Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multivariate exploratory analysis of ordinal data in ecology: Pitfalls, problems and solutions

Abstract Questions: Are ordinal data appropriately treated by multivariate methods in numerical ecology? If not, what are the most common mistakes? Which dissimilarity coefficients, ordination and classification methods are best suited to ordinal data? Should we worry about such problems at all? Methods: A new classification model family, OrdClAn (Ordinal Cluster Analysis), is suggested for hierarchical and non-hierarchical classifications from ordinal ecological data, e.g. the abundance/dominance scores that are commonly recorded in relevés. During the clustering process, the objects are grouped so as to minimize a measure calculated from the ranks of within-cluster and between-cluster distances or dissimilarities. Results and Conclusions: Evaluation of the various steps of exploratory data analysis of ordinal ecological data shows that consistency of methodology throughout the study is of primary importance. In an optimal situation, each methodological step is order invariant. This property ensures that the results are independent of changes not affecting ordinal relationships, and guarantees that no illusory precision is introduced into the analysis. However, the multivariate procedures that are most commonly applied in numerical ecology do not satisfy these requirements and are therefore not recommended. For example, it is inappropriate to analyse Braun-Blanquet abudance/dominance data by methods assuming that Euclidean distance is meaningful. The solution of all problems is that the dissimilarity coefficient should be compatible with ordinal variables and the subsequent ordination or clustering method should consider only the rank order of dissimilarities. A range of artificial data sets exemplifying different subtypes of ordinal variables, e.g. indicator values or species scores from relevés, illustrate the advocated approach. Detailed analyses of an actual phytosociological data set demonstrate the classification by OrdClAn of relevés and species and the subsequent tabular rearrangement, in a numerical study remaining within the ordinal domain from the first step to the last. Abbreviations: AD = Abundance/Dominance; CL = Complete Link; DC = Coefficient of Discordance; ED = Euclidean distance; O = Ordinal; M = Metric; NMDS = Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling; OC = Ordinal Clustering; SL = Single Link; UPGMA = Unweighted Pair Group Method or Group Average Clustering.
FAMILY BREAKUP IN BROWN BEARS: ARE YOUNG FORCED TO LEAVE?

Abstract In brown bears (Ursus arctos), nursing of young >1 year of age has a positive effect on their growth rate but is energetically costly for mothers and reduces the number of litters a female can produce during her lifetime. We followed radiomarked families to study their behavior during the period of family breakup. Yearlings separated from their mothers during the mating season and most family breakups were associated with the presence of an adult male, suggesting that termination of maternal care was not initiated by offspring.
REVISION OF THE TENDAGURU SAUROPOD DINOSAUR TORNIERIA AFRICAN A (FRAAS) AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR SAUROPOD PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHY

Abstract The incompletely known sauropod Tornieria africana from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of Tendaguru, Tanzania, has for over 80 years been regarded to represent a Gondwanan species of the North American genus Barosaurus Marsh (Morrison Formation: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian), but this identification has recently been questioned. The holotype and referred specimens are redescribed here, and the characters present are reevaluated in light of current knowledge of sauropod phylogeny. Synapomorphies of the skull (prefrontal with triangular posterior process) and anterior caudal vertebrae (procoelous centra, presence of diapophyseal laminae, and presence of a pleurocoel) indicate that the Tendaguru material represents a member of the Diplodocinae (Diplodocoidea, Diplodocidae) and is therefore very closely related to Barosaurus and Diplodocus. It differs from all other diplodocine genera in several characters, such as robust anterior caudals with pleurocoels located in the upper third of the centrum and ventral excavations, and stout hind limb proportions similar to Apatosaurus (tibia:femur length ratio less than 0.64). In a phylogenetic analysis, the African form consistently emerges as the sister taxon to Barosaurus+Diplodocus. Therefore, previous suggestions that Tornieria africana is the available name for this taxon are supported by this analysis. The existence of this form in Gondwana contradicts the idea of Laurentian endemism of the diplodocid clade, and is best explained by a vicariance model of diplodocoid paleobiogeography. This implies an extensive ghost lineage of this group, extending back at least as far as the upper Middle Jurassic.
Biophysical and Biochemical Characterizations of an Elongated Coiled Coil Protein.

