Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Divergence of Nematocysts in Two Colour Morphs of the Intertidal Beadlet Anemone Actinia Equina

In the common intertidal sea anemone Actinia equina (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) the morphological plasticity and lack of hard parts has caused considerable debate as to what constitutes a species. Over the last several years genetic studies have indicated that this ‘species’ consists of various separate gene-pools which appear to function as cryptic biological species. Conventional taxonomy has often concentrated on the use of a cnidome, the type, structure and number of nematocysts ('stinging’ cells). However, the usefulness of nematocysts to distinguish among various morphs of A. equina and other anthozoan species has recently been questioned. Here we describe the first detailed study of nematocyst differences between two well characterized genetically differentiated morphs with different coloured pedal discs. Measurements were taken from each type of nematocyst in five different tissues. Contrary to expectations, clear and significant nematocyst differences were found between Actinia with red or pink pedal discs and others with green to grey pedal discs. These findings support previous electrophoretic studies and suggest that quantitative descriptions of the cnidome may accurately identify separate species within other genera of Anthozoa.
Adaptations for growing wheat in the drying climate of Western Australia

Abstract. This study investigated the effects of predicted changes in rainfall distribution in marginal (≤325 mm annual rainfall) parts of the south-west Australian wheatbelt and options for management and adaptation of the wheat crop. Field experiments with rain-out shelters and irrigation were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to investigate the interactions of rainfall distribution, row spacing, genotype and timing of nitrogen application on growth, water use and grain yield of spring wheat. Water storage before seeding showed potential to maintain or increase yields despite lower in-season rainfall. Widening row spacing reduced biomass and slowed water use but did not increase grain yield, because of increased soil evaporation and water left in the soil at crop maturity. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) wheat model was used to investigate the effects of recent and projected climate change on yield in relation to row spacing, phenology and nitrogen. Two climate-change scenarios were applied to historical climatic data to create two plausible future climates (‘optimistic’ and ‘pessimistic’) for the year 2030. None of the strategies tested increased wheat yield under the predicted climate scenarios. Simulated yields at wider row spacings were consistently lower due to insufficient biomass, increased soil evaporation and the inability of the crop to use all of the available water before maturity. Simulated yields of short-season genotypes were always greater than yields of longer season genotypes. Nitrogen regimes had little effect in this study. This study points to several genotypic traits that could improve the performance of wheat grown at wider row spacings. These include early vigour to reduce soil evaporation and increase competition with weeds, greater tillering/biomass to reduce limitation by sink size, and a vigorous root system with appropriate lateral spread and growth to depth to access available soil water.
Three-Dimensional Structure of Wind Turbine Wakes as Measured by Scanning Lidar

Abstract. The lower wind speeds and increased turbulence that are characteristic of turbine wakes have considerable consequences on large wind farms: turbines located downwind generate less power and experience increased turbulent loads. The structures of wakes and their downwind impacts are sensitive to wind speed and atmospheric variability. Wake characterization can provide important insights for turbine layout optimization in view of decreasing the cost of wind energy. The CWEX-13 field campaign, which took place between June and September 2013 in a wind farm in Iowa, was designed to explore the interaction of multiple wakes in a range of atmospheric stability conditions. Based on lidar wind measurements, we extend, present, and apply a quantitative algorithm to assess wake parameters such as the velocity deficits, the size of the wake boundaries, and the location of the wake centerlines. We focus on wakes from a row of four turbines at the leading edge of the wind farm to explore variations between wakes from the edge of the row (outer wakes) and those from turbines in the center of the row (inner wakes). Using multiple horizontal scans at different elevations, a three-dimensional structure of wakes from the row of turbines can be created. Wakes erode very quickly during unstable conditions and can in fact be detected primarily in stable conditions in the conditions measured here. During stable conditions, important differences emerge between the wakes of inner turbines and the wakes of outer turbines. Further, the strong wind veer associated with stable conditions results in a stretching of the wake structures, and this stretching manifests differently for inner and outer wakes. These insights can be incorporated into low-order wake models for wind farm layout optimization or for wind power forecasting.
Changes in Surface Properties of Developing Zoospores of Blastocladiella entersonii: Binding of Concanavalin A

