Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Status of the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus in the UK and Isle of Man in 2016

ABSTRACT Capsule: The fifth UK and the Isle of Man survey of Hen Harrier in 2016 showed varying trends by country and region. Aim: To estimate the size of the breeding Hen Harrier population (with associated 95% confidence intervals) in the UK and Isle of Man, constituent countries and Scottish regions, in 2016 and calculate population change over the five surveys to date. Methods: Complete surveys were made of all 10-km squares likely to be occupied by breeding Hen Harriers in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, using standard methods developed for previous national surveys. In Scotland, self-selected 10-km squares were surveyed by volunteers and a stratified random selection of the remaining 10-km squares within the known breeding range was surveyed. Results: The UK and Isle of Man Hen Harrier population was estimated at 575 territorial pairs (95% confidence limits, 477–694), a non-significant decline of 13% since 2010 but a significant decline of 24% since 2004. Scotland held the majority (80%) of the population with 460 (359–573) territorial pairs. Elsewhere, 46 territorial pairs were recorded in Northern Ireland, 35 in Wales, 30 in the Isle of Man and four in England. Significant decreases were recorded in the number of pairs in Scotland using grouse moor (−57%) and young forest (−54%). Conclusion: The combined breeding population of Hen Harriers in the UK and Isle of Man has shown a non-significant decline between 2010 and 2016. There were notable decreases in England, Northern Ireland and Wales since 2010.
The effect of root temperature on the uptake of nitrogen and the relative size of the root system in Lolium perenne. I. Solutions containing both NH+4 and NO3−

AbstractLolium perenne L. cv. S23 was grown in flowing culture solution, pH 5, in which the concentrations of NH4+, NO3− and K+ were frequently monitored and adjusted to set values. In a pre-experimental period, plants were acclimatized to a regime in which roots were treated at 5°C with shoots at 25°C. The root temperature was then changed to one of the following, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 or 25°C, while air temperature remained at 25°C. When root temperature was increased from 5X, the relative growth rate of roots increased immediately while that of shoots changed much less for a period of approximately 9 d (phase 1). Thus, the root: shoot ratio increased, but eventually approached a new, temperature-dependent, steady value (phase 2). The fresh: freeze-dried weight ratio (i.e. water content) in shoots (and roots) increased during the first phase of morphological adjustment (phase 1). In both growth phases and at all temperatures, plants absorbed more NH4+ than NO4+, the tendency being extreme at temperatures below 9° where more than 85% of the N absorbed was NH4+. Plants at different root temperatures, growing at markedly different rates, had very similar concentrations of total N in their tissues (cells) on a fresh weight basis, despite the fact that they derived their N with differing preference for NH4+. Specific absorption rates for NH4+, NOx−, K+ and H2PO4− showed very marked dependence on root temperature in phase 1, but ceased to show this dependence once a steady state root: shoot ratio had been established in phase 2. The results indicate the importance of relative root size in determining ion fluxes at the root surface. At higher temperatures where the root system was relatively large, ‘demand’ per unit root was low, whereas at low temperatures roots were small relative to shoots and ‘demand’ was high enough to offset the inhibitory effects of low temperature on transport processes.
Screening of diverse germplasms for genetic studies of drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Twenty different rice lines were analyzed based on various genotypic and phenotypic seedling traits. Correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to study these traits. The mean value of the root shoot traits of each genotype was analyzed at different levels of significance. The highest correlation was found in root length, shoot length (r = 0.856, r = 0.896) and shoot length and root number (r = 0.825, r = 0.818) in stress and normal condition respectively. The principal component exhibited more than one eigenvalue considered to be more important due to variation. The principal components (PC1 and PC2) having more than one eigenvalue for various traits were considered very important due to variation. The PC1 and PC2 for root length and shoot length same for both conditions showed variability of 76.2% and 78.5%, respectively. Different SSR markers were used to study the genetic diversity and screening of the rice genotypes for developing new breeding lines. The mean number of alleles per locus was 3.70, showing that the average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.500. A total of 63 alleles were also identified from the microsatellite marker loci. The overall objective of the study was to screen out the diverse parents, on the basis of different simple sequence repeats (SSR) primers and root morphological desirable traits, for a future cross breeding program for development of new rice varieties that are equally beneficial for farmers and the scientific community.
Ecology of a typical West African Sudanian savannah rodent community

