Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limiting Similarity in Mechanistic and Spatial Models of Plant Competition in Heterogeneous Environments

We study two kinds of mechanistic and spatial models of plant competition in heterogeneous environments. First, we study lottery models in which the outcome of competition among juveniles for vacant space is determined by one of several underlying mechanistic submodels. Environmental heterogeneity that affects the outcome of competition is present in all of these models and may be spatial, temporal, biotic in origin, abiotic in origin, or any mixture of these. The principal result is that the models predict coexistence if the plant species are sufficiently dissimilar-if they sufficiently partition the spatial, temporal, biotic, or abiotic environmental heterogeneity. Second, we study a complex forest-simulation model of competition among individuals for light and a nutrient. Whereas the nonspatial version of this model predicts that a single species will outcompete all others, the spatial version predicts that coexistence is possible. We show that the results for the analytically tractable models appear to explain the cause and pattern of coexistence in the simulation model.
Mimicry, Mate Choice, and the Sensory Trap Hypothesis

Sensory traps affect mate choice when male courtship signals mimic stimuli to which females respond in other contexts and elicit female behavior that increases male fertilization rates. Because of the supernormal stimulus effect, mimetic signals may become quantitatively exaggerated relative to model stimuli. Viability selection or a decrease in responsiveness to signals that are exaggerated beyond their peak supernormal effect may limit signal elaboration. Females always benefit by responding to models and they may often benefit by responding to mimetic courtship signals. If the response as a preference is costly, it may be maintained by frequent and strong selection for the response to the model. I review five examples of courtship that illustrate the kinds of studies that can provide evidence of sensory traps. The strategic designs of mimetic courtship signals arise not from selection of responses to them but from selection for responses to models. This results from deceit by mimicry and the evolution of sensory trap responses before the signals that elicit them as preferences.
Power of monitoring surveys to detect abundance trends in depleted populations: the effects of density-dependent habitat use, patchiness, and climate change

Traditionally, trawl surveys were designed to collect fishery-independent data for assessing the population dynamics of commercially exploited species. However, trawl survey data are increasingly used to describe the abundance, distribution and ecology of a wide range of species in studies of climate change and fishing effects. These new uses of survey data suggest that improved understanding of the value and limitations of existing survey designs is required. We compared the power of different survey designs (where stations are fixed, fixed stratified, random, or random stratified) to detect known trends in the abundance of depleted populations. Modelled populations were characterized by different temperature preference, density-dependent habitat selection, and patterns of small-scale aggregation (patchiness). Temperature preferences and local patchiness had an influence on the power of different surveys to detect increases in abundance, and in some scenarios, survey-area indices would consistently underestimate or overestimate trends in overall abundance. As the distributions of many fish populations have shifted in response to climate change, exhibit distribution- abundance relationships, and have been depleted by fishing, we conclude that survey indices may provide partial or unreliable information on changes in the true abundance of the wider range of species now of interest. To disentangle the effects of fishing, climate, and biology on the abundance of fish populations, and to monitor the depletion and recovery of species threatened by fishing, there should be greater emphasis on coordinating the timing, areas of coverage, and methods of sampling of surveys of the Northeast Atlantic continental shelf.
Evolution of Strawberry Alcohol Acyltransferase Activity during Fruit Development and Storage

Four strawberry (Fragaria ananassa × Duch.) varieties Oso Grande, Chandler, Tudla, and I-101) were studied in relation to their alcohol acyltransferase (AAT) activity. AAT activity profile during fruit development and ripening was determined for each variety. The highest AAT activity value corresponded to Oso Grande, which is also the variety showing the earliest maximum peak of AAT activity. The effect of passive modified atmosphere (MA) storage on strawberry AAT was also studied. An increase in AAT activity was found in strawberries stored under high CO2 (>30%). This higher level of AAT activity could be attributed to a detoxifying function of AAT that might be activated to eliminate ethanol generated by fermentation. Data obtained show a good correlation between AAT activity and flavor quality in strawberries. Keywords: Strawberry; flavor; ester biogenesis; alcohol acyltransferase
Students' Perceptions on Self- and Peer-Assessment in Enhancing Learning Experience.

