Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seeing the Wood for the Trees: An Analysis of Evolutionary Diagrams in Biology Textbooks

ABSTRACT This study presents the findings of an analysis of evolutionary diagrams found in 31 biology textbooks for students ranging from middle school to the undergraduate level. Since the early 1990s, cladograms have found their way into high school biology textbooks, yet we know little about their effectiveness as interpretive and instructional tools in biology education. In this article we document the frequency and types of cladograms found in 31 textbooks, and classify and survey the other types of evolutionary diagrams used in the texts. Although cladograms comprised approximately 72 percent of the diagrams overall, we found virtually no attempt to explain their structure and theoretical underpinnings. Various other noncladogenic evolutionary diagrams, comprising 28 percent of the total, were distributed throughout all textbooks studied. On the basis of our analysis, we conclude that many of these evolutionary diagrams are confusing and may reinforce alternative conceptions of macroevolution. Biology educators should therefore recognize these problems and take measures to ameliorate their effects.
Effects of season on the quality and in vitro maturation rate of Egyptian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes

Recent advances in in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture technology allowed progress in an increasing the number of off springs produced from genetically superior females but this progress still has important factors affect the yielding and quality of the oocytes. It was referred that, there is a distinct similarity in season profile between an in vitro and in vivo reproductive traits. The influence of season on oocyte quality has been largely considered, as a factor of high impact. The purpose of this paper was to study the effects of season on the quality of oocytes and its relationship with cumulus cells expansion, maturation and developmental rates of in vitro maturation of Egyptian buffalo oocytes. The main goal of our investigation was shown to evaluate the role of change in the temperature during the year on the buffalo and consequently affecting the quality of their oocytes. The results showed significant differences between the four seasons. In spring and winter, the percentage of good quality oocytes was (71 and 74.6%), denuded oocytes was (12.8 and 9.1%) and the fair type of oocytes was (16.3 and 16.3%) respectively. Consequently the maturation rate was 85.5 and 92.5% respectively. While in summer and autumn, the percentage of good quality oocytes was (50 and 56.9%) instead of denuded oocytes was (25.5 and 18.5%) and the fair type of oocytes was (24.4 and 21.5%) respectively. Consequently the maturation rate was 59.6 and 74.5% respectively. The results revealed that, when the percentage of good oocytes increased, cumulus expansion and the maturation rate had increased. The higher degeneration of oocytes in the hot period reflects their lower developmental competence of oocytes compared with recovered in the cool environmental conditions.
Changes in salivary electrolyte concentrations in mid‐distance trained sled dogs during 12 weeks of incremental conditioning

Regular exercise improves the health status of dogs; however, extreme exertion in the absence of adequate fluid and electrolyte replacement may negatively impact health and performance due to dehydration and cardiovascular stress. Unlike humans and horses, dogs thermoregulate predominantly through respiration and salivation, yet there is a dearth of literature defining exercise‐induced changes to canine salivary electrolytes. The study objective was to investigate the effects of exercise on salivary electrolyte concentrations, and to determine if adaptations may occur in response to incremental conditioning in client‐owned Siberian Huskies. Sixteen dogs were used, with an average age of 4.8 ± 2.5 years and body weight of 24.3 ± 4.3 kg. A 12‐week exercise regimen was designed to increase in distance each week, but weather played a role in setting the daily distance. Saliva samples were collected at weeks 0 (pre‐run, 5.7 km), 5 (pre‐run, 5.7, 39.0 km), and 11 (pre‐run, 5.7, 39.0 km). Samples were analyzed for sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous using photometric and indirect ion‐selective electrode analysis. When compared across weeks, sodium, chloride, potassium, and calcium concentrations did not differ at any sampling time point; however, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations increased from baseline. Data were then pooled across weeks to evaluate changes due to distance and level of conditioning. Sodium, chloride, and magnesium concentrations increased progressively with distance ran, suggesting that these electrolytes are primarily being lost as exercising dogs salivate. Repletion of these minerals may assist in preventing exercise‐induced electrolyte imbalance in physically active dogs.
Borderline patients have difficulties describing feelings; bipolar II patients describe difficult feelings. An alexithymia study

