Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vegetation succession on Mt. Kenya in relation to glacial fluctuation and global warming

Questions How has the Mt. Kenya plant community responded to recent glacial retreat? Has the recent glacial retreat been affected by increases in temperature? How have number of plant clumps and proportion of vegetation cover changed with distance from the glacier edge (i.e. till age)? Location From Tyndall Tarn to the foot of Tyndall Glacier of Mt. Kenya (0°6′ S, 37°18′ E), Kenya. Methods The topography, soils, vegetation and glacial distribution around the Tyndall Glacier of Mt. Kenya were investigated from 1992 to 2011. The effect of glacial retreat on the rate of movement of leading edge (upper distribution limit) of plant species was examined. The distribution of vegetation was examined in a permanent plot that was surveyed in 1996 and 2011. The effects of temperature variation on glacial retreat were assessed with a least squares regression model. Results Tyndall Glacier retreated at a rate of ~3 m·yr−1 from 1958 to 1997, which increased to 7–15 m·yr−1 between 1997 and 2011. The leading edge of Senecio keniophytum, the first pioneer species to establish after glacial retreat, advanced with glacial recession. It was sparse in 1996; by 2011, the number of clumps and proportion of cover had increased. Clump size was affected by distance from the glacier edge (i.e. till age) in areas of recent deglaciation but not in deglaciated areas >15 yr old. Monthly mean minimum temperature at Mt. Kenya increased by >2 °C from 1963 to 2011, and glacial retreat was related to increase in monthly mean minimum temperature. Conclusion The glaciers on Mt. Kenya have diminished rapidly in recent years, and pioneer plant species have advanced in response. The movements of some species do not appear to be directly spatially related to glacial retreat but may be related to increases in air temperature, soil development, seed dispersal limitation and interval of masting. Recent unusually high temperatures and precipitation also likely caused the blooming of some species during atypical seasons.
Histological study on the chronology of the developing dentition in gorilla and orangutan

The single previous study on tooth development in great apes (Dean and Wood: Folia Primatol. (Basel) 36:111–127, 1981) is of limited value because it is based on cross‐sectional radiographic data. This study considers problems in defining stages of tooth development in radiographs of developing ape dentitions and provides data on tooth chronology in Pongo pygmaeus and Gorilla gorilla by using histological methods of analysis. Crown formation times were estimated in individual teeth, and an overall chronology of dental development was found by registering teeth forming at the same time by using incremental growth lines. The earlier radiographic study correctly identified the molar and second premolar chronology and sequence in great apes, but significantly underestimated crown formation times in incisors, first premolars, and canine teeth in particular. Ape anterior tooth crowns take longer to form than the equivalent human teeth, but the overall dental developmental period in great apes is substantially shorter than in humans. Gorilla root extension rates appear to be fast, up to approximately 13 μm/day. This rapid root growth, associated with early tooth eruption, appears to be the developmental basis for the observed differences in timing between developing dentitions in great apes and humans. Copyright © 1991 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company
Colchicine site inhibitors of microtubule integrity as vascular disrupting agents

Drugs that bind to the colchicine binding site of tubulin and induce tubulin depolymerization hold promise as antitumor drugs through their ability to induce cell cycle arrest and to kill cancer cells through apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe. However, development of this group of compounds as direct antitumor cytotoxic agents has not proved successful. Over the last few years, the potential of these compounds to act as selective vascular disrupting agents has been recognized. Several agents have advanced to phase I and phase II clinical studies, and their capacity to suppress growth of the tumor vasculature has been confirmed. Toxicity in terms of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events remains a major concern and their therapeutic efficacy as single agents has been disappointing. Nevertheless, a more comprehensive understanding of tumor compensatory mechanisms and potential combination strategies with anti‐angiogenic agents suggest that vascular targeting therapy may be a fruitful direction for the further development of this class of drugs as anticancer agents. Drug Dev Res 69:352–358, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of elevated nitrogen and phosphorus on coral reef growth1

