Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term environmental education: long-term effectiveness?

The ‘Green Classroom’ in the Botanical Garden of the University of Ulm is a learning forum outdoor school that is used by about 2500 school students annually. Its educational concept is based on experiential learning and is geared towards expanding students’ biological knowledge and developing positive attitudes towards small animals and invertebrates such as insects. In the first study, 104 secondary-school students (49 who had previously visited the ‘Green Classroom’) were asked to write an essay about small animals such as insects. Students who had visited the ‘Green Classroom’ before showed more biological understanding and portrayed more positive emotions towards small animals, and had fewer misconceptions than their peers. In the second study, 121 students (grades 3 and 4) were asked to draw a picture of a forest as a habitat; 65 of these students had previously visited the ‘Green Classroom’ (test group). Students of the test group drew more smaller types of animals in their pictures and furthermore more different species than the control group.
Sparse Doubly-Selective Channel Estimation Techniques for OSTBC MIMO-OFDM Systems: A Hierarchical Bayesian Kalman Filter Based Approach

Hierarchical Bayesian Kalman filter (HBKF) based schemes are conceived for doubly-selective sparse channel estimation in orthogonal space-time block coded (OSTBC) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless systems. Initially, a pilot based multiple measurement vector (MMV) model is formulated for estimating the OSTBC MIMO-OFDM channel. This is followed by the development of a low-complexity, online pilot-based HBKF (P-HBKF) scheme for tracking the sparse time-varying frequency-selective channel. The salient advantages of the proposed P-HBKF technique are that it requires significantly lower number of pilot subcarriers, while also exploiting the inherent sparsity of the wireless channel. Subsequently, data detection is also incorporated in the proposed framework, leading to the development of a procedure for joint sparse doubly-selective channel estimation and symbol detection. Recursive Bayesian Cramér-Rao bounds and closed form expressions are also obtained for the asymptotic mean square error (MSE) based on the solution of the Riccati equation for the KF for benchmarking the performance. Simulation results are presented for validating the theoretical bounds and for comparing the performance of the proposed and existing techniques.
Using exercise to protect physical and mental health in youth at risk for psychosis

A large body of literature has demonstrated that exercise interventions can improve a broad range of outcomes in people with established schizophrenia, including reducing psychiatric symptoms, increasing cognitive functioning, and improving physical health. Furthermore, these benefits seem just as pronounced in first-episode psychosis. However, there have been few clinical studies to date examining the effects of exercise in those found to be ‘at-risk’ of psychosis, particularly for those meeting the criteria for ‘Clinical High Risk’ (CHR) state (a classification which includes both those meeting the ‘ultra-high risk for psychosis’ criteria and/or those with ‘atrisk mental states’). This is surprising, as a proportion of those in the CHR state go on to develop psychotic disorders, and a growing body of evidence suggests that early interventions in this period have significant potential to improve the course of illness. In this article, we shall review the existing literature for i) exercise as an adjunctive intervention for those treated for psychosis; ii) exercise as a standalone intervention in CHR groups; and iii) the rationale and supportive evidence for widescale use of exercise to preserve physical and mental health in those identified as at risk for psychosis. From this, we will put forth how the CHR phase represents an under-researched but highly-suitable timepoint for administering structured exercise interventions, in order to improve physical, psychological and neurocognitive outcomes; while also potentially reducing the odds of transition to full-threshold psychotic disorders. Following this, directions, recommendations and considerations around both the clinical implementation and future research around exercise in CHR individuals will be discussed.
Influence of diet composition on the microbial activity in the gastro-intestinal tract of dogs. III. In vitro studies on the metabolic activities of the small-intestinal microflora

