Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Mechanisms of Fruit Selection by an Avian Frugivore

To examine behavioral mechanisms of fruit selection, American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were studied foraging on Crataegus monogyna fruits in western Or- egon. Robins faced a hierarchical decision-making process of fruit selection: (1) in which shrub to feed (decisions among shrubs); (2) which fruits to pick (visual decisions among fruits); and (3) which fruits to swallow once picked (within-bill decisions). Field observations of natural and experimentally manipulated populations of C. monogyna shrubs demon- strated that choices made by robins among shrubs were correlated with three plant traits (decision cues): fruit abundance, fruit size, and fruit pulpiness. These cues were themselves used hierarchically, so that when higher-ranking cues were held constant by manipulating shrubs, the next available cue became important. Once shrubs were selected, field and aviary work revealed that robins then made visual choices among fruits correlated with fruit size. However, no evidence was found to suggest that robins made within-bill decisions; once fruits were picked, additional discrimination did not occur. I suggest that a hierarchical process of fruit selection may have evolved to enable frugivores to cope with environmental uncertainty that is typical of fruiting systems. Such flexibility in foraging behavior may, in itself, promote variability within and among fruiting plants and therefore help to explain why so few general patterns have been identified in fruiting plant-frugivore relationships.
The importance of larval eyes in the polychaete Capitella teleta: effects of larval eye deletion on formation of the adult eye

In many marine invertebrates with biphasic life cycles, juvenile/adult traits begin to develop before metamorphosis. For structures that are present at multiple developmental stages, but have distinct larval and adult forms, it is unclear whether larval and adult structures have shared or distinct developmental origins. In this study, we examine the relationship between the larval and adult eyes in the polychaete Capitella teleta. In addition, we describe a novel marker for larval and juvenile photoreceptor cells. Infrared laser deletion of individual micromeres in early embryos suggests that the same micromeres at the eight-cell stage that are specified to generate the larval eyes also form the adult eyes. Direct deletion of the larval eye, including the pigment cell and the corresponding photoreceptor cell, resulted in a lack of shading pigment cells in juveniles and adults, demonstrating that this structure does not regenerate. However, a sensory photoreceptor cell was present in juveniles following direct larval eye deletions, indicating that larval and adult photoreceptors are separate cells. We propose that the formation of the adult eye in juveniles of C. teleta requires the presence of the pigment cell of the larval eye, but the adult photoreceptor is either recruited from adjacent neural tissue or arises de novo after metamorphosis. These results are different from the development and spatial orientation of larval and adult eyes found in other polychaetes, in which two scenarios have been proposed: larval eyes persist and function as adult eyes; or, distinct pigmented adult eyes begin developing separately from larval eyes prior to metamorphosis.
Role of Transforming Growth Factor- 1 Gene Polymorphisms in Childhood Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is one of the most frequent causes of acquired thrombocytopenia in childhood. Pathophysiologically it is characterized by platelet destruction due to antibody binding and subsequent removal of platelets by the mononuclear phagocytic system. Although the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in ITP has been known for a long time, the etiology of the disease remains unknown. How the genetic and environmental factors and immune systems of the patients affect the etiology and the clinical progress of ITP are not understood. Increased activation of T cells and enhanced production of cytokines such as interferon, interleukin-2, and interleukin-10 in chronic ITP suggest that different mechanisms may operate in the pathogenesis of chronic and acute ITP. It has been proposed that acute ITP in childhood may be due to a cross-reactive immune response directed against an infectious agent. In contrast, chronic ITP may be perpetuated as a constant HLA-DR-stimulated immune response with enhanced cytokine production, increased activation of T cells, and increased production of specific autoantibodies. Recently, an association between some cytokine gene polymorphisms, such as transforming growth factor1 (TGF1), interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factoralpha, and the frequency of several diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, osteoporosis, and allograft rejection, has been demonstrated. Among these cytokines, TGF1 is a multifunctional cytokine, produced by virtually every cell in the body, that plays a role in cell growth, wound healing, oncogenesis, immunomodulation, fibrosis, and atherosclerosis. TGF1 also has a suppressor effect on Bcell proliferation, Th-1 and Th-2 cells, and antibody production and has an inhibitor effect on the activity of antigenpresenting cells and on megakaryopoiesis. It had been demonstrated that polymorphisms of the TGF1 gene may alter plasma concentrations of TGF1; among these polymorphisms, 509 (C→T), codon 25 (Arg→Pro), and codon 10 (Leu→Pro) polymorphisms were significantly correlated with TGF1 production. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether TGF1 gene 509 (C→T), codon 25 (Arg→Pro), and codon 10 (Leu→Pro) polymorphisms have a role on the development, clinical progress, and treatment response in children with ITP.
Skin γδ T‐cell functions in homeostasis and wound healing

