Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVIDENCE FOR A SPONTANEOUS OVARIAN CYCLE IN FISH OF THE GENUS

The reproductive cycle of fish of the genus Xiphophorus, as well as certain other poeciliid fishes, has been described by Bailey (1933) and Turner (1937) . These viviparous Teleosts were found capable of producing broods throughout the year. After insemination by a male, sperm usually continue to survive in the folds of the female ovarian tissue and as many as 8 successive broods can be produced by one insemination (VanOordt, 1928) . Valbowe (1953) calculated a mean interval of 33.5 days between broods of Xiphophorus niaculatus (platyfish) . The calculation of the number of days from insemination to the dropping of the first or primary brood depended on his ability to observe successful copulations. He determined the mean number of days to the dropping of 19 primary broods to be 41 . 7 and suggested that some factor, associated with the ovary, was involved in delaying the birth of primary broods. Similar results have been reported for the guppy Poecilia reticu latus, by Rosenthal ( 1952) who attributed the wide variation in time for the pro duction of primary broods to an â€œ? �ill-definedâ€ estrus cycle. The nature of this cycle should be distinguishable by utilizing artificial insemina tion to precisely fix the moment of insemination and to produce large numbers of primary broods. By plotting the length of time required to produce primary broods against the time to produce subsequent broods (as suggested by J. W. Atz, Amen can Museum of Natural History, personal communication ) , the nature of the ovarian cycle operating in these fish could be more adequately analyzed. As part of a study in which it was necessary to produce large numbers of hybrids between fishofthegenusXiphophorus,sucha procedurewas carriedoutand isreported here.
Isovector And Pairing Properties Of The Gogny Force In The Context Of Neutron Stars

11 of the Gogny forces available in literature have been studied in order to evaluate their isovector properties and to comment on their viability for beyond S0 pairing channels, and neutron star cooling calculations. I find that, even within a relatively narrow set of Gogny functionals, there is a large variation in isospin properties. In particular, I find that the density dependence of the symmetry energy provided by Gogny forces is too soft and lies outside of currently accepted values [1, 2]. This points to poor constraints in the isovector sector, that should be improved in future fitting protocols. In addition to this, the pairing properties of the Gogny forces have been examined for the S0, S1, P2 and P1 channels. Although most forces are in keeping with literature for the S0 gaps, the remaining channels are not particularly constrained and many of the Gogny forces produce unphysical results. The pairing gaps generated for the D1P parametrisation have been used to calculate neutron star cooling curves as a proof-of-concept for the Gogny force. Succesful cooling curves incorporating superfluid effects have been produced using the NSCool software package. Although most Gogny forces perform poorly in both the isovector and pairing sectors, it is shown that consistent neutron star models cooling models can be generated with the Gogny force. Suggestions are made as to the fitting considerations for a future force.
Altitudinal increase of mobile carbon pools in Pinus cembra suggests sink limitation of growth at the Swiss treeline

Low temperature driven carbon shortage is often assumed to explain slow growth and treeline formation at high elevations. To test this hypothesis, we analysed mobile carbon pools in Pinus cembra across the treeline ecotone in the Swiss Alps. Concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in needles, branches, stems and roots, as well as lipids (acylglycerols) in all woody tissues were measured throughout the growing season. Starch was the most prominent non-structural carbon compound in needles, whereas lipids represented 50–75% of the mobile carbon compounds in wood. The relative seasonal variation of the lipid fraction was very small, but due to the high absolute amount of lipids, the annual variability of carbon in lipids exceeded that of NSC in woody tissues. Mobile carbon compounds were highly abundant throughout the year and were never significantly depleted. Across a 110 m altitudinal transect from timberline to the uppermost site of tree existence, NSC and lipid concentrations generally increased. This trend became even more pronounced when the increasing structural density of tissues at higher elevations was accounted for. An estimation of the whole tree mobile carbon concentration (fraction of mobile carbon compounds within the whole tree biomass) also revealed an increasing trend of NSC and lipid pools with elevation. We therefore conclude that carbon limitation is unlikely to be responsible for reduced tree growth at the alpine treeline studied. Increased concentrations of NSC and lipids at the upper tree limit rather suggest that sink activity is limited. Hence, treeline formation is most likely the result of a direct thermal restriction of tissue formation (investment in structures) under otherwise sufficient carbon assimilation during the growing season.
Section A. Physiology. Cattle in a hot environment