Apparent similarities between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar II disorder (BIP‐II) contribute to clinical difficulties in distinguishing between the disorders. Here, we aimed to explore how subjective Difficulties with the Identification and Description of Feelings (DIDF), a major constituent of the alexithymia construct and assessed as a part of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), are related to relationship problems and health complaints in these groups.
Insecure Attachment to Parents and PTSD among Adolescents: The Roles of Parent–Child Communication, Perceived Parental Depression, and Intrusive Rumination

Abstract Based on attachment theory and a social-cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study examined the roles of parent–child communication, perceived parental depression, and intrusive rumination in the association between insecure attachment to parents and PTSD among adolescents following the Jiuzhaigou earthquake. In this study, 620 adolescents were recruited to complete self-report questionnaires. The results showed that the direct association between anxious attachment and PTSD was significant, but that between avoidant attachment and PTSD was non-significant. In addition, both anxious and avoidant attachment had indirect associations with PTSD via the mediating effects of parent–child communication openness and problems, perceived parental depression, and intrusive rumination. However, the specific paths between anxious and avoidant attachment and PTSD were different. The findings indicated that insecure attachment among adolescents following the earthquake was predictive for their PTSD, and the mechanisms underlying the association between anxious attachment and PTSD and the association between avoidant attachment and PTSD were distinct. To alleviate PTSD, more attention should be paid to improving the quality of parent–child communication for adolescents with avoidant attachment to parents, and to reducing negative cognition in adolescents with anxious attachment.
Improvement of natural pastures technology validation in the Southern Highlands of Santa Catarina

O melhoramento de pastagens naturais foi consolidado na Serra Catarinense a partir da segunda metade da decada de 90. Nesta epoca ja existia uma grande area implantada, como resultado da adocao por diversos produtores, em funcao do aumento da producao de forragem, da elevacao da capacidade de suporte, como tambem dos custos de implantacao serem inferiores aos praticados em cultivos convencionais. Apesar da dimensao existente, esta tecnologia ainda necessitava de avaliacao e acompanhamento mais rigorosos. Assim, foram conduzidos tres ensaios de validacao no municipio de Campo Belo do Sul, por um periodo de tres anos, nos quais se avaliou a producao e qualidade da forragem, o rendimento animal e a rentabilidade economica. Os resultados medios obtidos foram: 511,63 kg peso vivo (PV) ha -1 ano -1 , sendo o granho medio diario (GMD) de 0,789 kg animal -1 dia -1 e carga animal de 648 kg de PV ha -1 . A digestibilidade in vitro da materia orgânica (DIVMO) foi de 66,1; 62,6; 72,4 e 66,5%, no verao, outono, inverno e primavera, respectivamente. O teor de proteina bruta foi de 14,7; 19,7; 22,0 e 14,4% para a mesma ordem das estacoes do ano. A margem bruta foi de R$ 811,10 ha -1 .
Early age at menarche and risk of postpartum hemorrhage: a retrospective study in Chinese women

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to investigate whether early age at menarche is associated with increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage among Chinese women. Materials and methods Clinical data from 6,383 Chinese women who gave birth to live singleton infants at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College between October 2016 and October 2019 were extracted from the electronic medical records system. Patients were categorized into four groups according to their age at menarche (≤12, 13, 14 and ≥15 years). Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for postpartum hemorrhage for the different menarche age groups. Results After controlling for potential confounders, women with menarche at an early age (≤12 years) had a significantly higher risk of developing postpartum hemorrhage than women with an age at menarche of 13 years, and the ORs (95% CIs) for postpartum hemorrhage across the menarche age categories (≤12, 13, 14 and ≥15 years) were 1.27 (1.02–1.81), 1.00 (reference), 0.95 (0.61–1.57), and 0.91 (0.51–1.58), respectively. Moreover, age at menarche was inversely associated with the risk of postpartum hemorrhage after adjustment for all relevant confounding factors, and the OR (95% CI) for postpartum hemorrhage per year of increasing in the age at menarche was 0.93 (0.74–0.99). Conclusion Early age at menarche was associated with a significantly increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage after adjustment for known confounding factors. This finding could help obstetricians and midwives to identify pregnant women at higher risk of developing postpartum hemorrhage, and allow early preventative strategies to be implemented.
Diversity of ammonia-oxidising bacteria and archaea in seven different estuarine sediments from Poyang Lake

