Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meiofaunal Effects on Nutrient Fluxes and Profiles in Marine Sediments

The main objective of my work has been to assess the effects of meiofauna on fluxes of dissolved nutrients through the sediment- water interface and on nutrient profiles in sediment porewaters. This work has been carried out using a combination of laboratory experiments and field surveys. My laboratory work has concerned the effects of meiofauna on interfacial nutrient fluxes under a range of biological, physical and chemical conditions. My field work has concerned the correlations between porewater nutrient profiles and various biological, physical and chemical parameters in two very different environments. Manual chemical methods have been developed for the analysis of silicate, phosphate, sulphate, nitrate and ammonia on two millilitres of sample. The smear-ratio direct counting method for soil micro-organisms has been modified for use on marine sediments. Modified diffusion cells have been developed for studying interfacial fluxes in marine sediments in the laboratory. These cells have been used for all of my laboratory experiments. The effects of macrofauna, meiofauna and micro-organisms have been compared. Meiofauna generally have the greatest effect on nutrient fluxes. Macrofauna may reduce the effects of meiofauna. Micro-organisms alone tend to have the least effect on fluxes. The effects of meiofaunal type and density on nutrient fluxes have been examined. Nematodes and copepods, the most prevalent meiofaunal groups in my sediment, usually have the most effect on fluxes. Less prevalent groups of meiofauna may alter the direction and magnitude of fluxes. Changes in meiofaunal density have less effect than changes in types of meiofauna. The effects of salinity, compaction, oxygen saturation and particle size range on fluxes in the presence of nematodes and copepods have been examined. Those of salinity are generally greatest. Physical and chemical parameters are more important in determining fluxes from and to the overlying water. Meiofaunal factors are more important in determining transfer of nutrients within the sediment column. A survey of seven deep-sea sites in the central Pacific ocean has been conducted , and correlations between the biological and chemical parameters measured and porewater nutrient concentrations have been calculated. Nutrient concentration is most strongly correlated with microorganism density, water content and metazoan meiofauna densities. A survey of four sites in the Tamar estuary, Plymouth, has been conducted and correlations between the biological, chemical and physical parameters measured, and porewater nutrient concentrations calculated. Nutrient concentration is most strongly correlated with salinity, water content, meiofaunal and microbial density. The relationship between nutrient fluxes and concentration profiles, and the biological, physical and chemical parameters I have measured have been discussed, as have the possible causes of meiofaunal effects on nutrient fluxes and the interaction between biological, physical and chemical parameters.
Foraging theory as a conceptual framework for studying nest predation

Nest predation studies have typically documented patterns related to habitat characteristics rather than investigate predation as an interaction between predator and prey. In contrast, this article presents a simple model that seeks an explanation for variation in nest predation rates through an application of foraging theory. Changes in the environment or to the predator-prey community will manifest as measurable changes in, e.g., nest encounter rates, nest vigilance or defense, and the predator's search effort and strategy, and thus ultimately in the rate of nest predation. In accord with the model's predictions, (1) as the relative density of active nests declines so does predation by inefficient predators; (2) increasing the abundance of alternative foods decreases the nest predation rate; (3) decreasing the prey's food abundance increases predation by avian predators via the tradeoff between foraging and nest vigilance; and (4) nest site characteristics influence predation rates via changes in, e.g., nest encounter rates and recognition time. I argue that behavior and abiotic factors are important, but often neglected variables in our current conceptualization of avian nest predation.
Evaluation of Climatic Similarity Between Areas in Biogeography

Eight areas in four European countries (Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia) were characterized by thirty-nine climatic variables. The data were standardized by transformation, and the mean Euclidean distance between each pair of areas was calculated. The matrix of distance values was then subjected to cluster analysis and the results were represented as a dendrogram of climatic relationships among the eight areas. This method is also applicable to a mesoclimatic comparison of localities, or to a more complex numerical comparison and classification of climates over a wide range of regions.
Geographic Variation in the Life History of the Slimy Salamander

