Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The within-field spatial and temporal distribution of arthropods in winter wheat

The within-field spatial distribution of some common farmland arthropods from the Carabidae, Araneae and Collembola was assessed using two-dimensional grids of pitfall traps distributed across whole winter wheat fields. In the first year, the extent to which arthropod capture was influenced by location within the field and sampling intensity was examined using a nested grid design (1.5 m, 7.5 m and 30 m spacings). In the second year, distributions within two different-sized winter wheat fields were compared. Spatial pattern and association between arthropods and weed cover were analysed using SADIE and trend surfaces were used to visualize distributions. Many of these arthropod groups exhibited aggregated distributions within the fields in clusters larger than 30 m across, demonstrating that the numbers captured will vary depending on the location of sampling within a field. Amara species, Bembidion lampros Herbst, Carabidae and Lycosidae were predominantly found within 60 m of the field edge. Nebria brevicollis Fabricius and Pterostichus madidus Illiger were found within the field in patches of one and two hectares, respectively. Linyphiidae were relatively homogeneously distributed across the fields. There was some evidence of clustering by Collembola. The spermophagous Carabidae and Lycosidae were positively associated with the degree of weed cover. SADIE analytical techniques were useful for identifying the importance and location of patches with greater and less than average numbers, although a minimum of 36 sample points is recommended.
Stimulation of hyphal growth of the VA mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita by suspension‐cultured Pueraria phaseoloides cells and cell products

summary The effects of suspension-cultured Pueraria phaseoloides Benth. (pueraria) cells and cell products on growth of hyphae of the VA mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall in liquid media were examined. Addition of 6-d-old cell cultures of pueraria cells at a concentration of 25 cells ml−1 of medium caused a 3.9-fold increase in hyphal growth. Higher cell concentrations resulted in less growth stimulation. Cell exudates or extracts (cell products) at a concentration of 25 μl−1 of medium also stimulated hyphal growth. Successive cell additions, or transfer of the spores into fresh media containing pueraria cells, resulted in no additional hyphal growth. Spores soaked in exudates or extracts showed faster and more vigorous growth when plated on an agar medium than those soaked in a control solution. It is suggested that suspension-cultured pueraria cells stimulate hyphal growth of VA mycorrhizal fungi by accumulating and leaking very active metabolites into the medium.
Fat reserves in snow buntings

Snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) were kept in outdoor and indoor aviaries in Quebec City for 2 years (1970–1972) to study some aspects of their behaviour in winter. Birds kept in isolation or in groups of 2, 4, or 12 individuals were weighed daily at sunset between November and April and once a week during the rest of the year. A very great spring premigratory fattening occurs in early March, relating to the precocity of the spring migration and to the absence of prebreeding molt in this species.Weight changes were related to environmental factors (day length, snow cover, temperature, etc.) over the winter months and to social conditions encountered in captivity. No correlation with current air temperatures was found but day length and snow cover correlated well with weight; however, the relationship was variously modulated by the social surroundings. Poorly identified social factors seemed to play a more important role than that played by any single environmental factor selected. Paired birds kept o.
Economic instruments for environmental regulation in Africa : an analysis of the efficacy of fuel taxation for pollution control in South Africa

CEEPA Discussion Paper No. 44 CEEPA Discussion Paper Series ISBN 1-920160-01-09 Discussion Paper ISBN 1-920160-44-2, April 2009 ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION IN AFRICA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICACY OF FUEL TAXATION FOR POLLUTION CONTROL IN SOUTH AFRICA Emmanuel Ziramba
Anthropometric and physiological predictors of flat-water 1000 m kayak performance in young adolescents and the effectiveness of a high volume training camp.