In the present study, we used a culture-independent method based on library construction and sequencing to analyse the genetic diversity of the ammonia monooxygenase genes (amoA) of ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria in seven different estuarine sediments of Poyang Lake. The total of 67 and 38 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (similarity <95%) of archaeal (AOA) and bacterial (AOB) amoA genes were retrieved respectively. AOA had higher diversity of amoA genes than did AOB. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AOA amoA sequences were closely related to amoA sequences from Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota and some other uncultured archaea. Fragments from AOB were most associated with sequences from betaproteobacteria and some other uncultured bacteria. On the basis of Kendall’s correlation coefficient, there was a significant positive correlation between AOA amoA gene diversity and temperature, and the AOB diversity was positively correlated with total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen concentration, and negatively correlated with pH in the sediments, suggesting that AOA and AOB were probably sensitive to several environmental factors. Our work could enhance our understanding of the roles of ammonia-oxidising microorganisms in these seven estuarine sediments from Poyang Lake.
Prediction and Measurement of the Decline in the Critical-K, the Maximum-K and Total Cation Plant Concentrations during the Growth of Field Vegetable Crops

Abstract The declines in maximum and critical K concentrations in plant dry matter of 16 different vegetable species were predicted from emergence to maturity by assuming that both were proportional to the critical %N calculated in terms of plant dry matter per unit area using previously-described equations. Values of the proportionality constants were obtained from published measurements made, at commercial maturity, of crops grown in multi-level fertilizer experiments. Predictions were tested: (a) against measurements made at intervals during growth in experiments receiving a single level of fertilizer; (b) against measurements made of the highest K concentrations measured at the seedling stage in soil-K gradient experiments; and (c) against the results of a K-fertilizer-response experiment in which harvests were carried out at intervals during growth. Results were consistent with the predictions and, thus, with the view that both critical and maximum K concentrations are proportional to critical %N throughout growth. K concentrations in plant tissue water fluctuated widely during the growing season and values, averaged over the entire growing period for each of ten crops, varied by a factor of 3. These values were proportional to the mean cation concentrations (meq l−1) calculated by assuming that all the ions were in solution. Total cation concentration (meq 100 g−1) of dry matter was linearly related to critical N concentration. Evidence was also obtained that maximum K concentration, critical K concentration and total cation concentration (meq 100 g−1) during growth were linearly related to relative growth rate, provided that crop weights were greater than 2 t ha−1dry matter. A hypothesis was developed to co-ordinate these findings.
Effect of Incorporation of the Spineless Opuntia ficus Indica in Diets on Biochemical Parameters and its Impact on the Average Weight of Ewes During the Maintenance

