Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ground cover in temperate native perennial grass pastures. I. A comparison of four estimation methods

Studies were conducted to compare visual estimates of ground cover and canopy cover by both inexperienced and experienced observers and to compare those estimates with those from more objective methods in native pastures in the high rainfall, temperate rangelands of northern NSW. Ground cover and canopy cover of 60 quadrats was estimated using visual, mapped area, digital image analysis and photo point quadrat methods. Inexperienced observers were trained by estimating ground cover of reference quadrats. Differences between mean visual estimates of ground cover and canopy cover for experienced and inexperienced observers were not significant (P>0.05). Mean ground cover estimates by the mapped area, digital image analysis and point quadrat methods were also not different from each other. The overall relationship between mean visual estimate and mean objective estimate of ground cover was non-linear (second order polynomial, R2 = 0.93), observers tending to underestimate in the mid-range (20 to 80%) of cover compared with objective methods. Mean visual estimate of ground cover was 73.7% compared with the mean objective estimate of 83.7%. Visual estimates of canopy cover (mean 34.6%) were highly correlated (R2 = 0.90) with those of the mapped area method (mean 34.3%) and the relationship was linear. Measurement of ground cover is a standard technique used in many pasture ecology and management studies and is increasingly being used by land managers to monitor pasture production and sustainability. Inexperienced observers were trained quickly and easily to estimate ground cover and canopy cover with sufficient accuracy to identify ranges of cover using visual estimation, indicating that the visual estimation technique should be suitable for estimating ground cover in land management research.
The Functional Anatomy of the Female Pelvic Floor and Stress Continence Control System

This paper provides an overview of the functional anatomy of the structures responsible for controlling urinary continence under stress. The stress continence control system can be divided into two parts: the system responsible for bladder neck support, and the system responsible for sphincteric closure. Age- and injury-related changes in each of these systems are discussed. Understanding the pathophysiology of incontinence on the anatomical level will help to lead to identification of specific defects, thereby allowing better individualized treatment for the incontinent patient.
Genetic Diversity of an Alien Invasive Plant Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) in China

Abstract Mexican sunflower is a native species of North and Central America that was introduced into China early last century, but it has widely naturalized and become a harmful invasive plant in tropical and subtropical regions in South China. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to assess genetic diversity and variation in Mexican sunflower populations from China and neighboring regions. The karyotypes of populations were also studied. Our research showed high levels of genetic diversity in all populations. The lowest genetic diversity estimates were represented in two populations in Laos, suggesting prevention of new introductions into Laos is critical. Partitioning of genetic variance revealed that genetic variation was mostly found within populations, and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) analysis showed that the introductions into China and Laos were independent. There were no obvious correlations between genetic relationships and geographic distance of populations in China, consistent with the human associated dispersal history of Mexican sunflower. Previous cytological data and our chromosome count (2n = 34) and karyotype analysis showed chromosome stability among populations. The high levels of genetic diversity within invasive Mexican sunflower populations could be challenging for its management in China, and further expansion and potential negative effects on ecological systems of this plant should be monitored. Nomenclature: Mexican sunflower, Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray.
Grey squirrels have high seroprevalence to a parapoxvirus associated with deaths in red squirrels

The population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles is in decline and is being supplanted by the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). It has been suggested that parapoxvirus‐associated disease has caused significant mortality in red squirrels and that grey squirrels are the source of the virus. A direct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of antibody to squirrel parapoxvirus. We tested 140 sera from red squirrels and 223 from grey squirrels from different populations in the UK. A high percentage (61%) of apparently healthy grey squirrels, were found to have been exposed to the parapoxvirus. Only 2.86% (4/140) of red squirrels had antibody and three of these animals had parapoxvirus‐associated disease. We postulate that the grey squirrel may act as a reservoir host for the virus.
Pastoral management vs. land abandonment in Mediterranean uplands: impact on land snail communities

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a pastoral management chosen to limit the recent expansion of woodland on a Mediterranean mountain on land snail diversity. An additional aim was to acquire quantitative data that could be used to identify pasture environments from Holocene molluscan assemblages. The work was undertaken at the Luberon mountain, Provence, south of France. We used a stratified quantitative sampling scheme according to altitude and vegetation structure. A total of 80 sites were studied. Large species were collected within a 5 × 5-m plot. Small species were extracted from litter and surface soil. A standard procedure for site description was used based on 35 environmental variables. Grazing pressure was estimated according to the impact of grazing on the herb layer. Correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis were performed using canoco 4.0 software. The distribution of land snails is related to altitude and grazing intensity. Large patches of grazed grassland harbour open country and mountain snail species. Thermophilic open ground species are located in grazed grasslands at lower altitude. Shade-loving species are present in ungrazed scrublands or in small clearings on the upper slopes. The lowest species richness, diversity and equitability are associated with large patches of grazed grassland, the presence of a continuous cover of short grass reinforcing this negative impact on snail diversity. Our study is consistent with similar works on land snails or other invertebrates but discordant with vegetation studies. A homogeneous grazed herb layer significantly reduces snail diversity and abundance. Heterogeneity seems to favour snail diversity both at the local and landscape scales. However, sheep grazing contributes to the expansion of suitable habitats for rare snail species.
Antiplatelet effects of prostacyclin and nitric oxide in patients with type I diabetes and ischemic or edematous retinopathy