We have previously characterized a 200 amino acid fragment of Miranda protein from Drosophila Melanogaster and shown it to be predominantly -helical, forming an elongated coiled coil homodimer in solution (Yousef et al. 2008). Coiled coils are important and distinctive structural motifs in proteins. They are involved in a variety of unique interactions in cells, making them excellent templates for biotechnological and therapeutic uses. Here, we present a combination of bioinformatics, biophysical and biochemical methods aimed at further characterizing the elongated coiled coil segment. The results show that extended coiled coils exhibit anomalous chromatographic profile along with a characteristic pattern of Circular Dichroism. This combined methodology provides a simple guide to identify and characterize elongated coiled coils in solution.
Genetic diversity of b -glucuronidase activity among 14 strains of the dominant human gut anaerobe Ruminococcus gnavus

Bacterial b-glucuronidase activity in the gut increases the enterohepatic circulation of toxic compounds and plays a major role in the etiology of colon cancer. Previously, we had found that the gus gene, which codes for b-glucuronidase in a dominant anaerobic species of the gut microbiota, Ruminococcus gnavus strain E1, is transcribed as part of an operon that includes three ORFs that code for b-glucoside permeases of the phosphotransferase systems. This genetic organization had never been described. We have now compared b-glucuronidase activity and the genetic environment of the gus gene in 14 strains of Ruminococcus gnavus.We found that five out of the seven glucuronidase-positive R. gnavus strains possessed another glucuronidase gene different from the gusA operon of R. gnavus E1. This dominant commensal intestinal species appears to have a high degree of genetic diversity in the genes that control b-glucuronidase activity.
Test Review

The Shipley Institute of Living Scale (SILS) was designed to provide a quick assessment of intellectual ability and cognitive impairment for adolescents and adults in educational and clinical settings. In its 2002 catalog, the publisher (Western Psychological Services) claims that the SILS has been used with millions of examinees during the past 60 years. The immense popularity of the SILS can be explained by a number of features, including brevity, self-administration, the paper-and-pencil format, easy scoring, appealing rationale, and perceived clinical utility. The author of the SILS, Walter C. Shipley, developed the test in the late 1930s as a self-administering measure of intellectual impairment. Dr. Shipley received his PhD from Yale University in 1933. From 1938 to 1941 he was a research associate at the Hartford (Connecticut) Retreat, where he constructed the SILS. Dr. Shipley spent the remainder of his career at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. He died in 1966.
IN VITRO ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF SOIL ACTINOBACTERIA AGAINST MULTI DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA

Summary The purpose of this study was to explore the antimicrobial properties of actinobacteria isolated from the soil samples of Ranipet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 13 actinobacteria were isolated and screened for antagonistic property against four multi drug resistant (MDR) bacteria included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Non fermenting gram negative bacilli. Among the 13 isolates, two (AR7 and AR12) were found to be effective against K. pneumoniae and E. coli in primary screening (cross streak method), further the potential isolates were secondary screened by agar well diffusion method, only one isolates (AR 12) was found to be effective against K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Further AR 12 isolate (potential strain) was characterized by morphological test, biochemical test and Nonomura key. Actinobacteria isolate (AR12) identified as Streptomyces gougeroti. This study also reports the antibiogram of the MDR strains used in this study.
Cultivar Specific Response of CO2 Fertilization on Two Tropical Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Cultivars: ROS Generation, Antioxidant Status, Physiology, Growth, Yield and Seed Quality