Summary: There is a resident population of T cells found in murine skin that expresses an invariant Vγ3Vδ1 T‐cell receptor (TCR), and these cells are significantly different from lymphoid γδ T cells and αβ T cells in terms of ontogeny, tissue tropism, and antigen receptor diversity. These dendritic epidermal T cells are derived from fetal thymic precursor cells, are in constant contact with neighboring epidermal cells, and express a monoclonal γδTCR only found in the skin. Skin γδ T cells have been shown to play unique roles in tissue homeostasis and during tissue repair through local secretion of distinct growth factors including keratinocyte growth factors and insulin‐like growth factor‐1. In this review, we discuss evidence supporting a role for cross talk between skin γδ T cells and keratinocytes that contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and wound healing.
Leaf quality and herbivory responses to soil nutrient addition in secondary tropical dry forests of Yucatán, Mexico

Leaf quality (nutrient concentration) and herbivory were studied in a set of dominant tree species in regenerating, secondary tropical dry forests growing on limestone in the Yucatán Peninsula. The study's objective was to assess how variation in nutrient availability affects leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and herbivory. Our study included an area of young forest (10 y old), with phosphorus-poor soils, and an area of old forest (∼60 y old), in which soil P was comparatively less limiting. The foliage of representative species of each site was studied, including Acacia gaumeri, Leucaena leucocephala and Lysiloma latisiliquum at the young forest site, and A. gaumeri, Bursera simaruba and Pithecellobium dulce at the old forest. Four independent plots (12 × 12 m) at each forest were either left intact (controls) or fertilized with N, with P, or with N plus P for three consecutive years. Relaxation of nutrient limitations at the young forest resulted in an increase in leaf phosphorus and herbivory in all species. In contrast, N and P fertilization at the old forest site did not consistently affect leaf nutrient concentration and leaf damage. In this site the main response to fertilization was an increase in leaf nitrogen only in B. simaruba and an increase in herbivory in A. gaumeri; leaf phosphorus was unaffected by soil fertilization. Overall, we observed that, subsequent to nutrient addition, leaf phosphorus concentration and herbivory in the leguminous species increased at the young site; leaf nitrogen concentration in the non-leguminous species increased at the old site while herbivory only increased in A. gaumeri, following a pattern similar to that observed in the young site. We conclude that the regulatory mechanisms of leaf quality and damage by herbivores will vary, depending on the details of the site's nutrient limitations and the identity of species.
Super-resolutionmicroscopy of single atoms in optical lattices

We report on image processing techniques and experimental procedures to determine the lattice-site positions of single atoms in an optical lattice with high reliability, even for limited acquisition time or optical resolution. Determining the positions of atoms beyond the diffraction limit relies on parametric deconvolution in close analogy tomethods employed in super-resolutionmicroscopy.We develop a deconvolutionmethod thatmakes effective use of the prior knowledge of the optical transfer function, noise properties, and discreteness of the optical lattice.We show that accurate knowledge of the image formation process enables a dramatic improvement on the localization reliability. This allows us to demonstrate super-resolution of the atoms’ position in closely packed ensembles where the separation between particles cannot be directly optically resolved. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentalmethods to precisely reconstruct the point spread functionwith sub-pixel resolution fromfluorescence images of single atoms, andwe give amathematical foundation thereof.We also discuss discretized image sampling in pixel detectors and provide a quantitativemodel of noise sources in electronmultiplying CCDcameras. The techniques developed here are not only beneficial to neutral atom experiments, but could also be employed to improve the localization precision of trapped ions for ultra precise force sensing.
Mycorrhizal infection level of bell pepper transplants influences subsequent responses to soil solution phosphorus