GIERSBERG, H. 1922. Untersuchungen iiber Physiologie und Histologie des Eileiters der Reptilien und V6gel; nebst einem Beitrag zur Fasergenese. Zeitschr. wiss. Zool. 120:1-97. r. Charles Shaw and Mr. James Wittor several specimens of Leptotyphlops, . harles Bogert and Dr. Richard Zweif l loan of two specimens of Typhlops MCDO ELL, S. B. , JR. AND C. M. BOGERT. 1954 The systematic position of Lanthanotus and the affinities of the anguinomorphan lizards. Bull Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 105:1-142. SAINT GIRONS, H. 1957. Le cycle sexuel chez Vipera aspis (L.) dans l'ouest de la France. Bull. biol. 91:284-350. 1959. Donnees histochimiques sur les glucides de l'appareil genital chez les viperes au cours du cycle reproducteur. Ann. Histochim. (France) 4:235-43. TINKLE, D. W. 1957. Ecology, maturation, and reproduction of Thamnophis sauritus proximus. Ecology 38:69-77. UNDERWOOD, GARTH. 1957. Lanthanotus and the anguinomorphan lizards: a critical review. Copeia 1957:20-30.
Studies of Dynamics of Content of Trace Elements in Herbage on Shouqu Grassland in Yellow River

To define reason of mineral metabolism disease in yaks,the dynamics of content of trace elements in herbage were studied.The results showed: there were significantly seasonal dynamics in trace element contents in herbage.With temperature rising,the growth of herbage was accelerated,trace element contents in herbage decreased.The nutritional metabolic disease in yaks was associated with a trace element deficiency of seasonal dynamics.
Locus of Control and Levels of Moral Reasoning Related to Changes in Moral Reasoning Under Coercion

T.he purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of levels of moral reasoning and of locus of control to changes in moral reasoning in a situation where external pressure is present. It was hypothesized that changes in moral reasoning would be toward higher levels of reasoning. A second hypothesis was that a person's locus of control related to that person's resistance to change moral reasoning in a situation where pressure to change that reasoning was exerted. Subjects in the study were 88 students at a large New England community college. At pre-test sessions an original large sample of subjects was administered the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966) and the Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1979). Subjects were classified as Internal or External by splitting the sample at the median of their scores on the Rotter Scale (Mdn. = 10). Subjects were classified as high or low reasoners depending on their original P-scores on the DIT. The P-score represents the magnitude of a respondent's preference for principled moral issues (Stages Sa, Sb and 6) in deciding the course of action to be followed in a moral dilemma. High reasoners had original P-scores in the third and fourth quartiles; low reasoners had original P-scores in the first and second quartiles. Subjects were paired for the post-test or consensus session. Pairing matched high reasoners with low reasoners in four groups. In two groups high reasoners were Internals. One group matched a high reasoning Internal with a low reasoning External (DiffLOC); the other matched a high reasoning Internal with a low reasoning Internal (SameLOC). Two other groups had Externals for high reasoners. One matched a ,high reasoning External with a low reasoning Internal (DiffLOC) while the other matched a high reasoning External with a low reasoning External (SameLOC). At this session subjects were given their original DIT answers (pre-test) and paired subjects were instructed to discuss their original answers and come to an agreed upon answer for each item (consensus score). From their independently obtained scores and their consensus scores, change scores were derived for each subject. Analysis of the results indicated strong support for the first hypothesis. There was a significant difference between the change scores of low reasoners and the change scores of high reasoners. The main effect of Locus of Control was not significant. However, being paired with a person of same or different locus of control differentially affected changes in P-scores. Locus of Control was important only when that reasoner was a high External paired with an Internal. When that combination occurred, Externals changed significantly more.
Structure and Immunological Characterization of the Capsular Polysaccharide of a Pyrogenic Liver Abscess Caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