The aim of this study was investigate prostacyclin and nitric oxide (NO) and their platelet second messengers cAMP and cGMP, in patients with type I diabetes with or without retinopathy. We compared 20 healthy volunteers and 97 patients with type I diabetes: 24 with no signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), 43 with ischemicproliferative DR, and 30 with edematous DR. The following parameters were recorded: platelet aggregometry, nitrites/nitrates, 6-keto-prostaglandin-F 1 f , and intraplatelet cAMP and cGMP. Platelet aggregation was greater in patients with edematous DR. The platelets in patients with diabetes were more resistant to inhibition by prostaglandin E 1 or sodium nitropruside. Nitrite concentration in patients with ischemic-proliferative DR was 80% lower than the value in healthy controls, but there was no significant difference between the control group and patients with edematous DR. In the latter group, stimulation of neutrophils with L-arginine increased nitrite + nitrate production by 44 - 3.6%, whereas in patients with ischemic-proliferative DR, the increase was 9.8 - 0.8%. We conclude that NO production is higher in patients with type I diabetes and edematous retinopathy than in those with ischemic-proliferative retinopathy. This finding, together with the possibly greater production of free radicals, may explain the greater impairment of platelet function in the former patients.
Correlation between cell killing and residual chromatin breaks measured by PCC in six human cell lines irradiated with different radiation types

Purpose : To examine the relationship between cell killing and residual chromatin breaks after irradiation with qualitatively different types of radiation in six human cell lines. Materials and methods : Six human tumour cell lines and normal human cells were irradiated with 200kV X-rays and two carbonion beams accelerated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) differing in LET. At the sample position the carbon-ion beams had LET2 values of 13.1 and 77.5 ±0.4keV/ μ m. Cell inactivation was documented by a colony assay. Residual chromatin breaks were measured by counting the number of residual chromatin fragments at 24 h, detected by the premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique. Results : The cell lines covered a broad range of radiosensitivity. D 10 values ranged from 3.53 to 8.12 Gy for X-rays, 2.56 to 7.41 Gy for the lower LET carbon ions and 1.17 to 3.85Gy for the higher LET carbon ions. The results for residual chromatin breaks indicate that the more radiosensitive cell lines showed a greater induction of residual chromatin breaks either by X-rays or carbon-ions, and that an X-ray resistant cell line also showed resistance to carbon-ions. Cellular radiosensitivity correlated with the frequency of residual chromatin breaks. Conclusion : The detection of residual chromatin breaks by the PCC technique could be used to predict cellular radiosensitivity among qualitatively different types of radiation.
Preconception care of women with diabetes: The unrevealed obstacles

In spite of the widely accepted knowledge that elevated blood glucose levels in early pregnancy are associated with a significantly increased risk of birth defects in infants of women with established diabetes, the majority of diabetic women do not plan their pregnancies and enter pregnancy with inadequate blood glucose control. This article reviews the current research on circumstances and factors associated with unplanned diabetic pregnancies and offers recommendations to encourage effective pregnancy planning and preconception care among women with diabetes.
Mesures thermiques des flux de sève dans les troncs et les racines et fonctionnement hydrique des arbres. I. Analyse théorique des erreurs sur la mesure des flux et validation des mesures en présence de gradients thermiques extérieurs

Summary — Thermal measurements of sap flux in trunks and roots and hydrous behaviour of trees. I. Theoretical analysis of the errors in sap-flux estimations and measurement validation in the presence of external thermal gradients. A thermal method for estimating sap flow in apple-tree trunks and roots, based on measuring the temperature of a constant heat source inserted into the xylem had been applied for investigating water use by trees and soil-water uptake by roots under field conditions (figs 1, 2). A theoretical analysis of the errors in flux measurement determined the percentage of confidence for the measurements of sap flux in 2 different types of organs studied (fig 3 and table I) and the contribution of each variable in the calculation model to the formation of the total error (table II). The study of effect of the external thermal gradient on flux values (fig 4), especially important in the root zone, led
How common is depression among ALS caregivers? A longitudinal study

