Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different glyphosate phytotoxicity of seeds and seedlings of selected plant species.

The aim of this study was to compare the physiological responses of six plant species (popular crops or plants recommended as indicators of soil pollution) to a wide range of glyphosate concentrations (0, 1, 3, 7, 10, 40, 80, 120, 180, 240, 400, 750, 1,000, 1,500, 1,700 and 2,000 µM). Percent germination, root length, seedling dry mass and myo-inositol content, as well as seedling leachate electroconductivity were determined in Lepidium sativum, Sinapis alba, Sorghum saccharatum, Brassica napus, Lupinus luteus and Avena sativa. Percent seed germination, seedling dry mass and electroconductivity of seedling leachates were not clearly affected by the herbicide and could not be used as indicators of its phytotoxicity. An metabolite induced by abiotic stresses in many plants, myo-Inositol, was very strongly stimulated by glyphosate at doses above 10 or 40 μM, depending on plant species. The sensitivity of analyzed plants to glyphosate, as manifested by root length, differed clearly. In Avena sativa the relationship between root length and glyphosate concentration was fairly linear over a wide range of herbicide doses (up to 240-400 μM). The most distinct drop in root growth at low herbicide doses was visible in Sorghum saccharatum. The results show that a mild stress affecting root length may not clearly modify seedling myo-inositol levels, that respond distinctly to stronger stresses. Not all indicator plants are equally suitable for analysis of biological activity of glyphosate residues. Sorghum saccharatum seems particularly sensitive.
ENDOGENOUS BREEDING CYCLES IN MALE THREESPINE STICKLEBACKS, GASTEROSTEUS ACULEATUS

To study how different, constant photoperiods affect endogenous breeding cycles in the threespine stickleback, adult males were kept in separate aquaria for up to two years under light:dark (LD) 12:12 hr or LD 16:8 or for eleven months under continuous light. Nests built were destroyed weekly and fish were considered breeding as long as they kept rebuilding. Under continuous light most males nested for a much longer first period than under the other photoperiods. Most fish under both LD 12:12 and LD 16:8 exhibited breeding cycles shorter than one year. After the first or second breeding cycle, many fish, especially under LD 12:12, exhibited irregular breeding patterns. There were no significant differences in cycle length or proportion of time spent in breeding condition between these two photoperiods. The lack of these differences and the surprising observation that some fish under LD 12:12 remained in breeding condition for a very long period, suggest that a circannual cycle in photosensitivity is not the whole explanation for the endogenous control of breeding in sticklebacks.
TOXICITY OF NERIUM INDICUM AND EUPHORBIA ROYLEANA LATTICES AGAINST CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS MOSQUITO LARVAE

Different dilutions of aqueous and methanolic extracts of lattices of Nerium indicum (Apocynaceae) and Euphorbia royleana (Euphorbiaceae) were administered for 24h and 48h to the Culex quinquesfasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae in order to test their lethality. The larvicidal activity of lattices of both plants, were time and dose dependent respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods. The result also indicates that the different dilutions of the lattices of both plants also significantly delayed the post-embryonic development of Culex larvae. Methanolic extract of N. indicum is 1.8 times more toxic than aqueous extract while in case of E. royleana , the methanolic extract was 16 times more toxic in comparison to aqueous. Key Words: Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol.7 2003: 61-64
Indices of interspecific plant competition for Pinus radiata in the central north island of New Zealand