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen zum Einfluβ der Futerung auf den mikrobiellen Stoffwechsel im Intestinaltrakt des Hundes. III. In vitro Untersuchungen mit Ileumchymus Zur Untersuchung nutritiver Einflusse auf die mikrobielle Aktivitat im Dunndarm von Hunden wurden in vitro-Untersuchungen mit Ileumchymus eines fistulierten Hundes (konsekutive Futerung mit Trockenfutter, mit und ohne Zulage von Laktose, Feuchtalleinfutter sowie roher Rinderlunge) angestellt. Der Chymus wurde anaerob mit verschiedenen Futterkomponenten (Kohlenhydrate, Proteine, Kombinationen von beiden) inkubiert und die Bildung von Gasen (Wasserstoff, Schwefelwasserstoff und Methylmerkaptan) sowie der pH-Wert und die Gehalte fluchtiger Fettsauren erfast. Die in vitro Gasbildung zeigte im Vergleich zu der Trockenfutterperiode eine hohere Intensitat, wenn der Hund mit Feuchtalleinfutter, Lunge oder dem mit Laktose erganzten Trockenfutter ernahrt wurde, allerdings war die Variabilitat bereits innerhalb der einzelnen Untersuchungsabschnitte erheblich. In vitro war die mikrobielle H2-Bildung hoch bei Inkubation von Ileumchymus mit proteinreichen Futtermitteln tierischer Herkunft, besonders Fleisch-, Grieben-, Fischmehl und Kasein; pflanzliche Produkte wurden in deutlich geringerem Umfang metabolisiert, ebenso isoliert eingesetzte Kohlenhydrate. Schwefelwasserstoff und Methylmerkaptan bildeten sich in vitro insbesondere bei Fermentation proteinreicher Futtermittel tierischer Herkunft, gleichzeitig was eine Zunahme der Gesamtkonzen-trationen fluchtiger Fettsauren (besonders Buttersaure) festzustellen. Bei Inkubation von Illeumchymus mit Kasein zeigt sich eine deutlich veranderte Fermentation, wenn gleichzeitig Glukose zugelegt wurde (Zunahme der H2-Bildung, Reduktion der Bildung schwefelhaltiger Gase). Sojaol hatte keine nachweisbare Wirkung. Als Schlusfolgerung ergeben diese Untersuchungen, das die Darmflora von Hunden eine erhebliche proteolytische Aktivitat aufweist. In vitro Verfahren stellen eine sinnvolle Erganzung dar, konnen in vivo Untersuchungen allerdings nur teilweise ersetzen.
Top-down and bottom-up forces in mammalian herbivore - vegetation systems: an essay review

For almost 50 years ecologists have debated why herbivores generally don’t increase in numbers to such levels as to deplete or devastate vegetation. One hypothesis is that herbivore populations are regulated at low densities by predators, and a second hypotheses is that plants are fundamentally poor food for herbivores. This has lead to two main hypotheses about the role of herbivores in structuring vegetation: the “bottom-up” and “top-down” hypotheses. Here I survey the literature, with a focus on field experiments designed to investigate the soil resource – vegetation – mammalian herbivore system, specifically asking five questions about how each trophic level responds to (i) resource addition, (ii) vegetation removal, (iii) herbivore removal or reduction, (iv) herbivore addition, and (v) the interaction of resource levels and herbivory? I use these to develop 12 testable predictions. I document the major areas of research as they relate to these 12 predictions, and use these to evaluate weaknesses and .
Protective Effects of Parental Education Against Youth Cigarette Smoking: Diminished Returns of Blacks and Hispanics

Background High parental educational attainment is protective against youth health risk behaviors such as tobacco use. According to the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, however, higher parental education is less protective for marginalized groups relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Objective To explore race/ethnic differences in the effects of parental educational attainment on cigarette smoking in a national sample of American adolescents. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we used baseline data of 10,878 American youth who had participated in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH 2013). The independent variable was parental educational attainment. The dependent variables were lifetime cigarette smoking, current (past 30-day) cigarette moking, and daily cigarette smoking. Youth age, youth gender, and parental marital status were the covariates. Race/ethnicity was the moderating variable. Logistic regression model was used for data analysis. Results Overall, a higher parental educational attainment was associated with a lower lifetime cigarette smoking, current (past 30-day) cigarette smoking, and daily cigarette smoking. Parental educational attainment showed significant interaction with race/ethnicity suggesting smaller protective effects of parental educational attainment on youth tobacco outcomes for Black and Hispanic than for non-Hispanic White youth. Conclusion For American youth, race/ethnicity limits the health gains that are expected to follow parental educational attainment. While high parental educational attainment is protective against smoking overall, non-Hispanic Whites (the most socially privileged group) gain most and Blacks and Hispanics (the least socially privileged groups) gain least from such resource. In addition to addressing low SES, researchers and policymakers should identify and address mechanisms by which high SES minority youth remain at risk of tobacco use.
The growth and yield responses of a high site quality red pine plantation to seven thinning treatments and two thinning intervals

