Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Species of Stefania (Anura: Cryptobatrachidae) from Northern Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract A new species of Stefania (Anura: Cryptobatrachidae) from northern Amazonas, Brazil, is described. Three specimens were collected in the Parque Nacional do Pico da Neblina, municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas State, northern Brazil, at 110–850 m elevation in dense closed canopy forest and in dense closed canopy montane forest. The new species is characterized by head length slightly greater than width, canthus rostralis concave, toes more than 50% webbed, dorsal skin smooth or shagreened. This is the first record of a species of Stefania endemic to Brazil.
Observations on Brazilian termite alate swarms and some structures used in the dispersal of reproductives (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Summary The swarming flights of 23 species of termite were observed at three localities within Brazil and data collected on the periodicity of swarms, the predators which attach the exposed termites and the defensive behaviour of the three castes of termites. The principal predators on termites during swarming were ants at ground level and birds in the air. The defensive behaviour of workers and soldiers effectively protected the termite alates from terrestrial predators, but only the low level of light at dawn and dusk protected them from aerial predators. Most of the termites released their alates at the beginning of the rainy season, either at dawn or at dusk and protected them from grounded predators with a ‘blanket’ cordon of workers and soldiers. Three species of the subterranean, soldierless Anoplotermes constructed special launching towers for the release of alates and protected them from predation with these structures. Armitermes euamignathus and Cornitermes cumulans also built launching structu.
$L^p$ Christoffel-Minkowski problem: the case $1< p

We consider a fully nonlinear partial differential equation associated to the intermediate $L^p$ Christoffel-Minkowski problem in the case $1<p<k+1$. We establish the existence of convex body with prescribed $k$-th even $p$-area measure on $\mathbb S^n$, under an appropriate assumption on the prescribed function. We construct examples to indicate certain geometric condition on the prescribed function is needed for the existence of smooth strictly convex body. We also obtain $C^{1,1}$ regularity estimates for admissible solutions of the equation when $ p\ge \frac{k+1}2$.
CO2 and nitrogen, but not population density, alter the size and C/N ratio of Phytolacca americana seeds

Summary 1. Plants can provision seeds by optimizing seed size, number and nutrient content to maximize parental fitness. According to the McGinley‐Charnov hypothesis, seed size should be determined by the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) available to the plant, with larger seed size correlating with larger C/N ratios and smaller absolute N content. 2. This hypothesis was tested by establishing monocultures of Phytolacca americana L. (Phytolaccaceae) at three population densities under ambient and elevated CO 2 environments, with two availabilities of soil N. 3. Elevated CO 2 reduced both seed size and N concentration while increasing the C/N ratio; high soil N availability produced the opposite result for N concentration and C/N ratio. Higher planting densities reduced plant biomass, but did not alter seed size. 4. In accordance with the McGinley‐Charnov hypothesis, larger seeds had both larger C/N ratios and smaller N content. However, the increase in C/N ratio caused by elevated CO 2 corresponded with smaller seeds overall: elevated CO 2 reduced seed size, although the seed size‐C/N relationship remained positive. 5. These results suggest an alternative mechanism to explain variation in seed size, and suggest that future climate conditions may alter seed quality and plant reproductive behaviour.
Induced Potassium Transport in Human Red Cells

When fresh human erythrocytes or their ghosts are incubated with Ca + IAA (iodoacetic acid) + adenosine, K permeability increases; K permeability also increases when energy-depleted cells or their ghosts are in- cubated with Ca alone. Na transport decreases or remains unaltered in both situations. The Ca-induced increase in K permeability in the depleted cell system is qualitatively similar to that seen in the fresh cell system and furnishes a means for studying the metabolic dependence of calcium's action. Studies with the depleted system suggest that the normal refractiveness of the cell to calcium is provided by a metabolically dependent substrate. Removal of this substrate allows Ca to enter the cell and exert its effect. By using 47 Ca, a maxi- mum value was obtained (3-7 X 10 - moles/liter of red blood cells) for the quantity of calcium that is taken up by the cell and responsible for the change in K permeability. Measurements of the unidirectional fluxes of K, obtained during the time Ca increases K permeability, appear to satisfy the flux ratio equation for passive diffusion through a membrane.
Is There a Place for Short Dry Periods for High Producing Herds

Varying the length of, or even eliminating, the dry period for dairy cows has been an active area of research investigation and field application for the past several years. Assuming that there is no detrimental effect on production, reproductive performance, or health during the ensuing lactation, the benefits of shortening the dry period for high-producing cows are obvious. First, milk produced by extending the lactation through shortening the dry period clearly represents “marginal milk” for most farms in that a traditionally nonproductive unit (far-off dry cow) remains in the milking string. Second, and perhaps the most significant advantage for the many farms that have an insufficient number of cows to maintain two groups of dry cows, is the ability to move toward a onegroup nutritional strategy for dry cows that more closely meets the needs of close-up cows without overfeeding those during the early dry period.
Segmental pattern formation following amputation in the flagellum of the second antennae of Asellus aquaticus (Crustacea, Isopoda)