Summary: Binding of concanavalin A to the cell surface of developing Blastocladiella emersonii zoospores was explored by fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and radioactive labelling. After labelling with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated concanavalin A, the fluorescence intensity of individual non-induced zoospores varied greatly. On the other hand, similarly labelled zoospores, induced with K+ ions for synchronous development, revealed a more even distribution of fluorescence intensity. The zoospore surface contained 4.3 × 107 concanavalin A binding sites per cell which were randomly distributed and closely attached to the surface. The affinity constants ranged from 7.5 × 107 M−1 to 3.5 × 105 M−1, while the Scatchard plot was typical of heterogeneous binding. Further developed cells, round cells and germlings contained 3.0 × 107 to 2.1 × 107 concanavalin A binding sites per cell which were mostly loosely associated patches protruding into the extracellular region. The affinity constants decreased appreciably compared with those measured at the zoospore stage. Specific concanavalin A binding characteristics appeared to correlate with the respective developmental stage of the zoospore.
Reality as the leading cause of stress: rethinking the impact of chronic stress in nature

Summary Chronic activation of the stress axis caused by long-term uncontrollable and unpredictable factors in the environment has been regarded as causing maladaptive and/or pathological effects, both by those studying animals in the laboratory and in nature. While pathology may apply to the former, I argue that it does not apply to the latter. Our thinking on the role of chronic stress in animals in nature has been heavily influenced by biomedical research, but much less so by the ecological and evolutionary context within which animals actually function. I argue that when such stressors occur (e.g. periods of high predation risk, food limitation, prolonged severe weather, social conflict, etc.), although the animal may be chronically stressed, its responses are adaptive and continue to promote fitness. Chronic stressors in nature can be subdivided into whether they are reactive (direct physiological challenges threatening homeostasis and not requiring cognitive processing – for example, food limitation) or anticipatory (perceived to be threatening and requiring cognitive processing – for example, high predation risk). For anticipatory stressors, their impact on the animal should not be based on their absolute duration (they may be acute), but rather by the duration of their physiological consequences. The anticipatory stressor of persistent high predation risk does not elicit chronic stress in all prey classes. Cyclic snowshoe hare and arctic ground squirrels exhibit evidence of chronic stress when predator numbers are high, but cyclic vole and noncyclic elk populations do not. I suggest that chronic stress has evolved to benefit the fitness of the former and not the later, with the key factors being lifespan and life history. I propose that chronic stress evolves in a species only if it is adaptive.
A New Look into the Periorbital Morphology of Goniopholis (Mesoeucrocodylia: Neosuchia) and Related Forms

ABSTRACT The periorbital morphology of goniopholidids is discussed, exploring the diversity of patterns and the relevance of the data for phylogenetic studies. Revision of material is focused on Goniopholis spp. and aff. Goniopholis spp. , from England, Germany, and Belgium, providing a comparative description of their interorbital morphology. Traditional interpretation of the interorbital elements in species of Goniopholis (G. simus, G. baryglyphaeus), where the frontal is interpreted as excluded from the orbit by a prefrontal-postorbital contact in the skull roof, is contested and clarified through the analysis of new specimens, including a morphometric analysis. In Goniopholis, failure to identify the palpebral and its subtle contact with the prefrontal has lead to misinterpretation of elements and structures near the orbit, and the differential preservation/loss of palpebrals explains variability of the orbit in shape and orientation. In all European goniophilidids the frontal reaches the primary orbital border and there is no prefrontal-postorbital contact on the dorsal surface of the skull. Extensive contact of the palpebral with the primary orbital border creates a secondary (functional) orbital border, from which the frontal is excluded in most taxa. The condition is not exclusive of European goniopholidids and is paralleled by protosuchids, peirosaurids, and baurusuchids. At least four main morphological patterns are recognized, revealing a high diversity of European goniopholidids.
Universal meshes for smooth surfaces with no boundary in three dimensions

