Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproduction in a Viviparous Snake, Elaphe rufodorsata

XIANG JI,1 YUE-YING XIE,2 PING-YUE SUN,3 AND XIANGZHONG ZHENG,4 'Department of Biology, Hangzhou Normal College, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, P. R. China, 2Section of Biology, Zhejiang School of Health, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, P. R. China, 3The National Key Laboratory, Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P R. China, and 4Department of Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P R. China.
Phytoplankton assemblages in PN section of East China Sea in summer

Fifty-three water samples were collected from the PN section of East China Sea in August 2009.This paper presented the preliminary study on phytoplankton species composition and assemblage structure by the Uterm? hl method.A total of four phylum and 40 genera including 77 taxa were found.There were 28 Bacillario-phyta genera including 54 taxa,10 Dinophyta genera including 21 taxa,one Chrysophyta genera including one taxon,and one Cyanophyta genera including one taxon.The cell abundance of the phytoplankton ranged from 0.044×103 to 113.2×103cells/L,with an average of 6.178×103cells/L;Bacillariophyta contributed most to the total cell abundance,ranging from 0.037×103 to 106.8×103cells/L,with an average of 5.855×103cells/L;secondary important group is Dinophyta,with cell abundance ranging from 0.037×103 to 13.067×103cells/L,with an average of 0.752×103cells/L;the cell abundance of Chrysophyta was low;the cell abundance of Cyanophyta ranged from 0.037×103 to 1.148×103 trichomes/L.The dominant species were Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima,Thalassionema frauenfeldii,Skeletonema sp. ,Gymnodinium simplex,Pseudo-nitzschia pungens,Coscindiscus spp. ,Noctiluca scin-tillans,Thalassionema nitzschioides,Paralia sulcata,Protoperidinium sp. ,Trichodesmium thiebautii,and Scripp-siella trochoidea.The cell abundance of phytoplankton was relatively high in inshore and low in offshore area,at station YZ03,YZ12 and YZ13,the cell abundance reaching 113.2×103cells/L,34.2×103cells/L,and 50.4×103cells/L.In addition,there was another cell abundance high value area at PN05 station,maybe a result of the Kuroshio Current’s inbreak.The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou’s evenness index were higher in the middle stations of the section but lower in inshore part.
The Correlation between Dietary Cation-anion Difference and Acid-base Balance of Body Fluid in Dairy Cows

The present study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between dietary cation-anion difference(DCAD) and acid-base balance of body fluid.Data were obtained from 3 trials of DCAD on body fluid acid-base balance(urine pH,blood pH and blood HCO-3) with peripartum dairy cows as the experimental animals and were analyzed using SAS software.The results showed as follows: 1) there was a marked relationship among DCAD,urine pH,blood pH and blood HCO-3 concentration(P0.001);2) the DCAD strongly regressed with urine and blood pH,respectively(P0.001),but not with blood HCO-3 concentration(P0.05);3) there was a significant correlation between urine pH,blood pH and HCO-3 concentration(P0.001),and between blood pH and blood HCO-3 concentration(P0.001). These results suggest that urine pH can be used to evaluate the correlation between DCAD level and acid-base balance of body fluid of peripartum dairy cows.
Faecal analysis of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Península Valdés calving ground, Argentina: Calanus australis, a key prey species

Península Valdés (PV) is the most austral calving ground for the SW Atlantic population of Eubalaena australis. Recent studies indicate that E. australis often feeds in PV mainly in late September and October. A microscopic analysis of food chitin remains found in five whale faeces was performed in the present study in an attempt to obtain baseline knowledge about trophic ecology and degree of use of plankton food available for whales in PV during spring (September–December). The remains in faeces from stranded and live individuals included copepods, other zooplankton and centric diatoms, all of which were characterized. Copepod remains were found to be dominant. Scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopes were used for comparative analyses between the mandibular gnathobases found in whale faeces and those obtained from preserved specimens. Mandibular gnathobases were the same in structure and morphometry as those obtained from preserved Calanus australis (copepodites 4–6). The positive relationship observed between the total length and width of the mandibular gnathobases edge of C. australis and those found in faeces allowed us to infer the developmental stages of the copepods ingested by E. australis. Our results indicate – for the first time – the relevant role of C. australis copepodite 5 as main prey for E. australis in PV during the calving season. Copepodite 5 of C. australis accumulates energy-rich lipids. This is energetically attractive for whales and it is the potential reason why E. australis feeds mainly on dense patches dominated by this developmental stage of C. australis.
THE CONCENTRATION AND DYNAMICS OF SEDIMENT PHOSPHORUS IN VARIOUS LAKE REGIONS OF LAKE DONGHU

