Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species of Pleurosigma (Pleurosigmataceae) with lanceolate or slightly sigmoid valve outlines: analysis of type material

The type material of seven taxa of Pleurosigma W. Smith were studied, including P. atlanticum Heiden & Kolbe, P. chilense Hustedt & Krasske, P. chilensis var. patagonica Ferrario & Sar, P. indicum Simonsen, P. intermedium W. Smith, P. nubecula W. Smith and P. simonsenii Hasle. All these taxa are mainly characterized by a straight or almost straight valve outline. The fine morphology of the type specimens is studied and compared with similar taxa, and appropriate taxonomic changes are proposed. The material examined included the lectotypes of P. chilense and P. atlanticum, the holotypes of P. indicum and P. simonsenii from the Friedrich Hustedt Center for Diatom Research (BRM, Germany), the isolectotypes of P. intermedium and P. nubecula from the Van Heurck Collection (BR, Belgium), and the holotype of P. chilensis var. patagonica and material of P. simonsenii collected in Argentinian coastal waters from the Herbarium of the División Ficología (LPC, Argentina). Based on light and scanning electron microscope analyses, it was concluded that P. atlanticum, P. chilense, P. indicum, P. intermedium and P. simonsenii are valid species, P. nubecula is a heterotypic synonym of P. intermedium and P. chilensis var. patagonica must be raised to specific rank under the name P. patagonicum (Ferrario & Sar) Sterrenburg & Sar stat. nov. as it differs from P. chilense in the fine morphology of the external central raphe fissures, the valve apex and the areolae near the centre.
Somali

truly oral in that it was composed, memorized, and passed on without having to resort to any type of writing or other means of communication or recording. Many of these genres are typical of any oral tradition: various dance or work songs, fairy stories and other tales, riddles, sayings, proverbs, and so on. The most highly evolved and highly considered form of the oral arts in Somali society is poetry. It is made up of several genres (gabay, geeraar, jiifto, guurow, buraanbur, and so on), which differ from each other according to the meter of the lines and the luuq or &dquo;melody&dquo; to which they are sung, in addition to the particular topics they address. The essential characteristic of a poem is its metrical structure, based upon the length or the number of vowels. A syllable composed of a short vowel equals one unit, while a syllable with a long vowel or a diphthong equals two units, and there are rules that
Anthropogenic impact on past and present fire regimes in a boreal forest landscape of southeastern Norway

Fire-scarred wood samples from 50 stumps, snags, and living trees of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were dendrochronologically cross-dated to describe an 800 year long fire history of Eldferdalen Nature Reserve (~6 ha) and its surroundings (~4000 ha) in southeastern Norway. In the western part of the study area, we recorded 55 different fires within a 200 ha area around the reserve between 1511 and 1759 and a mean fire interval in single samples of 24.6 years. The composite mean fire interval for the nature reserve was 10.5 years. Fire intervals were longer in the eastern part of the study area, with a single sample mean fire interval of 49.1 years. Only three fires were detected af- ter 1759, the last one in 1822. Based on historical accounts, we assume that the high number of fires and short fire in- tervals were influenced by deliberate ignition for agricultural purposes, most likely burning to improve the conditions for cattle grazing and slash-and-burn cultivation. We suggest that the cessation of fires was influenced by the increased value of timber and mining activity, thereby leading to increased interest in conservation of the timber resources. Resume : Des echantillons de bois portant des cicatrices de feu et provenant de 50 souches, chicots et tiges vivantes de pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris L.) ont ete dates par recoupement a l'aide de la dendrochronologie pour reconstituer l'historique des incendies sur une periode de 800 ans dans la reserve naturelle Eldferdalen (~6 ha) et aux alentours (~4000 ha) dans le sud-est de la Norvege. Dans la partie ouest de l'aire d'etude, les auteurs ont identifie 55 incendies differents a l'interieur d'une zone de 200 ha autour de la reserve entre 1511 et 1759 et un intervalle moyen entre les incendies dans les echantillons uniques de 24,6 annees. L'intervalle moyen compose entre les incendies pour la reserve naturelle etait de 10,5 annees. Les intervalles entre les incendies etaient plus longs dans la partie est de l'aire d'etude avec un intervalle moyen entre les incendies dans les echantillons uniques de 49,1 ans. Seulement trois incendies ont ete detectes apres 1759, le dernier etant survenu en 1822. Sur la base de comptes rendus historiques, ils assument que le nombre et la frequence eleves des incendies ont ete influences par des allumages deliberes a des fins agricoles, fort probablement le brulage pour ameliorer les conditions de pâturage pour le betail et la culture itinerante sur brulis. Les auteurs croient que les incendies ont cesse a cause de la valeur accrue du bois et de l'activite miniere et, par conse- quent, de l'interet croissant pour la conservation des ressources ligneuses. (Traduit par la Redaction) Groven and Niklasson 2726
The ecological barriers to the recovery of bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce) infested sites: impacts on vegetation and the potential increase in other exotic species.