This study reports the effectiveness of self‐ and peer‐assessment in improving students’ learning experience. Students in a group of four were required to submit two selfassessments, one after the first submission and the other during the final submission of the assignment. An anonymous assignment was then given to each group for a peer‐based assessment. Students were asked to respond to the comments given in the peerassessment and were given the chance to revise their assignment before the final submission. The results show that both self‐and peer‐assessments were perceived as enabling students to become more critical, work in a more structured way and think more deeply. Peer‐assessment was especially highly regarded, as students felt they learned more from the given feedback and became analytical after the peer‐assessment. Although most of the students felt that both the self‐ and peer‐assessments were time consuming, they would love to have peer‐assessment in their future assignment.
COMPOSIÇÃO, PERFIL NITROGENADO E CARACTERÍSTICAS DO LEITE CAPRINO (SAANEN): REGIÃO SUDESTE, BRASIL

During a year, were collected and analysed 179 samples of milk from three goats herds, having between 44 and 56 milking animals, determining their chemical composition, their mainly nitrogen fractions and their physico-chemical properties. The chemical composition was: 3,27% for total nitrogen content, 3,74% for fat, 4,35% for lactose, 0,74% for ashes and 88,49% for water content. Nitrogen fractions were: 2,97% for true protein (TP), 2,43% for casein and 0,84% for serum proteins including 0,30% for non protein nitrogen matter. The values for physico-chemical properties or milk characteristics were: 1,0324 for density at 15oC, 6,65 for pH at 25oC, 16,11oD for acidity, 0,172g% for chloride content, -0,574oH for freezing point, 11,51% for total solids and 7,77% solids not-fat.
Impacts of flounder trawls on the intertidal habitat and community of the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

Four experimental trawls were made at highwater over the intertidal zone of the Minas Basin and the effects assessed when the tide was out to determine the physical and biological impacts of groundfish trawling on the benthos. The trawl doors made furrows 30–85 cm wide and up to 5 cm deep. The rollers compressed surficial sediments but did not scour a depression. The bridle caused no obvious disturbance. Door furrows and roller marks remained visible for 2–7 mo. No significant impacts were observed on either benthic diatoms or macrobenthos. The macrobenthos was dominated by polychaetes, some of which may have the ability to take evasive action as a trawl approaches. There were few molluscs, crustaceans, or echinoderms present; these taxa have been shown to be more susceptible to trawling damage in studies done elsewhere. Nematode numbers were initially depressed in the door furrows but did recover with time. It is not known whether nematodes were killed or displaced but the latter is thought more likely.
Competitividade de cultivares de arroz irrigado com cultivar simuladora de arroz-vermelho

(2) Resumo - Caracteristicas morfologicas e fisiologicas de plantas cultivadas podem afetar sua habilidade competitiva com plantas daninhas. Este trabalho objetivou investigar a competitividade de cultivares de arroz irrigado (Oryza sativa L.) com cultivar simuladora de arroz-vermelho. Investigou-se na safra 2000/2001 o comportamento de oito genotipos de arroz, cultivados na presenca ou ausencia da cultivar de arroz EEA 406, que simulou infestacao de arroz-vermelho. Aos 45 e aos 60 dias apos a semeadura, avaliou-se a resposta da simuladora em relacao as cultivares de arroz. Na colheita, foram determinados estatura de planta, componentes do rendimento e produtividade das plantas. A cultivar tardia IR 841 suprimiu o crescimento da simuladora, apresentando com a cultivar superprecoce Ligeirinho as meno- res reducoes de produtividade quando em competicao. Por sua vez, as cultivares IAS 12-9 Formosa e Bluebelle permitiram maior crescimento e producao de sementes pela concorrente, tambem sofrendo as maiores reducoes de produtividade de graos na condicao de competicao. Termos para indexacao: Oryza sativa, competicao vegetal, planta daninha, manejo da cultura. Competitiveness of flooded rice cultivars with a red rice simulating cultivar Abstract - Morphologic and physiologic characteristics of crop plants can affect their competitive ability with weeds. This research aimed to investigate competitiveness of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with a red rice simulating genotype. It was investigated, during the 2000/2001 warm season, the behavior of eight rice genotypes, grown in presence or absence of the rice cultivar EEA 406, simulating a red rice infestation. At 45 and 60 days after rice seeding, it was evaluated the response of red rice mimicker genotype in relation to rice cultivars. At harvest, it was determined plant height, yield components, and grain yield of the cultivars. The late season genotype IR 841 suppressed growth of the simulative cultivar, presenting, together with the very-early cultivar Ligeirinho, the lowest reductions in grain yield under competition. In opposite, IAS 12-9 Formosa and Bluebelle cultivars allowed the greatest growth and seed production by the concurrent rice, also presenting the largest decreases of grain yield under the competition condition.
SOIL SEED BANKS IN LAKESHORE WETLANDS: RELATION TO THE EXTANT VEGETATION