The small-mammal community of a typical Sudanian savannah area of south-eastern Senegal was studied by way of intensive sampling at the beginning (July) and at the end (November) of the rainy season. A total of 5931 trapnights and 200 pitfallnights yielded 767 small mammals, including 757 rodents of 12 species, as well as a few shrews and hedgehogs. Accumulation curve indicated that the rodent community was well sampled. Murine rodents were far more numerous than gerbilline rodents, and among them, Mastomys erythroleucus was the dominant species, being caught in high numbers in all habitats. Arvicanthis niloticus and Praomys daltoni were also abundant, followed by Mastomys natalensis and Gerbilliscus guineae. Abundances were high at the beginning of the rainy season when reproductive activity was low in all species. At the end of the rainy season, murine rodents were actively involved in reproduction, while gerbilline rodents were at their lowest density. Significant changes in relative abundance among habitats (including human dwellings) were observed between periods in some species, suggesting seasonal trends in habitat preferences. This may help species coexistence in this species-rich rodent community, in an area likely to be submitted to significant habitat alterations in the years to come. Resume La communaute de petits mammiferes d'une zone de savane soudanienne typique au sud-est du Senegal a ete echantillonnee par piegeage intensif au debut (juillet) et a la fin (novembre) de la saison des pluies. Un total de 5931 nuit.pieges et 200 nuit.pots a permis la capture de 767 petits mammiferes, dont 757 rongeurs de 12 especes et quelques musaraignes et herissons. La courbe de rarefaction des rongeurs a montre que l'echantillonnage etait representatif. Les Murinae se sont montres dominants par rapport aux Gerbillinae et parmi eux, Mastomys erythroleucus s'est revelee l'espece principale, piegee en nombres importants dans tous les habitats. Arvicanthis niloticus et Praomys daltoni etaient egalement bien representes, suivis par Mastomys natalensis et Gerbilliscus guineae. Les abondances etaient tres elevees en debut de saison des pluies alors que l'activite reproductive etait minimale chez toutes les especes. En fin de saison des pluies, les Murinae etaient en pleine reproduction alors que les densites de Gerbillinae etaient au plus bas. Des changements significatifs d'abondance relative entre habitats (dont les habitations) ont ete notes entre saison chez certaines especes. De telles variations saisonnieres de preferences d'habitats pourraient faciliter la coexistence entre especes de rongeurs dans cette communaute particulierement riche, occupant une zone promise a des changements environnementaux importants dans les annees a venir.
Plio-Pleistocene history of the endangered spiny rat Trinomys eliasi (Echimyidae) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Trinomys eliasi is an endangered species of spiny rat endemic to a small area in the lowlands of Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil). Limited data on its biology and variation are available for designing conservation policies. Here, we provide data on genetic variation of T. eliasi, elucidating aspects of its evolutionary differentiation based on analysis of cytochrome b DNA. Our findings showed that T. eliasi diverged from its sister species T. paratus in the early Pleistocene or late Pliocene (∼2.5 million years ago [mya]). Two T. eliasi mitochondrial lineages diverged in the early Pleistocene (∼2.1 mya) and are currently separated by a large river and Holocene areas previously occupied by a vast Pleistocene internal sea, which may have operated as a historical barrier between populations. The haplotypes of the southern lineage diverged relatively late in the Pleistocene (∼0.6 mya), and diversity of this lineage is not equally distributed across the landscape, but rather, it appears to be concentrated in the rainiest areas, which contain major forest remnants. This region should be considered a priority for conservation. In the northern extreme of Rio de Janeiro state, we found an isolated, highly divergent T. eliasi lineage, which deserves further investigation. This work highlights the need for fine-scale studies of genetic variation in endangered species for the preservation of their evolutionary diversity.
A new egg-guarding species of Oreophryne (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae) from southern Papua New Guinea

