Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Familial NIDDM: Molecular-Genetic Analysis and Assessment of Insulin Action and Pancreatic β-Cell Function

Although the hereditary nature of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is well recognized, the nature of the predisposing defect remains elusive. Individuals with a history of gestational diabetes had shown a reduced insulin-sensitivity index (S1) in the absence of fasting hyperglycemia. To determine whether this finding could result from an inherited defect of the insulin receptor, an NIDDM pedigree was ascertained through a former gestational-diabetic proband. The proband, her siblings, and her first cousins were clinically characterized for insulin sensitivity with the minimamodel–based S1 from a modified glucose tolerance test. Islet function was characterized by the incremental insulin response to 5 g i.v. arginine at baseline and at a plasma glucose level of 500–600 mg/dl. Genetic studies included linkage analyses for the insulin gene and the insulin-receptor gene with DNA polymorphisms (restriction-fragment–length polymorphisms, RFLPs) previously described. The pattern of inheritance in this large pedigree appeared to follow autosomal-dominant transmission. No defect in islet function was found, but as a group, third-generation family members had an S1 that was significantly lower than that of weight-matched control individuals, suggesting an inherited defect in insulin action. Genetic studies showed no sharing of insulin gene, insulin-receptor–gene alleles among the diabetic individuals, or insulin-receptor alleles among third-generation individuals with insulin insensitivity. The genetic analyses thus suggest that this pedigree has an inherited defect that is not linked to the insulin gene or the insulin-receptor gene. The diminished S1 may nonetheless suggest an inherited defect in insulin action.
Evolution and plasticity of body size of Drosophila in response to temperature

Ectotherm body size is positively correlated with latitude, giving rise to body size clines, found in different continents. Ectotherm body size also shows a developmental response to temperature, increasing at lower developmental temperatures. To investigate the effects of temperature in the evolution and plasticity of body size dines, I used two species of the genus Drosophila as model organisms. To investigate the cellular mechanism underlying the evolution of wing size clines the two newly established D. subobscura wing size clines in the Americas were compared with the ancestral European dine. Clinal differences in Europe and South America were due to changes in cell number, whereas clinal differences in North America are due to changes in cell area. These results suggest that the cellular mechanism underlying the establishment of wing size clines is contingent and not predictable. The genetic control of body size in the D. melanogaster South American body size cline was investigated by means of QTL mapping. The results found in South America were consistent with those previously found in Australia, and in both continents the inversion In(3R)P was associated QTL controlling wing area. Genes of the insulin signalling pathway, known to affect size, were characterized in their effects under different temperature and larval crowding regimes. The evolution of plasticity of body size traits was analysed using different thermal selection regimes. The phenotypic plasticity of wing size and its cellular components was examined by rearing flies, selected under fixed or variable thermal environments, at two different experimental temperatures. Plasticity of wing size did not vary among the different selection lines, however, plasticity of both cellular components of body size did. Costs and benefits of adaptation to cyclical thermal environments were assessed with larval competition assays and by assessing size when all lines were reared under cyclic thermal conditions.
Effects of prescribed fire in giant sequoia-mixed conifer stands in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Many national parks have incorporated the use of management-ignited prescribed fire in their management plans. Soil and cambium heating, forest floor fuel reduction, and soil nutrient increases have been measured on eight independent, planned management fires over a 9-year period in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Findings show that instantaneous lethal temperature (150°F [66°C]) can be reached in the soil and within the cambium of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and sugar pine (Pinus Zambertiana) trees during prescribed burning. Mortality has not occurred to any of the giant sequoia trees examined but has occurred to some of the sugar pine trees examined. Available nitrogen in the soil is increased substantially and persisted for up to 4 years after prescribed
DOMINANCE, AGE, AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN A COMPLEX SOCIETY: A LONG-TERM STUDY OF THE MEXICAN JAY