Int J Exerc Sci 2(2): 106-114, 2009. Our purpose was to determine the relationship of anthropometric and physiological variables with 1000m flat-water kayak (K1000) performance. A secondary purpose was to determine the effectiveness of a high volume training camp. High performance young adolescent kayakers (n=13, 8 males, 5 females, 15±1 yrs) participated in this study. Testing before and after the 3-4 week training camp included anthropometric measurements (height, sitting height, arm span, and body mass), strength (1-RM: bench press and bench pull), flexibility (sit and reach), and an incremental kayak ergometer test to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and anaerobic threshold, and an open water K1000 time trial. K1000 time was significantly correlated with height (r=-0.81; p<0.01), sitting height (r=-0.85; p<0.01), arm span (r=-0.87; p<0.01), bench press (r=-0.92; p<0.01), bench pull (r=-0.85; p<0.01), VO2peak (r=-0.87; p<0.01) and anaerobic threshold (r=-0.83; p<0.05). Following the training camp there were no significant differences in body mass, strength, and VO2 peak, however, anaerobic threshold (33.6±6.2 to 42.3±8.8 ml·kg-1·min-1, p=0.001) and K1000 (302±44 to 289±31 sec, p=0.007) significantly improved. The results of this study suggest that K1000 performance in young adolescent kayakers appears to require a high aerobic and strength contribution and that a high volume training camp is effective for improving anaerobic threshold and performance.
EFFECTS OF MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CLIMATIC VARIATION ON BIRTH MASSES OF ALASKAN CARIBOU

Abstract Understanding factors that influence birth mass of mammals provides insights to nutritional trade-offs made by females to optimize their reproduction, growth, and survival. I evaluated variation in birth mass of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in central Alaska relative to maternal characteristics (age, body mass, cohort, and nutritional condition as influenced by winter severity) during 11 years with substantial variation in winter snowfall. Snowfall during gestation was the predominant factor explaining variation in birth masses, influencing birth mass inversely and through interactions with maternal age and lactation status. Maternal age effects were noted for females ≤ 5 years old, declining in magnitude with each successive age class. Birth mass as a proportion of autumn maternal mass was inversely related to winter snowfall, even though there was no decrease in masses of adult females in late winter associated with severe winters. I found no evidence of a hypothesized intergenerational effect of lower birth masses for offspring of females born after severe winters. Caribou produce relatively small offspring but provide exceptional lactation support for those that survive. Conservative maternal investment before parturition may represent an optimal reproductive strategy given that caribou experience stochastic variation in winter severity during gestation, uncertainty of environmental conditions surrounding the birth season, and intense predation on neonates.
Effects of dietary organic acids on growth, nutrient digestibility and gut microflora of red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp., and subsequent survival during a challenge test with Streptococcus agalactiae

A 14-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary organic acids. The experimental diets were added with 0, 1, 2 or 3 g kg−1 of a novel organic acid blend or with 2 g kg−1 of potassium diformate and fed to triplicate groups of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Upon completion, tilapia were challenged by immersion with Streptococcus agalactiae. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the growth, feed utilization and nutrient digestibility among treatment groups despite a trend towards improved results with fish fed organic acid-supplemented diets. Diet pH decreased, causing a reduction in the digesta pH of the stomach and gut. Total bacteria per gram of faeces were significantly (P<0.05) reduced from 1.81 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU) (control group) up to 0.67 × 108 CFU in the fish fed organic acid diets. A similar trend was observed for adherent gut bacteria. Cumulative mortality of fish fed no organic acids was higher compared with fish fed organic acid-supplemented diets at 16 days post challenge. The data showed that dietary organic acids can exert strong anti-microbial effects and have the potential to exert beneficial effects on growth, nutrient utilization and disease resistance in tilapia.
POLYAMINES INFLUENCE MATURATION IN REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES OF GRACILARIA CORNEA (GRACILARIALES, RHODOPHYTA) 1