A new microhylid frog in the genus Oreophryne is described from southern New Guinea. It is a small species (males to 22 mm snout-urostyle length (SUL), females to 27 mm SUL) distinguished from congeners by having a cartilaginous connection between the procoracoid and scapula, no webs between fingers, basal webs mainly between toes 3 and 4 and between toes 4 and 5, and the fifth toe slightly longer than the third. In life, most specimens have a conspicuous lime green (yellowish in preservative) bar between the eyes, a lime green and irregular longitudinal stripe on the flanks, and an irregular spot of the same colour above the insertion of the upper arms. The advertisement call is a pronounced rattle lasting about one second with a note repetition rate of 26–28 notes per second. Males of the new species guard the eggs of their mates on the underside of leaves hanging 30–400 cm above the ground.
Creating autoethnographies

I attended the launch of the CRAC publication What do PhDs do? (UK GRAD, 2004) and saw how well-researched labour market information could completely transform my understanding of the value of my qualifications and career choices. I realised that much of the thinking that I had done about my career was based on narrow horizons and misinformation. I was bitten by the bug and rapidly moved myself into a job where I could attempt to influence and improve the careers of others. Ultimately I was to go on to work at CRAC and then at iCeGS (one of Smith’s ‘eggs’). When my personal careers work epiphany took place I felt that the approaches to careers work that I was discovering through CRAC were new and innovative. As I read more about the history of careers work (for example in Watts, Law, Killeen, Kidd, & Hawthorn, 1996 and Peck, 2004) and met people with long experience in careers, I began to realise that I was often rediscovering the past and that alongside many others I was guilty of not remembering or knowing enough about it. However, Smith’s book demonstrates just how much we have failed to remember about the history of careers work and CRAC’s pivotal role in making this history. Some sort of bridge reminds us of the historical context within which careers work has developed, but it also celebrates the power of entrepreneurial agency to influence that context and to transform the social and political landscape.
New Algal Species Records for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with an Annotated Checklist of all Reported Algal Taxa for The Park

Abstract Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina state-line is a biologically diverse region which has recently become the site of an All Taxon Biodiversity Inventory, an effort to chronicle species diversity by documenting all species in all phyla present within park boundaries. As a result of studies within the last two years, we have added 415 new algal taxa records. With records reported in 2004, we now have documented a total of 1000 taxa in the park. This paper summarizes all algal species found to date.
Identification of Shc as the Primary Protein Binding to the Tyrosine-phosphorylated β3 Subunit of αIIbβ3 during Outside-in Integrin Platelet Signaling*

Outside-in signaling mediated by the integrin αIIbβ3 (GPIIbIIIa) is critical to platelet function and has been shown to involve the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the cytoplasmic tail of β3. To identify proteins that bind directly to phosphorylated β3, we utilized an affinity column consisting of a peptide modeled on the tyrosine-phosphorylated cytoplasmic domain of β3. Tandem mass spectrometric sequencing and immunoblotting demonstrated that Shc was the primary protein binding to phosphorylated β3. To determine the involvement of Shc in outside-in αIIbβ3 signaling, the phosphorylation of Shc during platelet aggregation was examined; transient Shc phosphorylation was observed when thrombin-stimulated platelets were allowed to aggregate or when aggregation was induced by an LIBS (ligand-induced binding site) antibody, D3. Moreover, Shc was co-immunoprecipitated with tyrosine-phosphorylated β3 in detergent lysates of aggregated platelets. Using purified, recombinant protein, it was found that the binding of Shc to monophosphorylated (C-terminal tyrosine) and diphosphorylated β3 peptides was direct, demonstrating Shc recognition motifs on phospho-β3. Aggregation-induced Shc phosphorylation was also observed to be robust in platelets from wild-type mice, but not in those from mice expressing (Y747F,Y759F) β3, which are defective in outside-in αIIbβ3 signaling. Thus, Shc is the primary downstream signaling partner of β3 in its tyrosine phosphorylation outside-in signaling pathway.
Consumerism in sport organizations: conceptualizing and constructing a research scale