Seven thinning treatments with residual densities between 60 and 160 ft3/acre (13.8 and 36.8 m2/ha) of basal area were applied to a highly productive (site index, 81 ft (24.7 m); base age, 50 years) red pine (Pinusresinosa Ait.) plantation. After 10 years, periodic basal area growth was maximized over a lower and much broader range of residual densities than previously found in lower site quality stands. Total and merchantable cubic foot volume growth for the 10 year period was not significantly different between treatments. Application of these thinning treatments on a 6- compared with a 10-year interval reduced total and merchantable cubic foot volume growth while increasing the average stand diameter.
Histological Description and Histopathology in Polypedilum sp. (Diptera: Chironomidae): A Potential Biomarker for the Impact of Mining on Tributaries

Abstract The Neotropical region has a wide aquatic biodiversity, which is affected by anthropogenic activities. Mining has caused a negative impact on these ecosystems, directly affecting benthic communities. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are effective bioindicators of water quality, especially Chironomidae larvae, since these show high species richness, abundance, and sensitivity to human activities.The genus Polypedilum is among the most representative of the family Chironomidae. Research on these species is focused on their abundance and dominance in water bodies. In addition, several studies have addressed alterations in the external morphology of some Chironomidae due to mining pollution (heavy metals). However, little is known about the effects of mining on the internal morphology of these species.This study provides the first histological description of different systems and organs of Polypedilum sp. larvae. Furthermore, we report histopathological alterations in larvae collected from two tributaries affected by mining, namely Toldafría and La Elvira streams located in the municipalities of Villamaría and Manizales (Caldas – Colombia). Our findings show target organs of mining pollution in a species of Polypedilum, which represent potential early-warning histopathological biomarkers with relevant implications for water quality monitoring.
Kernel Quality of Some Sweet Corn Varieties in Relation to Processing

The quality characteristics (dry matter content, soluble solid concentration, kernel colour, sugar, starch and protein content) of fresh, frozen and canned kernels of seven sweet corn varieties (â€˜Luminaâ€™, â€˜Meritâ€™, â€˜Sunshineâ€™, â€˜Jubileeâ€™, â€˜Challengerâ€™, â€˜Yellow Babyâ€™ and â€˜2201â€™) were studied. The present research was conducted during 2009 and 2010 in Eskisehir, Midwestern Turkey. The trials were set up in randomised complete block design, with four replications. Ears were harvested and randomly selected for analysis as fresh, frozen and canned. Dry matter content ranged from 34.2% (â€˜2201â€™) to 39.5% (â€˜Yellow Babyâ€™), soluble solid concentration from 16.3% (â€˜2201â€™) to 27.4% (â€˜Yellow Babyâ€™). The sugar content of fresh kernels was higher than other treatments (frozen and canned) for all varieties. T he starch content of the varieties was decreased after processing, except in â€˜Yellow Babyâ€™. Fresh, frozen and canned sweet corn kernels had similar protein contents; the highest protein content was obtained, for all treatments, from â€˜Challengerâ€™, and it maintained its higher protein content after processing. /span> â€˜2201â€™ had the highest sugar and the lowest starch content for fresh, frozen and canned varieties. When compared on a kernel basis, sweet corn marketed as fresh, frozen or canned, it may be feasible to select varieties for different sweet corn markets.
Clavibacter: a New Genus Containing Some Phytopathogenic Coryneform Bacteria, Including Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli sp. nov., subsp. nov. and Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis subsp. nov., Pathogens That Cause Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane and Bermudagrass Stunting Disease†