Our objective was to assess the impact of personal, situational and patient characteristics on mood, and changes over time, among ALS caregivers. Seventy-one patient-caregiver pairs were interviewed once and 51 (72%) monthly until endpoints of death or tracheostomy for long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV). Depressive symptoms and DSM-IV disorders, coping strategies, caregiver burden, satisfaction with care-giving, and patient disease severity were assessed. At baseline, 13% of caregivers had major depression, and 10% had minor depression. Rates declined at last visit before death or LTMV (median interval three months), as did depressive symptoms. Correlates of caregiver depression included reliance on avoidance, perceived burden, fatigue, and feeling that the patient was critical and unappreciative. Half of the 14 caregivers of patients who planned LTMV were depressed at baseline, declining to 8% at endpoint, versus 16% (9/57) among caregivers of patients who died, declining non-significantly to 11%. While few personal or situational factors were correlated with caregiver distress, patients’ plans and degree of supportiveness influenced caregiver mood. Verbal comments of caregivers clarified the distinction between sadness and psychiatric depression. The high baseline rate of depression among caregivers of patients who planned tracheostomy decreased as caregivers instituted major changes in patient care or personal counseling.
Shape change in human platelets: measurement with a channelyzer and visualisation by electron microscopy

The increase in median platelet volume (MPV) that occurs following the addition of various agonists can be recorded by high-resolution channelyzers. However, this increase in MPV may not represent the platelet shape change (PSC), an early phase of platelet activation characterised by the formation of pseudopodia. We therefore compared the MPV after adding various agonists (serotonin, ADP or a thromboxane A 2 analogue) with scanning electron micrographs (EM) of the platelets in the same sample. Saline alone did not increase the MPV or alter platelet morphology. In contrast, the selected agonists altered both the MPV and EM. Adrenaline (5.0 mu mol/l) alone did not influence either of these indices of platelet activation. However, when a lower concentration of adrenaline (0.2 mu mol/l) was added in combination with a dose of serotonin (0.02 mu mol/l) that did not affect the MPV on its own, the measured MPV increased significantly and the EM showed pseudopodia formation. Because the channelyzer method is reproducible and suited to serial measurements of the MPV, it may become a useful tool for the investigation of platelet activation.
Effects of Dietary Cholesterol Level on Heart Cholesterol and Palmitoleic Acid in Female Rats

The effects of dietary cholesterol on the relationship among cholesterol and fatty acid levels in the serum, liver, and heart of female rats were studied. When various levels of cholesterol (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00%) were added to a 10% butter diet with cholic acid, proportional increases appeared in liver weight (r=0.94), but no significant increase occurred in body or heart weight. An increase in dietary cholesterol induced increases in serum, liver, and heart cholesterol (r=0.72, r=0.87, and r=0.84, respectively). A direct relationship was found between the cholesterol levels for the serum and the liver (r=0.67) and for the serum and the heart (r=0.83). The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids/cholesterol decreased with cholesterol levels in serum, liver, and heart (r=-0.83, r=-0.74, and r=-0.77, respectively). The changes in heart cholesterol correlated positively with the changes in heart levels of palmitoleic acid (r=0.61), and the value of palmitoleic acid in the heart correlated with the values for serum palmitoleic acid (r=0.60). These results indicate that dietary cholesterol has profound effects on the levels of cholesterol and palmitoleic acid in the heart as in the serum and liver and show that changes in the amounts of cholesterol and palmitoleic acid in serum reflect changes in these amounts in the liver and heart.
Growth of balsam poplar and black cottonwood in Alaska in relation to landform and soil

While constructing site index curves for balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) and western black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray) for interior and southcentral Alaska, we found variations in growth patterns that appeared to be related to landform and soil properties. We characterized soils for 42 of 65 site index plots in an attempt to explain site productivity variation. We found significant negative correlations between site index and elevation. Region, landform, and floodplain characteristics (especially sediment deposition) significantly affected poplar growth rate and soil development patterns. Nutrient availability and recycling appear to be mediated by flooding through scouring or burial of surface organic layers. Soil pH patterns related to O-horizon development and salt crust formation and dissolution described previously for the Tanana River floodplain do not hold for all floodplains in Alaska. At similar latitudes and elevations, upland locations may have higher site indices th.
Thesis

This review is the report of a single experimental protocol on the nature, structure and mechanical strength of 136 bone samples from the vertebral body of 9 subjects. On these samples, we combined mechanical testing with density measurements (part I), a study of some microarchitectural parameters (part II) and a biochemical analysis of bone collagen (part III). As multiple samples were studied in each subject we explored whether a given parameter was characteristic of that subject. The parameters were also systematically screened as potential indicators of the bone quality. The association of biochemical and microarchitectural data offered a unique opportunity to compare both sets of data (part IV). Finally, in a technical addendum, we report the comparison of histology vs pQCT (a small scanner) as investigation tools for the bone density and microarchitecture. 4. Banse X, Sims T J, Bailey A J. Mechanical properties of adult vertebral cancellous bone: Correlation with collagen intermolecular crosslinks. J Bone Miner Res 2002c; (In press).
Translational regulation of platelet-derived growth factor B chain (c-sis) mRNA by short open reading frames in the 5'-untranslated region

