Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny of the Myllaenini and related taxa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A cladistic analysis of the tribe Myllaenini Ganglbauer and related genera is presented. Monophyly of the Myllaenini is tested, and the tribe is hypothesized to be a monophyletic group consisting of nine genera (Myllaena Erichson, Amazonopora Pace, Dimonomera Cameron, Bryothinusa Casey, Philomina Blackwelder, Polypea Fauvel, Brachypronomaea Sawada, Rothium Moore and Legner, and Lautaea Sawada), based on the synapomorphy of antero‐lateral angles of mentum prolonged into spinose processes. A history of the classification of the Myllaenini is discussed. The data set for phylogenetic analysis comprised 99 characters representing 297 character states derived from adult morphology. The analysis agrees on the monophyly of the Myllaenini and the monophyly of the Pronomaeini Ganglbauer (Pronomaea Erichson, Pseudomniophila Pace, Nopromaea Cameron and Tomoxelia Bernhauer). The tribe Dimonomerini (Dimonomera Cameron) is confirmed to be a member of the Myllaenini. Masuriini is a possible sister group of the Myllaenini. Stylopalpus Cameron shows a sister group relationship to the Pronomaeini. Several other clades are also consistently recovered. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Dysacrita are ambiguous. The rogue genus Diglotta Champion is not recovered as a member of the Myllaenini or Pronomaeini. On the contrary, it forms a monophyletic clade with the liparocephaline genera Halorhadinus Sawada and Amblopusa Casey. Evolution of the defensive gland on abdominal tergite VII among aleocharine lineages is reconsidered, and the origin of an intertidal habitat in the Myllaenini is discussed.
Ameliorating and Hypoglycemic Effects of Zinc Against Acute Hepatotoxic Effect of Chlorpyrifos

3 Abstract: The protective effects of zinc on liver injury induced by chlorpyrifos (CPF) were investigated in thirty male Wistar rats. Group 1 control group administered corn oil (vehicle of CPF), group 2 were orally administered CPF at a dose of 31.5 mg/kg once daily for 3 consecutive days. Group 3 received the same dose of chlorpyrifos orally concomitantly with zinc (Zn, 227 mg l ) in drinking water for 3 consecutive days then continue 1 supplementation of zinc only till tenth day. Administration of CPF resulted in a significant increase in serum glucose level, similarly, a significant increase in the levels of various serum hepatic marker enzymes (aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase) and significant increase in the levels of hepatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) while induced significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared with the control group. In contrast, co-administration and post-treatment with Zn to CPF-treated animals restored most of these biochemical parameters to within normal levels. From the obtained data in this study, it can deduce that CPF-induced hyperglycemia, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress in male rats and conjunction supplementation and treatment with Zn has resulted in pronounced ameliorating effect especially at the end of the experiment emphasizing its antioxidant role.
Competition Among Cladocera

In situ enclosure experiments were used to asses the importance of competition to the population dynamics of three cladocerans (Daphnia pulex, Moina affinis, and Ceriodaphnia sp.) in a small pond. Competitive effects were nonlinear functions of cladoceran density, and both intra and interspecific competition were important determinants of the dynamics of the pond populations. The data suggested that the degree of competition was dependent on resource levels and the age of competitors. The major pond predator, Chaoborus, was able to control prey populations only when the densities of prey and phytoplankton were low. See full-text article at JSTOR
Performance Improvement of End Milling Using Graphite as a Solid Lubricant

ABSTRACT In any machining operation, the use of coolants is essential to dissipate heat generated during machining and hence to improve productivity, machinability, etc. However, the use of cutting fluids in machining operations may seriously degrade the quality of environment. New cutting techniques are to be investigated to alleviate the problems associated with wet machining. To overcome some of the problems, an attempt has been made to use graphite as a solid lubricant. This paper deals with an investigation on using graphite as a solid lubricant to reduce the heat generated at the milling zone. An experimental setup has been developed to direct graphite powder continuously onto the workpiece and tool interface at the required flow rate. Experimental studies have been conducted to see the effect of tool geometry (radial rake angle and nose radius) and cutting conditions (cutting speed and feed rate) on the machining responses such as cutting forces, specific energy, and surface finish in solid lubricant assisted machining using four fluted solid coated carbide end mill cutters. Results indicate that there is a considerable improvement in the performance of milling AISI 1045 steel using graphite as a solid lubricant when compared with machining using cutting fluids in terms of specific energy requirements, cutting force, and surface finish.
Effect of gamma radiation on seed germination and seedling growth of Sesame (Sesamum indicum .L) Var.TMV3.