The active components of a primary pyrogenic liver abscess (PLA) Klebsiella pneumoniae in stimulating cytokine expression in macrophages are still unclear. The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of PLA K. pneumoniae is important in determining clinical manifestations, and we have shown that it consists of repeating units of the trisaccharide (→3)-β-d-Glc-(1→4)-[2,3-(S)-pyruvate]-β-d-GlcA-(1→4)-α-l-Fuc-(1→) and has the unusual feature of extensive pyruvation of glucuronic acid and acetylation of C2-OH or C3-OH of fucose. We demonstrated that PLA K. pneumoniae CPS induces secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by macrophages through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and that this effect was lost when pyruvation and O-acetylation were chemically destroyed. Furthermore, expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in PLA K. pneumoniae CPS-stimulated macrophages was shown to be regulated by the TLR4/ROS/PKC-δ/NF-κB, TLR4/PI3-kinase/AKT/NF-κB, and TLR4/MAPK signaling pathways.
Experimentally induced hemorrhagic thelohanellosis of carp caused by Thelohanellus hovorkai (Myxosporea : Myxozoa)

Hemorrhagic thelohanellosis in two varieties of carp (Cyprinus carpio) caused byThelohanellus hovorkai was investigated by experimental infection. One-year old coloured carp (koi-carp) and common carp were kept for five weeks in tanks with oligochaetes (Branchiura sowerbyi) collected from a pond where hemorrhagic thelohanellosis was enzootic. Another group of coloured carp was exposed only to the effluent from a tank containingB.sowerbyi. Four weeks post-exposure, both coloured carp and common carp maintained withB. sowerbyishowed clinical signs of infection and chronic mortalities. On the other hand, neither mortalities nor clinical signs were observed in the effluent group, though light infections withT. hovorkaiwere detected. Control groups of coloured carp and common carp maintained in clean tanks showed no signs of infection at all. Through a standardized trypsin digestion method, the intensity of infection withT. hovorkaiin carp maintained withB. sowerbyiwas determined to be more than 50, 000 spores/g-tissue. Histological observations revealed thatT. hovorkaiplasmodia were most frequently detected in connective tissues of the intestine and the ventral skin in the cohabitation group, whereas they were found most frequently in the gills of the fish of the effluent group. In conclusion, hemorrhagic thelohanellosis was experimentally induced in carp by maintaining hosts withB. sowerbyiregardless of host's varietal difference, and the ingestion ofB. sowerbyiinfected with the actinosporean may be an important factor inducing the disease conditions.
Towards a successful reintroduction of capercaillies — activity, movements and diet of young released to the Lower Silesia Forest, Poland

Combining radio-telemetry with direct observations, we followed 22 released juvenile captive-bred capercaillies throughout the day to assess if their seasonal and daily patterns of activity, movements, and diet are in accordance with published information on wild birds. Day length was the most important factor determining birds' mobility and activity. Capercaillies were active for 46 ± 2% of daytime, during which they mostly foraged (30 ± 2%). The average distance travelled per day was 0.93 ± 0.14 km. The time budget of capercaillies was mostly allocated to activities on the ground but they spent at least 20% of the daytime in trees. They fed primarily on blueberries, cowberries and pine needles. The mean daily feeding time in fall and winter was 3 h, but it increased to 6 h in spring and summer. We conclude that released birds behave similarly to wild birds and reintroduction of captive-bred capercaillies can be successful if the initial mortality is reduced.
Potencial forrageiro e qualidade da silagem de quatro variedades de sorgo sacarino

The objective of this work was to evaluate four cultivars of saccharine sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) regarding productivity, chemical composition of plant parts, and quality of the ensiling process. The tested varieties of saccharine sorghum were BRS 506, BRS 508, BRS 509, and BRS 511. The experiment was divided into two trials, which assessed: production, morphological composition, and nutritional quality of the saccharine varieties; and fermentation quality and nutritional value of the silage produced from the saccharine varieties. Of the tested varieties, BRS 509 and BRS 511 showed the highest total dry matter (DM) production. The BRS 508 variety presented the highest in vitro digestibility of the whole plant (70.65% DM). During ensiling, the BRS 509 variety showed the lowest DM loss (8.87%). The highest effluent production was observed for BRS 506 and BRS 508, with yields of 521.87 and 393.16 kg Mg ‑1 ensiled DM, respectively. The BRS 511 variety is the most recommended because of the best results for plant production and nutritional quality. Regarding the ensiling process, BRS 509 presents the lowest fermentation losses and the highest nutritional value of silage.
FECUNDITY VARIATION AND ABUNDANCE OF FEMALE BLUE CRABS CALLINECTES SAPIDUS RATHBUN, 1896 (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA, PORTUNIDAE) IN THE PATOS LAGOON ESTUARY, RS, BRAZIL