We introduce a method to mesh the boundary Γ of a smooth, open domain in R3 immersed in a mesh of tetrahedra. The mesh follows by mapping a specific collection of triangular faces in the mesh to Γ. Two types of surface meshes follow: (a) a mesh that exactly meshes Γ, and (b) meshes that approximate Γ to any order, by interpolating the map over the selected faces; that is, an isoparametric approximation to Γ. The map we use to deform the faces is the closest point projection to Γ. We formulate conditions for the closest point projection to define a homeomorphism between each face and its image. These are conditions on some of the tetrahedra intersected by the boundary, and they essentially state that each such tetrahedron should (a) have a small enough diameter, and (b) have two of its dihedral angles be acute. We provide explicit upper bounds on the mesh size, and these can be computed on the fly.
Effects of Imidacloprid on the hematological and serum biochemical profile of Labeo rohita.

The present study was designed to assess the effect of chloro-nicotinyl insecticide, Imidacloprid, on the hematological and serum biochemical profile of fresh water fish Labeo rohita. A sub lethal dose of 120 mgL 1 was applied under short (2, 4 and 8) and long term (16, 32 and 64 days) experimental condition. Pesticide effect was more pronounced in the short term experiments. Hemoglobin, RBC, PCV, MCV and platelet values reduced significantly in Imidacloprid exposed fish indicating severe anemic condition. Hyperglycemia, hypercalcemia and hypoprotonemia was observed in insecticide treatments indicating high energy demand of fish to neutralize the effect of toxicant. Significant increase in serum ALT, AST and lactate dehydrogenase shows the disturbance of liver physiology in Labeo rohita upon pesticide exposure. Observed effects were less severe in long term experiment indicating an inverse correlation between change in physiology and duration of Imidacloprid exposure.
Resistance and susceptibility to late blight in Solanum: gene mapping, cloning and stacking

The potato late blight disease, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is a major threat for potato production worldwide. To breed potato varieties with durable resistance against P. infestans, it is necessary to combine two or more resistance (R) genes. Single R genes are easily overcome by the rapidly evolving pathogen, whereas the presence of several R genes could probably prevent gain of virulence from a single mutation in the pathogen. The large gene pool available within wild potato species offers sufficient possibilities to identify new and diverse R genes conferring resistance to P. infestans (Rpi). Map-based cloning is the most suitable strategy to isolate such new Rpi genes. The objective of this research was mapping, if possible, followed by cloning of Rpi genes from wild Solanum species. Resistance to P. infestans occurring in four different wild Solanum species were mapped in a major R gene cluster on chromosome 11. Natural stacking of three R genes located on different chromosomes was identified in a natural hybrid. In addition, we initiated studies on another type of defense system that is not based on the typical R genes, namely the response of Solanum to INF1 elicitin.
Temperature Measurements from Salmon Sharks, Lamna ditropis, in Alaskan Waters

Abstract Salmon sharks, Lamna ditropis, occur only in the North Pacific Ocean. These large sharks can grow to 250 cm total length and weigh 220 kg. They are endothermic, and previous investigators reported red muscle temperatures of 8–11 C above ambient water temperature. We recorded red muscle temperatures up to 15.6 C above ambient, along with additional muscle and organ temperatures.
Some species of Oedogoniales (Chlorophyceae) from small astatic water bodies in the post-agricultural landscape (Masurian Landscape Park, NE Poland)