3 Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of the cladodes of Opuntia ficus indica in different maintenance diets for ewes on some biochemical parameters and its impact on the average daily weight. The experiment was conducted: in cross breed ewes on 16 ewes, divided into 4 groups: Diet 1 (control) barley straw + barley grain. Diet 2: (Straw + Opuntia), Diet 3: (Straw + Opuntia + field beans). Diet 4: (Opuntia), by comparing them. Total pectin's of Opuntia represent 34% of the residue parietal which15% of parietal low methylated pectins. The results (in g / l) of the triglycerides regimes, 2, 3 and 4, before and after incorporation of the cladodes, have varied from 0.59±0.03 to 0.08±0.01 and from 0.63±0.02 to 0.06±0.09 and 0.6±0.04 to 0.08±0.01 respectively. A slight increase in the level of uremia has been noticed in 3 regimes from 0.31± 0.03 to 0.33±0.02. The results in weight (g) of the diets 1, 2 and 3 showed a weight gain of 75±22, 26 ±7.2 and 93 ±19 g, respectively. A mean weight loss of about 83 ±13.2 g was given for the diet 4. The incorporation of the cladodes of Opuntia in food has satisfied the energy requirements of ewes, its use as a dietary supplement is recommended in dry areas. It showed the regulatory effect on blood glucose and hypolipidemic both in humans and animals.
Salmonella Enteritidis Thin Aggregative Fimbriae and the Extracellular Matrix

The formation of the Salmonella extracellular matrix is a multicellular behavior important for environmental persistence. It is comprised of uniquely but ill-defined assembled thin aggregative fimbriae (Tafi), cellulose and uncharacterized polysaccharides. Consequently, investigations were launched into further clarifying Tafi assembly and the polysaccharide constituents of the extracellular matrix. In the Salmonella agfBAC Tafi operon, the transcription and role of agfC has been elusive. In this study using the clinical isolate, Salmonella Enteritidis 27655-3b, agfBAC transcripts were detected using a reverse transcriptase and transcription was not enhanced by replacement of a stem-loop structure immediately preceding agfC. AgfChis was purified, localized to the periplasm, and found to specifically bind noncrystalline cellulose suggesting an association with the extracellular matrix. An inframe ∆agfC mutant displayed an abundance of 20 nm fibers, which could be complemented with agfC in trans, in addition to Tafi and an increase in cell hydrophobicity. Depolymerization of purified 20 nm fibers required exceptionally stringent conditions to release what proved to be AgfA subunits revealing the 20 nm fibers as AgfA assemblages of unique morphology. The role of AgfC in Tafi assembly was investigated further via a novel, quantitative antibody-capture assay of in-frame agf mutants. A soluble antibody-accessible form of AgfA was captured in wt, ∆agfB and ∆agfF strains in support of the extracellular nucleation-precipitation pathway of Tafi assembly, but not in ∆agfC or ∆agfE mutants. These results suggest that AgfC and AgfE are required for AgfA’s extracellular assembly and thus may act as atypical AgfAspecific chaperones which facilitate Tafi assembly. The implications of these results are presented in an assembly model for Tafi. Additional investigations revealed that Salmonella produces an O-Antigen capsule co-regulated with the extracellular matrix. Structural analysis of purified extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) yielded a repeating oligosaccharide unit similar to
Distribution and Local Species Diversity of Freshwater Ostracoda in Relation to Habitat in the Kahramanmaraş Province of Turkey

To understand the relationship between local (alpha) diversity of ostracods and their distribution, 95 different locations were randomly sampled from southern Kahramanmaras (Turkey) between 7 June and 31 July, 2010. Total of 46 ostracods were encountered from 68 sites. Four alpha diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener, Menhinick, Brillouin, Margalef) individually quantified higher species diversity and evenness for three types of habitats (limnocrene springs, ponds, stream). Diversity partitioning analyses revealed a significant and substantial beta-diversity among the sites. First axis of CCA exhibited about 71% of the correlations between species and environmental variables. Water temperature, having either a negative or positive correlation with individual species, was the most influential factor affecting diversity. Altitude did not significantly affect the numbers of species identified from the elevation ranges of 400–600 m and 800–1000 m. At least nine cosmopolitan species from 56 sites had an important contribution to local diversity. Hence, suitability of aquatic (ecological) conditions and habitat types provide better explanations for ostracod diversity than do other abiotic factors such as altitude, pH and salinity. The results may support the Habitat Diversity Hypothesis but the study needs to be expanded to different regions and cannot be generalized at the moment. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
HERBIVORY AND PLANT DEFENSES IN TROPICAL FORESTS