Naturally occurring levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were analyzed in female gametophyte (nonfertilized) and reproductive tissues (cystocarps) at two different stages of development in the marine red algae Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh. Endogenous polyamine levels changed at differential stages of cystocarp maturation. Highest polyamine values were found on tissue from the early post‐fertilization stage, decreasing as the cystocarp matured. Incubation experiments revealed that exogenous polyamines induced cystocarp maturation and promoted carpospore liberation, developing cell masses within 4 to 7 days in treatments with spermine. This is the first report on the effect of polyamines on cystocarp maturation in marine algae.
Protected raspberry production alters aphid–plant interactions but not aphid population size

1 Aphid population dynamics in crops are often driven by interactions with their host plants, which can be extensively influenced by environmental change. Protective environments (i.e. plastic tunnels) are now frequently used for soft fruit production, which may affect the localized climate and alter such interactions. This two year study on red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) addressed how protected environments affected two aphid species; the large raspberry aphid Amphorophora idaei (LRA) and the small raspberry aphid Aphis idaei (SRA). 2 Temperatures were higher (up to 7–10 °C) in tunnels compared with the field. Plants in tunnels grew approximately 1.4 cm/week faster and had lower (approximately 35%) foliar amino acid concentrations than plants in the field. 3 Aphids affected plant growth differently depending on growing environment; they promoted plant growth by 18–37% in tunnels, although they had no such effect in the field. Aphids reduced total and essential amino acid concentrations, with SRA causing greatest reductions (approximately 40% and 33%, respectively). 4 Aphid population sizes were similar in both environments, although individual LRA were smaller in tunnels (30% smaller in 2007) compared with those in the field. We suggest that faster aphid development rates inside warmer tunnels were not realized as a result of the variable effects of the growing environment on amino acid composition. 5 We conclude that the increasing use of protected environments in crop production will not necessarily cause predictable increases in aphid populations, although it may alter aphid–plant interactions in terms of aphid‐induced changes to plant growth.
Multiple social and ecological factors influence coloration in bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus)

Antagonistic interactions between sexual and natural selection influence the evolution of ornamental signals. I investigated possible functions of colourful traits in bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus). First, I conducted a descriptive study among eight lakes in Ontario to determine how colour traits varied with age, sex, season, and condition. My findings identified breast, cheek and opercular flap coloration as possible sexual ornaments. Subsequently, I investigated the role of sexual selection on coloration through observations of spawning bluegills. Results suggest that breast and cheek coloration influence female spawning behaviour and male reproductive success. Finally, I investigated effects of ecological factors on coloration. Vegetation type and density influenced coloration for all bluegills, and predator species richness influenced coloration of immature fish. These studies provide the first investigations of the function of coloration in bluegills and contribute to our understanding of the interacting influences of sexual and natural selection on the evolution of ornamental traits.
Inclure ou exclure des élèves en difficulté: quelles conséquences pour les enseignantes et les enseignants?

De nombreuses recherches ont permis de démontrer que l’inclusion en classe régulière d’élèves présentant des besoins particuliers offre plus d’avantages que leur exclusion. Cependant, une partie importante des enseignants de classe régulière s’oppose à l’inclusion. Comment prendre en compte cette opposition entre chercheurs et enseignants ? Le facteur déterminant semble être le risque d’épuisement professionnel ou burnout des enseignants. Notre étude, dont nous présentons ici certains résultats, montre en effet que les enseignants intervenant exclusivement auprès d’élèves en difficulté comparés aux enseignants de classe régulière sont plus à risque d’épuisement professionnel et sont plus négatifs quant au soutien social dont ils pensent bénéficier. De même les enseignants de classe régulière favorables à l’inclusion d’élèves ayant des besoins particuliers sont plus à risque d’épuisement et sont moins satisfaits du soutien reçu que des enseignants qui sont favorables à leur exclusion. La prise en charge d’élèves ayant des besoins particuliers semble donc être un facteur de risque d’épuisement et l’exclusion peut alors constituer un mécanisme de défense permettant à l’enseignante de se protéger mais avec le risque de prétériter les élèves en difficulté. L’enjeu est alors de développer des facteurs de
Survival, Site Fidelity, and Population Trends of American Kestrels Wintering in Southwestern Florida

