Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A contribution to the functional analysis of the foot of the Tokay, Gekko gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

The foot of gekkonid lizards, because of the wide range of variation it displays within the family, is an ideal system on which to carry out a functional anatomical study. The wide range of variability and adaptation of the foot is unparalleled in other lizard groups. The Tokay (Gekko gecko (Linnaeus) 1785) has been used as a basis for a broader study of the comparative and functional anatomy of the foot within the family Gekkonidae. The acquisition of adhesive pads by Gekko has resulted in the development of a very distinctive mode of locomotion which has become modified both to deploy and, at the same time, protect the delicate subdigital setae. Analysis of the structure and function of the foot has been carried out in two stages: firstly a description of the mechanical units and then an interpretation of their function, with the aid of high speed cinematographic data. The skeletal elements of the foot exhibit several features which reflect the specialized method of locomotion and these are related to remarkable adaptations exhibited by the associated muscular, vascular and tendon systems. The functional significance of scansorial plates is discussed and the relationship between size and locomotory ability within the family Gekkonidae is also considered. Some ideas as to the selective advantage of the particular locomotory modifications under discussion are presented, but further consideration of this topic must wait until subsequent papers deal with a larger proportion of the family.
Effects of Rock Climbing on Cliff Plant Communities at Joshua Tree National Park, California

We compared the plant communities on cliffs used for rock climbing with cliffs not used for climbing. Eighteen cliffs in Joshua Tree National Park, California (six each with no climbing, moderate climbing, and intensive climbing) were sampled for plant diversity and community structure. Plants were sampled on cliff faces and at the base of cliffs. The dominant taxa were Quercus cornelius‐mulleri, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata, and Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens. Plant species richness on cliff faces and at the base of cliffs was greater for cliffs with no evidence of climbing and lowest for cliffs with intensive use. Numbers of individual plants decreased with increased climbing use. Trees, shrubs, forbs, and cacti had greater relative abundances on cliffs without climbing than on cliffs with climbing. Plant cover on cliff faces decreased with increased climbing use. Adaptive management will be necessary to minimize the deleterious effects of rock climbing on plant communities associated with cliffs.
Response of ‘TifEagle’ Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis) to Ethephon and Trinexapac-ethyl1

Turf managers combine ethephon with trinexapac-ethyl (TE) on bentgrass greens to suppress annual bluegrass, inhibit turf growth, and enhance turf quality; however, effects of this growth regulator combination have not been reported on bermudagrass greens. Two experiments were conducted at the Clemson University Greenhouse Complex to investigate the response of ‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass to ethephon and TE. TifEagle bermudagrass plugs were placed in pots with 23-cm depths, 324-cm2 total surface areas, and a soil medium of an 85:15 (v/v) sand and peat moss mix. Ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8 (EP1), and 7.6 (EP2) kg ai/ha/3 wk with TE at 0 and 0.04 kg ai/ha/ 3 wk over a 9-wk period. Initial responses of bermudagrass to ethephon included chlorotic leaves and severe thinning. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon had quality reduced as much as 33% from nontreated turf. TE enhanced turf quality 4 to 22% from 4 to 9 wk after initial treatment. TE helped mask ethephon-induced quality decline after the third application. In the presence of TE, bermudagrass clipping yield was reduced from nontreated turf by 57, 70, and 72% when ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk. Ethephon linearly reduced root mass after 9 wk from nontreated turf by 20 and 33% at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, respectively. Compared with respective ethephon rates alone, bermudagrass treated with TE and ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, averaged 28, 8, and 15% more root mass. Ethephon at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk without TE reduced TifEagle bermudagrass root length 14 and 16%, respectively, compared with untreated turf. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk with TE averaged 3, 11, and 17% higher root length compared with respective ethephon rates after 9 wk. Overall, ethephon may have negative effects on TifEagle root mass, root length, and turf quality. However, combining ethephon with TE may help reduce these deleterious effects. Nomenclature: Ethephon, (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid; trinexapac-ethyl, 4-(cyclopropyl-[α]-hydroxymethylene)-3,5-dioxo-cyclohexane carboxylic acid ethyl ester; annual bluegrass, Poa annua L. ; TifEagle bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis. Additional index words: Dwarf bermudagrass, plant growth regulator, turf injury. Abbreviations: GA, gibberellic acid; PGR, plant growth regulator; TE, trinexapac-ethyl; WAIT, weeks after initial treatment.
Diurnal Mosquitoes in an Area of small residual Forests in Brazil.