▪ Abstract In this review, we discuss the ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant-herbivore interactions in tropical forests. We note first that herbivory rates are higher in tropical forests than in temperate ones and that, in contrast to leaves in temperate forests, most of the damage to tropical leaves occurs when they are young and expanding. Leaves in dry tropical forests also suffer higher rates of damage than in wet forests, and damage is greater in the understory than in the canopy. Insect herbivores, which typically have a narrow host range in the tropics, cause most of the damage to leaves and have selected for a wide variety of chemical, developmental, and phenological defenses in plants. Pathogens are less studied but cause considerable damage and, along with insect herbivores, may contribute to the maintenance of tree diversity. Folivorous mammals do less damage than insects or pathogens but have evolved to cope with the high levels of plant defenses. Leaves in tropical forests are .
Role of obesity in systemic low-grade inflammation and cognitive function in patients with bipolar I disorder or major depressive disorder

Abstract Background Studies have suggested the detrimental effects of obesity and systemic inflammation on the cognitive function of patients with bipolar or major depressive disorder. However, the complex associations between affective disorder, obesity, systemic inflammation, and cognitive dysfunction remain unclear. Methods Overall, 110 patients with affective disorder (59 with bipolar I disorder and 51 with major depressive disorder) who scored ≥61 on the Global Assessment of Functioning and 51 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 was defined as obesity or overweight. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines—including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP)—were measured, and cognitive function was assessed using various methods, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and go/no-go task. Results Patients with bipolar I disorder or major depressive disorder were more likely to be obese or overweight, had higher CRP and TNF-α levels, and had greater executive dysfunction in the WCST than the controls. TNF-α level (P < .05) but not affective disorder diagnosis or obesity/overweight was significantly associated with cognitive function deficits, although obesity/overweight and diagnosis were significantly associated with increased TNF-α level. Conclusions Our findings may indicate that proinflammatory cytokines, but not obesity or overweight, have crucial effects on cognitive function in patients with bipolar I disorder or major depressive disorder, although proinflammatory cytokines and obesity or overweight were found to be strongly associated. The complex relationships between affective disorder diagnosis, proinflammatory cytokine levels, obesity or overweight, and cognitive function require further investigation.
Options, challenges and potentials of poultry meat: an empirical investigation on european consumers

Agricultural market developments have attracted considerable attention recently, due to increasing consumer food prices and sharp short term price fluctuations of agricultural commodity prices. This medium term outlook provides a projection for major EU agricultural commodity markets and agricultural income until the year 2022, based on a set of coherent assumptions. Under these assumptions, agricultural commodity prices are expected to stay firm over the medium term, supported by factors such as the growth in global food demand, the development of the biofuel sector and a prolongation of the long-term decline in food crop productivity growth. EU commodity markets are projected to remain balanced on average over the outlook period, without the need for market intervention. Prospects for agricultural income grow at EU level during the outlook period, resulting from continuing decline in labor input rather than from income increases at sector level (European Commission, 2012). The article concentrates on the prospects for European meat market trends and on results of the primary quantitative research which was carried out in four countries EU member state.
Do as the Romans do: On the authoritarian roots of pseudoscience

Recent research highlights the implications of group dynamics in the acceptance and promotion of misconceptions, particularly in relation to the identity-protective attitudes that boost polarisation over scientific information. In this study, we successfully test a mediational model between right-wing authoritarianism and pseudoscientific beliefs. First, we carry out a comprehensive literature review on the socio-political background of pseudoscientific beliefs. Second, we conduct two studies (n = 1189 and n = 1097) to confirm our working hypotheses: H1 – intercorrelation between pseudoscientific beliefs, authoritarianism and three axioms (reward for application, religiosity and fate control); H2 – authoritarianism and social axioms fully explain rightists’ proneness to pseudoscience; and H3 – the association between pseudoscience and authoritarianism is partially mediated by social axioms. Finally, we discuss our results in relation to their external validity regarding paranormal and conspiracy beliefs, as well as to their implications for group polarisation and science communication.