Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Belowground Herbivory and Plant Defenses

Belowground-feeding herbivores may be very destructive to plants. Roots are known to produce various defense compounds to protect themselves against these herbivores, both with direct and indirect—inducible—defense compounds. Recent literature reviews reveal no overall pattern for root-shoot defense allocation. Optimal defense allocation patterns within roots may be predicted with an ecophysiological model taking into account the value and vulnerability of root classes. Induced responses elicited by root herbivores are likely to result in systemic responses in the shoots. These systemic responses may affect aboveground herbivores and higher trophic levels. This calls into question whether root-to-shoot systemic induction is an adaptive response. Physiological responses conferring tolerance may co-occur with resistance responses, depending on the biotic and abiotic environment of the roots. More detailed analyses of root defenses and the feeding sites of herbivores are needed to gain a better understanding of optimal defense allocation in roots.
Life cycles of four species of Pseudocalanus in Nova Scotia

The primarily arctic Pseudocalanus acuspes, relict in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, produces a first generation (G1) in late winter; most G1 individuals mature in late spring. The G1 then produces a G2, most of which "rest" in copepodite stages III and IV until early winter. These stages store large amounts of lipid in early summer, which slowly diminish subsequently. A small number of G2 individuals continue to develop at temperature-dependent rates, maturing in early autumn and producing G3 adults in November. Copepodites developing in winter and spring store less lipid. The primarily arctic Pseudocalanus minutus, rare in Bedford Basin and on the Scotia Shelf, is strictly annual, developing to a lipid-filled copepodite stage V after spawning in late winter. The arctic–temperate Pseudocalanus newmani is abundant on the Scotian Shelf, but may not be self-sustaining when advected into Bedford Basin. It stores little lipid and appears to have at least three mature generations at temperature-dependent interval.
Fully-Passive Wireless Implant for Neuropotential Acquisition: An In Vivo Validation

Implantable systems are often employed to perform continuous high-resolution recordings of neural activity. These systems frequently require invasive procedures when implanting and maintaining effective operation. This causes major interruptions to daily life. Previous work demonstrated an in vitro minimum detectable signal of 15 μV in amplitude and RF sensitivity down to –135 dBm. This suggests the possibility of detecting diminutive biopotentials in a wireless fully passive manner. Here, for the first time, we validate the wireless neurosensing system through a series of in vivo electrophysiological recordings including both spontaneous cardiac activity and sensory evoked neural activity, with amplitudes ranging from a few microvolts to millivolts and across a spectrum of frequencies. We also present design considerations and the development of probes for neurosensing to accomplish detectability of biopotentials in the tens of microvolts in rats. The developed probes show improved impedance matching with the neurosensing system. Specifically, the new probes showed an impedance several orders of magnitude lower than those commercially available, thereby significantly improving signal detection. Notably, the presented in vivo validation of this technology has great future clinical implications in neuroscience as it offers a wireless and unobtrusive device for neurological research, monitoring, and therapeutic purposes.
Intraspecific competition in Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of Heliothis species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Outcomes from intraspecific competition for the arrhenotokous parasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) were determined using mated and unmated females. The survival rate of progeny of a superparasitizing female is equal to that of the female ovipositing first when the two ovipositions occur on the same day. However, the survival rate of progeny of a superparasitizing female decreases with increased time between initial oviposition and superparasitization. There was no apparent intrinsic superiority of one sex of parasitoid larvae over the other in larval-larval competition. Protandry in M. croceipes is a result of accelerated pupal development of males, not accelerated larval development.
KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS IN TWO POPULATIONS FROM THE CHACO FOREST, CÓRDOBA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA

ABSTRACT We analyze and compare plant knowledge and uses of medicinal and edible plants of two rural communities located in different phytogeographic regions. We hypothesize that there are differences in the number of edible and medicinal plants that people know and use between these communities because of environmental constraints. In addition, because of cultural erosion, we expect to find (a) a higher number of plants that people know as useful in comparison with the number of plants they actually use, and (b) a decrease in the number of useful plants cited when comparing male/female and younger/older categories. Results show a higher range of knowledge of medicinal plants than edible plants, and medicinal use included mainly those used to treat digestive problems. Based on statistical analyses, we present comparisons between the communities, age groups, and genders, and discuss how differences in these regions (e.g., geographic, ecological, cultural, etc.) may explain of the variation in the knowledge on wild useful plants between the communities.
On Limits of Multi-Antenna Wireless Communications in Spatially Selective Channels