An investigation of the epidemiology of jungle yellow fever was undertaken in the vicinity of Passos, Minas Gerais, in the period 1945 to 1948 and has been reported by Laemmert, Hughes and Causey (1). This region was thought to be particularly favorable for such a study because it had been the scene of jungle yellow fever between 1935 and 1938 and appeared to have been in the path of another epidemic which invaded the neighboring state of Goiaz in 1944.
Phylogenetic implications of chloroplast DNA restriction site variation in subtribes Raphaninae and Cakilinae (Brassicaceae, tribe Brassiceae)

Chloroplast DNA restriction site data was used to assess relationships among 41 taxa of the subtribes Raphaninae and Cakilinae (tribe Brassiceae, Brassicaceae). A total of 456 restriction site mutations was observed, with 237 (52%) being phylogenetically informative. Cladistic analysis, based on Wagner parsimony analysis, indicated four major clades: (i) CAKILE, (ii) CRAMBE, (iii) NIGRA lineage, and (iv) RAPA-OLERACEA lineage. The CAKILE clade was divided into two lineages: (i) Cakile, Erucaria (including Reboudia), and Didesmus (previously assigned by Schulz to the Raphaninae) and (ii) Crambella (previously assigned by Schulz to the Raphaninae). The Raphaninae as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic in origin. The cpDNA data supported separate subtribal status for Crambe (Raphaninae) and indicated two major lineages corresponding to sect. Dendrocrambe and the combined sections Crambe and Leptocrambe. Enarthrocarpus arcuatus, Enarthrocarpus lyratus, Morisia monanthos, Raphanus raphanistrum, Raphanus sa.
Allometric Relationships for Estimating Biomass in Multi-stemmed Mangrove Trees

A procedure is described for obtaining allometric relationships between stem diameter and above-ground biomass for multi-stemmed trees of the mangroves Rhizophora stylosa and Avicennia marina. The procedure treats each stem as discrete tree that shares a proportion of the butt and other elements common to all stems. Linear log–log relationships were obtained between stem diameter and the dry weights of each above-ground component. Allometric relationships between stem diameter and total above-ground biomass were similar to those for single-stemmed trees in north-eastern Australia, but multi-stemmed trees on the west coast had much greater proportion of their biomass in the form of prop roots than single-stemmed trees of comparable stem diameter on the north-eastern coast. This is attributed to the arid environment on the north-western coast of Australia.
Status of puku (Kobus vardoni Livingstone) in Tanzania

Summary The distribution of the puku antelope in southern Africa is described and information on population size and habitat for the two extant Tanzanian populations is given. The paper comments on conservation problems and proposes a reserve in the uninhabited parts of the Kilombero Game Controlled Area. Resume On decrit la distribution du puku (Cob de Vardon) en Afrique du Sud et l'on donne des informations sur l'habitat et la taille des deux populations existant en Tanzanie. Cet article discute des problemes de conservation et propose l'etablissement d'une reserve dans les regions inhabitees de la Kilombero Game Controlled Area.
Cytological Investigations on the Indian Compositae. I. North — Indian Taxa

SUMMARYThe cytology of 189 collections comprising 131 species of Compositae from N. India has been worked ont. Sixteen genera cytologically investigated for the first time are: Dichrocephala, Cyathocline, Myriactis, Rhynchospermum, Blumea, Laggera, Ifloga, Caesulia, Vicoa, Carpesium, Siegesbeckia, Blainvillea, Lasthenia, Tricholepis, Volutarella, and Pterotheca. New chromosome counts are made available for 57 species.Cytomorphological comparison has been made of interaspecific races of Inula cappa, Siegesheckia orientalis, Gynura angulosa and Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.Erigeron mucronatus (tetraploid) and E. annuus (triploid) which are quite commonly distributed in the area are apomicts.Three cytotypes are detected in Taraxacum officinale complex (2 n = 24, 27, 32). The treatment by BABCOCK of Pterotheca falconeri as a minor variant of Crepis sancta sub-species bifida is not upheld.
Bottom soil quality in Tilapia ponds of different age in Thailand

