ascorbic acid oxidation was proportional to the rate of lipid oxidation. Addition of copper in concentrations 0.1ppm increased ascorbic acid oxidation, but lipid oxidation was further inhibited. It is suggested that the lipid oxidative system is activated by association with ascorbic acid and inhibited by products of ascorbic acid oxidation.
Rethinking perceived service quality: An alternative to hierarchical and multidimensional models

Measuring perceived service quality continues to be a controversial topic in management literature. Brady and Cronin's (2001) hierarchical and multidimensional model overcame several limitations of previously proposed models. Nevertheless, Brady and Cronin's conceptualisation has been the object of substantial criticism. This research describes the most important limitations of the Brady and Cronin's (2001) model, pointing out some newly identified drawbacks to this kind of conceptualisation and to using the methodology for analysing service quality models. To overcome these shortcomings, a new procedure is proposed, based on the proper identification of service quality attributes and on the study of unobserved heterogeneity in customer perceptions. An application of this procedure to the insurance industry shows the possible advantages of using this method for studying perceived quality in services. The results of the empirical study confirm the presence of several latent classes formed by customers with disparate service quality perceptions.