Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in morning and evening lateness

Studies of morning–evening preference consistently recognize age differences, but gender differences are rarely reported. To examine these differences, we applied the Sleep–Wake Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (Putilov 1990, 2000, 2007). Unlike unidimensional morningness–eveningness scales, it includes separate scales for the measurement of Evening and Morning lateness (E and M, respectively). Data on 7465 adolescents and adults suggest that both E and M scores significantly decline with age. Genders are identical on the sum of E and M scores, but female respondents of any age cohort have a lower E score and a higher M score. Differences between these scores remain constant across ages. Analysis of a subset of data on 2016 adults revealed significant correlation of this difference with self-reported sleep length which, however, is not significantly longer in women. We concluded that, compared to men, women prefer earlier bedtimes and later wake up times and can desire but not obtain more sleep.
Upper Dentition of Ekgmowechashala (Omomyid Primate) from the John Day Formation, Oligo-Miocene of Oregon

A fragmentary maxilla of an omomyid primate, probably referable to Ekgmowechashala, is described from the John Day Formation of Oregon. Ekgmowechashala is otherwise known only from lower jaw fragments from South Dakota. Similarities between the John Day specimen and early Oligocene Rooneyia strengthen the probability that Ekgmowechashala evolved from a form closely related to Rooneyia.
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Toltrazuil and Its Major Metabolites after Oral Administration in Broilers

1 Jeollanamdo Development Institute for Traditional Korean Medicine, Jangheung, Jeollanam-Do, 529-851, South Korea 2 Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea 3 Center for Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Materials, Myoung Ji University, San38-2, Nam-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-do, 449-728, South Korea
Recent patents in antifungal agent discovery

Background: Fungi are the most insidious pathogens, since they are eukaryotic microorganisms. Systemic infections are potentially fatal and are a growing danger for human health. There is increasing emergence of fungal resistance to currently available antifungal agents. Objective: An overview of the most relevant practical improvements in the field of antifungal drugs is given. Methods: A selection of the more interesting patents recorded from 2000 to 2007 is presented. Results/conclusion: Relevant news regarding azoles are the improvement of the solubility of known agents, and increased activity against Aspergillus species. Novel peptides, including echinocandins, are under study. Sordarins were analysed because they show a mechanism of action that confers on this class a high degree of selectivity. Natural products, macrolide derivatives and miscellaneous antifungals with interesting activities were described. Novel synthetic derivatives were reported as anti-Aspergillus agents. Finally, a description of compounds active on less explored targets is reported.
Mechanisms of action of ostrich β‐defensins against Escherichia coli

To understand their mechanism of antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, ostrich β-defensins, ostricacins-1 and 2 (Osp-1 and Osp-2), were compared with those of sheep myeloid antimicrobial peptide (SMAP)-29 and human neutrophil peptide (HNP)-1, well-characterized sheep α-helical and human α-defensin peptides, respectively. Fluorescence-based biochemical assays demonstrated that the ostricacins bound lipopolysaccharides and disrupted both outer and cytoplasmic membrane integrity. The ostricacins' permeabilizing ability was weaker than that of SMAP-29, but stronger than HNP-1. As ostricacins have previously shown the ability to inhibit bacterial growth, these peptides were suggested to be bacteriostatic to Gram-negative bacteria, which are caused by the interaction between the peptides and cytoplasmic targets causing the inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis as well as enzymatic activities. These findings indicated promising possibilities for the peptides to be used in the development of therapeutic and topical products.
Effects of environmental stressors on nest success of introduced birds