Observations of mate guarding by males and robbing of nest material by fe- males suggest the hypothesis that dominance should be related to reproductive success in the Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina). We analyzed the probability of successful reproduction in this plural-breeding, group-territorial species with respect to variation in social rank, sex, age, flock territory, and year. We examined the correlates of dominance rank at two stages of nesting, early (before and during laying) and late (after laying). The correlates of rank differed between the sexes and nesting stages. In the early or prelaying stage, success in getting a mate and initiating laying was correlated with rank in males but not in females, and with age in both females and males. In the late stage, given that a bird had a nest with eggs, fledging success was not significantly related to rank overall. In females, however, a significant inter- action was found between rank and age such that top rank was associated with greater suc- cess in older but not younger females. These effects of dominance at two stages of the nesting cycle (i.e. before and after egg laying) are consistent with the mate-guarding behavior of males and the nest-robbing behavior of females during nesting. Received 30 January 1996, accepted 19 December 1996.
STUDIES OF MINERAL CYCLING IN A MONTANE RAIN FOREST IN NEW GUINEA I. THE DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE VEGETATION AND SOIL

(1) As a preliminary to studies on mineral cycling in a tropical montane system, where slow release of minerals from organic matter may be an important feature of the environment for olants, estimates have been made of the amounts of organic matter in a Lower Montane Rain forest and its soil at 6 ? S and altitude c. 2500 m in New Guinea. (2) A detailed destructive study was made of a plot 20 x 20 m, and derived estimates of biomass were made for various other plots using a regression of dry weight on the square of trunk diameter at breast height. On a 0-24 ha plot considered representative of the forest at large the total biomass was estimated at c. 350 t ha-1, made up of c. 40 t ha-' in roots, 295 t ha-' in above-ground parts of trees of gbh 3 30 cm, c. 4 t ha-' in climbers and scramblers, c. 2 t ha-' in epiphytes, c. 2 t ha-' in the 0-1 m layer and c. 7 t ha-' in the other plants. (3) Determinations of specific leaf area were made for seventeen tree species (range 37-127 cm2 g-', mean 58 cm2 g1), and for four common climbers (45-81 cm2 g') and a scrambling bamboo (216 cm2 g-1). The leaf area index was estimated as. c 5 5 m2 m 2 on the plot of 20x20m. (4) The ash contents of 140 representative plant samples were determined; they ranged from c. 10% for the 0-1 m layer to 2% in the trunks. The organic matter content of the soil was taken to be twice the organic carbon content, which was c. 19% dry weight at 0-2 cm and c. 13% at 2-10 cm, falling to c. 9% at 100 cm depth. The organic matter content of the plants on the 0-24 ha plot was estimated at c. 340 t ha 1, and that of the soil at c. 1200 t ha-'. About 1 t ha-' of soil (4% ash) had accumulated in the crowns of the larger trees, formed largely from the remains of epiphytes. (5) Comparisons are made with other tropical forests, and the inadequacy of sampling in most studies is emphasized. (6) The ratio of organic matter in the soil to that in the plants is 3-4: 1 in the New Guinean forest. This may be compared with probable values of 0-7-4-0:1 in other Lower Montane forests and measured values within the range 0-2 0-6:1 in Lowland forests. The very large amount of organic matter in the soil of the New Guinean forest is tentatively related to fixation by amorphous clays.
A Reappraisal of the Growth and Development of Peach Fruit