This paper presents a report on epiphytic green algae belonging to Oedogoniales from astatic and moderately eutrophic small ponds in the Masurian Landscape Park, NE Poland. During this investigation, 26 species of Oedogoniales have been identified and described including one variety ( O . oblongum var. longisporum ) new to science and two species ( O . fremyi and O . irregulare ) new to the algal flora of Poland.
Régénération après feu de l'épinette noire (Piceamariana) et du pin gris (Pinusbanksiana) dans la forêt boréale, Québec

Age structure analysis was performed in black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) stands following fire (i) to determine if there is a time lag between black spruce and jack pine establishment and (ii) to compare the composition of the regeneration with regard to the original stand. The study was conducted in an area burnt in 1983, 100 km northwest of Lake Saint-Jean, Quebec. Five years after fire, the age structure of the regeneration shows an early establishment of jack pine and black spruce, with more than 95% of the seedlings established during the first three growing seasons after fire (excluding the year of fire). The age structures were similar in mature stands and in the regeneration for the jack pine while they differed for black spruce. Errors in age determination due to suppression of adult trees sampled or other causes could explain the difference in the establishment pattern of young and mature black spruces. Compared with the mature stand, the postfire r.
Effective population size: the effects of sex, genotype, and density on the mean and variance of offspring numbers in the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

In this paper I present the results of an experimental study of the effects of genotype and density on the mean and variance of offspring numbers in both sexes of the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum . From the observed variance in offspring numbers the effective population size at several different densities is estimated using the methods of Crow & Morton (1955). I found that both the mean and variance of offspring numbers varied with genotype and density. In general, males were more variable in offspring numbers than females and this variability increased with density. Individuals homozygous for the black body colour mutant, b/b , were less variable in offspring numbers than + / + individuals, but the latter produced more offspring at most densities. As density increased, + / + individuals became more variable in offspring numbers whereas b/b individuals were less sensitive in this regard. These findings are discussed in relation to the ecology of selection at the black and closely linked loci.
The Phycomycete Catenaria anguillulae: Growth Requirements

SUMMARY: The physical factors and nitrogen requirements for the growth of the aquatic phycomycete Catenaria anguillulae in liquid shaken cultures from measured zoospore inocula were examined. Growth was determined by measuring mycelial dry weight and rate of titratable acid production. The optimum pH range for growth was pH 8.2 to 8.7. The toxicity of the pH indicators used was assessed. The optimum temperature for growth was 25°. The organism was highly aerobic. Inorganic nitrogen sources were not utilized. When organic nitrogen sources were supplied individually, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, DL-citrulline and L-ornithine were utilized. Asparagine was the best single source. When the N sources were supplied as Difco vitamin-free Casamino acids, only lysine, methionine and arginine were utilized during the lag phase. During the more rapid phase of growth, all of the amino acids detected in the Casamino acids were utilized. When the vitamin-free Casamino acids were replaced by an equivalent amino acid mixture, the subsequent decrease in yield was not corrected by adding NaCl, oleic acid or stearic acid. The optimum concentrations of various N sources were determined. The medium finally evolved contained L-asparagine + L-lysine as N sources.
The Effects of Prairie Habitat Loss and Land-Use Changes on Loggerhead Shrike Populations in Kansas

Abstract The vast expanse of North American prairie has been reduced by at least 90% of its original area. As a result, the populations of many grassland birds are in serious decline. This study investigated Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) population trends in Kansas by comparing two Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) routes (16 and 17) in north-central Kansas showing more stable shrike populations, with two BBS routes (06 and 07) in southern Kansas showing more dramatic declines during the last 30 years. With the exception of large increases in pesticide use, there have been few land-use changes the last 30 years along the two northern routes. Along the southern routes, land-use changes include large decreases in pasture, urbanization, loss of tree rows, and large increases in pesticide use. Our land-use survey showed more pasture, woodland, scattered trees and shrubs, and barbed-wire fences in the north, and more wheat, residential areas, and tree rows in the south, indicating significant differences between study areas in key habitat requirements for breeding Loggerhead Shrikes. Our two-year census of the four BBS routes showed a higher density of shrikes in the north (3.0/census) than the south (1.9/census). The habitat associated with shrikes in the north showed a greater amount of pasture and significantly more scattered trees and shrubs compared to the south, where shrike habitats were more heterogeneous and usually associated with tree rows. The nesting success in both areas was relatively low for Loggerhead Shrikes.
Estimate of Heritability for Maturity Characteristics of an Early x Late Common Bean ( Phaseo/us vulgaris /.) Cross (TMO 216 x CIAT 16-1) and Relationships Among Maturity Traits with Yield and Components of Yield