Understanding the influence of environmental stressors on daily nest survival of introduced birds is important because it can affect introduction success as well as the ability to evaluate introduction programs. For long-lived birds with low annual production, adjustment to local breeding conditions can take many years. We examined nest success rates of 2 introduced bird species, whooping crane (Grus americana) and trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), in Wisconsin. Both species are long-lived with low annual reproductive rates. Trumpeter swans were established in our study area approximately 10 years before whooping cranes. We predicted that trumpeter swans would show less sensitivity to environmental stressors. We used daily nest survival rates (DNSRs) as our response variable to model several environmental parameters including weather, phenology, and ornithophilic black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae). Additionally, we examined the influence of captive history, age, release method, energetics, and nesting experience on whooping crane DNSRs. Daily nest survival of whooping cranes was the most sensitive to stressors. Trumpeter swan daily nest survival showed less sensitivity to the same stressors. Daily nest survival for both species peaked later in the nesting season, after 30 April and before 30 May. We also found that the daily nest survival rate (DNSR) for whooping cranes was potentially affected by captive exposure (measured by generations removed from the wild). Our results highlight the difficulties associated with conservation of long-lived birds with low annual productivity as they adjust to local breeding conditions and that nest phenology at the source location can determine how these conditions are interfaced. We recommend that the juxtaposition of source and introduction location nest phenology be considered prior to introduction site selection. Additionally, strategically selecting offspring from captive pairs with nest phenology similar to that of sympatric species at the introduction location should be considered. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Breeding ecology of Twite Carduelis flavirostris in a crofting landscape

Capsule Twite nested close to and exploited rich seed sources on machair, and had high breeding productivity relative to other studies of Carduelis finches. Aims To test whether Twite nesting distribution, breeding phenology and success, foraging habitat selection, and nestling diet in a high density population on the Western Isles of Scotland are associated with the habitats and food sources provided by agricultural management of machair habitats. Methods Breeding season transect surveys and intensive nest finding were used to quantify the habitat associations, distribution, phenology, nest success and nestling diet of breeding Twite on study areas in the Western Isles of Scotland. Individual colour‐ringing was used to estimate the number of breeding attempts being made by individual adults. Results Nesting Twite were strongly associated with moorland edge habitats adjacent to machair, with most nests in Heather or shelter‐belt conifers, and the birds fed almost exclusively on seed sources characteristic of machair grassland and fallows rather than moorland. Nesting success did not vary between habitats or study areas, although both clutch and brood sizes showed a mid‐season peak. Individual adults made up to three nesting attempts in one season, and overall breeding productivity was high relative to other recent studies of Carduelis finches, including studies of the declining Twite population in the English Pennines. Conclusion The maintenance of rich seed sources provided by the mix of low‐intensity arable and grassland management of the machair are likely to be essential to maintaining high Twite population density and indicate that management intervention to restore such seed sources in the habitats of declining populations should be a high priority.
Forest Fertilization Research in Finland: A Literature Review

This paper summarizes results from fertilization research carried out in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst. ] stands growing on mineral soil in Finland. The use of needle and soil analyses to indicate nutrient status and the need for fertilization are discussed along with the possibilities of increasing tree growth in various site types and stages of stand development. Doses, types of fertilizer, application time, growth increase, wood quality and the profitability of fertilization are also discussed. The stand response in terms of soil acidity, biological activity, soil fauna and resistance of trees to nutrient addition are all reviewed. The effects of fertilization on understorey vegetation, mushrooms and berries, and leaching loss of nutrients are also included.
Apparent digestive efficiency in walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) fed herring (Clupea harengus) and clams (Spisula sp.)

The digestive efficiency in 4 captive walruses (2 males, 2 females) was determined. All 4 walruses were fed a diet of herring (Clupea harengus), and the adults (1 male, 1 female) were fed clams (Spisula sp.), for a total of 6 animal–diet combinations. The digestive coefficient for energy was the same for both diets ( SD: 92.7 ± 2.1%; n = 6) but significantly (P = 0.02) higher in females (94.4 ± 1.2%, n = 3) than in males (91.0 ± 0.8%, n = 3). No age effects were found. The mean digestive coefficient of protein was 93.8% ± 1.8% (n = 6) and did not vary among diets or animals. The digestive coefficient for lipid was lower for the clam diet (73.2 ± 0.1%, n = 2) than for the herring diet (94.4 ± 2.3%, n = 4), but this is likely an artifact due to the low lipid content of the clams (5.8 ± 0.7%) and the influence of endogenous lipid loss. The approximate maintenance gross energy requirements for the 1200-kg nonpregnant, nonlactating adult walrus in captivity were 31 350 kcal∙day−1 (1 kcal = 4.18 kJ) or 155 kcal.
Temperature Influences on Adult Size, Development, and Reproductive Potential of Aquatic Diptera