Both the fresh weight and dry weigh increase of peach fruit [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cv. Golden Queen] have a double-sigmoid pattern. However, the lag period of slow fresh weight increase (fresh- weight-stage II) began and finished 1 month earlier than the start and finish respectively of the lag period of dry weight increase (dry-weight-stage II). Similarly, after the fruit had matured the rate of fresh weight increase declined 1 week before the rate of dry weight increase declined. The stone increased in dry weight rapidly in fresh-weight-stage II and this was accompanied by a compensating decline in the rate of dry weight increase of the flesh. There was no rapid increase in the dry weight of the seed until the rate of dry weight increase of the stone declined at the beginning of dry-weight-stage II. Although the decrease in the growth rate of the stone was accompanied by a marked increase in soluble sugar in the flesh, there was no compensating increase in growth rate of the flesh. While the second rapid stage of fresh weight increase (fresh-weight-stage III) was not accompanied by other apparent physiological changes, the second rapid stage of dry weight increase began at the same time as ripening commenced. The rate of natural abscission and the rate at which chlorophyll was degraded, both of which are known to indicate the level of ethylene present in the tissue, were high in dry-weight-stage I and dry-weight-stage III and low in dry-weight-stage II. The rate of growth of the fruit and its parts during different stages, the growth of the seed, the rate of abscission and chlorophyll degradation and the level of the major metabolites present in the fruit were all intricately interrelated. We have discussed the physiological significance of these observations and the way in which they may relate to earlier studies of peach fruit growth.
Assessment of drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) based on different indices.

A study was conducted to identify drought tolerant hybrids. Thirteen maize hybrids were evaluated under stress and nonstress conditions during 2009-10 kharif season. Eighteen drought tolerant indices including Tolerance Index (TOL), Stress Tolerance Index (STI), Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Harmonic Mean (HM), Geometric Mean (GMP), Mean Production (MP), modified STI under optimum conditions (K1STI) and STI under stress condition (K2STI) were calculated based on grain yield under drought (Ys) and irrigated conditions (Yp). Grain yield under irrigated conditions was significantly and positively correlated with TOL and K1STI. Yield under stress conditions was having significant and positive correlation with TOL, GMP and K2STI. Results of this study showed that the hybrids Bio-9681 and HQPM-7 were having good yield under both stress as well as non-stress environments. Hence, these 2 hybrids are identified as drought tolerant based on different indices. However, before recommending these hybrids for drought prone areas, need further testing over many locations under drought conditions.
How reliably can we infer diversity‐dependent diversification from phylogenies?

Slowdowns in lineage accumulation in phylogenies suggest that speciation rates decline as diversity increases. Likelihood methods have been developed to detect such diversity dependence. However, a thorough test of whether such approaches correctly infer diversity dependence is lacking. Here, we simulate phylogenetic branching under linear negative diversity‐dependent and diversity‐independent models and estimate from the simulated phylogenies the maximum‐likelihood parameters for three different conditionings – on survival of the birth–death process given the crown age, on tree size (N) and on tree size given the crown age. We report the accuracy of recovering the simulation parameters and the reliability of the model selection based on the χ2 likelihood ratio test. Parameter estimate accuracy: Conditioning on survival given the crown age yields a severe bias of the carrying capacity K towards N and an upward bias of the speciation rate, particularly in clades where diversity‐dependent feedbacks are still weak (N « K). Conditioning on N yields an overestimate of K and an underestimate of speciation rate, particularly when saturation has been reached. Dual conditioning yields relatively unbiased parameter estimates on average, but the deviation from the true value for any single estimate may be large. Model selection reliability: The frequency of incorrectly rejecting a diversity‐independent model when the simulation was diversity‐independent (type I error) differs substantially from the significance level α used in the likelihood ratio test, rendering the likelihood ratio test inappropriate. The frequency of correctly rejecting the diversity‐independent model when the simulation was diversity‐dependent (power) is larger when the clade is closer to equilibrium and for conditioning on crown age. We conclude that conditioning on crown age has the best statistical properties overall, but caution that parameter estimates may be biased. To assess parameter uncertainty in future studies of diversity dependence on real data, we recommend parametric bootstrapping, examination of the likelihood surface and comparison of estimates across the types of conditioning. To assess model selection reliability, we discourage the use of the χ2 likelihood ratio test or AIC (which are equivalent in this case), but recommend a likelihood ratio test based on parametric bootstrap. We illustrate this method for the diversification of Dendroica warblers.
Seasonal patterns in the diet of frugivorous bats in the subtropical rainforests of Argentina