To protect native biodiversity from environmental weeds, the impacts that these weeds cause need to be known before weed control commences. Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce (bridal creeper) (Asparagaceae) is a serious environmental weed and has been selected for biological control in Australia. To predict the responses of plant communities to the control of bridal creeper, a prerelease baseline of the impacts of bridal creeper on native plant communities was undertaken. Plant assemblages in areas invaded by bridal creeper were compared with reference areas that contained little or no bridal creeper. Areas invaded by bridal creeper contained 52% fewer native plant species when compared with nearby reference areas. However, there was no difference in the number of other exotic plant species between areas. Similar trends were found for the germinable seed bank. Although a greater number of exotic species were present in the seed bank compared with the vegetation surveys, there was still no difference between areas with and without bridal creeper. In a glasshouse trial, exotic species germinated more frequently compared with native species. This could indicate that as bridal creeper density decreases following control, exotic species have an advantage over native species when colonizing areas left vacant by bridal creeper. Second, as bridal creeper areas contained reduced native species richness and cover, they may be susceptible to further weed invasion after bridal creeper is removed. Therefore, simply reducing the presence of bridal creeper may not guarantee successful restoration of invaded areas and additional restoration efforts will be needed to ensure the ultimate goal of protecting native biodiversity is reached.
UNDERSTANDING MEMBRANE FUNCTION

Work on algae has had wide‐ranging impacts on our understanding of membrane function. Work on giant cells of freshwater and marine algae has been very important in defining and characterizing active transport systems for ions and other solutes and for studying other transport processes at the plasmalemma and tonoplast. Such work was particularly important in changing the focus of studies of higher plant membrane transport processes in the 1960s. Recent technical and genetic advances mean that studies formerly confined to large algal cells can now also be performed on higher plants and microalgae, but work on giant cells still makes important contributions. Studies on fucoid embryos continues to make significant contributions to our understanding of the role of transmembrane calcium fluxes in early development. This work has wide‐ranging implications for the development of other organisms.
Bone Density Changes in Mouse Offspring after 50-HZ, 15-μT Electromagnetic Field Long-Term Exposure of two Generations

Possible mass and bone density alterations were studied in second-generation OF1 mice exposed chronically since birth to a magnetic field of 50 Hz and 15 μT. For that purpose, 120 animals were sacrificed at the age of 12 weeks (males) and 14 weeks (females) and their femurs studied by bone densitometry. A total of 24 parameters in two groups (densitometric parameters such as total mass, total density, etc. and mechanical parameters like periosteal and endosteal circumferences, etc.) were analyzed. Statistical study showed no significant differences in exposed versus control animals. However, we observed slight alterations in some parameters such as total density, total and trabecular area, etc. that showed quantitative alterations making sexual dimorphism decrease or disappear. In other
Comparison between feeding rumen-protected choline and vitamin E on milk yield and blood metabolites in early lactation dairy cows