In the present study, the effect of gamma rays on seed germination and seedling growth of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) was analyzed. The seeds of sesame genotype TMV3 were exposed to different dosages of gamma rays like 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 KR. The sensitivity of gamma irradiation was observed on different germination and growth parameters such as germination rate (%), seedling height (shoot length), root length, number of lateral branches per primary root and seedling vigor (Vigour index). The results showed that depressive effects were increased with increasing radiation dosages and 50 per cent reduction in germination and seedling size (Injury) was observed at 50 KR of gamma rays irradiated seedlings and it was considered as LD50 value (Optimum dose) for gamma rays in sesame.
Two New Spiders of the Families Anapidae and Clubionidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Japan

Two new spiders of the families Anapidae and Clubionidae (Arachnida, Araneae) are described from Okayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan under the names, Mysmena nojimai sp. nov. (Anapidae) and Anaclubiona minima sp. nov. (Clubionidae). A new clubionid genus Anaclubiona is established and diagnosed, including following three species: Anaclubiona zilla (Donitz et Strand, 1906), comb. nov. (type species) and A. tanikawai (Ono, 1989), comb. nov., transferred from the genus Clubiona, and A. minima sp. nov., described herewith.
Foreword

This action research study reports on the reciprocal changes in behavior with junior high school students when asked to share their ideas on what kind of classmates they could learn English Conversation well with. Students were asked to “Please describe a group of classmates that you could learn English Conversation well with. What would you all do to help each other learn better and more enjoyably? ” Classes’ responses were looped back to raise students’ awareness of their classmates’ needs. For the second and third treatment, the responses from the first treatment were coded and the top 16 descriptors were noted. Students rated the descriptors based on three factors: (a) this is important, (b) my classmates are doing this, and (c) I am doing this. Students were asked to reflect on any behavioral changes they had made throughout the semester. Quantitative and qualitative results showed that students modified their behavior reciprocally and recognized the importance of their mutual needs. Students’ self-reported changes in behavior were found to go beyond the learning of English Conversation. Some notable reflections were, “I started to think I could do this before thinking I couldn’t” and “I started to mimic the good parts of others. ”
The Morphometrics of Migrant Semipalmated Sandpipers in the Bay of Fundy: Evidence for Declines in the Eastern Breeding Population

Abstract. Over 16 field seasons, between 1981 and 2006, nearly 20,000 migrant Semipalmated Sandpipers were captured, weighed, and their bills and wings measured during the fall stopover in the Bay of Fundy. Annual mean bill and wing lengths declined over the course of the study. As eastern Semipalmated Sandpipers have longer bills and wings than those from the west, we interpret the decline to be the result of a reduced proportion of eastern birds in our samples. Semipalmated Sandpiper populations are in decline in North America, and our data suggest that the decline may be more severe in the eastern part of their breeding range. Body mass and size-adjusted mass at the migratory stopover study site have not declined during the study, suggesting that feeding conditions have not deteriorated there. Possibly, differing conditions experienced on the breeding grounds or overwintering areas may explain why eastern populations of Semipalmated Sandpipers may be declining more severely than those from the west.
A new lizard assemblage from the earliest eocene (Zone Wa0) of the bighorn basin, wyoming, USA: Biogeography during the warmest interval of the cenozoic