Female fecundity and abundance of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 varied according to size in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sampling was done near the mouth of the estuary from November 2008 to October 2009. Eggs were removed, weighed, counted and related to morphometric measures. We also compared abundance of ovigerous females collected in the spawning area with environmental parameters. The fecundity ranged from 152,799 to 2,573,576 eggs per female, and showed a positive correlation with carapace width. Ovigerous females were found from November 2008 to May 2009, and in October 2009. Fecundity of the species in the Patos Lagoon estuary falls within the limits found in other estuaries, suggesting a pattern in the reproductive potential of C. sapidus. The species has a spawning season well known to occur during the late spring and summer, and as such it is necessary to protect the entire stock of spawning females, as these individuals allow for recruitment of juveniles during the next breeding season.
Levels of Moral Judgment of Faculty and Students in a Teacher Education Program: A Micro Study of an Institution.

MORAL education continues to be a concern of both the public (Gallup Poll, 1985) and teachers, who are forced daily to deal with disruptive students; cheating, lying and stealing in the classroom; and physical assaults and vandalism in the parking lots. Kohlberg and others have suggested that students'levels of moral judgment cannot be raised unless they encounter moral reasoning at least one stage higher than their own, the so-called "plus-one" theory of moral education. The limited research reported which compares the level of moral judgment of teacher education students with that of other college students indicates that teacher education students score significantly lower in levels of moral reason ing (Wilkins, 1980; Tan-Willman, 1978; Bloom, 1976). Other data reported by Deal ( 1978), Hurt ( 1974), Weber ( 1974), and Rest ( 1974) indicate that teacher education candidates at both the undergraduate and graduatelevels are approximately similar to the general population in levels of moral reasoning. Data such as these have been interpreted as suggesting that teachers may not
Growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Chandler as influenced by various mulching materials

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, yield and quality of strawberry cv. Chandler having seven treatments with three replications in Randomized Block Design during 2010 and 2011. The treatments comprised of paddy straw, wheat straw, dry grass, transparent polyethylene, black polyethylene and no mulch (control). The results revealed that strawberry is very responsive to the different mulching materials. All the treatments improved the vegetative growth, yield and quality of strawberry, but black polythene mulch gave the best results in terms of reducing weed population (1.00/m2), increasing plant height (21.67 cm), plant spread (31.24 cm), number of leaves per plant (18.33), number of flowers per plant (28.33), number of fruits per plant (12.12), number of achenes/fruit (317.70), fruit weight (11.83 g), fruit length (3.93 cm), fruit breadth (3.00 cm), yield (143.38 g/plant), total soluble solids (7.63 0B), total sugars (7.00 %), vitamin-C (57.77 mg/100 g) and crude protein (9.64%). However, higher acidity (0.80%) and achene density/fruit (17.34) was observed in fruits grown without mulch. Key words: Strawberry cv. Chandler, mulching, growth, quality, yield.
A Study of Floret Development in Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

Plants of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Aotea were grown at high or low nitrogen levels and in a natural photoperiod or continuous light. Starting 17-21 days from the double-ridge stage, eight plants from each treatment were sampled every 3 days until anthesis, and the two basal, the sixth, and the terminal spikelets were sectioned longitudinally. A developmental score was assigned to each floret and rates of development calculated. Continuous light hastened development but reduced the number of spikelets per ear, while high nitrogen delayed development but increased spikelet numbers. The number of florets initiated in each spikelet varied within narrow limits, but grain setting depended strongly on spikelet position and on treatment. Although florets were initiated in acropetal succession, the rate of development tended to increase up to floret 4 but then declined markedly. As a result grain setting was confined to basal floret positions, although the two basal spikelets developed so slowly that they contributed relatively little to grain yield. Distal florets degenerated almost simultaneously at or before ear emergence, but those in intermediate positions continued to develop until after fertilization in the lower florets. It is argued that the spikelet is an integrated system in which correlative mechanisms play a part throughout the develop
Study of the Relationship Between Genetic Distance and Heterosis in Castor