Narrow sense heritabilities of maturity characteristics of common beans were estimated using the standard unit method of regression of F 3 on F 2 plants of Early x Late crosses grown in the field plots of the Sokoine University of Agriculture during the growing season of 1991. Correlations and genetic advances (GA) of maturity traits and seed' yield were also determined. Estimated narrow sense heritabilities were high (0.59) for days to first flower (DFF), medium (33.3) for days to physiological maturity (DPM) and low (25.6) for duration of pod fill period (PFP). The high standard errors of PFP indicated high environmental influence on the expression of this trait. The results indicated that additive gene effects play an important. role in the inheritance of DFF, hence early generation selection for this trait would be successful. Selection for duration of PFP should be done at later generations in replicated yield trials.A positive and significant relationship ( P 0.05) between seed yield and PFP-2 ( r =0.44) suggested that a longer pod fill period might result in a higher seed yield potential. The family means for all maturity characteristics were similar to the mid parent means resulting in small positive values of genetic advance indicating that early maturing lines could easily be selected. Significant negative association between 100 seed weight and maturity indicates that selection for earliness would result in large seeded bean genotypes, which generally have a high preference for mostfarmers and consumers in the tropics. Keywords: Common beans, heritability, maturity characteristics, Phaseolus vulgaris Tanzania J. Agric.Sc. (2007) Vol. 8 No.1, 11-18
Sublittoral Gammaridea (Amphipoda) of the Hawaiian Islands

Barnard, J. Laurens. Sublittoral Gammaridea (Amphipoda) of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 34:1-286, 1970. —Gammaridean Amphipoda from depths of 0-30 m on hard bottoms are increased from about 40 to about 120 species, including 59 new species and 9 new genera and subgenera. About half of the species is endemic. Nearly 70 percent of the faunule has come from archipelagoes to the southwest of Hawaii, but only 15 percent of the faunule is of tropicopolitan character. About 20 percent of the fauna has affinities with cool waters of the North Pacific. This is the first significant record of cool-water species of any marine group in Hawaii. Most of these species have a tubicolous ecology, suggesting that nestlers are less successful in completing the long journey from the cool waters of northern continents. All but three species with cool-water affinities have diverged specifically from their mainland ancestors and at least two require erection of new genera to describe their divergence. Other endemic genera of Hawaii have low affinities with tropical Pacific faunas and have affinities with places like Antarctica, the Caribbean Sea, and warm-temperate Australia. The tropical component of Hawaiian Gammaridea is not impoverished by a priori standards of diversity. Few elements expected to occur in Hawaii are missing. No evidence of interisland adaptive radiation has been observed, but several pairs and triads of species with sibling affinities are described as a result of successive waves of immigration of parent species. Since no cool-water stepping stones occur between Hawaii and cool mainland shores of the North Pacific, the divergent cool-water species of Hawaii probably reflect morphological changes occurring after one increment of isolation. Some of these fairly radical changes such as loss of palp articles, coalescence of urosomites, and possibly axial reversal of dominance in gnathopods are seen to be of lower conservative value than heretofore accorded. This upsets classifications in Atylidae, Dexaminidae, Aoridae, and Isaeidae to a significant degree. Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1970 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Price $3 (Paper Cover)