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO2) is an important component of global climate change that will have a significant impact on the productivity of crop plants. In recent years, growth and yield of agricultural crop plants have been shown to increase with elevated CO2 (EC) and have enticed considerable interest due to variation in the response of crop plants. In this study, comparative response of two mung bean cultivars (HUM-2 and HUM-6) was evaluated against EC at different growth stages under near-natural conditions for two consecutive years. The plants were grown in ambient as well as EC (700 ppm) in specially designed open-top chambers. Under elevated CO2, marked down-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, membrane disruption and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were noticed in both the cultivars, but the extent of reduction was more in HUM-6. As compared to ambient CO2, EC increased total chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, growth and yield parameters. Cultivar-specific response was noticed as HUM-6 showed higher increase in yield attributes than HUM-2. Under CO2 treatment, soluble protein and reducing sugars decreased while total soluble sugars and starch showed an opposite trend. Principal component analysis showed that both the cultivars responded more or less similarly to EC in their respective groupings of physiological and growth parameters, but the magnitude of ROS and antioxidative enzymes was variable. The experimental findings depict that both the cultivars of mung bean showed contrasting response against EC and paved the way for selecting the suitable cultivar having higher productivity in a future high-CO2 environment.
The Post‐Mortem Oxygen Requirements of Bovine Tissue

SUMMARY The activity of succinic dehydrogenase of post-rigor bovine tissue was determined at various temperatures and pH values. The oxygen uptake thus measured yielded typical curves. In the first 15 hr the uniform gas uptake can be accounted for by oxygenation of myoglobin, solution of oxygen and nitrogen, and enzymatic oxygen uptake. After 15 hr the oxygen uptake is due to enzymatic reaction. The enzymatic uptake of oxygen is about 0.7 μL/hr/g of wet tissue. The evolution of carbon dioxide was about 1.1 μL/hr/g of wet tissue. Tissue sample taken from deep in the musculature, however, showed a larger carbon dioxide evolution in the first 4 hr of exposure (before equilbrium is established) to au air atmosphere.
Using Low Oxygen Atmospheres to Control Two Insects pests Attacking Historic objects in Egypt

The efficacy of controlled atmospheres of high nitrogen concentration (99.9%) and various carbon dioxide concentrations (25, 50,75and 99.9%) was investigated against adults and larvae of two insects attacking historic objects in Egypt, the black carpet beetle and the cigarette beetle. Also, the effect of temperature and exposures time on the mortality of insects was examined. Results revealed that the efficiency of CO2 and N2 gases was increased with increasing gas concentration, temperature and exposure time. Carbon dioxide gas was more toxic to both insects than nitrogen gas at the same conditions. Larvae of both species were more susceptible than adults to both gases.
Ethanol Induces Apoptosis in Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells: The Role of Apoptosis-Related Molecules

were induced with 3% and 5% ethanol treatments. The apoptotic cells were detected in 36% of MKN-74, 54% of MKN-45 which have wild-type p53, and 37% of TMK-1 cells at 48 h with 5% ethanol, in contrast to less than 18% of MKN-28 and KATO-III cells. The DNA ladder appeared in the MKN-74, MKN-45 and TMK-1, but not in the MKN-28 and KATO-III. The expression of apoptosis-associated molecules p53, Bcl-2, Bax and c-Myc proteins was analyzed in the ethanol-treated cells. The levels of p53, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were not changed in the ethanol-induced apoptosis. MKN-28 and KATO-III showed higher expressions of Bcl-2 protein compared to the other cell lines, and the down-regulation of c-Myc protein after 1.5 h of ethanol treatment. Calcium antagonists verapamil or nifedipine decreased apoptotic cells in ethanol treated MKN74, MKN-45 and TMK-1. These results suggest: i) 3% and 5% ethanol induced apoptosis via the influx of extracellular calcium, but were not changed the expression levels of p53 and c-Myc protein, while 10% ethanol provoked necrosis in these cell lines, and ii) the apoptosis resistance by ethanol might be implicated in the higher expression of Bcl2 protein and down-regulation of c-Myc protein as shown in MKN-28 and KATO-III.
Role of live autochthonous fungi in removing toxic metals from tannery and textile effluents