【Objective】To grope assoeted method in castor germplasms, and analysis degree that quantitative characters influenced yield, and realize the relationship between genetic distance and heterosis in castor. 【Method】To evaluate the factors affecting seed yield of castor and categorize castor resource, 46 castor germplasms were analyzed according to the key components analysis and cluster analysis of 11 quantitative characters. Study of the relationship between genetic distance of 21 castor inbred lines and heterosis were carried out by the graphics. 【Result】The five biggest eigenvalues were chosen and their percentage of accumulative variance was 89.74%. The standard of the genetic key components had been put forward to evaluate castor germplasms. In these characters, ear length, the number of spikes and capsules of main primary and secondary branch should be selected firstly. Then the number of spike grains should be chosen and finally 100-kernel weight. 46 castor germplasms were classified into 4 groups. It was found that some varieties whose genetic distance was close were classified into geographic distant groups, and some varieties whose pedigree was close had larger genetic distance due to the different selection criteria. Genetic distance and heterosis showed a linear relationship according to F1 generation of 21 castor inbred lines. The largest genetic distance didn’t mean the best heterosis. 【Conclusion】To evaluate castor germplasms’ genetic difference didn’t depended on geography origin and pedigree. Selecting parents with medium genetic distance may probably gain stronger heterosis.
HISTORICAL CONTROL DATA OF NONNEOPLASTIC AND NEOPLASTIC LESIONS IN F344/DuCrj RATS

A variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in F344/DuCrj rats, which were used as control animals in chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies conducted at the Biosafety Research Center, Foods, Drugs and Pesticides over a 9 year period, are described. The causes of death of animals which were found dead or that were killed in a moribund condition, as well as age-associated differences in the incidence rate of various lesions at 31, 57, 83, and 109 weeks, were also analyzed. The average number of naturally-occurring tumors per rat was 1.68 in male and 0.92 in female rats. The incidence rate of malignant tumors in all animals was 12.5% in male and 11.4% in female rats. The most common tumors were leukemia and benign tumors of the endocrine and reproductive organs. As for the non-neoplastic lesions, chronic nephropathy occurred more frequently in male than in female rats. Other lesions commonly observed were atrophic changes in the thymus and reproductive organs, deposits of hemosiderin or ceroid-like materials in a variety of organs, proliferative or hyperplastic changes of the bile ducts, endocrine and reproductive organs, microgranuloma, angiectasis and dilated or cystic changes in a variety of organs, fatty change in the liver and adrenals, and hepatodiaphragmatic nodules of the liver. Nearly all of the above findings increased in both incidence and severity with age.
Allocation of Reproductive Output: Egg- and Clutch-Size Variation in the Diamondback Terrapin

A fundamental component of an organism's life history is the allocation of energy available for reproduction into units that will simultaneously produce successful offspring and maximize the lifetime reproductive success of the female. We present five years of data on egg- and clutch-size variation for a single population of the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Clutch size ranged from 4-22 eggs and correlated weakly with female plastron length. Mean egg mass ranged from 6-12 g among clutches. Egg mass did not correlate with female plastron length and female postparturition mass. Consistent with optimal egg size theory, we observed that clutch size varied more than egg size when we considered population averages. However, egg mass correlated negatively with clutch size only during one year. Thus, there was no persistent trade-off between clutch size and egg size. On the other hand, consistent with developmental plasticity, we observed that clutch size and egg size varied simultaneously among clutches of individual females. Thus, neither optimal egg size theory nor developmental plasticity provided an informative explanation for the egg-size variation we observed in terrapins.