Abstract The winter population ecology of American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), one of the most abundant and widely distributed raptors in North America, is poorly understood. We systematically searched a 225-km2 area in Cape Coral, southwestern Florida, for American Kestrels during 14 winters (1 Dec–15 Mar, 1994–2008) to measure their annual apparent survival and to see if individuals returned to the same wintering area. We recaptured 101 of 2,958 banded kestrels during the study. We estimated annual apparent survival of 75% for males and 74% for females using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber model. These estimates are considerably higher than previous estimates for American Kestrels, but are similar to estimates reported for other species of Falco. Forty-six percent of the kestrels estimated to have survived were observed in the study area 1 year after recapture, based on year-specific color banding. All but six of 101 kestrels were recaptured within 1 km of where they were banded. Four of five kestrels banded as nestlings and subsequently recaptured in the study area were banded in southeastern Pennsylvania, suggesting migratory connectivity. Eighty percent of the kestrels trapped were females, but the proportion of females decreased annually (−3 ± 1% per year). Overall, the population decreased by an average of 7 ± 2% per year. Recent land-use change accompanied by increased human density and suburban expansion may be causing the observed trends.
Diversification of Pachypodium

Diversification of Pachypodium Showy, brightly-colored flowers and unusual growth forms—along with the natural rarity of some species—have made members of the genus Pachypodium among the most sought-after of succulent plants. At the same time, two fast-growing tree species, Pachypodium lamerei and P. geayi—the Madagascar Palms—have become familiar container plants, available at retail nurseries around the world. Despite its familiarity to horticulturists and botanists, the precise details of how the genus Pachypodium evolved remain very poorly known. Fortunately, recent genetic research has provided some insight on relationships among Pachypodium species. This research will help improve classification within the genus, provide objective means to determine conservation strategies, and guide future research on patterns of diversification in Pachypodium.1
Assessment of the genetic diversity of some important grape genotypes in India using RAPD markers

Genetic relationships in a set of important grape genotypes in India, comprising cultivated varieties, rootstocks and wild species were analysed using RAPD markers. A total of 250 bands were obtained by 19 informative primers, most of which could clearly distinguish between the wild and cultivated genotypes. Wild species and rootstocks showed a maximum number of bands (205) and the highest polymorphism (94 %), followed by cultivars belonging to Vitis vinifera (165 bands, 90 %), while cultivars from V. labrusca showed only 75 bands of which almost all were monomorphic. Cluster analysis resulted in the formation of three main clusters. Wild species and rootstocks separated early from cultivated genotypes. Cultivated types formed two separate clusters one consisting mainly of the labrusca and the other of the vinifera types. In the cluster of vinifera genotypes, seeded and seedless varieties were further separated into different subgroups. High bootstrap values at most of the nodes supported the stability of the dendrogram. The grouping of most varieties agreed well with previous reports based on morphological characters as well as parentage, emphasizing the suitability of RAPD analysis for such studies. The present report is the first attempt to determine the genetic relationships in important grape genotypes in India using molecular markers.
IDENTITY OF THE ENDOSYMBIONT OF PERIDINIUM FOLIACEUM (PYRROPHYTA): ANALYSIS OF THE rbcLS OPERON 1

Extant chromophytic algae have been suggested to have originated via the engulfment of a photo synthetic alga by a colorless protist. The dinoflagellate Peridinium foliaceum (Stein) Biecheler contains a reduced chlorophyll c–containing endosymbiont and, thus, represents an evolutionary intermediate stage in the establishment of chloroplasts. Although the exact phylogenetic relationship of the symbiont to extant algal species is unknown, it had been suggested that the P. foliaceum symbiont was either a diatom or a chrysophyte. Identification of the closest living relative of the P. foliaceum symbiont would provide a free‐living model system with which the photosynthetic symbiont could be compared. Nucleotide sequence analysis of rbcL and rbcS (encoding the large and small subunits ofribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) by the P. foliaceum symbiont was performed to provide insights into its identity. Cloned restriction fragments from a chloroplast DNA library were screened, and clones encoding the rbcLS operon were sequenced. Parsimony phylogenetic analysis was performed for each gene. Our data strongly suggest that the symbiont originated from a photosynthetic diatom.
The Economics of Controlling a Stochastic Biological Invasion