Long term phosphate (2 .mu.M) and nitrogen (20 .mu.M urea + ammonium) enrichment of a patch reef at One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, caused > 50% suppresson of reef calcification. This is attributed primarily to the phosphate. It is suggested that this effect is involved, together with algal competition and the more usually accepted depression of temperature, in reducing the growth rate of reefs adjacent to upwellings. It is possible that the effect was more general during the first half of the Holocene transgression.
The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on Opuntia ficus-indica Canopy and Root Growth

The study investigated the effect of soil volume restriction on the below- and above-ground growth of Opuntia ficus-indica through understanding the limit imposed by root confinement via different soil volumes on root and canopy architecture and growth. In 2014, one-year-old O. ficus-indica cladodes were planted in five different soil volumes (50, 33, 18, 9 and 5 L). The cladode and roots of each sampled plants were measured and weighed every six months; a starch content estimation was performed using the perchloric acid method. The restricted soil volume had limiting effects on overall plant growth and influenced plant development. The largest canopy surface area and dry mass were measured in 50 L potted plants. Root system growth was inhibited by soil volume restriction: the total root length, surface area, dry mass and volume decreased due to this restriction. During the whole period, the starch content in cladodes and in roots grown on a 5 L soil volume was twice as much as in the largest, 50 L soil volume. Our results confirmed the importance of O. ficus-indica as a potential plant that can survive under low soil volume conditions. This plant has the ability to balance its growth and stay alive under harsh environments.
Stream channel configuration, landform, and riparian forest structure in the Cascade Mountains, Washington

The hierarchical relationship of five key elements, valley constraint, riparian landform, riparian plant community, channel type, and channel configuration, are described for 21 sites in mature to old-growth riparian forests of the western Cascades Mountains, Washington, U.S.A. Channel type (bedrock, plane-bed, and forced pool-riffle) was closely related to channel configuration (especially large woody debris (LWD) volume, density, and LWD-formed pools) at the smallest spatial scale and valley constraint at the largest. Valley constraint significantly influenced off-channel habitat (r2 = 0.71) and LWD volume within forced pool-riffle channels (r2 = 0.58). Riparian plant community composition was differentiated by four landform classes: three alluvial landforms based on height above the channel and one based on hillslope. Just above the active channel, floodplain landforms contained more deciduous stems than conifer and greater conifer basal area than deciduous. Conifers dominated other landforms. The diam.
The responses of Central European avian predators to an allopatric aposematic true bug

A mimicry ring of red-and-black pentatomorph true bugs in Central Europe had been proposed to occur based on avoidance of its mutually non-relative members, which was confirmed based on responses of avian predators. We compared the responses of two species of European insectivorous passerines (great tit Parus major, blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus) to a typical member of the proposed ring (red firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus) and to a similarly coloured south Asian species of true bugs (red cotton bug Dysdercus cingulatus) to test if the allopatric species will be included in the proposed ring. Additionally, individuals of both bug species with colour signals artificially removed were offered to birds to assess the effect of chemical protection per se. Birds attacked the unmodified red cotton bugs more often than the red firebugs, which suggests that the birds did not include the red cotton bug in the proposed mimetic ring. Red cotton bugs were eaten by a greater number of birds than were the brown-painted red firebugs at first encounter. However, the birds quickly learned to avoid all visually unprotected bugs, suggesting that the red cotton bug possesses an effective chemical protection.
Comparison of Impedance, Microbial, Sensory, and pH Methods to Determine Shrimp Quality

Abstract This study compared the relative ability of several techniques to measure shrimp quality. Fresh raw white shrimp (Penaeus setiferis) were stored whole at −20, 5, 25, and 35°C, sampled periodically, and measured for sensory odor score, psychro-trophic microbial numbers, pH, and Bactometer impedance values. Impedance, odor, and microbial numbers were highly correlated and predictive of quality, while pH was not an appropriate gauge of quality. Correlation of impedance with odor was 0.89, with a Bactometer I-value of 2175 or greater indicative of spoiled shrimp. This study provides continuing evidence that an impedimetric method can be used as a rapid, easy, and objective tool to measure shrimp quality.
The effects of trap height and weather variables on recorded pollen concentration at leicester