Regeneration of the second antennae of Asellus aquaticus is described here following amputations along the antennal flagellum. The process involves the frequent resorption (loss of the distalmost joint remained on the amputated antenna) and the regular apicalization of the new terminal article. In the distal part of the flagellum, resorption occurs only when less than 70% of the original article length is left. For amputations performed in the proximal meristematic region, where new articles are normally produced, the new terminal article may also divide, sometimes producing articles with abnormal setal pattern; instead, articles that would normally divide may fail to do so if they are the nearest proximal neighbour of the new terminal article. Outcome of the increased production of new articles from the meristematic region is a regenerated antenna with a number of flagellomeres close to that shown by the undamaged controlateral one. Similarities and differences in respect to the processes occurring after amputation in the antennal peduncle, as well as in other arthropod limbs, are discussed. These differences may help with understanding general properties of the regeneration process, such as the distinction between epimorphosis and morphallaxis and the relationship between normal development and regeneration.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α (PPARα) Turnover by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Controls the Ligand-induced Expression Level of Its Target Genes*

Peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor α (PPARα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor family. PPARα is implicated in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism and in the control of inflammatory response. Recently, it has been demonstrated that a number of nuclear receptors are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Since PPARα exhibits a circadian expression rhythm and since PPARα is rapidly regulated under certain pathophysiological conditions such as the acute phase inflammatory response, we hypothesized that PPARα protein levels must be under tight control. Here, we studied the mechanisms controlling PPARα protein levels and their consequences on the transcriptional control of PPARα target genes. Using pulse-chase experiments, it is shown that PPARα is a short-lived protein and that addition of its ligands stabilizes this nuclear receptor. By transient cotransfection experiments using expression vectors for PPARα and hemagglutinin-tagged ubiquitin, it is demonstrated that PPARα protein is ubiquitinated and that its ligands decrease the ubiquitination of this nuclear receptor, thus providing a mechanism for the ligand-dependent stabilization observed in pulse-chase experiments. In addition, treatment with MG132, a selective proteasome inhibitor, increases the level of ubiquitinated PPARα and inhibits its degradation in transfected cells. Furthermore, MG132 treatment enhances the level of endogenous PPARα in HepG2 cells. Finally, transient transfection and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR show that inhibition of PPARα degradation increases its transcriptional activation and expression of target genes such as apoA-II and fatty acid transport protein (FATP). Taken together, these data demonstrate that PPARα is degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in a ligand-dependent manner. Regulation of its degradation provides a novel regulatory mechanism of transcriptional activity of this nuclear receptor.
On the structure, typology and periodism of a cystoseira brachycarpa J. Agardh emend. giaccone community and of a cystoseira crinita duby community from the eastern coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract A study of a Cystoseira brachycarpa community from the coast near Catania and of a C. crinita community from the coast near Syracuse (eastern coast of Sicily) is presented. It is based on periodic sampling carried out throughout one year, permitting a better characterisation of the communities with regard to both their periodism and floristic composition. The study proved that the C. crinita community showed a reduced seasonal periodism compared with that showed by the C. brachycarpa community. A comparative study including all samples showed that the communities differ from each other not only in the dominance of the two Cystoseira species but also in their overall floristic composition.
Assessing VGI Data Quality

Uncertainty over the data quality of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is the largest barrier to the use of this data source by National Mapping Agencies (NMAs) and other government bodies. A considerable body of literature exists that has examined the quality of VGI as well as proposed methods for quality assessment. The purpose of this chapter is to review current data quality indicators for geographic information as part of the ISO 19157 (2013) standard and how these have been used to evaluate the data quality of VGI in the past. These indicators include positional, thematic and temporal accuracy, completeness, logical consistency and usability. Additional indicators that have been proposed for VGI are then presented and discussed. In the final section of the chapter, the idea of integrated indicators and workflows of quality assurance that combine many assessment methods into a filtering system is highlighted as one way forward to improve confidence in VGI.
Temporal variation of N and P uptake in 2 New Zealand streams