Bottom soil samples were collected from 35 ponds in the vicinity of Samutprakarn, Thailand. Ponds ranged in age from 3 to 39 years and had been used continuously for production of tilapia. Liming materials had been applied in large amounts, and bottom soils of all ponds had pH above 7, low exchange acidity, and free carbonate. Pond soils often contained between1% and 2% total sulphur, suggesting that they were potential acid^sulphate soils. However, acidity from sulphide oxidation was not expressed because carbonate in the soil neutralized it. Concentrations of total carbon seldom exceeded 4% and the average for organic carbon was 1.90%. The correlations between pond age and both total carbon and organic carbon concentration were weak (r 5 0.34 and 0.36 respectively). Concentrations of nitrogen in bottom soils did not diier with pond age and ranged from 0.1% to 0.3% with an average of 0.19%. The average ratio of concentrations of carbon and nitrogen was 11. Acid-extractable phosphorus concentrations averaged 217 mg kg 1 , but the phosphorus adsorption capacity averaged 768 mg kg 1 suggesting that soils still have considerable reserve capacity to adsorb phosphorus. Ponds can be used annually for semi-intensive production of tilapia, and presumably other species, for many years without serious deterioration of bottom soil quality.
Gibberellin and temperature influence carbohydrate content and flowering in Phalaenopsis

When Phalaenopsis amabilis is grown under high temperature (30/25°C, day/night), flowering is blocked, and this can be reversed by gibberellin A3 (GA3) treatment. Associated with GA3 treatment under high temperature are increases in sucrose, glucose and fructose as compared with warm-treated plants. Spraying with sucrose solution alone caused leaf epinasty in plants grown under high temperature. Epinasty was released by about 9 days of GA3 treatment. In GA3-treated plants under high temperatures, sucrose application to the source leaves led to an increase in sugar content in both leaves and inflorescence. In contrast, although in warm-treated plants sucrose application to the source leaves increased sugar content in the leaves, it did not increase sucrose content in the inflorescence. These results corroborate our hypothesis that in Phalaenopsis GA3 stimulates sink activity in the apical meristem and promotes the translocation of sucrose from source leaves to the apex of the inflorescence, where it accumulates. GA3 treatment led to an increase in sucrose synthase activity and had no effect on invertase activity.
Enterocin 4231 produced by Enterococcus faecium CCM 4231 and its use in rabbits.

The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of Enterocin (Ent) 4231 produced by Enterococcus faecium. The group of 48 rabbits (Hy-Plus breed) was divided into experimental (EG) and control (CG) group. In EG Ent 4231 was applied for 21 days in a dose of 50 μL/animal/day into drinking water. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Samples were collected on day 0-1, day 7, day 21 (3 weeks of administration) and on day 42 (3 weeks after cessation of application) to measure the occurence of Eimeria sp. oocysts. Samples of caecal contents were collected on days 21 and 42 to determine bacterial counts. The phagocytic activity was examined on days 0-1, 21 and 42. On days 21 and 42 the reduction of Clostridium-like sp. was detected in EG (difference 1.53 log10 CFU/g; 1.57 log10 CFU/g) in comparison with CG. In EG on day 7 the decrease of E. coli (difference 1.30 log10 CFU/g) was also noted in comparison with CG. In EG prolonged immunostimulative effect (p<0.001) was observed on day 42 in comparison with CG. The oocysts of Eimeria sp. were reduced in EG comparing with CG at day 42. Enrichment of the diet for rabbits with Ent 4231 did not influence biochemical, zootechnical parameters and the values of caecal content volatile acids during the whole experiment.
Biosynthesis of Cellulolytic Enzymes by Aspergillus niger A.n. 33 and its Selectants

The aim of the investigations was to obtain — from the parent strain Aspergillus niger A.n. 33 — selectants with an increased ability of cellulolytic enzymes biosynthesis. Own selection methods allowed to receive two selectants A.n. 33/2 and A.n. 33/20 characterized by enhanced activities of saccharifying cellulase (respectively 0.11 and 0.14 FPU/cm3), endo-beta-1,4-glucanase (15.4 and 21.8 U/cm3) and cellobiase (0.6 and 1.4 IU/cm3) as compared with the parent strain (FPA — 0.09 IU, CMC — 8.2 U and CB — 0.1 IU/cm3). Moreover, the selectants differed in shape and size of conidial heads, in shape and colour of conidia, as well as in structure and shape of hyphae. Enzyme preparations obtained after ultrafiltration of liquid cultures were characterized by following activites: FPA-4–16 IU, CMC — 900–1800 U, CB — 60–120 IU and xylanase — 250–280 IU/cm3.
Impact of Great Blue Heron Depredations on Channel Catfish Farms