Elevated temperature (2.5 and 4.0 °C) resulted in smaller body size of stream Diptera in outdoor experimental channels, and this trend applied to both predator and detritivore trophic groups. Comparison of cumulative emergence curves using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test showed that most species developed more quickly in the heated channels; this led to greater overall survivorship. Reproductive potential, estimated from ovary area, did not change with body size for Conchapelopia aleta, Polypedilum aviceps, and Stempellinella brevis, and did so only weakly for Parametriocnemus lundbecki. In addition, females decreased in size more than males in the heated channels. Somatic growth appeared to be sacrificed to maintain reproductive potential, although loss of energy reserves could reduce the length of the reproductive stage. In balance, the aquatic Diptera demonstrated resistance to thermal elevation in the summer, even though ambient temperatures approached 30 °C. This may partially account for the group's abi.
Multi-species weed spatial variability and site-specific management maps in cultivated sunflower

Abstract Geostatistical techniques were used to describe and map weed spatial distribution in two sunflower fields in Cabello and Monclova, southern Spain. Data from the study were used to design intermittent spraying strategies. Weed species, overall infestation severity (IS) index, and spatial distribution varied considerably between the two sites. Weed species displayed differences in spatial dependence regardless of IS. The IS mapping of each single weed and of the overall infestation was achieved by kriging, and site-specific application maps were then drawn based on the multi-species weed map and the estimated economic threshold (ET). Herbicide treatment was assumed to be needed for an overall IS score of 2 or 3, and the infested “area exceeding the economic threshold” was determined. The overall weed-infested area varied considerably between locations. About 99 and 38% of the total area was moderately infested (IS ≥ 2) at Monclova and Cabello, respectively. Therefore, if a given herbicide were applied just to the areas exceeding the ET, a significant herbicide saving would be realized in Cabello but not in Monclova. A multi-species spatial analysis provides an opportunity to make site-specific management recommendations from a map of the distribution of IS of the total infestation. Furthermore, only in fields with hard-to-control weed species (e.g., nodding broomrape and corn caraway) would site-specific herbicide application maps developed from total weed infestations need to be complemented with targeted site-specific herbicide treatments to prevent further spread of these species, although their IS might be low. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; Bristly oxtongue, Picris echioides L. PICEC; catchweed bedstraw, Gallium aparine L. GALAP; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; corn caraway, Ridolfia segetum Morris, CRYRI; cowcockle, Vaccaria pyramidata Medik. VAAPY; European heliotrope, Heliotropium europaeum L. HEOEU; field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis L. CONAR; littleseed canarygrass, Phalaris paradoxa L. PHAPA; nodding broomrape, Orobanche cernua Loefl. ORACE; prostrate knotweed, Polygonum aviculare L. POLAU; rapeseed, Brassica napus L. ; sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. ; tumble pigweed, Amaranthus albus L. AMAAL; wild mustard, Sinapis arvensis L. SINAR
Propagação por enxertia de atemoia 'Thompson' sobre espécies de Rollinia

Este estudo teve por finalidade avaliar o indice de sobrevivencia do enxerto de atemoia 'Thompson' sobre dois porta-enxertos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2, dois porta-enxertos [araticum-de-terra-fria (Rollinia sp.) e biriba (Rollinia mucosa)] e dois metodos de enxertia (topo em fenda lateral e topo a inglesa simples), em 6 blocos, 4 tratamentos e 5 plantas por parcela, totalizando 120 plantas. Para as condicoes locais, verificou-se que a atemoia pode ser propagada com sucesso via enxertia, usando o porta-enxerto araticum-de-terra-fria, com diferenca significativa em relacao ao biriba. O melhor metodo de enxertia para araticum-de-terra-fria foi o ingles simples, com indice de sobrevivencia do enxerto de 90%. Observou-se baixo indice de sobrevivencia do enxerto, utilizando-se de ambos os metodos de enxertia para o porta-enxerto biriba.
Spatial and Temporal Scales in Habitat Selection