Abstract Temporal variation of nutrient uptake in streams may be large because nutrient uptake is driven by many factors that vary substantially over time. Although many studies have compared nutrient uptake among streams, the range and variation of nutrient uptake within streams is known only for a few streams and a few nutrients. We investigated the monthly variation of NH4+, NO3−, and PO43− uptake in 2 New Zealand streams over 1 y. To measure uptake, each nutrient was added individually along with a conservative tracer (Cl−) into each stream on 3 successive days in each month. Ambient nutrient concentrations were low and nutrients were efficiently removed from the water column, with maximum uptake velocities (vf) of 71, 12, and 11 mm/min for NH4+, NO3−, and PO43−, respectively. Nutrient uptake varied considerably during the year (CV = 37–109%), with shortest nutrient uptake lengths (Sw) and highest vf generally in spring and summer months. The range of vf occurring within the streams spanned 25 to 89% of the range of vf among other streams. The range of uptake rates (U) within the streams was lower, accounting for 2 to 40% of the range among other streams. Variation in Sw was largely explained by changes in velocity and effective depth. Physical factors (temperature, transient storage) and chlorophyll a were generally poor predictors of vf and U. There was little correlation in uptake among nutrients, suggesting different factors were responsible for uptake of each nutrient. Our results show that the range and variation of nutrient uptake within some streams can be large. Within-stream variation should be considered when comparing among streams and may be useful for understanding what factors drive nutrient uptake in streams.
Spatially segregated foraging patterns of moose (Alces alces) and mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in a subarctic landscape: different tables in the same restaurant?

Differences in body sizes of mountain hares (Lepus timidus L., 1758) and moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) affect their ability to perceive and respond to environmental heterogeneity and plant density. Therefore, we expect these species to show niche separation at different scales in the same environment. Results showed that the numbers of mountain birches (Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii L.) browsed by moose per unit area was inversely related to hare browsing. Moose browsed larger birches compared with hares, and while hares targeted areas with high birch densities regardless of tree sizes, moose preferentially browsed areas with high densities of large birches. Moose browsing was clustered at spatial intervals of 1000–1500 m, while hare browsing was clustered at intervals of less than 500 m. Willows (genus Salix L.) in the study area were heavily browsed by moose, while few observations of hare browsing on willow were made. Regarding both hare and moose, numbers of birch stems with new browsing per s.
Comparability of three analytical techniques to assess joint space use

Abstract The degree of space-use overlap among adjacent individuals is a central focus of many wildlife investigations. We studied the comparability of minimum convex polygon and fixed-kernel home-range overlap indices and Volume of Intersection (VI) scores using simulated data. We simulated pairs of point patterns to represent telemetry locations of adjacent individuals and varied the amount of potential overlap in the simulation region (100%, 50%, and 10%) and the point distribution (random, loosely clumped, and tightly clumped). We created 1,000 pairs of point sets (60 points in each individual set) for each of the 9 potential overlap and point distribution combinations. In all 9 treatment combinations, VI scores were highest followed by kernel and then polygon estimates. Raw differences among estimates within a treatment were greatest when there was 50% potential overlap, and overlap indices decreased as the degree of clumping increased. The relative differences among overlap indices within a treatment were affected most by potential overlap; differences generally were greatest at 10% and least at 100%. Correlation between index values was lowest for random point patterns, and highest for loosely clumped and tightly clumped point patterns. Although the VI tended to indicate the most overlap and minimum convex polygon the least, there was no consistent correction factor among techniques because of the interacting effects of the overlap index, distribution pattern, and potential overlap. Interpretation of overlap measures requires careful consideration of assumptions and properties of animals under study.
Composition of eggs in relation to embryonic development and female size in giant crabs ( Pseudocarcinus gigas (Lamarck))

The size and composition of eggs from 22 giant crabs (Pseudocarcinus gigas) were monitored over 165 days to determine trends through embryogenesis. Egg composition was most stable during the early stages of embryogenesis so additional sampling (n=143) was conducted during this period to assess the effect of female size, sampling location (east and west Tasmania)and successive broods between moults, on egg composition. During embryogenesis, eggs increased in diameter and moisture content while organic dry mass declined. Total carotenoid and lipid content per egg did not change significantly, whereas protein declined (as ash-free dry mass per egg). This indicates that protein was used preferentially to lipid, which may be an adaptation to the deeper water habitat of P. gigas. Females with heavy and intermediate carapace wear were considered more likely to have produced previous clutches and they produced eggs with significantly less carotenoid. The eggs of larger females contained significantly more water, less protein and less carotenoid, whereas there was no effect on total lipid (P<0. 05). Although the effects of female size on egg composition were significant, the magnitude of the effect was small (highest for carotenoid, r2=0. 17). Consequently, it is unlikely that larval viability is affected, or that larger females contribute more to recruitment than predicted by fecundity.
Effect of curing treatments on the material properties of hardened self-compacting concrete

