Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three new species of genus Trimma from Palau, Western Pacific (Percomorpha: Gobiidae)

ThreenewspeciesoftheIndo-Pacificgobiidgenus Trimma are described, based primarily or entirely on material from Palau. Trimma gigantum n. sp. is characterized by the pres enceofpredorsalscales,elongatedorsalspines,sixdarksad dlesalongthedorsumonayellowbackground,fullyscaled cheek and opercle, a fifth pelvic fin ray that is branched dichotomouslyonce,andlargeadultsize(to30mmSL). It appears to be a relatively deep-water species (57-73 m). Trimma randalli n. sp. also has a yellowish body, and scales onthecheek,opercleandinthepredorsalmidline,butlacks saddles across the dorsum and has a black caudal fin edged with white. There is a photographic record of this species from the Philippines. Trimma tauroculum n. sp. is immediately distinguishable from all other described species by the presenceofalarge(about1.25timespupildiameter)brownblack ocellated spot on the upper body, its anterior margin immediatelyabovethepectoral-finbase,noscalesinthepre dorsalmidline,andnoelongatedorsalspines.Thereisapho tographicrecordofthisspeciesfromUlithiAtoll,YapIslands (westernCarolines).
Comparative Analysis of REGg Expression in Mouse and Human Tissues

The REGg proteasome has been reported as a shortcut to destruction of proteins. However, the physiological functions of REGg are largely unknown. To understand the potential biological roles of REGg associated with different tissues or cell types, we performed systematic analysis of REGg gene expression in 20 different tissues from mice, followed by validation of protein expression in mouse tissues and bioinformatic analysis of REGg gene expression profiles in selected human tissues. Comparative analysis of REGg distribution in different tissues from wild-type and REGg knockout mice indicates that REGg is present in many tissues and is specifically expressed in some cell types. The highest expression of REGg is in the testis and unique expression features of REGg are revealed in a subset of neurons, including retinal ganglion cells and Purkinje cells. It is also expressed in reproductive and gastro-intestinal organs. These expressed patterns suggest potentially important functions for REGg in the nervous system, reproductive system and in cells with proliferative capacity. Consistent with the importance of its expression in reproductive tissue, REGg deficiency results in dose-dependent reduction in litter size.
Micropropagation of Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Meristem culture and/or thermotherapy were used to eliminate viruses from ornamental Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill. ('Spotti' and 'Frosty Fire') mother plants. Shoot tip, leaf, node, and ovary explants collected from greenhouse-maintained, virus-free plants were cultured in vitro for shoot initiation on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing BAP, kinetin, or 2-iP with or without IAA or NAA. Culture of shoot tips in MS with 0.57 µM IAA and node explants in MS with 2.46 µM 2-iP is recommended for 'Spotti' cultivar. In 'Frosty Fire', optimum number of axillary shoots was obtained from shoot tip and node explants in MS without plant regulators. Leaves and ovaries were not adequate explants for D. gratianopolitanus micropropagation because none or only a low percentage of explants regenerated shoots. High levels of cytokinins increased the number of shoots per explant but also increased the production of aberrant phenotypes and induced hyperhydricity. Adventitious shoots rooted in vitro with auxins, but maximum rooting was 97% ex vitro without auxins. This study demonstrated that D. gratianopolitanus can be successfully micropropagated. Chemical names used: 6-benzyladenine (BAP); kinetin (KIN); 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)-purine (2iP); indole-acetic acid (IAA); indole-3-butyric acid (IBA); α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); gibberellic acid (GA3).
Experimental Tests of Optimal Habitat Use in Fish: The Role of Relative Habitat Profitability

Utilizing optimal foraging theory and laboratory estimates of foraging costs, we predict the choice of foods and use of habitats by fish in the field. These predictions are tested with the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) foraging in three habitats (open water, sediments, and vege- tation) in a pond. Relations describing prey encounter rates in each habitat as a function of prey size, prey density, and fish size were derived from laboratory experiments. These relations permitted us to estimate prey encounter rates based on weekly prey samples in each habitat of the pond. We then determined the optimal diet and profitability (net energy return) for each habitat through time. Predictions of optimal diet exhibited good qualitative correspondence to the actual diet of the fish in the open water and vegetation, although we consistently predicted a slightly narrower diet than the fish were choosing. The model correctly predicted the magnitude of the change in size selection on Daphnia pulex with fish size and with decline in prey density. Predictions of optimal diet in the sediments were considerably in error apparently due to a tendency for late-instar midges to burrow deep in the sediments, thereby becoming unavailable to the fish. In this case habitat profitabilities were computed simply on the basis of the actual observed diet. Predictions of optimal habitat use, i.e., when the fish should switch habitats to maximize feeding rates, showed striking correspondence to the actual habitat use of the fish; the bluegills switched from feeding in the open water column to feeding from the sediments within a few days of our predictions. The actual habitat use pattern differs dramatically from a null model of random habitat use. We indicate how this approach may be useful in studying intra- and interspecific exploitative interactions.
Modeling Natural Convection with Solidification in Mould Cavities