The concentration and seasonal dynamics of phosphorus in the sediment (0—5cm,5—10cm) of Lake Donghu were studied at six stations with different nutrient levels. The sampling was taken by a core sampler monthly from March 1998 to February 1999. On the annual average of the six stations,P content in the sediment was 1.15mg/g. The P content in the sediment at Station Ⅰ(Ⅱ) in the present study was 1.42(1.03) times that in the early 1980s. At Station 0 where there was heavy sewerage discharge,the sediment P content was as high as 2.78mg/g,while at the less affected Stations Ⅳ and Ⅴ,it was only 0.52mg/g and 0.50mg/g,respectively. There was a good relationship between the P content of the sediment and the P content of the lake water (r= 0.997 ,n=5,p0.02). By comparing the P content of the sediment and water column,and external P loading in some Chinese lakes,it appears that if the P content of the water column is high and external P loading is large,the P content in the sediment is generally also high. Predictably,the great P pool in the sediment will still be a threat to the water quality of the lake ecosystem even if the external loading is under control.
Pharmacogenomics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition, which presents the opportunity for precision therapy based on genetics or other biomarkers. Areas covered: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic form of emphysema, provides an example of this precision approach to diagnosis and therapy. To date, research in COPD pharmacogenomics has been limited by small sample sizes, lack of accessible target tissue, failure to consider COPD subtypes, and different outcomes relevant for various medications. There have been several published genome-wide association studies and other omics studies in COPD pharmacogenomics; however, clinical implementation remains far away. There is a growing evidence base for precision prescription of inhaled corticosteroids in COPD, based on clinical phenotypes and blood biomarkers, but not yet based on pharmacogenomics. Expert opinion: At this time, there is insufficient evidence for clinical implementation of COPD pharmacogenomics. Additional genome-wide studies will be required to discover predictors of drug response and to identify genomic biomarkers of COPD subtypes, which could be targeted with subtype-directed therapies.
Simulated Saccadic Stimuli Suppress ON-Type Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells via Glycinergic Inhibition

Two types of mammalian direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs), ON and ONOFF, operate over different speed ranges. The directional axes of the ON-DSGCs are thought to align with the axes of the vestibular system and provide sensitivity at rotational velocities that are too slow to activate the semicircular canals. ONOFF-DSGCs respond to faster image velocities. Using natural images that simulate the natural visual inputs to freely moving animals, we show that simulated visual saccades suppress responses in ON-DSGCs but not ONOFF-DSGCs recorded in retinas of domestic rabbits of either gender. Analysis of the synaptic inputs shows that this saccadic suppression results from glycinergic inputs that are specific to ON-DSGCs and are absent in ONOFF-DSGCs. When this glycinergic input is blocked, both cell types respond similarly to visual saccades and display essentially identical speed tuning. The results demonstrate that glycinergic circuits within the retina can produce saccadic suppression of retinal ganglion cell activity. The cell-type-specific targeting of the glycinergic circuits further supports the proposed physiological roles of ON-DSGCs in retinal-image stabilization and of ONOFF-DSGCs in detecting local object motion and signaling optical flow. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the mammalian retina, ON direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) respond preferentially to slow image motion, whereas ONOFF-DSGCs respond better to rapid motion. The mechanisms producing this different speed tuning remain unclear. Here we show that simulated visual saccades suppress ON-DSGCs, but not ONOFF-DSGCs. This selective saccadic suppression is because of the selective targeting of glycinergic inhibitory synaptic inputs to ON-DSGCs. The different saccadic suppression in the two cell types points to different physiological roles, consistent with their projections to distinct areas within the brain. ON-DSGCs may be critical for providing the visual feedback signals that contribute to stabilizing the image on the retina, whereas ONOFF-DSGCs may be important for detecting the onset of saccades or for signaling optical flow.
The Benefits of Improving Animal Welfare from the Perspective of Livestock Stakeholders across Asia