Evaporation from the skin The source of the moisture evaporated f r o r n t h o s k i n . The numbor and volume of the sweat glands Regional distribution of cutaneous evaporation Relation of cutaneous evaporation to respiratory evaporation Factors affecting cutaneous evaporation . Environmental temperature Air humidity Air movement . Non-climatic factors . Genetic differences in cutaneous evaporation .
A study of proteolysis during Camembert cheese ripening using isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis

SUMMABY Isoelectric focusing and 2-dimensional electrophoresis were used to study the development of the pH 4·6-insoluble fraction during Camembert cheese ripening. Modifications of this fraction were due mainly to the action of 5 proteinases: rennet (chymosin + bovine pepsin), plasmin and Penicillium caseicolum aspartyl-and metalloproteinases. Rennet was inactive on β-casein, but acted very early on αs1-casein. However, rennet and P. caseicolum aspartyl-proteinase had a very similar action on the latter substrate, which prevented clear definition of the respective actions of these proteinases on αs1-casein after 7 d of ripening. Plasmin action on β-casein was important from 21 and 35 d of ripening at the surface and in the centre of the cheese respectively, suggesting an important influence of pH changes during maturation. The respective activities of the metallo-and aspartyl-proteinases of P. caseicolum were characterized and followed using β-casein degradation products as markers. The metallo-proteinase activity was detectable immediately after the development of the Penicillium (7 d), while that of the aspartyl-proteinase was observed 3 d later. Thereafter, the amount of β-casein degradation peptides resulting from the metalloproteinase decreased while that resulting from the aspartyl-proteinase increased, suggesting a more important role of the latter enzyme.
Distribution of aquatic vascular plants in lowland rivers: separating the effects of local environmental conditions, longitudinal connectivity and river basin isolation

Summary 1. Changes in species distributions along rivers have rarely been observed independently of changes in environmental conditions and meaningful comparison between different catchments is made difficult by the limited geographical distribution of species. This study presents a new approach to quantify the effect of the spatial structure of lowland river networks on aquatic plant distribution and to explore the potential underlying processes using species life-history characteristics. 2. Twenty-five species of aquatic vascular plants recorded in 62 sites across five calcareous river basins were used to investigate (i) the temporal turnover of plant species, (ii) the habitat utilisation of species, (iii) the trade-offs between different plant life-history characteristics and (iv) the relationship between species life-history characteristics and habitat utilisation. 3. The annual plant turnover within a 3-year period was, although significant, extremely low. It suggests that results from spatial surveys conducted over 3 years should not be undermined by temporal changes. 4. Spatial connectivity along and between rivers was more important than in-channel physical characteristics in shaping species assemblages. Neither chemical factors (ammonium, phosphate) nor extrinsic biotic competitors (filamentous green algae) significantly influenced plant distribution. 5. The most common combinations of life-history characteristics were neither related to environmental conditions nor to spatial isolation. Instead, they could reflect natural selection processes associated with larger scales than those considered in this study. 6. Plant distribution was most strongly related to the dispersal and regeneration abilities of the plants, supporting the hypotheses relating to longitudinal connectivity. The hypothesis that different growth forms would be associated with different in-channel physical features was not verified. As expected, there were no substantial differences in plant life-history characteristics between river basins.
INVESTIGATION OF ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF GALANTAMINE PEPTIDE DERIVATE GAL - VAL AGAINST 3T3 CELL LINES