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communications systems using multiantenna arrays simultaneously during transmission and reception have generated significant interest in recent years. Theoretical work in the mid 1990’s showed the potential for significant capacity increases in wireless channels via spatial multiplexing with sparse antenna arrays and rich scattering environments. However, in reality the capacity is significantly reduced when the antennas are placed close together, or the scattering environment is sparse, causing the signals received by different antennas to become correlated, corresponding to a reduction of the effective number of sub-channels between transmit and receive antennas. By introducing the previously ignored spatial aspects, namely the antenna array geometry and the scattering environment, into a novel channel model new bounds and fundamental limitations to MIMO capacity are derived for spatially constrained, or spatially selective, channels. A theoretically derived capacity saturation point is shown to exist for spatially selective MIMO channels, at which there is no capacity growth with increasing numbers of antennas. Furthermore, it is shown that this saturation point is dependent on the shape, size and orientation of the spatial volumes containing the antenna arrays along with the properties of the scattering environment. This result leads to the definition of an intrinsic capacity between separate spatial volumes in a continuous scattering environment, which is an upper limit to communication between the volumes that can not be increased with increasing numbers of antennas within. It is shown that there exists a fundamental limit to the information theoretic capacity between two continuous volumes in space, where using antenna arrays is simply one choice of implementation of a more general spatial signal processing underlying all wireless communication systems.
Effect of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers on productivity and quality parameters of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) on a Vertisol of Central India

A field experiment was conducted at Indore, India, from 2000 to 2002 in a Vertisol having clay loam texture. The objective was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-solubilising bacteria, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) (Glomus fasciculatum), and chemical fertilizers on yield performance and quality parameters of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum Desf.). The grain (5664 kg ha−1) and straw yields were higher under recommended fertilizer dose (100% NPK) than under 50% NPK (4674 kg ha−1). Compared to the 50% NPK, biofertilizers + 50% NPK increased grain yield marginally (2–6%) and could not reach the level of significance. However, straw yields were higher under the latter treatments. Protein and β-carotene contents were higher and the hectoliter weight was lower with 100% NPK as compared to 50% NPK. A drastic reduction in yellow berry content and sedimentation value was noted with the increasing fertility level. These quality parameters did not differ under biofertilizers + 50% NPK compared with the 50% NPK. Highest net returns were accrued from 100% NPK followed by biofertilizers + 50% NPK. Yield, quality parameters and net returns were the lowest under the unfertilized control.
Fattening performance, blood parameters and slaughter traits of Karya lambs consuming blend of essential oil compounds

The effects of feeds containing a blend of essential oil compounds on fattening performance, some blood parameters, the slaughter traits, and internal organ weights of Karya lambs were researched. The lambs were divided into 2 treatment groups: the first group (control, C) consumed mixed feed without blend of essential oil compounds, while the other group (BEOC) consumed mixed feed with blend of essential oil compounds. The mixed feed of BEOC group contained 1 g blend of essential oil compounds per kg. Karya lambs weighed an average of approximately 19.05±1.65 kg and aged 5.5 months. Each lamb was housed in the individual pen and consumed alfalfa hay at 0.2 kg/lamb/day and mixed feed ad libitum . During a period of 56 days, the body weights (BW), body weight gains (BWG), total dry matter intake and feed conversion ratios (FCR) of males and females of BEOC group showed better results, but they were not important statistically (P>0.05). Blood parameters of male and female lambs between group C and group BEOC were similar values, but the values of blood parameters in favour of group BEOC were noticed recovery, numerically. It was determined that only the conformation score and lung weight of female lambs were significant (P<0.05). All the other slaughter traits and internal organs weights were not significantly observed the effect depending on the feeding diet containing a blend of essential oil compounds.
Distyly, Floral Visitors, and Fructification in 2 Natural Populations of Psychotria nervosa (Rubiaceae)

Abstract: Distyly is a common reproductive strategy in the family Rubiaceae. Studies on tropical species of the genus Psychotria present several cases of atypical distyly, e.g., the absence of reciprocal positioning of sexual organs between morphs, anisoplethy, limited pollen availability, and monomorphy. To describe the floral polymorphism and reproductive ecology of Psychotria nervosa, I studied the proportion of morphs, the floral morphology, the number of inflorescences, flowers, and fruits set between morphs, and the diversity and behaviour of floral visitors in 2 natural populations of the species in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Mexico. Psychotria nervosa is a distylous species; both populations presented a 1:1 morph ratio, with reciprocal positioning of sexual organs between morphs, as well as a suite of ancillary floral traits associated to polymorphism. The diversity and behaviour of the floral visitor assemblage caused a higher fruit set in the longstyled morph than in the short-styled morph in both populations. Furthermore, the highest fruit set was observed in the most morphologically reciprocal population.
FROZEN SEMEN PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF KARAN FRIES BULLS