Abstract Pollen data from three Burkard volumetric samplers, running simultaneously on buildings at heights of 12, 24 and 30 metres above ground level from 23rd June to 21st July 1992, were used to investigate vertical differences in pollen abundance, and correlations with six different weather parameters. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between Gramineae and Urtica pollen levels and the weather variables. Pollen concentrations from the 30 m trap were consistently smaller than those from the 12 and 24 m traps for all types examined. It was concluded that pollen from local sources was not sufficiently mixed in the air to reach the 30 m trap. A delay was observed in the peak concentrations of both Urtica and Gramineae pollen between the three traps, with the maximum occurring approximately four hours earlier at 12 m than at 24 and 30 m. Circadian rhythms were also more prominent at the lower trap than at the two higher ones. Urtica and Gramineae concentrations at 12 and 24 m wer.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHENOTYPIC VARIATION AND CLIMATIC FACTORS AT COLLECTING SITES IN DURUM WHEAT LANDRACES

Information on the relationships between climatic features at collecting sites and morpho-physiological variation of genetic resources could enhance the understanding of evolutive adaptation patterns and assist germplasm collectors and users. In the present study, such relationships were investigated in durum wheat landraces of four countries of origin, viz. Ethiopia, Morocco, Syria, and Turkey, evaluated in northern Syria. Several relationships were found which mainly concerned drought stress and high temperature among climatic collecting variables and earliness of heading among agronomic traits. Higher drought and heat stress was associated with lower yield under moderately favourable conditions and better drought tolerance besides earlier heading in the Ethiopian landraces. Within the Turkish germplasm, the temperature level influenced both yield potential and earliness positively. Longer spike was associated with lower drought and heat stress at collecting sites in the Ethiopian and Syrian gene pools. In the latter germplasm, lower drought was also related closely to shorter stature and lower protein content. Overall morpho-physiological variation as summarized by the first axis of a principal components analysis was associated to climatic variables influencing drought and heat stress in the Ethiopian and Syrian germplasm and to maximum temperatures in the Turkish one.
Compound games, focal points, and the framing of collective and individual interests

This study introduces the game theoretical concept of â€œcompound gamesâ€ and investigates whether the decomposition of a game influences behaviour. Specifically, we investigate whether separating battle of the sexes games into a pure coordination component and the remaining battle of the sexes component changes coordination success. The literature attributes high coordination rates in pure coordination games with focal points to team reasoning and low coordination rates in related battle of the sexes games to level-k reasoning. We find that coordination success in compound games depends on the decomposition and order of component games, suggesting that collective interests are fragile in the presence of opposing individual interests. Our results show that compound games are empirically relevant; we discuss a wide range of possible applications for compound games.
Hybrid Predictive Decision-Making Approach to Emission Reduction Policies for Sustainable Energy Industry

Carbon emissions are a prominent issue for sustainable energy production and management. Energy policies under the growing competitive environment could change the priorities of emission reduction and investment decisions. This paper aims to forecast carbon emissions from China and to rank the importance of carbon emissions with interval type 2 (IT2) fuzzy sets (FS) for sustainable energy investments. For this purpose, the quadratic model is applied to measuring emission trends and the Qualitative Flexible Multiple Criteria Method (QUALIFLEX) is used for measuring sustainable energy investment alternatives by the several emission levels. Forecasted values of 29 provinces in China are converted into the linguistic and fuzzy numbers based on IT2 FS respectively to measure the priorities of emission reduction for sustainable economies. The novelty of this paper is to propose a hybrid decision-making approach based on quadratic modeling and the QUALIFLEX method and to discuss the overall energy emission trend and policies for sustainable economic growth. The results demonstrate that emission reduction policies are the most important phenomenon and the environmental factors should be widely considered to construct sustainable energy investments and production.
Deciphering the early evolution of echinoderms with Cambrian fossils