Synopsis Despite two decades of research into the earliest Eocène fossils of the Rocky Mountain interior of North America, almost nothing is known of the squamates (lizards and snakes) from this time, nor of the response of this component of the terrestrial biota to climate change near the PalEocène/Eocène boundary. The present study addresses this lacuna. Sixteen squamate species are described in the earliest Eocène (Wa0) Castle Gardens local fauna of the lower‐most Willwood Formation of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. These include: two new iguanids, a species similar to Geiseltaliellus on the stem of Corytophaninae (basilisks and relatives) and a polychrotine (anoles and relatives); new stem representatives of the xantusiid (night lizard) clades Lepidophyma and Xantusia; a ‘higher’ amphisbaenian (worm lizard) of indeterminate affinities; six anguids, including a new species on the stem of Anniella (California legless lizards), a ? stem diploglossine (galliwasps), a ? stem gerrhonotine (alligator lizards) and a new glyptosaurine morphologically intermediate between ‘melanosaurins’ and Glyptosaurini; a new anguimorph of undetermined affinities; and two species compared to the varanid (monitor lizard) taxon Saniwa. At least seven species at Castle Gardens were recent immigrants. The nearest relatives of one of these is obscure, but the other six (three iguanids, stem Lepidophyma, stem Anniella, ? stem Diploglossinae) have living relatives exclusively or almost exclusively confined to warm and frost‐free (megathermal) parts of the New World. Among lizards, dispersal coincident with climatic warming near the PalEocène/Eocène boundary was predominantly intracontinental. It is argued that when habitat tracking occurs and phylogenetic niche conservatism obtains, species within a clade could migrate in broad concert in response to climate change. Mid‐latitude fossil groups may have contributed directly to the modern tropical biota, making palaeontological data of direct relevance to evaluating historical influences on modern biodiversity patterns.
Efficacy of insecticides and bio-pesticides against defoliators and spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata in Black gram

The results showed that indoxacarb 14.5% SC and abamectin 1.9% EC were found to be most effective in reducing larval population of Spodoptera litura and Spilosoma obliqua whereas, indoxacarb 14.5% SC and emamectin benzoate 5% WG were found significantly better to reduce larval population of Trichoplusia ni. The treatments of emamectin benzoate 5% WG and indoxacarb 14.5% SC were found the most effective in reducing the pod borer damage with high grain yield of black gram.
Influence of high carbohydrate content on the activity of plastidic and cytosolic isoenzyme pairs in photosynthetic tissues

The carbohydrate content of photosynthetic cells or tissues was increased by feeding glucose to autotrophic Chenopodium rubrum cell suspension cultures, by feeding glucose via the transpiration stream to detached spinach leaves, and by expressing yeast-derived invertase in the apoplast of tobacco leaves. Extracts were prepared, and plastidic and cytosolic isoenzymes were separated by electrophoresis and assayed by in situ activity staining. In all three systems, compared to control treatments, accumulation of carbohydrate led to decreased activity of plastid starch phosphorylase and phosphoglucose mutase, but not of the corresponding cytosolic isoenzymes. It led to increased activity of cytosolic 6-hosphogluconate dehydrogenase but not of the plastid isoenzyme. The activities of cytosolic and plastidic aldolase, triose-phosphate isomerase, and phosphoglucose isomerase were unaltered. The transcript and activity of nitrate reductase and pyrophosphate:fructose-6-phosphate phosphotransferase (both cytosolic enzymes) increased. The transcript levels for the S-gene of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (a plastid enzyme) increased, but the overall enzyme activity decreased slightly. It is concluded that high carbohydrate leads to a selective change in the enzyme complement of the plastid, retaining enzymes which are required for glycolysis and losing enzymes which are needed for photosynthesis or starch mobilization.
Farmers risk perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Lichinga and Sussundenga, Mozambique