The invasion of ecological systems by nonindigenous species is now recognized as a growing global problem that imposes significant economic and ecological damages. In the United States alone, the total costs of nonindigenous species have been estimated to be at least $137 billion per year (Pimentel et al.). Approximately one-fourth of the value of the country’s agricultural output is lost to nonindigenous plant pests or to the costs of controlling them (Simberloff). The economic damages from a single invasive species can be enormous. The costs of controlling the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes were estimated to reach $5 billion in 2001 (U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)) while the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) caused an estimated $600 million (1991$) in crop damages between 1987 and 1989 (Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)). Invasive species also cause significant ecological harm. They can alter ecosystem processes, act as vectors of disease, and reduce biodiversity (Vitousek et al.). Worldwide, out of 256 vertebrate extinctions with an identifiable cause, 109 are known to be due to biological invaders. In comparison, seventy such extinctions are known to be caused by human exploitation (Cox). The potential for a single invasive species to cause irreparable ecological damage is manifest in the extinction of twelve of Guam’s native bird species following the invasion of the island by the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, in the mid-twentieth century (Savidge).
Increased nodulation of soybean by a strain of Bradyrhizobium japonicum with altered tryptophan metabolism

A strain of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was isolated that accumulated anthranilic acid, indole, 3‐indoleacetic acid, 3‐indolelactic acid and 3‐indolepyruvic acid in culture. Such accumulations are indicative of altered tryptophan metabolism. Soybean plants inoculated with these bacteria formed more nodules (349 vs 159 per plant) and had more nodule mass (3.9 vs 2.2 g wet wt per plant) than plants inoculated with the wild‐type strain.
Public School Security as a Policy Response to Columbine

After the shootings at Columbine High School, many public schools increased their visible security measures, such as use of security cameras and guards. This study assesses this policy response. Particular attention is given to the fear that prompted changes in school security, the types of visible security measures adopted by schools after Columbine, and the positive and negative consequences of these measures. Synthesizing the relevant literature highlights the lack of evaluative work regarding the effectiveness of school security and how little is known about the impact of security measures on students’ civil liberty and privacy interests. Gaining a better understanding of school security can help officials make more informed decisions in response to rare, but highly publicized, violent crimes such as Columbine.
Skeletochronology and geographic variation in age structure in the wood frog, Rana sylvatica

Age structure of a breeding population of Rana sylvatica from southwestern Quebec, Canada, is described based on the enumeration and analysis of Lines of Arrested Growth (LAGs) in phalanges. Analyzed using skeletochronology, ages ranged from 1-4 yr among 98 males and from 2-4 yr among 33 females. Females were on average slightly older than males, but the difference was not significant. Mean snout-vent length was 43.6 mm ? 2.0 (SD) among 179 males and 48.8 mm ? 2.7 among 33 females; the difference between the sexes was significant. Endosteal resorption completely destroyed LAG 1 in 6.1% of frogs, about twice as frequently in males as in females. A minimum of three LAG enumeration readings by two observers differed for 24.4% of preparations and independent readings by the same observer differed for 15.3% of preparations, highlighting the importance of reducing subjectivity in skeletochronological anal- yses. This was accomplished, in part, by plotting LAG diameters on a histogram whereby outliers from an expected normal distribution indicated loss of inner LAGs via endosteal resorption. Consistent with pre- dictions regarding environmental influences on anuran populations, southern Quebec R. sylvatica matured later and were larger than more southerly conspecifics from a low-elevation area, but matured earlier and were smaller than southerly frogs from a high-elevation area. Interpopulational variation in life history