Echinoderms are a major group of invertebrate deuterostomes that have been an important component of marine ecosystems throughout the Phanerozoic. Their fossil record extends back to the Cambrian, when several disparate groups appear in different palaeocontinents at about the same time. Many of these early forms exhibit character combinations that differ radically from extant taxa, and thus their anatomy and phylogeny have long been controversial. Deciphering the earliest evolution of echinoderms therefore requires a detailed understanding of the morphology of Cambrian fossils, as well as the selection of an appropriate root and the identification of homologies for use in phylogenetic analysis. Based on the sister‐group relationships and ontogeny of modern species and new fossil discoveries, we now know that the first echinoderms were bilaterally symmetrical, represented in the fossil record by Ctenoimbricata and some early ctenocystoids. The next branch in echinoderm phylogeny is represented by the asymmetrical cinctans and solutes, with an echinoderm‐type ambulacral system originating in the more crownward of these groups (solutes). The first radial echinoderms are the helicoplacoids, which possess a triradial body plan with three ambulacra radiating from a lateral mouth. Helicocystoids represent the first pentaradial echinoderms and have the mouth facing upwards with five radiating recumbent ambulacra. Pentaradial echinoderms diversified rapidly from the beginning of their history, and the most significant differences between groups are recorded in the construction of the oral area and ambulacra, as well as the nature of their feeding appendages. Taken together, this provides a clear narrative of the early evolution of the echinoderm body plan.
Dynamics of habitat distribution in breeding mallards: assessing the applicability of current habitat selection models

The applicability of ideal free, ideal despotic and ideal preemptive habitat selection models to explain dynamics of habitat distribution of breeding mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) was explored. Data from 35 lakes studied between 1985 and 2000 were used to examine overall habitat distribution of breeding pairs, breeding success in different habitats, within-year order of habitat occupation, and density dependence of habitat distribution and breeding success. Two habitat types, rich and poor, were defined based on the structure and luxuriance of shore vegetation; each lake belonged to one or the other of the habitat types. Breeding pairs used the rich habitat more than expected, breeding density also being higher there than in the poor habitat. Both average brood density and breeding success were higher in the rich habitat than in the poor. Breeding success was not density dependent, neither when analysed separately for the habitat types, nor in the study area in general. Within season, arriving mallard pairs did not occupy rich lakes earlier than poor lakes. An isodar analysis based on between-year variation of the breeding density in rich and poor habitats revealed that habitat distribution of breeding pairs was not density dependent. By contrast, density in the rich habitat increased and proportional use of the poor habitat decreased with increasing overall population density, i.e. the rich habitat got increasingly crowded. None of the habitat selection models considered was applicable to explain the dynamics of habitat distribution of breeding mallards.
Sosyal Bilgiler Öğretmen Adaylarının Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı

Bu calismanin amaci, Sosyal Bilgiler ogretmen adaylarinin sosyal medya bagimliligina iliskin durumlarini ortaya koyabilmektir. Arastirma, Usak Universitesi, Egitim Fakultesi, Sosyal Bilgiler (1-2-3-4. sinif) ogretmenligi anabilim dalinda ogrenim goren toplam 191 ogretmen adayi uzerinden yurutulmustur. Arastirmada, elde edilen verilerin toplanmasi, analizi ve yorumlanmasinda nitel ve nicel arastirma yontemlerinin birlikte yer aldigi karma (mixed) yontem kullanilmistir. Arastirmada veri toplama araci olarak, Bakir Aygar ve Uzun (2018) tarafindan gelistirilen, 26 maddeden olusan “Sosyal Medya Bagimlilik Olcegi” Ile arastirmacilar tarafindan hazirlanan kisisel bilgi ve acik uclu soru formu kullanilmistir. Arastirmada elde edilen nicel verilerin analizinde SPSS 22. istatistik programi kullanilirken; nitel verilerin analizi ise icerik analizine uygun olarak yapilmistir. Verilerin analizinde ikili gruplarda “t-testi, ikiden fazla olan gruplarda ise tek yonlu varyans analizi (Anova) kullanilmistir. Arastirma sonuclarina gore sosyal bilgiler ogretmen adaylarinin sosyal medya bagimliligina iliskin durumlarinin “Cinsiyet ve Sinif Duzeyi” degiskenlerine gore istatistiksel acidan farklilastigi “Sosyal Medya Kullanim Araci” ve “Ekonomik Gelir Duzeyi” degiskenlerine gore ise farklilasmadigi gorulmustur. Arastirmanin nitel boyutunda ise ogretmen adaylarinin en cok Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat kategorilerine vurgu yaptiklari ve bu dogrultuda eglence, gundem takibi, yakin cevrenin yapmis oldugu etkinlikler, fotograf ve video paylasimi, karsi cins ile flort, kpss, genel kultur ve ders notu paylasimlarinin takibi, temalarinin on plana ciktigi gorulmustur.
Effects of Invasive Rhus typhina L. on Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in Soil