Abstract The rising influence of consumer culture on sport participation is arguably one of the most influential trends in sport participation in the last decades. However, little is known about how such an attitude can be understood and what its consequences for everyday life in sport organizations are. This article asks how a research scale for consumerism in sport organizations could be conceptualized and constructed. Using a mixed methods approach, a research scale consisting of five sub-dimensions was developed to measure consumerist attitudes in sport organizations. The scale was tested on 303 sport participants in various sport organizations. The resulting 25-item research scale for consumerism in sport organizations can be of use to sport scholars, sport policy makers and sport administrators and managers who want to gain a better understanding of the relationship between sport participants and sport organizations.
Metabolomic strategies to identify tissue-specific effects of cardiovascular drugs

Background: The number of patients eligible for cardiovascular therapies in general is forecast to increase substantially in the coming decades. However, the current list of potential future cardiovascular blockbuster drugs is alarmingly short. There is thus a clear need for innovative strategies to increase the efficiency of drug development pipelines by establishing new sensitive biomarkers to monitor drug efficacy and safety in the context of complexity of lipoprotein metabolism targeted by the cardiovascular drugs. Methods: Metabolomics is a discipline dedicated to the systematic study of small molecules in cells, tissues and biofluids. Since lipids (including cholesterol), as well as other metabolites, are key constituents of lipoprotein particles and are thus part of the complex lipoprotein metabolism that includes exchange of lipids and metabolites with peripheral tissues, cardiovascular drug safety and efficacy needs to be addressed in the context of systemic lipid metabolism. Results/conclusion: Metabolomics, lipidomics in particular, is expected to make an important impact on the discovery and development of cardiovascular therapies.
PATTERNS OF SHELL UTILIZATION IN TWO SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF HERMIT CRABS FROM THE NATAL COAST (DECAPODA, ANOMURA, DIOGENIDAE)

Shell selection and utilization in two sympatric species of hermit crabs from the Natal coast, namely Clibanarius virescens (Krauss, 1843) and Calcinus laevimanus (Randall, 1840) were investigated. Shells of 23 gastropod species were occupied by C. virescens while 13 species were utilized by C. laevimanus. Shells of 11 gastropod species were inhabited by both crabs but, of these only two shell species were used in significant numbers. The results showed a close correlation between the morphometric data of the crabs and the utilized shells. Clibanarius virescens preferred high spired shells whilst C. laevimanus showed preference for shells with low spires. As C. laevimanus possesses a large cheliped it was restricted in the choice of shells in the natural habitat as it had to select shells with large apertures. Differential shell utilization has been advanced as the most important factor permitting coexistence of the two species. Clibanarius virescens inhabited a succession of shell species as the crabs grew in hard carapace or shield length whereas C. laevimanus showed preference mainly for two shell species namely Nerita albicilla Linnaeus, 1758 (carapace length less than 5 mm) and Turbo coronatus Gmelin, 1791 (carapace length more than 5 mm). Calcinus laevimanus may not be at a disadvantage by occupying Nerita shells as the large cheliped may be effectively used in sealing the aperture of the shell, and thereby minimizing water loss. Females of both species occupying lighter shells with large internal volumes were found to produce larger clutches as compared to females of similar carapace lengths occupying the heavier shell species.
Sensible heat transfer and thermal windows in Dasyprocta leporina (Mammalia, Rodentia)