Twenty-four early-lactation primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows, beginning 5 weeks postpartum, were used for 4 weeks to investigate the effects of feeding rumen-protected choline (RPC) or vitamin E on milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), blood metabolites and plasma enzymes. Cows were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: no supplement (control), 90 g/day of RPC, or 4400 IU/day of vitamin E. Treatments did not affect milk yield, DMI, plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase or total bilirubin, whereas feeding RPC affected cholesterol, plasma albumin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Feeding vitamin E affected triglyceride, cholesterol, β-hydroxy butyric acid, gamma-glutamyl transferase and alanine aminotransferase, and highly affected plasma albumin and ALP. There was a tendency for vitamin E supplementation to increase plasma total protein concentration. The results of this study suggest that supplemental vitamin E may improve liver function in dairy cows in early lactation.
Einsatz von Echinacea-Extrakt bei tragenden und säugenden Sauen

Abstract. Title of the paper: Application of Echinacea-extract in pregnant and suckled sows In an experiment with thirteen sows (echinacea: n = 6; control: n = 7), the influence of Echinacea purpurea treatment of pregnant and suckled sows on immune system, health status, growth performance, and carcass quality of the offspring (echinacea: n = 69; control: n = 79) was investigated. Echinacea was given as liquid feed supplement during the whole pregnant and suckling period of sows in six intervalls (5 days of treatment, followed by 2 weeks of break, respectively). During the treatment time the daily dosage per sow in echinacea-group was 0.125 ml preparation of echinacea extract (incl. solution)/kg body weight. To measure the concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum, blood samples were taken by punction of V. cava cranialis (sows and piglets) at different times. The treatment of sows resulted in immunostimulatory effects both in sows and piglets with highest changes in peripartal period. In one day old piglets, the concentrations of IgG, IgA and CRP were significantly increased in echinacea-group (P = 0.0004, P
Spatial Patterns of Endemic Plants in California

ABSTRACT: California endemic vascular plant range patterns were quantified using a flora-based geodatabase technique that defined species range by geographic area and elevation band. Resulting species spatial patterns are reported for 228 geographic units. Over 60% of the endemic species range size distributions were found to have range sizes less than 10,000 km2. The largest endemic taxon range was 275,749 km2, or 67% of the state. California endemic plant richness distribution patterns are summarized by 228 geographic units, and reported by various criteria. California's Central Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, high elevation Sierra Nevada Mountains, Channel Islands, San Jacinto Mountains, Napa and Lake Counties, Inyo Mountains, sections of the Mojave Desert, and San Bernardino Mountains were all identified as areas with unique endemic plant attributes. We compared endemic species richness between map units in zones containing similar topography and climate, and found that area only weakly correlated with species richness, suggesting other factors have stronger influence on endemism in continental California. The findings have implications for developing conservation plans that target endemic species. In particular, we identify areas of the state, previously de-emphasized, that deserve greater recognition based on the characteristics of their restricted endemic plants. This analysis underestimates the level of endemism near the borders with Oregon and Baja California because of the artificial limitation of the database to the boundaries of the state of California. However, range distribution estimates produced from digital renditions of floral keys proved effective in this study, an inexpensive approach that could be implemented in other regions of the world for which floras have been published.
Analysis of the Construction Machinery Work Efficiency as a Factor of the Earthworks Sustainability