Simple Summary A previous study into successful international animal welfare management strategy presented the vital need for animal welfare proponents to establish mutual benefits with the livestock industry. What the perceived benefits to addressing farm animal welfare are, is therefore important information not previously researched. This study asked leaders in the livestock industry in regions across six Asian countries what they saw as the key benefits for improving animal welfare, and which of those benefits they found the most compelling. The potentials to increase productivity of the animals and improve meat quality were among the most frequently cited and most highly rated across the countries. Important differences in the focus of other benefits existed by country, with food safety of highest importance in China and Vietnam, and people-focused benefits (such as human health and improved community livelihood) of greater importance in countries with higher rates of poverty such as India and Bangladesh. Animal-based reasons, such as improving animal welfare to the benefit of the animals themselves, were not compelling benefits in any of the investigated countries, other than India. The results of this study could assist in the development of improved animal welfare strategies. Abstract In this study, 17 focus group meetings were held with livestock industry leaders in geographically dispersed areas of China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh, regarding animal welfare issues, potential solutions and attitudes. Livestock leaders were asked ‘what do you see as the benefits to improving animal welfare’ and later to discuss the potential benefits and rank them according to their associated importance. While differences existed by country, the most important perceived benefit area across all countries was financial in nature, primarily focussed on the potential to increase the productive output of the animals and to improve meat and product quality. However, doubt existed around the ability to increase profit against the cost of improving animal welfare, particularly in China. Human health benefits and the tie to human welfare and community livelihood were considered most important in India and Bangladesh, and animal-focussed benefits were not significant in any countries, except India and, to a lesser extent, Bangladesh. Thus, improving animal welfare for the sake of the animals is unlikely to be a compelling argument. The results presented here can be used to create meaningful mutual ground between those that advocate improvement of animal welfare and the stakeholders that have the ability to implement it, i.e., the livestock industry.
Relationship between Psychological Problems and Quality of Life among Leprosy Patients

Context: Depression and anxiety are most prevalent in patients with leprosy, which impact the quality of life of patients. Aims: This study aimed to assess psychological problems and quality of life among leprosy patients, and to investigate the relationship between psychological problems and quality of life among leprosy patients. Methods: A Descriptive correlational design utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. The study conducted at the Dermatology & Leprosy clinic in Benha City, Kaluobia Governorate, which affiliated to the Ministry of Health. A descriptive study among 100 leprosy patients was recruited consecutively from dermatology and leprosy outpatient. Three tools were used to achieve the aim of this study. A structured Interviewing schedule, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF Questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Results: The majority of the studied patients had a low level of quality of life, Also, two thirds had a moderate level of depression, and about two thirds of them had severe level of anxiety, while the majority of them had a moderate level of stress; also, more than half of them had a severe level of total DASS. Also, a statistically significant negative correlation between the total quality of life and total DASS among the studied patient with leprosy at p-value =<0.05. Conclusion: leprosy patients have a low level of quality of life and have a high prevalence of psychological problems present with moderate to severe level of total depression, anxiety, and stress, which impact on their quality of life. The study recommended that to continuous counseling and health education for leprosy patients to avoid or minimize the psychological problems and to improve their quality of life. Psycho-educational program to improve psychological well-being and quality of life of the leprosy patients.
ESTIMATION OF NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF CHINESE TERRESTRIAL VEGETATION BASED ON REMOTE SENSING

Aims Net primary productivity (NPP) is a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Model simulation is commonly used to estimate regional and global NPP given difficulties to directly measure NPP at such spatial scales. A number of NPP models have been developed in recent years as research issues related to food security and biotic response to climatic warming have become more compelling. However, large uncertainties still exist because of the complexity of ecosystems and difficulties in determining some key model parameters. Methods We developed an estimation model of NPP based on geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technology. The vegetation types and their classification accuracy are simultaneously introduced to the computation of some key vegetation parameters, such as the maximum value of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for different vegetation types. This can remove some noise from the remote sensing data and the statistical errors of vegetation classification. It also provides a basis for the sensitivity analysis of NPP on the classification accuracy. The maximum light use efficiency (LUE) for some typical vegetation types in China is simulated using a modified least squares function based on NOAA/AVHRR remote sensing data and field-observed NPP data. The simulated values of LUE are greater than the value used in the CASA model and less than the values simulated with the BIOME-BGC model. The computation of the water restriction factor is driven with ground meteorological data and remote sensing data, and complex soil parameters are avoided. Results are compared with other studies and models. Important findings The simulated mean NPP in Chinese terrestrial vegetation from 1989-1993 is 3.12 Pg C (1 Pg=1015 g). The simulated NPP is close to the observed NPP, and the total mean relative error is 4.5% for 690 NPP observation stations distributed in the whole country. This illustrates the utility of the model for the estimation of terrestrial primary production over regional scales.
Patterns of daily activity among young people with epilepsy

To: (1) explore how young people with epilepsy spend time on physical activity, screen‐time, and sleep in a 24‐hour period; (2) compare these findings to young people without epilepsy; and (3) evaluate the findings relative to the Canadian 24‐hour movement guidelines for children and youth.
Reproductive data and analysis of recoveries in a population of white stork Ciconia ciconia in southern Spain: a 24-year study