Abstract Responses of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) to solution phosphorus (P) concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/liter were examined in a pot study. Mycorrhizal plants were inoculated at seeding with the vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (VAMF) Glomus aggregatum (Schenck and Smith emend Koske). The peppers were transplanted Into a fumigated mix of Waialua clay soil (Vertic Haplustoll) and basaltic sand. At solution P concentrations between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/liter, inoculation with the VAMF increased P uptake, total dry matter production and fruit yields, while reducing the time to anthesis. At solution P concentrations above 0.4 mg/liter, mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants had similar growth and yields. Transplants with higher levels of root infection at transplanting produced greater final dry weights and fruit yields when planted into P‐deficient soil than transplants with lower levels of root infection, even though the highly infected transplants were F‐.
Time-Varying Global Dollar Risk in Currency Markets

This paper documents that the price of dollar risk exhibits significant time variation, switching sign after large realized dollar fluctuations, when global dollar demand is high and funding constraints are tight. To exploit this feature of dollar risk, I propose a novel currency investment strategy which is effectively short the dollar in normal states, but long the dollar after large dollar movements. The proposed strategy is not exposed to standard risk factors, yields an annualized return exceeding 4%, and has an annualized Sharpe ratio of 0.34, significantly higher than that of well-known currency strategies. Furthermore, I show that currencies other than the dollar do not exhibit the same sign-switching pattern in their price of risk, consistent with the view that the dollar is special.
Molecular evaluation of genetic variability in wild populations of mulberry (Morus serrata Roxb.)

Sixteen populations of the wild mulberry, Morus serrata Roxb. , were analysed for their genetic diversity with the aim of using them in introgressive breeding programmes with cultivated relatives. Five genets from each population were collected from different natural populations of M. serrata present in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh in India, and diversity of morpho-anatomical traits and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were studied. Significant amounts of genetic diversity were observed among these populations for morpho-anatomical as well as DNA markers. The 17 ISSR primers generated a total of 95 DNA markers, 51 of which were polymorphic, revealing 67% polymorphism among the populations. The pair-wise genetic distance, estimated from these DNA markers varied from 0.091 between Urgam-3 and Kathpuria to 0.258 between Dakrakao-1 and Dunda with an average genetic distance of 0.165. Clustering analysis grouped these 16 populations into three broad groups. The grouping showed a moderate correlation with the geographical distances. Based on the morphological traits and molecular genetic variability, plants of Urgam-1, Bhowali farm, Nainitikar, Dunda or Korwa-2 can be selected for breeding and conservation programmes.
On the obvious positive interspecific relationship between abundance and distribution: a reply to Blackburn and Gaston