Abstract The principal goal of our research is to evaluate the dietary variation of the frugivorous bats in two contrasting subtropical rainforests in Argentina (montane rainforest in the NW with a strong seasonality and lowland rainforest in the NE with a mild seasonality). Diet was estimated on the basis of over 1000 dietary records collected along two seasonal annual cycles. Our results indicated that the dominant frugivorous bats exhibit a marked seasonality in the use of fruit resources and that some plants represent keystone resources in periods of general food scarcity. The NW bat ensemble response to fruit phenology was a strong decrease in the capture rate toward the end of the dry season. The NE bat ensemble did not show the same seasonal pattern, and we hypothesize that other variables are probably more important to determine bat abundance. Diet of bats varied in response to spatial changes in the availability of their preferred fruits. For instance, the use of Solanum, Piper, and other fruits by Sturnira bats appeared to be coupled with patterns of diversity and density of these resources.
Carcass characteristics and quality attributes of the Nigerian and three exotic breeds of pigs

Results obtained on the Nigerian indigenous and three exotic breeds of pigs slaughtered at about 70 kg live weight are presented. Data were collected on the warm and chilled carcass weights, dressing percent, carcass length, backfat thickness, loin eye area and yields of rough and trimmed wholesale cuts. Meat quality attributes were evaluated both objectively and subjectively. Measurements showed gross differences in carcass length backfat thickness, loin eye area, yields of some rough cuts and trimmed lean cuts between the indigenous pig and the exotic breeds. The loin muscle of the indigenous pig exhibited superior colour and firmness scores, but was poorly marbled. Except for a greater degree of toughness of meat from the indigenous pig, organoleptic scores were generally similar in all breeds.
Cutting and Fertilizing Grassland for Winter Goose Management

An experiment to investigate the effect of nitrogenous fertilizer and autumn cutting on the winter use of salting pasture by wild white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) is described. Geese showed a high degree of preference throughout winter for fertilized vegetation, which had a higher nitrogen (protein) content than unfertilized grass. Cut areas were also preferred early in the season. This was related to the ease of movement and better visibility afforded, as well as a possible effect on feeding efficiency. Overall use of fertilized areas was 42 percent higher than controls, of cut areas 32 percent, and of those both fertilized and cut 87 percent. The treatments were applied to two vegetation zones, which were also used differentially by feeding geese. Applications to the management of goose refuges are discussed. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 39(1):163-167 In a study of the grazing of white-fronted geese on a salting pasture (grassland which is covered by tidal brackish water a few times annually) (Owen 1971), it was shown that the birds had preferences among the five distinguishable vegetation zones. Preferred zones were used first, and less vegetation was left on preferred areas. The preferred vegetation was of higher nutritional value, and the nutritional value of single grass species decreased as vegetation height increased (Owen 1973). This paper describes an experiment on part of this salting, known as the Dumbles, at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, in the winter 1972-73 to investigate the effects of fertilizing and cutting the vegetation on its use by wild white-fronted geese. The area is visited by large numbers of people, and one of the aims was to determine whether geese could be enticed to make greater use of sites close to observational facilities provided by the Wildfowl Trust. The work was carried out while I held a post at the Wildfowl Trust financed by the Natural Environment Research Council. I am indebted to A. J. Stewart for help with field and laboratory work, and to S. E. Allen for the nutritional analyses. R. C. Lippiat and T. C. Meredith carried out the cutting and fertilizing operations. G. V. T. Matthews made useful criticisms
Urban population genetics of the invasive black rats in Franceville, Gabon