Pinus radiata D. Don was grown on its own and with a range of densities of either buddleia (Buddleja davidii Franchet) or broom (Cytisus scoparius L.), two important forest weed species, in a field trial at Rotorua, New Zealand. Tree growth from the time of planting to age 3 was modelled as a function of tree size and a competition modifier. The competition modifier is, in effect, a multiplier that reduces tree growth according to the degree of competition defined by a competition index (CI). A range of CIs, with some sensitivity to both weed and tree growth and development over time, were individually incorporated into the modifier and evaluated. The "best" CI combined measures of weed height relative to tree height, proximity of the weed to the tree, and weed abundance, and was negatively correlated with an index of light availability. For a given value of CI, the effect on tree growth was independent of weed species. For diameter growth, the effect of CI was independent of tree age. However, for height growth the negative effect of a given CI value was much higher in year 3 than in years 1 and 2. This suggest that competition has an immediate effect on diameter but a delayed effect on height growth.
Age estimations of wild pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus, Forbes & Richardson 1905) based on pectoral fin spines, otoliths and bomb radiocarbon: inferences on recruitment in the dam‐fragmented Missouri River

Summary An extant stock of wild pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus persists in the fragmented upper Missouri River basin of Montana and North Dakota. Although successful spawning and hatch of embryos has been verified, long-term catch records suggest that recruitment has not occurred for several decades as the extant stock lacks juvenile size classes and is comprised exclusively of large, presumably old individuals. Ages of 11 deceased (death years 1997–2007) wild S. albus (136–166 cm fork length) were estimated based on pectoral fin spines, sagittal otoliths and bomb radiocarbon ( 14 C) assays of otoliths to test the hypothesis that members of this stock are old and to provide inferences on recruitment years that produced the extant stock. Age estimations based on counts of presumed annuli were about 2 years greater for otoliths (mean = 51 years, range = 43–57 years) than spines (mean = 49 years, range = 37–59 years). Based on 14 C assays, confirmed birth years for all individuals occurred prior to 1957, thus establishing known longevity of at least 50 years. Estimated age based on presumed otolith annuli for one S. albus was validated to at least age 49. Although 14 C assays confirmed pre-1957 birth years for all S. albus, only 56% of estimated ages from spines and 91% of estimated ages from otoliths depicted pre-1957 birth years. Both ageing structures were subject to under-ageing error (up to 15 years). Lack of or severe curtailment of S. albus recruitment in the upper Missouri River basin since the mid-1950s closely parallels the 1953–1957 timeframe when a mainstem reservoir was constructed and started to fill. This reservoir may function as a system-wide stressor to diminish recruitment success of S. albus in the upper Missouri River basin.
Automated leaf physiognomic character identification from digital images

Abstract. Research into the relationship between leaf form and climate over the last century has revealed that, in many species, the sizes and shapes of leaf characters exhibit highly structured and predictable patterns of variation in response to the local climate. Several procedures have been developed that quantify covariation between the relative abundance of plant character states and the states of climate variables as a means of estimating paleoclimate parameters. One of the most widely used of these is the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP). The consistency, accuracy and reliability with which leaf characters can be identified and assigned to CLAMP character-state categories is critical to the accuracy of all CLAMP analyses. Here we report results of a series of performance tests for an image-based, fully automated at the point of use, leaf character scoring system that can be used to generate CLAMP leaf character state data for: leaf bases (acute, cordate and round), leaf apices (acute, attenuate), leaf shapes (ovate, elliptical and obovate), leaf lobing (unlobed, lobed), and leaf aspect ratios (length/width). This image-based system returned jackknifed identification accuracy ratios of between 87% and 100%. These results demonstrate that automated image-based identification systems have the potential to improve paleoenvironmental inferences via the provision of accurate, consistent and rapid CLAMP leaf-character identifications. More generally, our results provide strong support for the feasibility of using fully automated, image-based morphometric procedures to address the general problem of morphological character-state identification.
Cambajuva (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae: Arthrostylidiinae), a New Woody Bamboo Genus from Southern Brazil

Abstract Arthrostylidiinae are one of the three subtribes of Neotropical woody bamboos and comprise 13 genera and over 160 described species. Recent phylogenetic analyses have demonstrated both the non-monophyly of Aulonemia Goudot and the sister relationship of Aulonemia ulei (Hack.) McClure to the monotypic Glaziophyton Franch. , with which it forms a clade sister to the reminder of the subtribe. Based on these data and on morphological and anatomical characters, we present herein the new monotypic genus Cambajuva, as well as a new combination, to accommodate A. ulei. Morphological and anatomical descriptions are also provided, as well as a comparison with putatively related genera of the subtribe.
Diversity of European spined loaches (genus Cobitis L.): an update of the geographic distribution of the Cobitis taenia hybrid complex with a description of new molecular tools for species and hybrid determination