Platelet-derived growth factor B chain (PDGF-B/c-SIS), the product of c-sis proto-oncogene, is a potent mitogen and chemoattractant for cells of mesenchymal origin. Expression of PDGF-B/c-SIS is regulated at the translational level, in addition to at the transcriptional level. The 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of PDGF-B/c sis mRNA is known to inhibit translation of the downstream coding sequences. The 5'-UTR contains putative influential elements, such as GC-rich elements, stem-loop structures and short open reading frames (SORFs). To clarify the inhibition mechanism of PDGF-B/c-sis mRNA translation, effects of three SORFs in the 5'-UTR on the translational regulation were investigated in transient expression assays. Introducing point mutation(s) in the initiation codons of SORFs affected the reporter gene expression in several cell lines (COS-1, U-2, JEG-3). Abrogation of three SORFs resulted in an increase of the reporter gene expression both in g -galactosidase assay and Western blot analysis. These results suggest that SORFs in the 5'-UTR sequences have inhibitory effects on the translation of the downstream coding sequences.
Automatic analysis to assess haematological parameters in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758)

The haematological parameters (RBC, Hb, PCV, WBC, TC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC) in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) were measured using an automatic method. We then compared the outcomes using the traditional manual method. After blood collection (T0), all samples were immediately analyzed using both the manual and automatic methods. The samples were successively divided into five different aliquots and stored at +4°C to evaluate the effect of the storage time on haematological parameters, measured with the automatic method, at 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after collection. Paired t-tests were applied between the values obtained at T0 with the manual and automatic methods and no statistical difference was observed. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that parameters measured with the automatic system were significantly affected by the storage time (p < 0.0001). These results provide an innovative automatic method for the determination of haematological parameters in sea bream and suggest that the haematological profile can be accurately assessed within 6 h from blood collection.
The Arctiini (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) fauna of the Serra do Pardo National Park, Pará, Brazil

This study evaluated the Arctiini fauna of the Serra do Pardo National Park (Para, Brazil) between 22 September and 3 October 2011. Light traps were left one night in each sampling site (SS) from 18:00 h to 6:00 h of the next day. The following parameters were evaluated: richness (S), abundance (N), diversity index (H’), Shannon uniformity (U) index, and Berger-Parker dominance (BP). Richness was estimated using the non-parametric methods Chao1, Chao2, ACE, ICE, Jackknife1, Jackknife2 and Bootstrap. A total of 3,247 specimens were captured, belonging to 221 Arctiini taxa; 32 of these are new records for the state of Para and, of these, six are new records for the Brazilian Amazon. The Arctiini fauna is very rich and uniform. The richness estimator and rarefaction curve indicated the need for increased sampling efforts in the area.
Adaptive Visually-Directed Orientation in Uca pugilator

Sand fiddler crabs are ill-equipped to inhabit either the terrestrial or permanently submerged littoral zones. They are obligate inhabitants of the intertidal region in which, at any point, extremes of conditions continually fluctuate. The crabs must constantly move about to specific areas in order to carry out life-supporting processes while avoiding detrimental physical conditons. For this reason, directional orientation is basic to their existence. The typical activities of adult sand fiddlers during diurnal low tides have charateristic directional components. Some directed movements have immediate survival value under conditions of stress, such as the approach of a predator. For example, crabs on the lower beach (well away from their burrow area) often run landward and enter burrows or vegetation, thereby obtaining refuge. Those which are chased offshore or inland are able to reorient to the beach. Experiments conducted both in the field and under controlled conditions indicate that these adaptive oriented movements are guided primarily by visual mechanisms. Adult crabs exhibit a time-compensated, menotactic orientation to the sun and polarized sky-light that enables them to maintain a heading coincident with the landward compass bearing of their particular shoreline. New directional preferences can be induced by holding crabs in simulated habitats with specific shore-water spatial configurations. The crabs also exhibit a telotaxis toward gross landmarks, such as mangroves or clumps of beach grass, that stand in optical contrast to the background. This orientation occurs in most individuals if celestial cues are obscured or if the animals become desiccated. Upon reaching the object, crabs enter suitable interstices affording refuge. Since they can orient by either celestial cues or landmarks, or both, there are probably few times in nature when they are disoriented from lack of guidance-stimuli.