In current investigation the aim was the assessment of properties of newly synthesized peptide ester of Galantamine: 6-O-N-[N-(3,4dichlorophenyl)-D,L-Alanyl]-L-Valil-Glycine-Galantamine (GAL – VAL) to inhibit cell growth rate of cultured 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, triplicate treated separately with different concentrations (1.875 М  30 М). The applied MTT assay determines the ability of viable cells to convert a soluble yellow tetrazolium salt [3–(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) into purpleblue formazan, which absorbance is measured spectrophotometrically at λ = 570 nm. Cell growth inhibition (%) and the index of cell viability (%) were calculated. Inhibition of 3T3 cell growth obtained after treatment with GAL – VAL at concentration 30 M is 88.32 %. Inhibitory concentration IC50 is 23 M. These experimental results proved that against 3T3 cell line ester possesses antiproliferative effect.
POPULATION STRUCTURE AND MITOCHONDRIAL POLYPHYLY IN NORTH AMERICAN GADWALLS (ANAS STREPERA)

Abstract We examined population genetic structure in Gadwalls (Anas strepera) to test the prediction that female philopatry and fidelity to migratory flyways have contributed to the partitioning of mitochondrial variation across North America. Sequencing a 658–659 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region from 348 Gadwalls, we found two distinct clades that were broadly intermixed across both breeding and nonbreeding populations. Clade A was abundant in North America as well as among published sequences from Eurasia. Clade B was sequenced from 5.5% of North American Gadwalls and was more similar to Asian Falcated Duck (A. falcata) haplotypes than to clade A haplotypes. Maximum likelihood indicated that Gadwall clade B haplotypes were a monophyletic group nested within Falcated Duck haplotypes, which suggests mtDNA introgression of clade B into Gadwalls. However, that topology was weakly supported, and we could not reject topologies that were consistent with incomplete lineage-sorting as the cause of mitochondrial polyphyly. Migratory flyways did not contribute significantly to population structure and, in general, we found a lack of genetic structure among most populations. However, Gadwalls sampled in Alaska and Washington were well differentiated from other populations. Coalescent analyses supported a historical population expansion for clade A, and this expansion could have contributed to the high genetic similarity among some populations but the strong differentiation of others. Female-mediated gene flow, along with both historical and contemporary population and range expansions, has likely contributed to the overall weak mtDNA structure in North American Gadwalls. Estructura Poblacional y Polifilia Mitocondrial en Anas strepera
Chemical Composition of Nigella sativa L. Seeds Used as a Medical Aromatic Plant from East Anatolia Region, Turkey

In this study, chemical composition such as vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements of Nigella sativa L. seeds collected from East Anatolia Region of Turkey were investigated. Fatty acids in the lipid extracts were converted into methyl esters. The methyl esters were extracted with n-hexane, they w ere se parated and quantified by g as c hromatography. F at solub le vitamins were deter mined by HPLC and the mixture of acetonitrile/methanol (3/1, v/v) was used as the mobile phase. F or determination of trace elements levels, solutions from microwave digestion of a certain amount of seeds were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Main fatty acids of Nigella sativa L. seeds were found as 66.5 and 23.5 (as relative % peak area) for linoleic acid (18:2) and oleic acid (18:1), respectively. The contents of Co, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Cr were determined as 0.12, 1.48, 117.32, 41.42, 30.26, 28.56 and 2.55 µg/g (dry matter) respectively. The levels of vitamins were found as 10.19 µg/g for α-tocopherol, 2.28 µg/g for δ-tocopherol, 0.18 µg/g for retinol, 1.38 µg/g for vitamin D2 1.85 µg/g for vitamin K1 and 2.15 µg/g for vitamin K2. The Nigella sativa L. seeds were found to be rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements, suggesting that they may be valuable for apoptosis and would be appropriate to further studies in this direction.
Transfusion transmitted malaria in three major blood banks of Peshawar, Pakistan