ABSTRACT Rhus typhina L. , an exotic plant that is widely distributed in China, is harmful to native ecosystems; however, little is known about its effects on soil microbial communities. Therefore, we investigated the effects of R. typhina on soil bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared the effects of R. typhina and native (Rhus chinensis Mill.) and non-invasive exotic species (Amorpha fruticosa L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L.) on soil bacterial communities via a greenhouse experiment. R. typhina decreased the diversity of the soil bacterial community compared with R. chinensis, and A. fruticosa. R. typhina soil was characterized by more Actinobacteria and lesser Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria than the other soils. Among Actinobacteria members, there was a difference in the relative abundance of Nocardioides and Streptomyces, and this could be advantageous for the growth of R. typhina. However, there was no significant difference in the soil bacterial community structure associated with R. typhina and other species. Moreover, the concentrations of total carbon, potassium, and nitrate were found to be the major soil factors influencing the relative abundance of soil bacteria.
Selection of fungal biological control agents of Sclerotium cepivorum for control of white rot by sclerotial degradation in a UK soil

A range of fungal isolates was tested in a three-stage screening system for their ability to degrade sclerotia of Sclerotium cepivorum on agar and in soil, and to reduce white rot disease on onion seedlings. Biological control agents (BCAs) were identified that could degrade up to 60% of sclerotia in soil and significantly reduce white rot disease on onion seedlings. The efficacy of the BCAs was enhanced when applied as wheat bran cultures compared with spore suspensions, and two of the best BCAs from the screening procedures were both identified as Trichoderma viride (L4, S17A). When L4 and S17A were fluid-drilled in guar gum with bulb onion seed in the field white rot symptoms were significantly reduced, but stem base applications applied mid-season had little effect. The strategy of selecting and using BCAs that degrade sclerotia of S. cepivorum and integration with other control methods is discussed.
Three Experimental Systems to Evaluate Phosphorus Supply from Enhanced Granulated Manure Ash

Three experimental systems were used to evaluate a new P fertilizer since residual P levels at typical farm sites may make response detection unlikely. The systems were (i) greenhouse with low P soil, (ii) long-term research sites with preexisting soil P gradients, and (iii) agricultural fields with prior P fertilization based on agronomic recommendations. The new fertilizer (animal waste by-product, AWP: 5% N, 28% P 2 O 5 , 4% K 2 O, and 1% S) is an enhanced granulated manure ash. Corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] growth, P uptake, and residual soil Mehlich-3 P were measured with agronomic rates of AWP or triple superphosphate (TSP). Greenhouse corn and wheat P uptake, and soil Mehlich-3 P increased similarly with either fertilizer at rates equivalent to 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 kg P ha ―1 . In long-term research sites, grain yield increased with P fertilization in 8 of 12 tests, and was greater with TSP than with AWP in 3 of 12 tests. Plant P uptake increased in all 12 tests, and was greater with TSP in 1 of 12 tests. In previously fertilized agricultural fields, soil Mehlich-3 P, but not yield, increased due to P fertilization. Fertilizer source differences were infrequent and relatively minor, but possibly due to lower water soluble P content of the AWP (70% versus 78% for TSP). Evaluation of such products requires an appropriate experimental system with low P soils that may be difficult to find on typical North Carolina farms.