Female yellow-headed blackbirds in eastern Washington State settle to nest at higher densities on marshes with higher emergence rates of odonates, the most important prey delivered to nestlings. However, settling densities of females were not correlated with odonate emergence rates on individual territories or on individual territories plus adjacent ones. Apparently, females assessed production of insects on breeding marshes at the time they settled, and they used this information when making settling decisions. However, they selected nest sites on the basis of vegetation density rather than food availability. The complexity of decision making by female yellowheads would not have been detected had our analysis been restricted to one spatial scale. Because interpretations of habitat selection behavior are scale-dependent, careful attention to scale and performing analyses on more than one spatial scale are essential in studies of habitat selection.
Comportamento de cultivares de uva sem sementes no submédio São Francisco

The present work aimed at evaluating and selecting seeddless grape varieties adapted to the semi-arid tropical conditions of the Sao Francisco River Valley, Northeastern - Brazil. The experiment was carried out in an experimental vineyard which belongs to Embrapa Semi-Arid, in Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil during five growing seasons in 1997 and 1998. The varieties tested were: Venus, Arizul, Beauty Seedless, Thompson Seedless, Marroo Seedless, Canner, CG 39915, Pasiga, Saturn, Emperatriz, A1581, Paulistinha and Loose Perlette, grafted on IAC 572 ('Campinas') rootstock. Aspects of vegetative and productive characteristics and chemical composition of the berries were evaluated. All varieties presented small bunches, and 'Venus' and 'Marroo Seedless' berries showed mean diameters of 17.83 and 18.26 mm, respectively, without necessity to apply growth regulators. The total soluble solids (TSS) was high in most varieties. However, the total tritable acidity (TTA) was low, resulting in satisfactory ratio (TSS/ATT). 'Venus' and 'Marroo Seedless' were the most productive varieties, with the annual average production of 24 tons/ha and 20 tons/ha, respectively.
GFRα-2 and GFRα-3 Are Two New Receptors for Ligands of the GDNF Family

The receptor for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) consists of GFRα-1 and Ret. Neurturin is a GDNF-related neurotrophin whose receptor is presently unknown. Here we report that neurturin can bind to either GFRα-1 or GFRα-2, a novel receptor related to GFRα-1. Both GFRα-1 and GFRα-2 mediate neurturin-induced Ret phosphorylation. GDNF can also bind to either GFRα-1 or GFRα-2, and activate Ret in the presence of either binding receptor. Although both ligands interact with both receptors, cells expressing GFRα-1 bind GDNF more efficiently than neurturin, while cells expressing GFRα-2 bind neurturin preferentially. Cross-linking and Ret activation data also suggest that while there is cross-talk, GFRα-1 is the primary receptor for GDNF and GFRα-2 exhibits a preference for neurturin. We have also cloned a cDNA that apparently codes for a third member of the GFRα receptor family. This putative receptor, designated GFRα-3, is closely related in amino acid sequence and is nearly identical in the spacing of its cysteine residues to both GFRα-1 and GFRα-2. Analysis of the tissue distribution of GFRα-1, GFRα-2, GFRα-3, and Ret by Northern blot reveals overlapping but distinct patterns of expression. Consistent with a role in GDNF function, the GFRαs and Ret are expressed in many of the same tissues, suggesting that GFRαs mediate the action of GDNF family ligands in vivo.
The effects of dry heat processing, autoclaving and enzyme supplementation on the nutritive value of wheat for growing Japanese quails