Although the unique features of asexual reproduction and hybridization among European spined loaches (genus Cobitis) have recently attracted the attention of conservation biologists, faunists and evolutionary biologists, the research has suffered from uncertain identification of specimens and their genomes because of the extreme morphological similarity of all the species within the hybrid complex. In this article, a Europe-wide study is reported, which was performed on samples collected by several research teams. Several complementary methodologies, such as allozyme analysis, karyotyping, flow cytometry and DNA sequencing allowed us to confirm or reject the existence of all previously reported species and their hybrids as well as to uncover several new hybrid biotypes. The biogeography of all the known biotypes, that is, parental species and hybrid biotypes, has been summarized here and the taxonomic position of two undescribed putative species mentioned in previous publications has been established. New polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism markers for species determination have further been developed and applied, which would allow the unambiguous identification of parental species and their genomes in the known hybrid biotypes within the complex.
Some aspects of the biology of a cyprinid, Aspius vorax Heckel

Scales were used for the determination of age with back-calculation of length. The oldest fish was VII + years old. Back-calculation did not exhibit Lee's phenomenon. The most rapid growth occurred in summer at water temperatures over 25°C. The growth in weight was c. 331 g year-1 after IV vears of life. Growth was well described by von Bertalanffy equation : ll - 91·0 [l=0·122(l0·25)] The length-weight relationship followed the cube law (b = 3·0601) Kn ranged from 0·74 to 1·18 with a mean value of 1·0. Spawning occurred in January, fecundity was 74 509 with a mean of 1157 eggs -1 body weight. Mean diameter of eggs was 1071 (pm). A developed ovary had ova of two sizes, immature oocytes and mature ova. The fish is a carnivorous feeder.
Studies on physical, chemical and fibre morphological parameters of three pulpwood species viz. Eucalyptus, Melia and Casuarina for pulp and paper making

Investigations were made on the physical, chemical and fibre morphological parameters and fibre derived indices of three pulpwood species viz. Eucalyptus, Melia and Casuarina for pulp and paper making. Eucalyptus, Melia and Casuarina trees were selected, felled and wood samples were collected from respective plantations established in Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. Basic density of wood samples were measured using Shimadzu electronic balance attached with specific gravity module. Fibre maceration was done by Jeffrey’s method and holocellulose and lignin content by Tappi method. Basic density and fibre morphological parameters showed significant variation (at 1%) between species. The highest basic density was observed for Casuarina followed by Eucalyptus and the minimum for Melia. The high fibre length and fibre wall thickness was observed for Casuarina followed by Eucalyptus and Melia. The fibre diameter and fibre lumen width was highest for Melia followed by Casuarina and Eucalyptus. Chemical composition was almost same for all the species; holocellulose ≈73% and lignin ≈23%. Studies on suitability of species for paper making showed that Eucalyptus is preferred in terms of its moderate basic density and optimum fibre morphological parameters. Low fibre length of Melia and high fibre wall thickness of Casuarina adversely affected its paper making properties. However in terms of fibre derived indices, Melia dubia was found to be most suitable for paper making followed by Eucalyptus and Casuarina.
The Whewell–Darwin controversy

In formulating his approach to natural history in 1837–8, Darwin combined ideas and techniques from several areas, of which five are identified. But these do not show why he formulated such an all-embracing approach, going from geology to human instincts, morality, and aesthetic responses. The hypothesis presented here is that Darwin was responding to a Romantic view of natural history such as the one held by Willian Whewell. The Romantics challenged the adequacy of reductionist systems which, they said, could not explain the ‘higher’ faculties. Darwin sought a reductionist (‘materialist’) system which would meet the Romantic objections.
Spitsbergen bowhead whales revisited