Malaria is one of the most important transfusion associated infections in many parts of the world, particularly the developing countries where it is endemic. This study estimates the risk of acquiring malaria from a single unit of blood in North of Pakistan. A prospective study was conducted to investigate transfusion transmitted malaria in three major blood banks of Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 1558 (1534 males and 24 females) healthy volunteer blood donors were screened for the presence of malarial parasites in thick and thin smears using microscopy. Nine donors (0.577%) were found positive for malarial parasite, with trophozoites and gametocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum (1) and Plasmodium vivax (8). Majority of the donors (82.09%) belonged to age group 15 - 30 years. Donors who suffered from malaria in recent years were 28 in number and 3 of them were found positive for malaria in the present study. The results of the present study indicated that transfusion transmitted malaria is a risk in malaria endemic regions like Pakistan. Further research on this aspect using more sophisticated and advanced diagnostic techniques like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are required for proper assessment of actual situation and control of transfusion transmitted malaria in Pakistan.
RECENT MOLECULAR RESEARCH ON PENAEUS SENSU LATO

Abstract The elevation of the six subgenera of Penaeus s. lat. to generic level has proven controversial, some accepted the change while others rejected it out of hand. Such a taxonomic reassignment lends itself to testing by the use of molecular techniques. Data are available from studies of cytochrome oxidase subunit I, and 12S and 16S rRNA. However, analyses of these data sets alone, or in combinations, still have not provided a useable taxonomy of Penaeus s. lat. Ideally we should have a taxonomy where both the morphological and molecular data are in agreement. This is especially critical because of the economic importance of penaeid fisheries around the world. Solving many of these taxonomic problems may await the development of new techniques, but in the meantime specific issues using existing data or techniques should be explored. 1) How widely separated molecularly are Farfantepenaeus and Melicertus? since if these two subgenera are indeed close perhaps they should merge into a single genus Melicertus that contains all the grooved shrimp. 2) Penaeus monodon is usually regarded as being closest to the ancestral line; its affinities to other Penaeus s.str. and to Fenneropenaeus, need further research.
Chave de identificação: anfíbios anuros da vertente de Jundiaí da Serra do Japi, Estado de São Paulo

The Area de Protecao Ambiental Jundiai is an important environmental reserve located at a mountain range between two metropolis of Sao Paulo state: Sao Paulo and Campinas. It is an area of great interest for scientific research and conservation, being a region of transition between two ecosystems (Atlantic Ombrophilous Forest and Atlantic Semideciduous Seasonal Forest), and sheltering a great species diversity. Although studied since the middle 80's there is no identification key available for the anuran species of the area until this moment. Thirty one anuran species from six different families have already been recorded at the side of the mountain range directed towards Jundiai. We present here an illustrated dichotomous identification key for anurans of this area.
Ecology of muskoxen in Jameson Land, northeast Greenland

Muskoxen Ovibos moschatus in Jameson Land exist at a density of somewhat more than 1 km−2 of useable habitat and select moist meadows and snow bed vegetation for summer grazing and wind-exposed, dry dwarf shrub heath vegetation in winter. Graminoids dominate the winter diet and willows are the main component of the summer diet. Quality of the winter diet, as measured by the protein to fiber ratio is about one fourth that of the summer diet. During summer muskoxen supplement dietary sodium by using mineral licks. Muskoxen, especially females, retain considerable unused fat reserves through the winter and these are drawn upon during the post-calving period of lactation. Alternate year breeding is a common occurrence. Calves are frequently not weaned before the end of their first winter. Mean calf mortality is relatively low in the absence of significant predation and annual removal by hunting Inuits approaches the annual increment.
The effects of increasing CO2 and temperature on oak leaf palatability and the implications for herbivorous insects