Being aware of the construction machinery work efficiency is one of the key conditions of dynamic planning of machine work at the construction site and it can be considered as one of the earthworks sustainability factors. The main topic of this paper is the time study analysis of one standard technological cyclic construction machine process (the excavators’ loading the transportation vehicle), which was observed on-and-off site and analysed. On-site data was obtained by snapback chronometry method with the purpose of determining actual work efficiency; while the (off-site) planned work efficiency was determined using the standardized tables. The aim was to determine the existence of a deviation and examine the differences between planned and actual work efficiency of particular technological process in earthworks as well as to identify its cost-effective area as a prerequisite for identifying the earthworks sustainability. As the earthworks sustainability is the synthesis and concordance of beneficial activities for technological, economic, environmental and social performance context, the balance of excavators’ work efficiency is needed. It was concluded that in order to achieve sustainability, i.e. to be in cost-effective area, the maximum value of excavators’ cycle time extends up to 50 seconds.
Childhood Burn Injury

This article describes childhood burn injury as a barometer of social inequalities, due to class or gender. Although the issue is not explicitly located within the Hind Swaraj scholarship, the occurrence of burns provides an opportunity to investigate the profound impact of social obstacles to individual, familial and even community safety. This article outlines the case for childhood burns, as a manifestation of what is also often termed accidental injury, to thus be described within Hind Swaraj terms. It describes the interactions between the contextual, environmental and individual contributors to childhood burn injuries in South Africa. The article highlights the centrality of these factors to understanding the selective occurrence of burns but also to the formulation of burn prevention and control measures.
Dietary Protein Level and Water Temperature Interactions for Greenlip Abalone Haliotis laevigata

ABSTRACT Land-based grow-out of greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) in Australia is predominantly practiced using a single-diet feeding strategy, despite geographical and seasonal differences in water temperature that influence feed intake and growth. This 12-wk study investigated the interactions between 2 abalone year classes (1 y old, 1.8 g; 2 y old, 22.9 g), 3 water temperatures (14°C, 18°C, and 22°C), and 4 dietary protein levels (1 y old: 27%, 30%, 33%, and 36% crude protein; 2 y old: 24%, 27%, 30%, and 33% crude protein) to evaluate the potential to use diets to suit specific water temperatures and aged animals. Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic (∼12.5 MJ/kg digestible energy), and contain fat levels of ∼3.6% and digestible protein levels ranging from 17.99%–28.57%. Feed was fed to excess daily and uneaten food was collected. Temperature significantly affected the specific growth rate of both year classes of abalone. There was no significant effect of dietary protein level on specific growth rate; however, abalone compensated for a reduction of dietary protein by consuming more feed. This observation was evident with significant increases in feed conversion ratios as dietary protein levels decreased for both year classes. With the exception of abalone grown at 14°C, when protein deposition decreased with increasing dietary protein level, protein deposition increased with an increase in dietary protein for both year classes. For 1-y-old abalone, as temperature increased from 14-22°C, the optimum crude dietary protein levels increased from -29%-∼35%. For 2-y-old abalone, the optimum crude protein level appeared to be less, and increased from 24% at 14°C to 34% at 22°C. There is scope to use multidiet feeding strategies in the production of greenlip abalone.
Fruit quality as affected by 1-MCP treatment and DCA storage - a comparison of the two methods

Summary Two new tools for better preservation of fruit quality have been developed in recent years, the treatment of apples with 1-MCP and dynamic controlled atmosphere storage (DCA). The effect of 1-MCP treatment and DCA on ethylene production and quality of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples harvested at two different ripening stages was evaluated in our study over two consecutive years. 1-MCP treatment delayed the climacteric increase of ethylene production and led to better retention of quality during RA- and ULO-storage and subsequent shelf life compared to non-treated apples. In order to achieve the optimum effect of 1-MCP, the treatment must be carried out within 7 days after harvest, as recommended by the supplier of 1-MCP. In most cases, DCA improved quality retention during storage in terms of fruit firmness and acidity compared to ULO-storage. The use of the two methods depends on the cultivars stored and conditions such as the infrastructure of the storage facility and type of handling and marketing of the apples.
The True Identity of Schendyla furcidens Kaczmarek, 1962 (Chilopoda: Schendylidae)