Decontamination potential of two autochthonous fungi, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum, was checked in tannery and textile effluents. The fungi grew well in both industrial effluents, A. niger showing a greater biomass than F. oxysporum in both effluents. A. niger showed less growth with increasing concentration of effluents while F. oxysporum showed increase in growth with increasing effluent concentration, with optimum mycelial biomass in 60% effluent concentration. A greater metal content was absorbed from higher concentration of effluents by both fungi. A significant amount of all metals was absorbed by both fungi, but a greater amount was absorbed from the tannery as compared to textile effluents. A greater reduction of heavy metals was observed in effluents by A. niger. Up to 75% reduction of Zn was caused in tannery effluents and 76% reduction of Cu in textile effluents by A. niger.
The influence of adaptation of rumen microflora on in vitro digestion of different forages by sheep and red deer

The rumen microflora ecosystem adapts to the diet consumed by the animal. We tested the extent to which this adaptation facilitates or retards the digestion of plant-based forages. Following adaptation of sheep (Ovis aries) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) to diets containing different mixtures of alfalfa, grass, and heather (a dwarf shrub), an in vitro digestion technique was used to compare the ability of the rumen microflora to digest the mixtures of substrates to which they were adapted with their ability to digest different mixtures of the same substrates. In vitro digestion of different substrates was slightly greater in rumen liquor derived from sheep than in that derived from red deer for each of the different substrates, but the effect was not significant. Digestibility in sheep was independent of how the feed was presented (diet of equal proportions of alfalfa, grass, and heather in each meal (D-EQ): mean in vitro digestibility = 37.3%; alfalfa, grass, and heather presented sequentially on differen.
Isolation And Characterization Of Rhizobiophages Specific For Rhizobium Leguminosarum From Some Egyptian Soils

Forty soil samples representing several localities in Egypt were collected to isolate and characterize of rhizobiophages specific for Rhizobium leguminosarum. The occurrence of rhizobiophages were always associated with legume plantation.The phages were detected only in 15 samples out of 40 rhizosphere samples with phage titre ranged from 10 to 10 3 PFU/ml. The tested isolates of Rhizobium showed variable sensitivity against the isolated phages. Generally the plaques of isolated phages differed in both morphology and size. The electron microscopic photographs of four isolated phages (Ф5, Ф6, Ф7 and Ф8) revealed that they all have icosahedral heads (hexagonal or pentagonal), and they have a relatively short tails. Based on morphological diversity, phages are grouped into Bradley’s basic three phage groups (A, B and C) and three families Podoviridae, Siphoviridae and Myoviridae. SDS-PAGE of the three phages Φ 6, Φ 7 and Φ 8 were done, and the similarity coefficient value between Φ 6 and Φ 7 was 0.75 while between Ф7 and Ф8 was 0.87. RAPD PCR using two different arbitrary primers A2 and A4 were successfully applied in amplifying genomic DNA of the two phages Φ 6 and Φ 7. The similarity coefficient values between phages Φ 6 and Φ 7were estimated and found to be 0.62.
Aspects of performance on line graph description tasks: influenced by graph familiarity and different task features

Motivated by cognitive theories of graph comprehension, this study systematically manipulated characteristics of a line graph description task in a speaking test in ways to mitigate the influence of graph familiarity, a potential source of construct-irrelevant variance. It extends Xi (2005), which found that the differences in holistic scores on graph tasks with varying characteristics, although significant, were small. Using an analytic scoring approach, it re-examined how visual chunks in line graphs and planning time influenced some specific components of examinees’ performance on line graph description tasks. The analytic dimensions examined were determined based on results of previous studies and hypotheses about the relationships among visual chunks, planning, graph familiarity, and features of elicited discourse. It was found that participants less familiar with graphs described the line graphs in a less organized fashion and that their descriptions were weaker in content. Graph familiarity thus introduced construct-irrelevant variance. However, providing planning time and using less complex graphical displays improved the fluency, organization and content of the elicited oral discourse and helped lessen the influence of graph familiarity, thus enhancing the validity of this task. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
A positive management orientation for continuous improvement