A total of 23 strains of coryneform bacteria that cause ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane and Bermudagrass stunting disease were examined. These included 17 sugarcane strains from Florida, Louisiana, South Africa, Brazil, and Japan and six Bermudagrass strains from Florida and Taiwan. The sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains contained 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, rhamnose, and fucose in their cell walls, suggesting a relationship to some other phytopathogenic coryneform bacteria and related organisms with similar cell wall compositions. The cellular protein patterns of the sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resembled the patterns of Corynebacterium michiganense subspecies more than the patterns of some other diaminobutyric acid-containing taxa. The protein patterns of the sugarcane strains were distinct from the patterns of the Bermudagrass strains examined. The guanine-plus-cytosine contents of the deoxyribonucleic acids of two sugarcane strains and one Bermudagrass strain were 66 mol%. The sugarcane and Bermudagrass strains formed a homogeneous group based on morphological characteristics and most biochemical characteristics. All of the sugarcane strains were nonpigmented (white) and grew more slowly in culture than the yellow-pigmented Bermudagrass strains. The Bermudagrass strains, unlike the sugarcane strains, hydrolyzed starch and utilized citrate and malate. Although the phytopathogenic coryneform bacteria with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in the peptidoglycans of their cell walls are presently classified in the genus Corynebacterium, recent studies have indicated that these phytopathogens should be reclassified. These bacteria form a distinct group with characteristics different from those of all existing genera as presently circumscribed; therefore, we propose that a new genus, Clavibacter, be established for these and similar bacteria. We propose reclassification of Corynebacterium michiganense (including Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. michiganense, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. insidiosum, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. sepedonicum, Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. nebraskense, and Corynebacterium michiganense subsp. tessellarius), Corynebacterium iranicum, Corynebacterium tritici, and Corynebacterium rathayi in the new genus Clavibacter. We further propose that Clavibacter xyli be recognized as a new species with the following subspecies: Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli sp. nov., subsp. nov., the species and subspecies type strain of which is sugarcane strain L1A (= ATCC 33974 = NCPPB 3152 = PDDC 7127), and Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis subsp. nov., the subspecies type strain of which is Bermudagrass strain TB1A (= ATCC 33973).
Life History Consequences of Natural Selection: Cole's Result

I would like to question the proposal of Gadgil and Bossert (1970) to amend Cole's (1954) conclusion regarding the relative merit of perennial compared to annual reproduction. Focusing on the maximum advantage of iteroparity (allowing infinite survivorship), Cole concluded that "for an annual species, the absolute gain in intrinsic growth which could be achieved by changing to the perennial reproductive habit would be exactly equivalent to adding one individual to the average litter size. " Gadgil and Bossert (1970, p. 11) reasoned that Cole's "assumption of no mortality beyond age one is quite reasonable. However, the assumption of no mortality in the course of the first year is not. " Including such a survivorship factor, they specify for an annual species, 1 =11 bi e-84, relating survivorship during the first year (11), average litter size in the first year (b1), and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (m). This is reduced from a more general formulation by Lotka (1925). Solving for the rate of increase, m = In (11 * bi). For a perennial species with no mortality after the first year and constant litter size (b1) for all ages (x),
Photosynthetic Systems of Mediterranean-Climate Shrubs and Trees of California and Chile

The growth forms of the dominant plants found in Chile and California within mediterranean-type climates are similar. As the length of the drought increases, communities dominated by evergreen trees are replaced by evergreen shrubs, then drought-deciduous shrubs, and finally drought-deciduous shrubs and succulents. The shrubby evergreen elements generally have extensive root systems, a long photosynthetic period, but low photosynthetic capacities. The drought-deciduous shrubby elements have high carbon fixation rates but short periods of activity and generally shallow roots. The evergreen systems expend energy for a certain degree of drought tolerance for the gain of potential year-round production. In regions of long drought periods, the potential seasonal carbon gain of evergreens decreases and they are no longer at an advantage over drought-deciduous elements. The highly drought-resistant but slow-growing succulents can persist in communities where water, and not light, is the primary limiting factor.
Biological Characterization of an Italian Isolate of Barley Yellow Dwarf Luteovirus from Barley

An isolate of BYDV (BYDV-OC), from barley in Northwest Italy with typical symptoms of yellowing and dwarfing, was transmitted by Rhopalosiphum padi, Sitobion fragariae, S. avenae, Metopolophium festucae, R. maidis and M. dirhodum, but not by Myzus persicae or Schizaphis graminum. It reacted in DAS-ELISA with monoclonal and polyclonal antisera to PAV, but not with antibodies to MAV, RPV and RMV. A polyclonal antiserum prepared to BYDV-OC did not react with MAV-like, RPV-like, or RMV-like isolates of BYDV in ELISA or in Western blots. The concentration of BYDV-OC in Avena byzantina plants decreased from weeks 1 to 10 after inoculation, but the total virus content per plant increased up to weeks 7 to 8, following the increase of plant weight.
The Influence of Selected Agronomic Practices on the Yield and Chemical Composition of Winter Garlic