With the growth of channel caffish Ictalurus punetatus production in the Delta Region of Mississippi over the last 30 years have come concurrent depredation problems caused by great blue herons Ardea herodias. Biomass in stomachs from herons collected at catfish farms averaged 41% catfish, 38% sunfish Lepomis sp. , 17% shad Dorosoma cepedianum, and 4% gambusia Gambusia sp. ; whereas observations of herons foraging indicated that 45% of the prey taken were gambusia. Our observational data indicate that herons take an average of 12 10-cm catfish fingerlings daily. The diurnal density of foraging herons on catfish ponds averaged 0.17 herons/ha in 1990, which means that the average 127-ha farm supports approximately 22 herons. Nocturnal foraging, especially on dark nights, appears to be minimal. If our data are approximately correct, the average catfish farm could be losing $30/ha per yr to herons, assuming that this catfish fingerling mortality can be attributed solely to heron depredation.
Application of Laser Microdissection to plant pathogenic and symbiotic interactions

Abstract Laser Microdissection (LM) is a technology that allows the rapid procurement of selected cell populations from a section of heterogeneous tissues in a manner conducive to the extraction of DNA, RNA, proteins and even metabolites. In the past few years, it has also been applied to plant biology in order to study gene expression in plant-nematode and plant-microbe interactions. LM represents a powerful tool since cells associated with a particular infection stage can be visualized under the microscope and harvested. Therefore, verification of the response of the plant during the progression of the colonization can be performed in different cell types. Applications of LM to study the interaction between the plant and both pathogenic and symbiotic organisms (i.e. nematode and fungi, respectively) are explored in this review.
Conservation Implications of Georaphic Range Size—Body Size Relationships

The oft-cited statement that 'big fierce animals are rare' (Colinvaux 1978) is, like most such generalizations in ecology, only partially correct. Animals with large bodies, fierce or otherwise, do have lower densities than smaller species, at least in studies based on compendia of data drawn from the literature (for example, Damuth 1981, 1987, 1993; Peters & Wassenberg 1983; Currie 1993; Silva & Downing 1994); conclusions may be rather different when based on sampling whole assemblages of taxonomically similar animals e.g. Brown & Maurer 1987; Morse et al. 1988; Cotgreave 1993; Blackburn & Lawton 1994). However, a growing body of work has documented positive relationships between the geographic range size and the body size of animal species (Table 1). In terms of geographic range size, within taxonomic assemblages (such as North American mammals) big animals are often rather common; geographic range size is a dimension of the rare-common axis equally as valid, and perhaps as widely applied, as density or population size (Rabinowitz 1981; Rabinowitz et al. 1986; Reed 1992; McCoy & Mushinsky 1992; Fiedler & Ahouse 1992; Gaston 1994). Moreover, at least amongst terrestrial mammals, the big fierce species may tend to have particularly large geographic range sizes; carnivores have larger geographic ranges on average than species in other terrestrial mammalian orders (Brown 1981; Rapoport 1982; Pagel et al. 1991; Letcher & Harvey 1994). The relationship between interspecific geographic range size and body size has attracted attention primarily in the context of macroecology and may explain how species partition space and resources (Brown & Maurer 1987, 1989; Gaston & Lawton 1988b; Gaston 1994; Lawton et al. 1994; Taylor & Gotelli 1994). It also has some potentially important consequences for conservation (as do various other macroecological patterns) (Lawton 1993; Gaston 1994; Gaston & Blackburn 1995a,b). We limit ourselves here to consideration of interspecific range size to body size relationships from studies on assemblages at large geographic scales, such that all or most of the geographic ranges of the species in the assemblage are considered. It is on global, rather than local, scales that the conservation status of species is most important. At more restricted scales the form of the range size to body size relationship is less clear (see for example Gaston 1988; Gaston & Lawton 1988a,b).
Function of the ascorbate‐glutathione cycle in aged sunflower seeds