This paper presents a study of the properties and behavior of self-compacting concretes (SCC) in the hot climate. The effect of curing environment and the initial water curing period on the properties and behavior of SCC such as compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and sorptivity of the SCC specimens were investigated. Three Water/Binder (W/B) ratios (0.32, 0.38 and 0.44) have been used to obtain three ranges of compressive strength. Five curing methods have been applied on the SCC by varying the duration and the conservation condition of SCC. The results obtained on the compressive strength show that the period of initial water curing of seven days followed by maturation in the hot climate is better in comparison with the four other curing methods. The coefficient of sorptivity is influenced by W/B ratio and the curing methods. It is also shown that the sorptivity coefficient of SCC specimens is very sensitive to the curing condition. The SCC specimens cured in water present a low coefficient of sorptivity regardless of the ratio W/B. Furthermore, the results show that there is a good correlation between ultrasonic pulse velocity and the compressive strength.
Integrated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management in Rice Under Flood-Prone Lowland Situation

ABSTRACT Crop survival as influenced by integrated N management (INM) in rice variety ‘Gayatri’ was studied following 10 days of complete submergence at maximum tillering stage during 2003 and 2004 in the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, India. Organic N sources such as farmyard manure (FYM) and Sesbania aculeate were included in INM along with fertilizers N and P. Crops with the combined organics of FYM and Sesbania survived better after submergence, which was attributed to higher biomass production, less tiller mortality, greater root development, and higher critical N content in leaf, as compared with other treatments. These crops produced significantly higher grain yield (2.97 and 3.09t ha−1 in 2003 and 2004) compared with those with application of FYM (2.48 and 2.61 t ha−1), use of Sesbania (2.24 and 2.35 t ha−1) and chemical fertilizer N (1.98 and 2.07 t ha−1) alone. In both the years, application of P also led to higher grain yields (2.40 and 2.52 t ha−1) compared with no application of P (2.19 and 2.29 t ha−1). Interaction of INM with P showed that application of P with the combined organics increased grain yield by 13.1–13.7%, followed by that with FYM (10.16–12.2%), Sesbania (8.37–8.89%), and fertilizer N (7.33–8.04%). In both the years, greater nutrient utilization as evidenced by N use efficiency (29.2 and 29.7 kg grain per kg N ha−1), N uptake (54.0 and 57.0 kg ha−1), and N recovery (35.0 and 41.5%) was attributed to the crops with combined organics. P use efficiency (10.5 and 11.5 kg grain per kg P ha−1), P uptake (14.9 and 16.5 kg ha−1), and P recovery (28.5 and 31.5%) were higher in the treatments with applied P. Thus the study revealed that application of both FYM and Sesbania in combination with fertilizers N and P in rice improved crop growth resulting in increased grain yield and nutrient utilization in flood-prone situations. Therefore, it is recommended to follow INM that included FYM and Sesbania in combination with both fertilizers N and P in rice cultivation for increasing grain yield in flood-prone lowland situations.
Improving estimates of biomass change in buttressed trees using tree taper models

Repeat censuses of tree plots are key tools for investigating forest carbon fluxes. Current measurement procedures for trees with buttresses or trunk irregularities – trees that account for a large fraction of tropical forest biomass –introduce substantial systematic error in plot‐level estimates of biomass change. The diameters of buttressed trees are measured above the standard height of 1·3 m, and the measurement heights on individual trees are often moved upwards as buttresses grow. Because tree trunks taper (diameter decreases with height), biomass growth in buttressed individuals tends to be underestimated. Methods have been introduced to correct biomass growth estimates in individual trees for increases in measurement height; however, these methods change the distribution of effective measurement heights over time, introducing biases in plot‐level estimates of biomass change. In this study, we developed and applied new methods to measure and model trunk taper, and to use taper models to correct estimates of AGB change for changing measurement heights. We measured trunk taper above buttresses in 190 stems on Barro Colorado Island, Panama (BCI), a site where more than half of forest biomass is in trees measured above standard height. We compared proposed taper models to see which best described our measured taper data, then used the best taper model to correct for changing measurement heights in the historical plot data. Specifically, for all diameter measurements taken above 1·3 m, we calculated equivalent diameters at 1·3 m and substituted these into allometric equations to examine biomass change over time. We found that measured taper was best fit by an exponential model with a rate parameter that varied with measured diameter (tree size), height of measurement (buttress height) and species. Whereas uncorrected data show a decrease in biomass of 0·21% year−1 between 1985 and 2010 on BCI, taper‐corrected data show an increase of 0·18% year−1. The novel correction method presented here converts all measured diameters to one standard effective measurement height. This corrects for biases at the plot level and provides a stronger foundation for measuring biomass change in tropical forests.