Rising levels of atmospheric CO2 are expected to perturb forest ecosystems, although the extent to which specific ecological interactions will be modified is unclear. This research evaluates the effects of elevated CO2 and temperature, alone and in combination, on the leaf nutritional quality of Pendunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), and the implications for herbiverous insect defoliators are discussed. A 3 °C temperature rise reduced leaf nutritional quality, by reducing foliar nitrogen concentration and increasing condensed tannin content. Doubling atmospheric CO2 temporarily increased total phenolics, but also reduced leaf toughness. The nutritional quality of the second leaf flush (lammas growth) was considerably reduced at elevated CO2. It is concluded that larval development of spring‐feeding defoliators and hence adult fecundity may be adversely affected by increased temperatures.
Occurrence of Fusarium wilt and nematodes on red calyx roselle [Hibiscus sabdariffa L.] in northern Nigeria

This paper presents a preliminary report of Fusarium wilt of Roselle in the Nigerian sa- vanna. Soil and plant samples were collected from eight experimental plots where plants showed Roselle wilt symptoms. Samples were analyzed for the presence of nematodes and wilt pathogens. The wilt causative organism Fusarium oxysporum was isolated together with nematodes of different genera. However, nematodes of the genus Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema and Hoplolaimus appeared to occur in higher densities than the others.
Marine biogeographical disjunction in temperate Australia: historical landbridge, contemporary currents, or both?

Marine biogeographers have long recognized broad east–west differentiation of marine communities across southern Australia, but few studies have explicitly assessed the site of disjunction or the factors potentially underlying this biodiversity. A recent, detailed phylogeographical and distributional study of the dispersive gastropod genus Nerita revealed an abrupt shift in species abundance across mainland Australia, apparently correlated with the site of an historical vicariant barrier: the Bassian Isthmus. In the current study I provide an independent assessment of this vicariant hypothesis by morphologically analysing over 3000 intertidal Nerita specimens from eight coastal sites around Tasmania. Consistent with the Bassian Isthmus hypothesis, the study reveals a dramatic east–west disjunction across north‐east Tasmania. A survey of marine biogeographical literature reveals several additional examples supporting the east–west species turnover detected in Nerita. I discuss the role of contemporary oceanographic factors in preserving the biogeographical signature of marine vicariance, even in highly dispersive taxa. Based on recent marine connectivity data, the east–west disjunction in Nerita taxa can be interpreted as an historic vicariant pattern perpetuated by contemporary oceanographic conditions. The results of this study emphasize the potential importance of considering relative abundance data – rather than just species range data – in marine biogeographical analyses. As the observed disjunction is likely to have broad implications for Australia's marine biodiversity, it is imperative that conservation biologists incorporate such data in the design of marine protected areas.
Keys to the genera and species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the West Indies and description of a new species of Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy

Keys to 11 genera and 21 species of Calliphoridae found or likely to be found in the West Indies are given. Species distributions and key characters are discussed. Lucilia fayeae sp. nov. is described from numerous specimens from Dominica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent. Calliphora maestrica Peris et al. is redescribed and the male of the species is described for the first time.
Wood density of Norway spruce in uneven-aged stands

This study focused on wood density and annual ring width in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) grown in uneven-aged stands (UAS). In total, 96 trees were harvested from five UAS that had been managed by single-tree selection for decades. A data set of 27 trees from even-aged stands (EAS) was used for comparison. In the UAS trees, high density and narrow annual rings were found in the juvenile wood near the pith. Thereafter, wood density rapidly decreased until the 20th annual ring, followed by an increase toward the bark. In the outermost rings, wood density again slightly decreased. The trends in wood density in the UAS trees correspond with those reported for naturally regenerated, even-aged Norway spruce stands, with the exception of the decrease in the outermost rings. A mixed linear model with ring width, cambial age, and canopy position as fixed parameters accounted for 53% of the variation in wood density of the UAS trees. In contrast to UAS trees, EAS trees showed increased wood density in th.