The function of the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA/GSH) cycle was analyzed in seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Peredovik) subjected to accelerated ageing at 43°C and 75% relative humidity for 1 to 11 days. The study was performed using dry seeds and seeds hydrated by imbibition in distilled water for 4 h at 25 °C. Lipid peroxidation was also determined by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) level. As the ageing period increased, a progressive loss of seed viability became increasingly evident. Even though high levels of MDA were delected, the MDA level did not change during accelerated ageing, suggesting that lipid peroxidation might occur to some extent. The study of the ascorbate/glutathione (AsA/GSH) cycle revealed that the GSH system is the major detoxifying mechanism in both dry and imbibed sunflower seeds. The GSH system is mainly located in the embryo, and its protective role is mediated by reactions that consume the GSH pool and, thereby, minimize the increase of the oxidized form (GSSG). Seed imbibition activates cellular metabolism and allows some antioxidant enzymes like glutathione reductase (EC 1,6,4,2) to act upon toxic agents. These reactions provide a reducing status, so that repair of damage becomes possible. However, prolonged ageing conditions (11 days) result in an irreversible damage, as evidenced by the appearance of dead seeds when the germination period ended. Multiple regression analysis revealed the effectiveness of the GSH system in aged seeds, especially upon imbibition and until the AsA/GSH cycle became completely functional.
Optimisation of Nut-Cracking With Natural Hammers By Wild Chimpanzees

The chimpanzees of the Tai National Park, Ivory Coast, use sticks and stones to open 5 different species of nuts. In spite of an unfavourable availability of the material in the forest, the animals choose their tools adaptively. For cracking harder nuts, they use harder and heavier tools and transport tools more often and from farther away. Some aspects of the evolution of tool-use in primates are discussed.
Habitat amelioration and associational defence as main facilitative mechanisms in Mediterranean grasslands grazed by domestic livestock

Abstract Facilitative interactions alter species dynamics through the mechanisms of habitat amelioration, associational defence against herbivores, and release of competitive interactions. However, the relative importance of each mechanism remains poorly known. This study attempts to fill that gap for systems grazed by domestic livestock, where abiotic stress, grazing, and competition potentially limit plant performance. In southern France, two light-demanding trees, Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra, invade grasslands and often become established near shrubs. We tested the effects of habitat amelioration, associational defence against herbivores and release of herb competition by shrubs on the establishment of pine seedlings by sowing and transplantation experiments. We also assessed the effect of shrubs on seed predation and sapling growth. Shrubs increased seed predation and depressed seedling emergence and sapling growth, but they facilitated the survival of pine seedlings by increasing shade and soil moisture and by protecting seedlings against sheep grazing. There was no effect of herb competitive release. This study points out that habitat amelioration and associational defence are both highly important in dry grasslands grazed by domestic livestock because these mechanisms enhance seedling survival, a major life stage for tree dynamics. This situation, in which two facilitative mechanisms are important, is not taken into account by current models of facilitation and is probably due to the coupling of domestic herbivore grazing and stressful abiotic conditions.
Study of Current - Voltage Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Glow Discharge in Air at Low Pressures

In the present study experimental measurements have been carried out to investigate the variation of air discharge voltage (V) and current (I) as a function of working pressure (p), in the ranges (300-500 V), (2-15 mA) and (0.09-0.13 Torr) respectively. Two thick, flat and circular electrodes of radius (4 cm) of Aluminum with a Pyrex cylinder tube of length (10 cm) and radius (3.5 cm) were used to generate the air glow discharge modes. The (V-p) characteristics have shown that an increasing in the discharge voltage of normal mode and reduction in that of abnormal mode with increasing the working pressure. It also displayed that the range of upper voltage from breakdown to abnormal glow has a minimum value (15.7 V) at (0.117 Torr). In addition to that, it is found that the (I-V) characteristics of air glow discharge modes are consistent with those reported in the literature for other gases, as argon, hydrogen and oxygen. It is expected that these observations can help to reduce the voltage needed to get an intense abnormal glow discharge in the air, and to understand well the behavior of two modes of glow discharge, that is important in various applications. http://dx.doi. org/10.25130/tjps.24. 2019.090