A study was conducted to assess semen output characteristics of 4648 ejaculates of 52 Karan Fries bulls (Holstein Friesian crossbreds with 50 to 75% exotic inheritance) maintained at Artificial Breeding Research Centre, NDRI, Karnal, India. The objective of this study was to estimate expected frozen semen dose production. Semen production data were analysed using standard statistical tools. Age of the Karan Fries bulls (KF) at the time of collection ranged from 1.90 to 8.13 years, with a mean of 3.32 ± 0.18 years. The average ejaculate volume (VOL, ml), mass activity (MA), initial motility (IM, %), sperm concentration per ml (SPC, millions) and total sperm output per ejaculate (SPCE, millions) from 52 KF bulls were 4.68 ± 0.14 (2.74 - 6.98); 2.84±0.02 (2.57 - 3.08); 65.55 ± 0.01 (61.40 - 69.65); 965.71 ± 7.61 (865 - 1067.72) and 4516.90 ± 128.34 (2600 - 6603.41, respectively). The average dilution rate for preservation was found to be 1: 12.07 ± 0.10 with a range of 1:10.81 to 13.35. The expected number of ejaculates that could be frozen per year per bull was 44.46 (21 - 90) and correspondingly expected frozen dose produced per year per bull could be 10048.39 (3500 - 24669) in Karan Fries bulls.
The Use of Dynamic Testing to Reveal High Academic Potential and Under-Achievement in a Culturally Different Population

The under-representation of children from culturally different and low SES backgrounds in programs for the gifted is widely recognised. The cause of this under-representation can, at least in part, he attributed to the inappropriateness of the identification methods used. This paper presents the findings of a major study which sought to determine the effectiveness of a specific dynamic testing method for identifying high academic potential in Australian Aboriginal children. The dynamic testing method used in the study involved a test—intervention—retest format where the intervention was designed to address predicted causes of under achievement. The results suggest that dynamic testing was an effective identification tool for the study children, revealing high academic potential in similar proportions to those in the instrument normative population. This study has implications for both gifted education and the education of culturally different children generally arising from the findings that many of the children were ‘invisible' under achievers and that it is possible to identify such underachievement through the dynamic testing process.
Habitats, morphological diversity, and distribution of the genus Vigna Savi in Australia

Vigna is an agriculturally important genus containing several important species used as pulses, forages, vegetable, or cover crops. The genus is represented in Australia by 5 species, 4 indigenous (V. radiata, V. vexillata, V. luteola, V. marina) and 1 endemic (V. lanceolata). A germplasm collection has been assembled comprising >400 accessions of the 5 Vigna species from Australia and offshore and seed committed to storage as the CSIRO National Vigna collection. For a large number of accessions, herbarium sheets have also been prepared either from field or glasshouse-grown plants and lodged with the Qld Herbarium, Brisbane. This paper describes the structure of the collection and, for each of the 5 species and major regional variants, summarises provenance information on their geographic distribution, habitat, soil type, and associated species. Within the Australian tropics/subtropics, the Vigna species collectively occupy a diverse range of grassland habitats extending from the foreshore to the central desert. Of the 5 species, the endemic V. lanceolata is the most diverse in terms of distribution, habitat, and morphology. Geographic gaps in the collection are noted and priorities for future collection suggested.
Sugars and enzyme activity in the grass Deschampsia antarctica

Deschampsia antarctica is a freezing-tolerant plant and the only native Poaceae that grows in the Maritime Antarctic. During the long days of the growing season this plant accumulates sucrose (Suc) in the leaves to 36% of the dry weight. The mechanism that leads to this high accumulation is unknown. The effect of day length and low temperature on sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) (EC: 2.4.1.14) activity and sugar accumulation was studied in D. antarctica and compared with other Poaceae. Three different day lengths: short (SD) (8/16 h), medium (MD) (16/8 h) and long (LD) (21/3 h); and two temperatures: 4°C (cold-acclimated) and 15°C (non-acclimated) were tested. The highest contents in total soluble sugars (TSS) and Suc were reached in crowns and leaves, respectively, in cold-acclimated plants under LD. TSS and Suc contents and SPS activity with cold acclimation were higher in D. antarctica than in other agricultural (wheat, oat and barley) and non-agricultural (D. caespitosa and D. beringensis) Poaceae species. Suc/TSS ratio was higher in all Deschampsia species than in agricultural Poaceae species. SPS activity and sucrose content in leaves were positively correlated only in LD cold acclimated plants. This result shows that SPS activity is responsive to day length in D. antarctica.
Moral Distress, Sign of Ethical Issues in the Practice of Oncology Nursing: Literature Review