In Africa, climate change exerts significant pressure on the agricultural sector. Current changes in climate for most parts of Mozambique have resulted in increased frequency of droughts, dry spells and uncertain rainfall. This has resulted in loss of food production and smallholder farmers are most vulnerable to these climatic disasters as they affect the food security status of the household. Despite an increased number of country level case studies, knowledge gaps continue to exist at the level of impact analysis. In addition, while adaptation and coping strategies with climate change and variability have become key themes in current global climate discussions and policy initiatives, literature on adaptation in Mozambique appears to be limited. The objective of this study was to assess the perception of smallholder farmers to climate change and adaptation strategies in Lichinga and Sussundenga districts of Mozambique. Using data obtained from a survey carried out in Lichinga and Sussundenga districts in Mozambique descriptive statistics analysis was undertaken using SPSS software to characterize the households, in terms of perceptions and coping strategies of the household to climate change. The farmers from both districts sited rainfall variability and higher temperatures to have severely affected maize production. Due to the late onset of rains, in Lichinga the planting period has changed from November (47.5%) to December (70%) while in Sussundenga the planting period has changed from September/October (40%) to November (62.5%). The rain seasons have become shorter and dry seasons are longer. Some farmers have switched from growing maize to growing drought tolerant crops, such as cassava, sweet potato and cultivation of horticultural crops in wetlands as strategies to cope with the climate change. Key words: Climate variability, farmer’s perceptions, adaptation strategies.
New Tertiary Fossil Odonata from France (Sieblosiidae, Lestidae, Coenagrionidae, Megapodagrionidae, Libellulidae)

Thanetophilosina menatensis gen. n. , sp. n. (Zygoptera: Megapodagrionidae) is described from the Palaeocene of France. Two new species of Stenolestes (Zygoptera: Sieblosiidae) and a new specimen of Stenolestes fischeri Nel, 1986 are described from the Oligocene of France. Three unnamed new Coenagrionidae, a lestid, Lestes brisaci sp. n. , and a libellulid, Caussanelia papaziani gen. n. , sp. n. are described from the Upper Oligocene of south-east France. An unnamed new species of Coenagrionidae is described from the Upper Miocene of central France. These new taxa increase our knowledge of the palaeodiversity of odonatan faunas in the Tertiary of western Europe.
Transport and relaxation properties of isotopomeric hydrogen–helium binary mixtures. I. H2–He mixtures

An extensive comparison has been carried out between calculated and measured bulk properties of H2–helium mixtures. Detailed comparisons are presented for the interaction second virial coefficient, binary diffusion, mixture shear viscosity and thermal conductivity, rotational relaxation, thermal diffusion field-effects, collision broadening of the depolarized Rayleigh light scattering spectrum, and flow birefringence. Scattering calculations have been carried out for the ab initio potential energy surfaces obtained by Tao (1994, J. chem. Phys., 100, 4947) and Schaefer and Köhler (1985, Physica A, 129, 469). The values for the various bulk gas properties calculated from these two potential surfaces are generally found to lie within or near the experimental uncertainties.
The lack of control of water loss in micropropagated plants is not related to poor cuticle development

To assess if cuticular transpiration could contribute significantly to the high rates of water loss often observed in micropropagated plants after transfer to the nursery, it was tested whether adaxial cuticular water permeance (P) of leaves grown in vitro was higher than that of leaves grown ex vitro. For four species of micropropagated plants with hypostous leaves (Delphinium elatum hybrid, Doronicum hybrid, Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans, Rodgersia pinnata), P was determined with two independent techniques which gave similar results. Minimum adaxial overall conductance was measured with the same methods for a Heuchera hybrid which had amphistomatous leaves. Leaves of all species except Heuchera lost 36–65% of their original weight within 25 min after excision. Detached leaves whose abaxial surfaces had been coated lost only 25–38% of their original weight within 5–9 h. Permeances (P) were between 1 × 10−5 m s−1 and 1 × 10−4 m s−1, which was within the range of typical values found with leaves grown ex vitro. From these results and a critical assessment of the literature it is concluded that there is no evidence that P of micropropagated plants was high enough to contribute significantly to the desiccation problem at the transfer stage.
Soil seed banks in dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia

The soil seed bank was investigated in four dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia. At least 167 plant species were identified in the 0–9 cm soil layer with total densities ranging between 12 300 and 24 000 seeds/m2. Herbs were represented with the largest numbers of species and seeds in the seed bank, while the contribution of tree species was generally low. The overall vertical distribution of seeds was similar at all sites with the highest densities occurring in the upper three cm of soil and gradually decreasing densities with increasing depth. Relatively high densities also occurred in the litter layer. There were large differences in depth distribution between species, suggesting differences in seed longevity. A large number of species in dry Afromontane forests evidently store quantities of seeds in the soil and this is in contrast to the situation in most tropical rain forests, dry lowland forests and savannas, where both the number of seeds and the number of species are relatively small. It is possible that the strongly seasonal and unpredictable climate of this region may have selected for high levels of dormancy, and that herb regeneration is associated with small scale disturbance. The fact that most of the dominant tree species do not accumulate seeds in the soil suggests that their regeneration from seed would be unlikely if mature individuals disappeared. Most tree species have relatively large seeds and poor long-distance dispersal; this implies that restoration of Afromontane forests after destruction would be difficult. Since there is a diverse seed bank of the ground flora, this component of the vegetation would have a better chance of reestablishing. However, because most cleared forest land is used for agricultural crop production, it is probable that the seed bank will be depleted in only a few years. Therefore, the future of the Afromontane forest flora seems to depend on the successful conservation of the few fragments of remaining natural forest.
Pronuclear Migration and Cytoskeletal Organization of Porcine Oocytes Activated by Various Stimuli

A variety of physical and chemical stimuli initiate egg activation events. This study was designed to investigate the rates of pronuclear formation and the cytoskeletal organization of porcine oocytes activated by various stimuli. Oocytes matured for 44-60 hrs were activated by one of the following treatments: double electric pulses (EP, 150 V/mm for 60 µsec, 1 sec apart), ethanol (7% for 5 min), calcium ionophore A23187 (CaA, 50 µM for 2 min), cycloheximide (CHX, 5 µg/ml for 6 hrs), or 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP, 2.5 mM for 4 hrs). EP yielded the highest activation rate (97%). CaA and DMAP activated the oocytes in relatively higher proportions than did ethanol and CHX (74 and 83% vs. 55 and 41%, respectively). After CHX and DMAP treatments, egg fragmentation was significantly increased (65 and 82%, respectively) and the polar body emission was restrained. After activation with EP, ethanol or CaA, the pronucleated oocytes possessed a microtubule-rich domain around the pronucleus, which was concomitantly surrounded by microfilaments. In oocytes activated with CHX or DMAP, however, microtubules and microfilaments did not synchronously form a concentrated domain. We suggest that activation with a protein synthesis/phosphorylation inhibitor may have affects on distribution and function of the cytoskeleton of the oocyte different from those elicited by treatments with EP, ethanol or CaA, which result in higher proportions of eggs with the pronucleus restrained in the peripheral ooplasm and greater egg fragmentation.
ANTI-IRISH RACISM AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Well documented experiences of the Irish diaspora in England include humiliation, discrimination, and higher rates of suicide and psychiatric intervention (Hickman, 2000). However, the construction of the Irish in relation to rape has rarely been considered, despite the longstanding history of the term being used as a metaphor in the context of colonization (Sharkey, 1994). This paper examines intersecting discourses around anti-Irish racism and sexual violence through a genealogical tracing of the concept of rape in relation to men, women, and the discursive category of “The Irish. ” This historically situated, discourse analysis (Parker, 2003, 2014) includes contemporary material from microblogs (Java, Song, Finan, & Tseng, 2007). It reveals the construction of the Irish as passive recipients of sexual conquest (whether consensual or coercive) that implies sexual availability. Whether it is the popular “Kiss me I’m Irish” or the more aggressive “Rape me I’m Irish” “joke,” the conceptual Irish body is positioned as an object for others to act upon. This analysis exposes the myth of white homogeneity and the relative invisibility of anti-Irish racism, particularly when combined with other axes of oppression such as gender and class. For professionals working with victims of violence, the complex relationship between colonialism, sectarianism, and racism should be considered beyond visible differences and black–white dichotomies.