Thomas Kuhn described normal science as ‘ . research firmly based upon one or more past scientific achievements . ’, that ‘ . does not aim at novelties of fact or theory and, when successful, finds none’ (Kuhn 1996). Kuhn divides scientific enterprise into three faces: normal science, crisis and revolution. In his view, normal science is paradigm driven and the enthusiasm to find supportive results inevitably leads into publication bias; supportive studies get accepted more easily, resulting in an overestimate of the true effect size. Only after a while does the weight of odd observations and scattered evidence against the paradigm begin to be enough for the paradigm to enter a crisis and finally the paradigm may be altered or even rejected. If one subscribes to Kuhn’s view’s of scientific progress, it seems that one important task of scientists is to challenge the prevailing paradigms. Recently, we (Komonen et al. 2009) challenged the paradigm according to which one of the most general patterns in ecology is a positive interspecific relationship between abundance and distribution. Blackburn & Gaston (2009) (B&G) took up our challenge and criticized our paper on two grounds. First, there is a methodological critique and second, B&G criticize us for dismissing the positive relationships by suggesting that ‘90% of relationships that are positive are artefacts’. First B&G criticized our method to control for sampling effort. Although we agree that applying corrections into a dataset may generate unwanted biases, it appears that the imaginary example B&G provide to pinpoint a potential problem in our method is mistaken. As B&G state, in their example, the uncorrected density of both species a and b is 1, while there is a 10-fold difference after the sampling effort is accounted for (a 1⁄4 1 while b 1⁄4 0.1). Where B&G’s argument fails is the statement that both species were sampled at each site to the same intensity. While this is indeed correct, sampling effort at each site is not relevant in the context of our paper. We are asking questions where the sampling effort for each species (rather than at each site) is of interest. What B&G failed to notice is that in their example, species a and b faced a 10-fold difference in the sampling effort: species a faced a sampling effort that was 1 (one visit
Effects of Roasting on Oxidative Status of Sunflower Seeds

SUMMARY Sunflower is an important economic crop worldwide. It is rich in polyunsaturated fats (linoleic acid) and monounsaturated (oleic acid) and low in saturates (Anjum et al., 2006). It was found that the rate of quality deterioration, such as oxidation, depends on the polyunsaturated fatty acid content (Yoshida et al., 1990, cited by Lukesova et al., 2009). Roasting is commonly used in sunflower processing (traditional oil production, halva, and sunflower nuts). Under the influence of high temperature and in the presence of moisture and atmospheric oxygen the processes of oxidation, hydrolysis, polymerization and destruction of oils are activated, which leads to changes in the sensory and nutritional qualities (Antova and Nenkova, 2008). The primary products of lipid oxidation are hydro peroxides that are generally referred to as peroxides. The peroxide value (PV) was taken as a measure for the degree of oxidation during the roasting of sunflower seeds. The Fe(III)-thiocyanate International Dairy Federation (IDF) method was used. The results are graphically represented in Figure 1. The PV of roasted sunflower seeds is ~ two times higher as the ones unroasted. Changes in PV values obtained in the present study are in good agreement with the previous results reported by Antova and Nenkova (2008), Hassanein et al. (2003) and Lukesova et al. (2009) for microwave heated sunflower oils.
Modelling of Starch Gelatinisation and Liquefaction with the Enzyme Liquozyme

In this paper the influence of the enzyme Liquozyme Supra concentration (0.4-1.2 kg/t dry substance DS) and gelatinisation time (3-11 min.) on the liquefied starch quality is investigated. The composition in sugars with different Degrees of Polymerisation (DP) as DP1 (glucose), DP2 (maltose), DP3 (maltotriose), DP4 (maltotetrose) and oligosaccharides with DP≥5 is analysed by using HPLC with RI detector. The products obtained have different DP, the main components being oligosaccharides with DP≥5, followed by small amount of DP3+DP4 and much smaller concentrations of DP1; no DP2 is produced by this enzyme. Two quality criteria: the percent of oligosaccharides with DP≥5 and the percent of DP1 are proposed, in order to appreciate gelatinisation + liquefaction for the obtaining of various syrups in the next step of starch hydrolysis, the saccharification. For the production of maltose syrups, the optimal conditions at gelatinisation + liquefaction in the domains tested are 0.4 Kg/t DS enzyme and 11 min. gelatinisation time; no conditions are imposed for the production of glucose syrups; at the obtaining of dextrose syrups, gelatinisation and liquefaction are to be realised with maximal enzyme concentration (1.2 kg/t DS) and maximal gelatinisation time (11 min.).
Vegetation patterns and role of edaphic heterogeneity on plant communities in semi-deciduous forests from the Congo Basin