Objective: To describe the factors that influence the emergence of moral distress in oncology nurses. Methodology: integrative review of the literature whose search will be performed in Web of Science databases, CINAHL (EBSCO), Scielo, Proquest, Pubmed and PsycInfo using the keywords moral distress and oncology nursing and their similes in Spanish, without restriction for years of publication until 2017. Results: The results of this review were grouped into three groups of factors each with subgroups: 1) Organizational factors: ethical climate, evasive culture and resources for ethics delivered by the organization. 2) Particular clinical situations: pain management, information delivery, futile treatment, and assistance to the patient and their family in the process of death, 3) Interpersonal relationships: poor communication, power relations, trust in the team’s competence. Conclusion: the three factors described are triggers of moral distress in oncology nurses. When there are ethical problems and the nurses do not participate in the deliberation process, these problems can be hidden and be normalized, which can diminish the moral sensitivity of the professionals, as well as the possibility of acting as moral agents.
Coral bleaching following wintry weather

Extensive coral bleaching occurred intertidally in early August 2003 in the Capricorn Bunker group (Wistari Reef, Heron and One Tree Islands; southern Great Barrier Reef). The affected intertidal coral had been exposed to unusually cold (minimum = 13.3°C; wet bulb temperature = 9°C) and dry winds (44% relative humidity) for 2 d during predawn low tides. Coral bleached in the upper 10 cm of their branches and had less than 0.2 x 106 cell cm−2 as compared with over 2.5 x 106 cell cm−2 in nonbleached areas. Dark‐adapted quantum yields did not differ between symbionts in bleached and nonbleached areas. Exposing symbionts to light, however, led to greater quenching of Photosystem II in symbionts in the bleached coral. Bleached areas of the affected colonies had died by September 2003, with areas that were essentially covered by more than 80% living coral decreasing to less than 10% visible living coral cover. By January 2004, coral began to recover, principally from areas of colonies that were not exposed during low tide (i.e., from below dead, upper regions). These data highlight the importance of understanding local weather patterns as well as the effects of longer term trends in global climate.
Post-fertilization Reproductive Strategies

Animals have diverse strategies that improve the success of their offspring after mating (i.e. post-fertilization reproductive strategies); the most common ones are parental care and offspring provisioning. The type, mode and duration of parental care exhibited by males and females depend on social and nonsocial environment, and on genetic and phylogenetic constraints. We overview five rapidly developing areas of parental care research, and conclude that sexual conflict between parents, social interactions and environmental conditions play important roles in determining post-fertilization reproductive strategies. Keywords: parental care; offspring desertion; sexual conflict; cooperation
Efficacy of early thoracoscopic debridement for syn-pneumonic pleural effusions in pediatric age group

Background: Pleural effusion can be treated by antibiotics alone but thoracoscopy assisted debridement has proved superior to antibiotics alone. There is need to study this aspect in more details related to the superiority of the treatment. The objective was to study efficacy of early thoracoscopic debridement for syn-pneumonic pleural effusions in pediatric age group.Methods: A hospital based follow up study was carried out among 40 children of 1-7years of age. They were divided into two groups. One group with 15 children received only antibiotics while the other group with 25 children received thoracoscopic debridement. The results were compared in terms of hospital stay and clinical outcome.Results: It was found that the hospital stay was significantly shorter in children who received thoracoscopic debridement compared to antibiotic group. The chest X-ray was normal in all cases who received thoracoscopic debridement compared to antibiotic group. Decortications were required in five children in antibiotic group compared to none who received thoracoscopic debridement. There was no morbidity and mortality in the children received thoracoscopic debridement. Clinical and symptomatic relief was much better in children received thoracoscopic debridement compared to antibiotic group where there was persistence of the symptoms.Conclusions: Thoracoscopy done in 3days of syn-pneumonic effusions give better out come in terms of hospital stay, morbidity, radiological resolution, compared to thoracocentesis done cases.