The invasive black rat Rattus rattus has established commensal populations in most cities of the world. Known as a reservoir of numerous zoonotic diseases, this species is considered as an urban pest and may have major consequences on human health. However, little is known about the genetic structure of urban populations, although it could help to design the scale of appropriate control strategies (at the city or at the district level). In this study, we characterize the genetic structure of R. rattus within Franceville (Republic of Gabon), an African tropical city that has undergone a recent growth, like many other cities of the developing countries. Sampling was conducted in six different districts of the city, chosen to represent variable levels of connectivity and building aggregation. Genetic structure was assessed using 16 microsatellite markers. Our results suggest the occurrence of a large population of R. rattus that is continuously distributed at the scale of the city, with no impact of urban characteristics or putative barriers on genetic differentiation. Isolation by distance analyses show that effective dispersal of R. rattus is, however, spatially limited to a few hundred meters. Regarding management strategies, our results suggest that rodent control should be envisaged at the scale of the city. (Resume d'auteur)
Behavior of metal-plate-connected wood truss joints under wind and impact loads

The objective of this research was to understand the behavior of metal-plate-connected (MPC) wood truss heel and tension splice joints subjected to dynamic loads that simulated hurricane wind and impact loads. The general loading procedure was to ramp load the joints to dead/design load level, apply dynamic load, unload to zero, and finally apply ramp load to failure. The stiffness of the joints before and after the dynamic loads was compared. Hurricane wind loads caused an average increase in stiffness of 300 percent, likely due to wood densification near the metal teeth. The impact load caused a stiffness increase similar to that produced by the hurricane wind loads. Dynamic loadings on heel joints caused no significant strength degradation. For tension splice joints, the accelerated ramp load produced the same results as the static ramp load in one-tenth the time. It is suggested that the static tests of MPC joints may be conducted in 1-minute to failure, like lumber, instead of 10-minute to failure as recommended by the current standard.
Sexing monochromatic birds in the field: Cryptic sexual size dimorphism in Buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis)

Working in the Neotropics poses special challenges for those interested in sexing resident bird species. Many species are monochromatic and apparently monomorphic, and both sexes may sing and defend territories. We tested whether monochromatic Buff-breasted Wrens (Thryothorus leucotis) could be reliably sexed using simple body size measurements. We compared the size of known males and females using paired t-tests and logistic regression analysis (LRA). At the level of the population, the sexes over- lapped in all mensural characteristics; however, on average males were larger than females. When consider- ing individual pairs, males were significantly larger and heavier than their mates. The best model from LRA indicated that measurement of wing chord alone was sufficient to discriminate between males and females, with 95.5% of individuals correctly classified. Three individuals were incorrectly classified by LRA (two males and one female), but could be sexed by comparing them with their mates, as the males were larger
Food supply and reproductive performance of the American Oystercatcher in Virginia

Etude des relations entre l'approvisionnement en nourriture et les performances de la reproduction chez Haematopus palliatus. Differents parametres lies a la reproduction comme la taille des portes, la date de porte, et d'autres liees a la disponibilite en nourriture comme sa distance par rapport au nid, sa qualite et sa densite sont examines sur 41 territoires. De plus, le role de la pression de predation est souligne en relation avec la disponibilite en nourriture
The diet of Ambystoma tigrinum. larvae from western Colorado

A. tigrinum larvae from two ponds in the Elk Mountains of western Colorado were found to eat a wide variety of foods, including a total of 42 classes, mostly of various littoral, benthic, and planktonic arthropods. Most common animals (between 0.5 and 20 mm in length) in these ponds were eaten in proportion to their abundance. Chaoborus pupae and large zooplankton were sought out. Adult beetles, notonectids, caddis fly larvae, Diaptomus coloradensis, and sponges were rarely or never eaten. Large food items were preferred during most of the larval stage. Cannibalism was very insignificant in these two populations. Zooplankton was found to be a large component of the diet. The smallest larvae (less than 2 cm long) ate little besides zooplankton. Larger larvae continued to eat zooplankters, as well as large numbers of amphipods, mollusks, and insect larvae. Larvae about to transform did not eat. Salamander larvae placed in a pond with fairy shrimp and voraciously.