) are endemic to arctic and subarctic regions oftheAtlanticOcean,andtheBering,Beaufort,Chukchi,andOkhotskseas(MooreandReeves1993)andoftenliveincloseassociationwiththesea-iceedge.Fivegeographi-cally separated stocks are currently recognized: (1) the Bering/Chukchi/Beaufort Seasstock, (2) the Okhotsk Sea stock, (3) the Davis Strait stock, (4) the Hudson Baystock, and (5) the Spitsbergen stock distributed in the Greenland, Barents, and Karaseas. Exploitation over several centuries dramatically reduced the population sizeof this once abundant species (Woodby and Botkin 1993). Commercial hunting ofbowhead whales commenced in the early 1600s in the North Atlantic region aroundSvalbard and spread out into other regions when this stock became depleted. Thepre-exploitation population size of the Spitsbergen stock has been estimated to bebetween 25,000 and more than 100,000 individuals (Allen and Keay 2006). Aftercessation of the hunt, bowhead whales around Svalbard were considered to be extinct(JonsgA
Resistance of advanced common bean lines to Fusarium root rot

Fusarium root rot (FRR) is a distributed disease of common beans in Brazil. Our main aim was to verify if there are genotypes, mainly advanced lines from the common bean breeding program with levels of resistance to FRR similar to those of the line A-300. We also compared three developmental stages for FRR assessment. Genotypes of six classes were evaluated in greenhouse and field experiments. In greenhouse, substrate was infested with chlamydospores. In field, genotypes were screened in area infested with Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli. Plants were rated for disease at V3, R5 and R7 stages. Correlation among area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) in greenhouse and in the field experiments was significant. Genotypes were ranked into four groups based on AUDPC. Sixteen advanced lines were as resistant to FRR as A-300. Correlation between the disease rating at R5 stages and AUDPC was higher than those among AUDPC and either disease rating at V3 or R7 in all experiments. Our results indicate that there are advanced lines with levels of FRR resistance similar to those of A-300 and that the FRR assessment at the R5 stage is more appropriated than at either V3 or R7.
Intrafamilial Relationships of the Thelypteroid Ferns (Thelypteridaceae)

Abstract Data from three chloroplast genes (rps4 + trnS spacer, + trnL spacer; 1350 base pairs) for 27 of the recognized segregates show the Thelypteridaceae to be monophyletic and sister to an unresolved alliance of blechnoid, athyrioid, onocleoid, and woodsioid ferns. The family comprises two primary lineages, one phegopteroid, the other thelypteroid (including cyclosoroid). The phegopteroid lineage (Macrothelypteris, Pseudophegopteris, and Phegopteris) includes those elements that are the most dissected, lack adaxial grooves on the frond axes, and are generally morphologically the most distinct elements within the family. Within the thelypteroid-cyclosoroid lineage, three predominantly north-temperate subgroups, including Thelypteris s.s. , form a free-veined clade that is in turn sister to the rest of the family. All segregates possessing x=36 (Cyclosorus sensu Smith, with predominantly anastomosing veins) form a strongly supported clade. Those groups with dysploid base chromosome numbers (x=27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) form a series of smaller clades basal to Cyclosorus s.l. Although our sampling is not yet sufficient to favor one classification over another, recognition of an intermediate number of genera may be the most reasonable taxonomic course.
Review: Recent Development of High-Order-Spectral Method Combined with Computational Fluid Dynamics Method for Wave-Structure Interactions

The present paper reviews the recent developments of a high-order-spectral method (HOS) and the combination with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for wave-structure interactions. As the numerical simulations of wave-structure interaction require efficiency and accuracy, as well as the ability in calculating in open sea states, the HOS method has its strength in both generating extreme waves in open seas and fast convergence in simulations, while computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method has its advantages in simulating violent wave-structure interactions. This paper provides the new thoughts for fast and accurate simulations, as well as the future work on innovations in fine fluid field of numerical simulations.
Linking the physiologic and phylogenetic successions in free‐living bacterial communities along an estuarine salinity gradient