Contrary to the other forest ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo), semi-deciduous forests have so far attracted little attention and studies regarding their ecological aspects remain sketchy. Yet semi-deciduous forests are among the most important non-flooded ecosystems in the Congo Basin and their importance is high, both ecologically and economically. They are home to a variety of species, some of them being exploited for timber by forest companies acting in the region. There is a constant need to focus on their composition and diversity, and to understand factors shaping their communities.Using a sampling method broadly inspired from the synusial phytosociology approach, we examined plant communities within each of the forest layers composing the overstorey (canopy and emergent trees) and the understorey (shrub and herbaceous layers). The role of edaphic heterogeneity on plant communities in the considered semi-deciduous forests was examined. We mainly focused on:- Floristic parameters within these ecosystems;- Spatial structure of edaphic variables;- Species responses to edaphic heterogeneity;- Distance decay in the considered ecosystems;- Phylogenetic patterns within plant communities.Some of the species found in the considered semi-deciduous forests are more related to a type of soil than another, defining some “edaphic specialists” species while many others can be considered “generalists”. Spatial distance effect in the considered plant communities is marked by a decrease of floristic similarity with the geographical distance and all the forest layers showed a pattern of spatial phylogenetic clustering meaning that species cohabiting within a same plot are more related than species from distant plots.
Persistence of suppression effects on peatland black spruce advance regeneration after overstory removal

The persistence of suppression effects on peatland black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) advance regeneration following overstory removal was examined (i) by analyzing post-harvest growth patterns and (ii) by comparing observed post-harvest growth with predictions from an individual-tree growth model. Analysis of growth patterns revealed critical points (inflections or maxima) in annual basal area, diameter, and height growth series, and in specific volume increment. Critical points occurred at different times (ranging from 1 to 29 years after harvest) for different variables and often occurred earlier for trees with greater height at time of harvest. These critical points do not necessarily coincide with the cessation of persisting suppression, however, since post-harvest growth patterns also reflect current influences on growth. The comparison of observed basal area and diameter growth with model predictions isolated persisting suppression effects. The effects of suppression on basal area and diamete.
Long-Distance Calling by the Willow Tit, Poecile montanus, Facilitates Formation of Mixed-Species Foraging Flocks

The occurrence of mixed-species foraging flocks is a worldwide phenomenon in terrestrial bird communities. Previous studies suggest that individuals participating in flocks might derive benefits in terms of improved feeding efficiency and/or reduced risk of predation. However, very little is known about how individuals establish mixed-species flocks. Here, I provide the first experimental evidence that long-distance calling by the willow tit, Poecile montanus, facilitates the establishment of mixed-species flocks at a foraging patch. Observations at experimental foraging patches showed that willow tits that find a food source produce long-distance calls, particularly when they are isolated from conspecific flockmates. The probability of long-distance calling was negatively correlated with the number of heterospecific foraging individuals near the food source. A playback experiment confirmed that calls attract both conspecific and heterospecific members of foraging flocks. This study demonstrates that willow tits use long-distance calls to attract conspecific flockmates to foraging patches, and these calls can also facilitate the formation of mixed-species flocks on patches.
THE OCCURRENCE AND NATURE OF DIAPAUSE-FREE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (CLEM.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Spruce budworm populations in Eastern Canada are effectively univoltine. After hatching, the larva follows a complex behavior pattern that leads to the building of a hibernaculum in which it molts and spends the winter months without feeding. This pattern seems to be independent of environmental conditions, except as they affect the rate at which the component events occur, and, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, must be considered as inherent.Laboratory studies have shown that in 62% of the families produced by matings of field-collected individuals at least one larva can develop without diapause if subjected to long photoperiods (at 71° F.); on the average 3 to 4% of the second-instar larvae in such progenies can forego diapause. Selection over six generations yielded a strain that, if subjected to continuous light in the laboratory, is virtually free from diapause. This stock has been reared for a further six generations and still retains this photoperiod dependence. Behavior is usually no.