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of autoclaving and heat processing (HP) and enzyme supplementation on wheat nutritive value for quails. In the first experiment, 72 male quails (13 weeks) were used to determine apparent metobalisable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) of wheat samples. In the second experiment, 720 seven-day-old as-hatched Japanese quail were randomly assigned to a 3×3 factorial design. Factors include three processing methods (untreated, autoclaving and HP) and three levels of enzyme (0, 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg). Each treatment group consisted of 4 replicates of 20 birds. According to the results, the total and insoluble none starch polysaccharides (NSP) and insoluble to soluble NSP ratio increased by processing (P<0.01) and also total and insoluble β-glucan increased by processing (P<0.01). The amount of AME, AMEn, gross energy efficiency and dry matter digestibility of wheat has significantly increased by autoclaving (P<0.05). Quails performance was increased by wheat autoclaving (P<0.05). However, wheat dry heat processing had no significant effect on performance. Adding enzyme to diet significantly improved quails performance. By autoclaving wheat, carcass and breast weight significantly increased (P<0.05). Adding enzyme to diet significantly increased breast and thigh weight (P<0.05). In conclusion, we can use autoclaving, in spite of enzyme supplementation, to improve growth rate and feed conversion ratio of growing quail fed diets based on wheat.
Effects of acid mist on the frost hardiness of red spruce seedlings.

Seedlings of red spruce [Picea rubens Sarg. syn. P. rubra (Du Roi) Link] were exposed to mists containing equimolar (NH4 , SO4 and HNO3 at pHs of 2.5, 2.7, 3.0, 35, 4.0 or 5.0. The mists were applied twice each week, amounting to 2 mm precipitation equivalent on each occasion, between July and December, to open-top chambers supplied with charcoal-filtered air. Frost hardiness of shoots excised from seedlings was determined on 6 occasions starting on 21 September, and was found to be strongly influenced by acid mist treatments, seedlings subject to the most acidic mists being the least frost hardy. On 21 September when the first sample was taken the lethal temperature for killing 50% of shoots (LT50 ) was - 11 °C for the least acidic (pH 5.0) mist and - 7 °C for the most acidic (pH 2.5). By 19 October, the LT50 s of pH 5.0 and pH 2.5 mists were -27 and -15 °C respectively. All intermediate treatments ranked according to treatment concentration, with the smaller concentrations causing lower LT.50 values. The treatment at pH 30 provided S and N inputs to the seedlings similar to those experienced by red spruce at elevations of about 1000 m in the southern Appalachians. At pH 3.0, the frost hardiness LT10 during October was typically 8 °C higher than the pH 5.0 treatment, leading to a significant increase in the probability of frost damage at the LT10 level in an average October. The proximity of minimum night temperatures during September to December to the LT10 temperatures of red spruce shoots receiving large inputs of SO4 2- , NO3 - , NH4 + and H+ suggests that decreases in frost hardiness caused by intercepted cloud water containing large concentrations of these ions may play a significant part in the observed decline at mountain-top locations.
Analyse de la diversité génétique de cultivars tunisiens de figuier ( Ficus carica L.) à l'aide de caractères morphologiques

Introduction . Une etude a ete realisee pour evaluer la variabilite genetique d'une collection d'ecotypes de figuier (Ficus carica L.) etablie dans la region du Sahel, en Tunisie. Elle a ete basee sur l'observation de caracteres morphologiques relatifs au developpement vegetatif de l'arbre. Materiel et methodes . Les mensurations de feuilles et rameaux de 17 ecotypes de figuiers tunisiens ont ete mesurees a raison de deux arbres echantillonnes par cultivar. Les resultats ont ete soumis a une analyse de variance et a des analyses multivariees qui ont permis d'obtenir une matrice des correlations entre caracteres mesures et une table des distances de Mahalanobis entre les ecotypes. Resultats et discussion . La variabilite intracultivar s'est revelee tres faible. En revanche, la diversite intercultivar apparait tres importante et cela independamment de l'origine geographique et du sexe de la plante. Conclusion . Quelques parametres morphologiques ont permis de bien differencier les cultivars. Ils pourraient etre utilises comme descripteurs chez cette espece.