Seed bank composition and germination characteristics are necessary for modeling wetland vegetation composition. Yet there are few studies about the seed bank difference between plant communities in lakeshore wetlands. Seed banks are also known to play important roles in the vegetation restoration process. Environmental factors such as water level, temperature, or nutrient levels can affect vegetation composition and seed bank composition. The relationships between environmental factors and seed banks of wetlands in the field are still unknown. The Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is located at the eastern edge of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The lakeshore wetland vegetation is dominated by Phragmites australis (Cav.)Trin. ex Steud. , Typha latifolia L. , Carex pamirensis C. B. Clarke, Equisetum fluviatile L. The wetlands in Jiuzhaigou (118 lakes) are under strong pressure such as trampling and enhanced construction for travel. Plant restoration is necessary for protection of these areas. We investigated the soil seed bank in six lakeshore wetlands in this area using the seedling emergence method. Sediment samples (0-2 cm, 2-5 cm, 5-10 cm intervals from surface to bottom) were taken with core (diameter 5 cm) in April and from each replicate samples were spread on two plastic trays. Trays were randomly arranged in the greenhouse and watered daily. Seedlings were counted weekly after emergence, and removed as soon as they could be identified. Our study showed that seed density in all soil layers samples was negatively correlated to water depth. Water depth can explain 45% variance of species richness in surface layer in sediment. Species richness in extant vegetation can explain 45, 48, 25% variance of species richness in total 10 cm and in 2-5 cm and 5-10 cm layer sediment respectively. Dominant species cover in extant vegetation, site altitude, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total organic carbon in soil showed no correlation with species richness in seed bank. Mean seed densities in wetlands ranged from 0 to 15945 m(-2). A total of 23 species germinated in seed bank, while 85 species were found in extant vegetation. The dominant species in seed bank and extant vegetation showed great difference. The total number of species and seedlings that germinated in different layers was not significantly different. But the second layer had the greatest seed density. The relationship between seed bank and extant vegetation differed from one species to another. We should use different restoration strategies for different plant communities.
Calibrating an index by using removal data

A method is presented for estimating population size from index data collected before and after removal of a known number of individuals. An approximate variance estimate is given and used to delineate circumstances where the method may be useful. Confidence limits are obtained from Fieller's method and illustrated with data from feral horse (Equus caballus) herds. A comparison with the use of marking is provided.
In Vitro Evaluation of the Anti-Cancer Effects of Echitamine Chloride on Fibrosarcoma Cells