Abstract. Misinterpreted artefacts and morphological variations are two possible sources of taxonomic synonymies. We have recognized these two in the case of the geophilomorph Schendyla furcidens Kaczmarek, 1962, described from Poland and subsequently reported from Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The species was described based on some differences in the structure of the labrum, maxilla, mandible and last legs as compared to Schendyla nemorensis (C. L. Koch, 1837). While studying Hungarian and Polish Schendyla specimens we found that the furcate shape of the labral teeth, putatively diagnostic for S. furcidens, was an artefact visible under light microscope caused by the forward-turned position of the labrum. Similarly, differential characters in mandibles and maxillae were found to be artefacts emerging during slide preparation, while characters of the legs can be considered as intraspecific variability. Thus, we can conclude that S. furcidens is a junior subjected synonym of S. nemorensis (syn. nov.). Line drawings and SEM micrographs are given to illustrate all the main taxonomic characters and their alterations.
The effect of sex on the accuracy of predicting carcass composition of ross broiler chickens.

Linear regression equations predicting carcass composition by live body weight were developed using data from 40 males (M) and 40 females (F) of Ross broiler chickens at 33 days of age. Equations from M, F and combined sexes (M+F) were compared to examine the effects of sex on the precision of predicti ng carcass composition. M birds had higher live body weights and weights of carcasses, drumsticks and wings than F birds. Live body weight was positively correlated with all the carcass components in M and M+F (r=0.98 to 0.26) and all carcass components except abdominal fat in F birds (r=0.99 to 0.46). Prediction equations for carcass weight and carcass composition of breast, drumsticks, thighs, back and wings of F birds were slightly more variable in precision (R 2 =98.3 to 21.2%) than those developed in M birds (R 2 =96.9 to 63.4%), and equations developed from M + F birds were intermediate. Sex of bird significantly influenced the R 2 when predicting neck and wings weights. It can be concluded that prediction equations developed from live body weight can be useful to estimate carcass composition. Equations identified differences between sexes in predicting weights of wings and neck in the carca ss of Ross broiler chickens.
Acclimatization of Scottish Blackface sheep to cold. 2. Skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, shivering intensity and skinfold thickness

Closely shorn Scottish Blackface female sheep aged 9–14 months, half on high plane and half on low plane nutrition, were subjected, in climate chambers, to two short acute cold exposures down to −20°C. The acute exposures were separated by two weeks chronic exposure to a moderately subcriticai temperature (+8°C) or to a thermoneutral temperature (+30°C). Most of the sheep showed a greater resistance to body cooling at the second acute exposure (Slee and Sykes, 1967). This increased resistance to hypothermia, defined as acclimatization, was apparently influenced more by acute than by chronic cold exposure. The present paper deals with changes in skin temperature, heart rate, shivering intensity and skinfold thickness which also resulted from cold exposure, and accompanied acclimatization. After acute cold exposure followed by chronic exposure to +8°C the following changes in these parameters were observed: 1. Extremity skin temperatures and heart rates were consistently increased at thermoneutral ambient temperatures. 2. Vasoconstriction of the extremities and increased heart rate, both of which normally occur during the early stages of cold exposure, were delayed. 3. Heart rates at sub-zero ambient temperatures were increased. 4. Cold-induced vasodilatation at sub-zero ambient temperatures was increased. After acute cold treatment alone the intensity of shivering during the second acute exposure was reduced. Also the onset of foot vasoconstriction was slightly delayed. A highly significant relationship was observed between shivering intensity and heart rate during cold exposure. Plane of nutrition had less effect on the physiological responses to cooling than did previous cold experience. It was suggested in discussion that the physiological responses associated with acclimatization were: elevated basal metabolic rate, delayed onset of vasoconstriction and delayed metabolic response to cold, and consequent lowering of the critical temperature. Summit metabolism was also increased and shivering intensity reduced during acute cold exposure. Some of these responses could have resulted from either acute or chronic moderate cold exposure. However their persistence, once induced, appeared to depend upon continued exposure to moderate cold.