A "Do It Better Each Time" strategy has been promoted in quality management literature, in preference to the "Do It Right First Time" approach to managing quality. This paper discusses these concepts from the viewpoints of the traditional quality management "gurus": Philip B. Crosby, W. Edwards Deming, and Joseph M. Juran, and examines how they relate to current quality management philosophies.
Bioinspired phospholipid polymer prodrug as a pH-responsive drug delivery system for cancer therapy

Efficient delivery systems should be stable in blood circulation, with efficient cellular uptake and rapid drug release in cancer cells. Herein, we synthesized P(2-(methacryloyloxy)-ethyl phosphorylcholine)-b-P(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl methacrylate) via atom transfer radical polymerization. Doxorubicin (DOX) was linked to the polymer via a pH-responsive hydrazone bond. The polymer prodrug had high DOX content (10.6 wt%) and was able to self-assemble to form core–shell structured micelles. Dynamic light scattering showed that the average size of the micelles was 142.3 nm, which is the ideal size for the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The shell of the micelles was composed of phosphorylcholine, which imitated the structure of cell membranes. Studies of intracellular uptake demonstrated that the prodrug micelles were internalized effectively by cancer cells. An in vitro release study indicated that the release of DOX at pH 5.0 was much faster than that at pH 7.4. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity showed that this polymer prodrug inhibited the growth of cancer cells remarkably, demonstrating its potential for use as an efficient drug delivery system.
Allometry and selection in a novel predator-prey system : Australian snakes and the invading cane toad

Because many organismal traits vary with body size, interactions between species can be affected by the respective body sizes of the participants. We focus on a novel predator–prey system involving an introduced, highly toxic anuran (the cane toad, Bufo marinus) and native Australian snakes. The chance of a snake dying after ingesting a toad depends on the size of the snake and the size of the toad, and ultimately reflects the effect of four allometries: (1) physiological tolerance (the rate that physiological tolerance to toad toxin changes with snake size); (2) swallowing ability (the rate that maximal ingestible toad size (i.e. snake head size) increases with snake body size); (3) prey size (the rate that prey size taken by snakes increases with snake head size) and (4) toad toxicity (the rate that toxicity increases with toad size). We measured these allometries, and combined them to estimate the rate at which a snake's resistance changes with toad toxicity. The parotoid glands (and thus, toxicity) of toads increased disproportionately with toad size (i.e. relative to body size, larger toads were more toxic) but simultaneously, head size relative to body size (and thus, maximal ingestible prey size relative to predator size) declined with increasing body size in snakes. Thus, these two allometries tended to cancel each other out. Physiological tolerance to toxins did not vary with snake body size. The end result was that across snake species, mean adult body size did not affect vulnerability. Within species, however, smaller predators were more vulnerable, because the intraspecific rate of decrease in relative head size of snakes was steeper than the rate of increase in toxicity of toads. Thus, toad invasion may cause disproportionate mortality of juvenile snakes, and adults of the sex with smaller mean adult body sizes.
Causal Modeling of Students' Attitude and Choice of Majors in Business Administration

Emphasizing the student as consumer, this study investigates a causal model of student attitudes and choice of a major in business administration. The impact of aca demic, vocational, and social influence factors on both attitude and choice were studied. Separate causal models are examined for the four majors of marketing, man agement, finance, and accounting. Although there were many differences between majors, the academic factors appear to have the greatest effect on attitude and choice.
Krobia xinguensis, a new species of cichlid fish from the Xingu River drainage in Brazil (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Krobia xinguensis is described from localities in the headwaters and in the lower part of the rio Xingu. It is distinguishedfrom the other two species in the genus, K. guianensis and K. itanyi, primarily by deeper caudal peduncle, and details ofthe colour pattern, including contrasting interorbital stripes and a small dark spot anteriorly on each side of the lower jaw. Krobia xinguensis represents a considerable range extension of the genus from the Guianas and northern tributaries of the lower Amazon, into a major south bank Amazon tributary.