Echitamine chloride was tested for its anti-cancer effect on fibrosarcoma cells and far toxicity toward vero cells, a representative “normal” cell. In vitro incubation of these cells with different concentrations of echitamine chloride demonstrated the non-toxic nature of this drug on vero cells and its anti-cancer effect on sarcoma cells. The latter included reductions in cell viability, glutathione content, and [3H]-thymidine incorporation and increased lipid peroxidation. Interestingly, echitamine chloride caused 55% cell death at a concentration of 200μM in the case of sarcoma cells whereas vero cells were not affected even at the maximum concentration tested, i.e., 200μM.
LIGHT/DARK PERIODICITY IN NITROGEN ASSIMILATION OF THE MARINE PHYTOPLANKTERS SKELETONEMA COSTATUM AND COCCOLITHUS HUXLEYI IN N‐LIMITED CHEMOSTAT CULTURE 1, 2

Skeletonema costatum and Coccolithus huxleyi were grown in nitrogen‐limited chemostat cultures with illumination provided in light/dark cycles. S. costatum assimilated nitrate and ammonium primarily during the day and less so at night. Conversely, the concentration of nitrate and ammonium in the culture medium varied periodically, increasing at night and decreasing in the light. C. huxleyi assimilated both N sources at a rate sufficient to keep them at very low levels both day and night. However, the activity of N‐assimilating enzymes, measured in cell‐free extracts, were higher in the light than in the dark periods, implying light/dark differences in the capacity to assimilate nitrogen. Such periodicity in the rate of uptake and enzymatic activity appears to complicate the mathematical expression of nutrient‐limited growth of phytoplankton exposed to natural light/dark cycles.
Myrmecomorphy: morphological and behavioral mimicry of ants

The influence of ants on ecological communities is well documented by their quantitative effect on populations of other organisms (66, 176) and through the variety of relationships in which they are involved (166). Ants have influenced the evolution of other organisms in numerous ways: by being partners in symbiotic relationships, by providing exploitable resources, and by serving as models for the evolution of a remarkable variety of mimetic species (72). Myrmecomorphy, or the morphological and behavioral resem­ blance to ants, has evolved at least 70 times-IS times in the spiders (145), at least 10 times in the plant bugs (154), and 7 times in the staphylinid beetles (158). More than 2000 species of myrmecomorphic arthropods have been described thus far, belonging to over 200 genera in 54 families. Myrmecomorphy, or myrmecoidy (sensu 41, 42, 118), forms a subset of ant mimicry, which includes all species that resemble ants through convergence in morphological, behavioral, chemical, or textural characters. The other major group of ant-mimetic species are the myrmecophiles, or those arthropods that associate closely with ants, but do not necessarily resemble them (83). Unlike most myrmecomorphic species, myrmecophiles are typi­ cally convergent in chemical and/or textural characters that facilitate a close relationship with their ant models (71). Some myrmecophiles are also
Airborne dust distribution in a farrowing pen in dependence of other microclimatic parameters during spring-summer period

Abstract The study was carried out in a farrowing pen during 6 production cycles of 24 days in the spring-summer period. The effect of season and other microclimate parameters on airborne dust concentration was investigated. Study results showed a decrease in airborne dust concentration in summer period that yielded negative correlation with air temperature (P<0.05). Relative humidity was expected to decrease due to higher ventilation rates, however, a significant increase was recorded in summer (P<0.05) because of higher evaporation caused by floor wash. The decrease in airborne dust concentration was ascribed to temperature elevation due to intensified ventilation rate and relative humidity resulting in higher rate of dust settling.
Occurrence and ITS diversity of wood-associated Bursaphelenchus nematodes in Scots pine forests in Switzerland