In this work, a comparative assessment of the finite volume (FVM) and finite element (FEM) methods is performed in the analysis of different problems involving natural convection. The FVM semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm and a fixed-mesh FEM using a generalized streamline operator (GSO) technique are used in the numerical solution of the thermally coupled incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The thermal induced fluid flow pattern, the modified temperature field, and the heat transfer conditions are successfully evaluated in natural convection problems, including phase-change and mould wall conductance effects.
Effect of SNP origin on analyses of genetic diversity in cattle

The methods of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification can lead to ascertainment bias, which will affect population genetic analyses based on those data. In livestock species, the methods of SNP identification through genome sequencing are likely to suffer from this ascertainment bias. In the present study, a subset of data from the Bovine HapMap Project was re-analysed to quantify the effects of ascertainment bias on a range of common analyses and statistics. Data from 189 animals of the zebu breeds Brahman, Nelore and Gir, taurine beef Angus, Limousin and Hereford and taurine dairy Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss were analysed. There were 141 SNPs each of Angus, Brahman and Holstein origin, giving a total of 423 SNPs organised in 141 triplets. Each triplet consisted of one SNP of each breed, separated on average by 0.75 Mb within each triplet and where triplets were separated by 14.96 Mb to ensure that each triplet was unaffected by linkage disequilibrium. The minor allele frequency distribution, estimates of the F-statistic, FST, the partitioning of variance and population substructure were relatively unaffected by breed of origin of the SNPs. Estimates of heterozygosity were significantly affected by breed of origin of the SNPs. The clustering of animals of closely related breeds varied in the principal component analyses (PCA). However, in the PCA the effect of breed of origin of 141 SNPs was similar to the effect of using different panels of 141 SNPs of all three breeds, so the differences found in the PCA may not be all due to bias by the origin of the SNPs. Based on these results, analyses that depend on FST, including signatures of selection, gene flow and effective population size are unlikely to be strongly affected by SNP origin. Analyses that partition genetic variance and some analyses of population substructure will also be largely unaffected. However, analyses that are dependent on locus heterozygosity, which can be used for studying population bottlenecks, or those that study selection using extended haplotype homozygosity may be significantly affected by breed of origin of the SNPs. © 2010 CSIRO.
The effect of nutrient availability and temperature on chain length of the diatom, Skeletonema costatum

We determined the effects of temperature and nutrients on the chain length of a diatom, Skeletonema costatum, in batch culture and enclosure experiments with estuarine water from San Francisco Bay, USA, using the recently developed CytoBuoy flow cytometer. Determination of the number of cells per diatom chain by CytoBuoy flow cytometer and associated software correlated well with but was much more precise and time efficient than microscopic quantification. Increasing temperatures (from 6, 8 to 17°C) and nutrient concentrations induced high growth rates and dominance by longer chains in a cultured S. costatum strain that was originally acclimatized to a temperature range of 11-30°C. Similarly, a positive correlation between growth rate and chain length was observed in S. costatum in batch culture and natural communities in enclosure experiments. Maximal chain lengths of S. costatum were greater in natural populations than in the batch culture. Longer chains affect sinking rates and thus likely help the diatom remain suspended in the upper part of the water column where physical and chemical parameters are more favorable for growth.
Variability in the host acceptance of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. (Lep., Pyralidae) in strains of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae)

The acceptance of the natural host Ostrinia nubilalis was compared in Trichogramma maidis (5 strains), T. evanescens (2 strains), T. ostriniae (1 strain) and T. dendrolimi (1 strain). Significant interspecific differences were detected in the number of parasitized eggs of O. nubilalis. The lowest parasitization activity and reduction in the proportion of parasitizing females were recorded in strains of T. evanescens. Significant intraspecific differences were also recorded among strains of T. maidis. The strains of T. maidis from natural host Mamestra brassicae did not differ in parasitization from other strains of T. maidis from natural host O. nubilalis. Great differences were found in the number of progeny per host egg so both at interspecific and intraspecific level. Comparing studied strains no differences were found in sex ratio of female's progeny.
ON INCOMPRESSIBLE BUOYANCY FLOW BENCHMARKING