In this paper we assess whether the bacterial compositional succession that occurs along an estuarine salinity gradient is accompanied by changes in both community and single‐cell metabolic activity in the free‐living bacterioplankton. In addition, we explore whether up‐ and downstream estuarine communities, which are dominated by different phylogenetic groups, show distinct patterns in single‐cell activity and characteristics. We have characterized the physiological succession of the bacterioplankton along the salinity gradient in the Choptank River Estuary (Maryland), using a combination of indices of single‐cell activity, which include respiratory activity, membrane polarization and integrity, and DNA and RNA contents, combined with flow cytometry. We have also measured bacterioplankton community production, respiration, and growth efficiency along the estuary. Our data suggest that the sharp phylogenetic succession that occurs within the fresh to saltwater transition region is accompanied by profound metabolic changes both at the single‐cell and community levels and that the phylogenetic succession occurs together with measurable physiological stress. The different indices of single‐cell characteristics that we have used converge to suggest that within the fresh to saltwater transition zone, there is generalized decline in growth and possibly a loss of activity and even significant cell mortality. At the community level, these changes in singlecell physiology at the site of the phylogenetic succession appear to translate into a generalized decline in bacterial growth efficiency with a decrease in bacterial growth and production but an actual increase in bacterial carbon consumption. Our data also suggest that different phylogenetic groups may have intrinsically different levels of single‐cell activity or at least respond differently to the activity assays that we currently use.
Liquidity and corporate bond pricing [0.35cm] on the Swedish market

Department of mathematics Master of science degree in mathematics Liquidity and corporate bond pricing on the Swedish market by Peter Nguyen Andersson In this thesis a corporate bond valuation model based on Dick-Nielsen, Feldhütter, and Lando (2011) and Chen, Lesmond, and Wei (2007) is examined. The aim is for the model to price corporate bond spreads and in particular capture the price effects of liquidity as well as credit risk. The valuation model is based on linear regression and is conducted on the Swedish market with data provided by Handelsbanken. Two measures of liquidity are analyzed: the bid-ask spread and the zero-trading days. The investigation shows that the bid-ask spread outperforms the zero-trading days in both significance and robustness. The valuation model with the bid-ask spread explains 59% of the cross-sectional variation and has a standard error of 56 bps in its pricing predictions of corporate spreads. A reduced version of the valuation model is also developed to address simplicity and target a larger group of users. The reduced model is shown to maintain a large proportion of the explanation power while including fewer and simpler variables.
Utility of peripheral blood smear in platelet count estimation

Background: There are several methods of platelet count used in hematology laboratory. These methods are manual counting, automated hematology analyzer counting, platelet count estimation by peripheral blood smear (PBS) method etc. Many diseases such as dengue, malaria, pregnancy induced hypertension etc. may leads to severe thrombocytopenia. Timely and precise diagnosis of platelet count plays very crucial role in critical care management of thrombocytopenia cases. The present study was undertaken to estimate platelet counts by PBS method and correlate them with results from automated hematology analyzer method.Methods: Study included one hundred randomly collected blood samples in EDTA anticoagulant vacutainer tubes. Each blood sample was processed for platelet count estimation with automated hematology analyzer and Leishman’s stained PBS examination. The statistical analysis was done by using Pearson's correlation test to access the agreement between both the methods.Results: The Pearson's correlation test showed significant positive correlation for platelet count estimation between both the methods. (r =0.9789). Conclusions: Platelet count estimation by PBS method is reliable and statistically significant when compared to hematology analyzer method. PBS platelet estimation method can be taken as early and rapid procedure for platelet assessment in critical severe thrombocytopenia cases. This method is simple, cheaper and can be done in rural hospital setup where automation is not available.