Historial reproductivo y analisis de las recapturas de una poblacion de ciguenas blanca Ciconia ciconia del sur de Espana: un estudio de 24 anos Entre 1990 y 2013 se estudiaron los cambios en la densidad de nidos y el exito reproductor de una poblacion de ciguenas blancas Ciconia ciconia ) que viven en libertad en los jardines del Zoobotanico de Jerez (Cadiz). Se analizaron datos relativos a la reproduccion (numero de nidos y numero de pollos volantones por nido) y el efecto de la pluviometria en el exito reproductor. Asimismo, cada ano se marcaron con anillas de colores varios pollos y tambien se analizaron los datos de recaptura. El numero de nidos hallados en la zona aumento de forma constante durante el periodo de estudio y vario notablemente entre anos a partir de 2001 (media = 19; intervalo = 4–35; N = 22 anos). El exito reproductor tambien vario considerablemente entre anos. En total, la media de pollos volantones por nido fue de 1,78 ± 1,2 (intervalo = 0–5; N = 439 nidos). La precipitacion influyo en gran medida en el exito reproductor, que fue maximo (1,88) en los anos clasificados como lluviosos, medio (1,62) en los anos clasificados como normales y minimo (1,24) en los anos secos. Se anillaron un total de 404 ciguenas blancas de las cuales 110 se observaron en 308 ocasiones (2,8 + 2,8 veces por ave; intervalo = 1–12, datos de todos los anos). Los datos de recaptura mostraron, con una unica excepcion, que todas las aves anilladas se habian registrado en distintos habitats del sur de Espana durante todo el ano. Cabe resaltar que no se observo ningun ave en las tradicionales zonas de invernada del Sahara meridional, en Africa. Los jovenes permanecieron en zonas proximas a su lugar de nacimiento (entre julio y octubre) poco despues de abandonar nuestra colonia y la inmensa mayoria de ellos desaparecieron entre noviembre y enero (su primer invierno); sin embargo, se registraron de nuevo durante la primera estacion reproductora. Por el contrario, los adultos se siguieron registrando en distintos lugares de Cadiz, Sevilla y Huelva durante todo el ano. Estas aves mostraron una gran filopatria, ya que algunas de ellas se registraron como reproductoras en nuestra colonia (hasta 11 anos despues del anillamiento). Nuestros datos ponen de relieve la importancia de los vertederos y los humedales para la especie, especialmente en invierno, y el cambio en la fenologia reproductora, puesto que las aves se registraron entre noviembre y julio de todos los anos. En resumen, en este trabajo se aportan datos que respaldan el incremento de la poblacion, el efecto significativo de la precipitacion en el exito reproductivo y el comportamiento no migratorio de los adultos de ciguena blanca en nuestra colonia. Que sepamos, es la primera vez que se aportan datos a tan largo plazo sobre la reproduccion de esta especie para una localidad mediterranea del sur de Europa.
Panton-Valentine leukocidin and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec characterization of community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVES Staphylococcus aureus (SA) represents one of the most important microorganism that is part of the normal microflora of humans, but in certain conditions can cause very serious infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for a wide spectrum of nosocomial and community associated infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA), as well as the frequency of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types in isolates obtained from outpatients in the region of 700,000 people (Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) Methods: Our investigation included phenotypic and genotypic markers such as antimicrobial resistance, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), SCC typing, and PVL detection. RESULTS Antimicrobial susceptibility: all MRSA isolates were resistant to the β-lactam antibiotics tested, and all isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole, rifampicin, fusidic acid, linezolid, and vancomycin. After the PFGE analysis, the isolates were grouped into five similarity groups: A-E. The largest number of isolates belonged to one of two groups: C - 60% and D - 27%. In both groups C and D, SCCmec type IV was predominant (60% and 88.8%, respectively). A total of 24% of the isolates had positive expression of PVL genes, while 76% showed a statistically significantly greater negative expression of PVL genes. CONCLUSIONS Using combination techniques, we were able to investigate the origin and genetic background of the strains. PFGE analysis revealed two large, genetically related groups of strains consisting of 87 isolates. Our results suggest failure to apply the screening policy, and a lack of knowledge about multiresistant MRSA strains. This study showed the local epidemiological situation which should be the basis of antimicrobial empiric therapy for non-hospitalized patients.
Understanding Photosynthesis and Plant Cellular Respiration as “Nested Systems”: The Characterization of Pre-Service Teachers’ Conceptions

ness: The multiple ecological levels upon which a complete understanding of the two plant processes vary in their levels of abstraction. Participants within this project could touch the plants provided as props within their explaining set and cognitive interviews. They described details of experiences of plants within the ecosystem. Although they had studied cells in their laboratory activities, their use of vocabulary associated with the cellular level suggested unfamiliarity with cells. The biochemical level also seemed too abstract for most participants. There was little evidence of direct observation of chemical reactions, as there was with the organism and ecosystem levels. Those two levels likely provided the greatest opportunity for direct sensory information. Other levels were on scales that prevented human experience. The pre-service teachers focused primarily at the organism and ecosystem levels. Movement in either direction from organism to global or from organism to biochemical increases the level of abstraction. Biochemical and cellular levels are abstract from the