The quarantine pathogen Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode, PWN) represents a serious threat forPinus species in Europe. To exclude its presence in Switzerland, in 2010 and 2011 a countrywide survey was conductedin 102 Pinus sylvestris stands, chosen according to whether they contained dying or dead trees or were located in areasat risk of PWN introduction. In total, 285 trees (1–5 per site) were sampled. Nematodes were extracted from woodchips using a standard procedure, and identiﬁed to species by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Bursaphe-lenchus species were present in 34% of the trees, but no B. xylophilus was identiﬁed, i.e. PWN is still not present inSwitzerland. The nematodes found belonged to seven different species, with B. vallesianus the most frequent species,followed by B. sexdentati, B. mucronatus kolymensis and B. eggersi. Three other species (B. borealis, B. pinophilus,B. poligraphi) were each only present in one or two trees. Three groups of sequences could not be assigned to a speciesbecause of the lack of matching reference sequences. The species composition found in Switzerland suggests co-exis-tence of southern and central European Bursaphelenchus species. Intraspeciﬁc ITS variability differed considerablyamong the four most common species. Bursaphelenchus eggersi, B. mucronatus kolymensis and B. sexdentati had sev-eral variable sites in the ITS region, resulting in multiple ITS genotypes in each species. In contrast, all 99 B. vallesi-anus isolates had an identical ITS region. This could indicate a founder effect, and possibly that B. vallesianus is notnative to the Alpine region.Keywords: biological invasion, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, monitoring, pine wood nematode, Pinus sylvestris
Comparison of Different Methods for the Detection of Silica Inclusions in Plant Tissues

There is no standardized method to detect silica depositions in plant tissues. Therefore, we compared current methods to reveal their advantages and disadvantages for selecting the most suitable method. We studied three plant species (Equisetum hyemale, Carex pendula, and Miscanthus sinensis) with pronounced and well-defined silica inclusions of different forms. We used two SEM methods, two stainings for light microscopy, and Raman imaging. Our results showed that energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis is highly specific but has a lower resolution than low-voltage–high-contrast (vCD) detection, which gives good resolution and a broad scanning area. In addition to the nonspecificity of vCD detection, it can be difficult to identify silica coatings with this method because of a lack of contrast with non-silica-coated tissues. Therefore, confirmation of silica detection with EDX is needed. In all plants tested, staining proved to be not silica specific but did allow for an indication of the position of silica inclusions, facilitating later, more specific analysis. Silica detection via Raman imaging might be affected by interference, depending on the sample, but it is the sole method tested that allows for distinguishing different types of silica inclusions chemically. A combination of EDX and vCD analysis provides the best results for locating the exact position of silica inclusions.
An $E_\infty$ structure on the matroid grassmannian

In analogy with the origin of the additive structure of $K$-theory, we construct an $E_\infty$ structure on the matroid Grassmannian (the space of oriented matroids) for which the underlying binary operation is the direct sum of matroids. The proof involves lifting the polyhedral fan structure of the Dressian to a polyhedral model for the matroid Grassmannian, and introducing a novel $E_\infty$ operad made from the space of infinite subsets of $\mathbb{N}$.
The Function of Howling in Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta Seniculus)

Die lauten Rufe der Roten Brullaffen (Alouatta seniculus) wurden wahrend eines Jahres in vier nachbarlichen Gruppen, deren Territorialgebiete sich uberschnitten, beobachtet. Obwohl die Brullaffen aus verschiedenen Anlassen brullten, waren mindestens 94.2% der Rufe jeder der beobachteten Gruppen wahrend des Tages gegen zu nahe, sichtbare Affen gerichtet, besonderes gegen solitare Tiere und gegen nachbarliche Gruppen. Mannchen, die in der eigenen Gruppe keine Konkurrenz hatten, zeigten erheblich hohere Brullraten wahrend des Tages, als solche, die Konkurrenten in ihrer Gruppe hatten. Bei Begegnung verschiedener Gruppen brullten die in geringerer Anzahl vertretenen Mannchen derjenigen Gruppe wesentlich haufiger, als die der Gruppe, die mehr Mannchen aufwies. Diese Beobachtungen zeigen an, dass die lauten Rufe der Roten Brullaffen zur Einschatzung ihrer Gegner verwendet werden, unter Vermeidung alternativer energieaufwendiger Jagden und Kampfe. Es wird vorgeschlagen, dass die Hauptfunktion des Gebrulls der Roten Brullaffen dazu bestimmt ist, die solitaren sowie die untergeordneten Mannchen in den verschiedenen Nachbargruppen von jedem Versuch abzuhalten, sie zu vertreiben und zu ersetzen.