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the diurnal variation of the sensible heat transfer in red-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) bred in captivity in a semi-arid environment. In addition, we seek to identify thermal windows by infrared thermography during the daytime period (07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00). The body surface temperature was higher in the pinna (36.84 ± 0.11 °C), followed by the hind limbs (36.55 ± 0.11 °C). These body regions were primarily responsible for heat loss by radiation (which was 10.13 ± 1.17 W m−2 and 11.19 ± 1.17 W m−2, respectively), and acted like biological thermal windows. Heat transfer by convection was more intense in the body trunk and hind limbs at all times of the day. Thus, sensible heat transfer is important for maintaining homeothermy in red-rumped agouti in hot environments. In conclusion, these rodents use specialized body regions (pinna and hind limbs) for heat transfer.
Effect of physical form of a lucerne hay on rumination and the passage of particles from the rumen of sheep

Six 2-year-old Corriedale wethers fitted with rumen and abomasal cannulas were given a lucerne hay, first as chopped (CH) hay then as ground and pelleted (GP) hay. Intake rate increased as dry matter intake (DMI) increased and was greater on GP hay. The time spent eating and ruminating per unit of DMI decreased as DMI increased and was shorter on GP. Ruminating efficiency increased with DMI but did not differ between CH hay and GP hay. The critical size of particles for passage from the rumen was not affected by either DMI or by grinding and pelleting. Most of the overall digestion of large particles (LP) occurred during their retention in the LP pool within the rumen, and retention in the medium particle (MP) pool accounted for much of the rumen mean retention time of particles. The residual digestible material of MP derived from LP by rumination appeared to be less accessible to fermentative activity. Prediction of an animal’s response to the grinding and pelleting of forage must take account of all the determining factors and their interactions.
A short review and critique of methodology used in fish growth and nutrition studies

A number of the techniques commonly employed in fish growth and nutrition studies are evaluated and limitations imposed by their use are indicated. Total and digestible energy values of dietary formulations should be measured directly and the use of caloric conversion coefficients and assumed digestibility values may lead to serious error. There is considerable misunderstanding relating to the term metabolizable energy and metabolizable energy has been estimated in a number of ways, all of which are unreliable. In view of this, it is suggested that there is a good case to be made for ceasing to use the term.
Mechanism of the gelation of fibroin solution

Degummed silk was dissolved in a mixture of CaCl2 and ethanol at low temperature. The concentration and pH of the centrifuged, filtered, and dialyzed silk solution were adjusted, and then it was kept in an air-conditioned room for gelation. The mechanism of the gelation and the gel structure were studied. It was found that the gel was formed due to the formation of beta-structure in the fibroin solution. The gelation was dependent on the pH of the fibroin solution.
A Manned Interplanetary Flight Concept

INTRODUCTION In order to achieve maximum utilization of expensive system and component development, not only to reduce cost but also to improve reliability, advanced earth orbit vehicles and lunar vehicles should be directed as much as possible toward manned interplanetary flight. Whether the first manned interplanetary flights will include stopover (orbital and landing), or will launch probes while passing by the planet without stopping, has not as yet been determined. Stopover trips offer considerably more information but pose greater risk and require much greater booster capability, so that trips are projected further into the future perhaps well into the 1980’s. Since the flyby trips could be made earlier, this class is emphasized here. Of course, during studies leading to mission and vehicle selection, an iterative process of the various considerations discussed here, is used.
A Method for Studying Resistance to Drought Injury in Inbred Lines of Maize1

CORN production in the Great Plains area frequently is limited by periods of extremely high temperature accompanied by low humidity and deficient soil moisture in midsummer. Under such conditions it is necessary to consider the relative tolerance to drought and high temperatures of various strains in a corn improvement program. Wide variations in weather conditions from year to year make testing of this relative tolerance under field conditions very uncertain as stress periods may not occur in a given year or even in a succession of several years. It would therefore be highly desirable to have a simple and reliable technic for testing strains under controlled conditions. Very little work has been reported on the comparative injury of plants by high temperature under controlled conditions. Shirley ’~