The Influence of Selected Agronomic Practices on the Yield and Chemical Composition of Winter Garlic The studies were carried out in 2002-2005 on evaluation of covers application (a perforated film with 100 holes·m-2 and polypropylene non-woven) as well as the influence of different plant density (250, 125, 83 and 63 plants·m-2) on the yield and chemical composition of winter garlic cv. Arkus for bunch-harvest. Covering the plants with perforated film and polypropylene non-woven increased the marketable yield by 30.7% in comparison to open field cultivation. Moreover, the covers had a favourable effect on the weight and leaf length as well as on plant weight and bulb diameter. The plants grown under covers showed significantly higher dry weight content in bulbs, total sugars in leaves, but simultaneously less amount of L-ascorbic acid. The increase of plant density from 63 to 250 per m2 caused a significant increase of marketable yield. However, the plants grown at the highest density had the lowest weight and their edible parts had the least amount of total sugar and L-ascorbic acid. Wpływ Niektórych Czynników Agrotechnicznych na Plonowanie Oraz Skład Chemiczny Czosnku Ozimego w Uprawie na Zbiór Pęczkowy W latach 2003-2005 przeprowadzono badania, w których oceniano wpływ stosowania osłon (folia perforowana o 100 otworach na 1m2 i włóknina polipropylenowa) oraz zagęszczenia roślin (250, 125, 83 i 63 szt. na 1m2) na plon oraz skład chemiczny czosnku odmiany Arkus uprawianego na zbiór pęczkowy. Osłanianie roślin folią perforowaną oraz włókniną PP przyczyniło się do wzrostu plonu o 30,7% w porównaniu z uprawą na polu odkrytym. Miało również korzystny wpływ na masę jednostkową i długość szczypioru oraz masę i średnicę cebuli. W tym przypadku wykazano istotnie większą zawartość niż w uprawie polowej suchej masy w główkach, cukrów ogółem w szczypiorze, ale jednocześnie mniej kwasu L-askorbinowego. Zagęszczanie roślin z 63 do 250 na powierzchni 1m2 spowodowało istotny wzrost plonu handlowego. Jednak przy największym zagęszczeniu rośliny charakteryzowały się najmniejszą masą, a w częściach jadalnych stwierdzono najmniej cukrów ogółem i kwasu L-askorbinowego.
Molecular Analysis and Organization of the σB Operon in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The alternative sigma factor σB of Staphylococcus aureus controls the expression of a variety of genes, including virulence determinants and global regulators. Genetic manipulations and transcriptional start point (TSP) analyses showed that the sigB operon is transcribed from at least two differentially controlled promoters: a putative σA-dependent promoter, termed sigBp1, giving rise to a 3.6-kb transcript covering sa2059-sa2058-rsbU-rsbV-rsbW-sigB, and a σB-dependent promoter, sigBp3, initiating a 1.6-kb transcript covering rsbV-rsbW-sigB. TSP and promoter-reporter gene fusion experiments indicated that a third promoter, tentatively termed sigBp2 and proposed to lead to a 2.5-kb transcript, including rsbU-rsbV-rsbW-sigB, might govern the expression of the sigB operon. Environmental stresses, such as heat shock and salt stress, induced a rapid response within minutes from promoters sigBp1 and sigBp3. In vitro, the sigBp1 promoter was active in the early growth stages, while the sigBp2 and sigBp3 promoters produced transcripts throughout the growth cycle, with sigBp3 peaking around the transition state between exponential growth and stationary phase. The amount of sigB transcripts, however, did not reflect the concentration of σB measured in cell extracts, which remained constant over the entire growth cycle. In a guinea pig cage model of infection, sigB transcripts were as abundant 2 and 8 days postinoculation as values found in vitro, demonstrating that sigB is indeed transcribed during the course of infection. Physical interactions between staphylococcal RsbU-RsbV, RsbV-RsbW, and RsbW-σB were inferred from a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid approach, indicating the presence of a partner-switching mechanism in the σB activation cascade similar to that of Bacillus subtilis. The finding that overexpression of RsbU was sufficient to trigger an immediate and strong activation of σB, however, signals a relevant difference in the regulation of σB activation between B. subtilis and S. aureus in the cascade upstream of RsbU.