Nowadays, the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes has become routine, although there are still some unresolved basic issues. The crucial step in the testing of numerical codes is benchmarking. Accurate solutions of benchmarks represent reference points for code development. As studies have revealed, the already existing benchmarks for natural-convection flows do not satisfactorily validate numerical codes. The authors propose the advection of a hot rectangular plume in a cold fluid placed in a rectangular cavity as a new benchmark for incompressible buoyancy flows. Our attention was focused on low-viscosity flows at zero thermal diffusivity. Together with the benchmark's configuration, the results of numerical calculations are presented to serve as a reference point for further investigations.
Resource availability and biodiversity effects on the productivity, temporal variability and resistance of experimental algal communities

Resource availability is important for biodiversity dynamics and community structure, and might alter biodiversity effects on ecosystem productivity and stability. We independently manipulated nutrient availability and species richness in aquatic algal microcosms. Little effect of species richness on biomass production was detected in either high or low nutrient microcosms. However, relative yield analysis and an additive partitioning method indicated greater complementarity effects in low than in high nutrient microcosms, and the complementarity effect showed no trend through time. The effect of species richness on the temporal variability of community was neutral in nutrient-rich environment, while a stabilizing effect of diversity was found in nutrient-poor environment. During a cold perturbation compensatory growth among species was present only in the nutrient-poor environment, while community biomass was reduced only in the nutrient-rich environment. The responses of community and constituent species to cold perturbation were diversity-independent in each environment. Our results suggest that further investigations are needed into the effect of environmental context on the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and ecosystem stability.
Relocation of a Large Black-crowned Night Heron Colony in Southern California

Abstract The Port of Long Beach is currently developing the former U.S. Naval Station Long Beach into a marine container terminal. When the Naval Station was operational, a large Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) colony (up to 500 pairs) occupied mature Indian Laurel (Ficus microcarpa) and Olive (Olea europaea) trees that lined the Station streets. Although Black-crowned Night Herons are abundant throughout southern California, a nesting colony of this size is unusual. As part of an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Port agreed to relocate the colony prior to construction of the terminal. In 1999, 50 mature Indian Laurel, Olive, and Paperbark (Melaleuca sp.) trees were boxed and transported to a location in the port approximately two km from the original site. The relocated trees supplemented approximately 70 trees and bushes already at the location, formerly a park. Black-crowned Night Heron decoys were placed in the trees, heron vocalizations recorded from the original colony site were played twice per day, and public access to the site was eliminated. Three years of monitoring have shown that nesting has been successful and has increased at the relocation site; in 2000, 1,128 young were produced from 423 nests. Three years remain in the monitoring plan. No other documented relocation of an entire Black-crowned Night Heron colony of this size is recorded.
Effects of Power Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Growth of Germinating Vicia faba L., the Broad Bean

Experimental investigations were carried out to evaluate the effect of continuous and delayed exposure of power frequency electromagnetic fields at 5, 50 and 100 μT on germinating Vicia faba seedlings as a model system. These studies included physical parameters (length and girth of primary roots, number as well as length of lateral roots and imbibition), major biochemical constituents (total sugar, protein, and fat) and activities of important housekeeping enzymes (amylases, proteases, and lipase) at 2, 4, and 8 days of growth. Also, mitotic index and rate of DNA synthesis were studied at day 8 of growth. There was no significant change in physical parameters and major biochemical constituents between control and experimental groups. Also, the comparison between the control and experimental group of seeds showed that α-amylase activity significantly decreased at 5, 50 and 100 μT on day 2 and 4 of growth. β-amylase and protease (37○C & 50○C) showed a significant decrease in activity on day 2 and 4 of growth at 100 μT, whereas activity of lipase significantly decreased only on day 2 of growth at 100 μT. At day 8 of growth, all enzyme activities reverted back to the same as control. Also, there was a significant increase in mitotic index as well as 3H-thymidine uptake at 100 μT delayed exposure on day 8. The present study suggests that exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields up to 100 μT on germinating seedlings does not cause any permanent damage since the initial alteration under the magnetic fields in some important housekeeping enzymes involved in the onset of seed germination were returened to control values on day 8 of growth. Also, the growth of the germinated seedlings was found to be enhanced by the application of power frequency magnetic fields (100 μT) as evidenced by mitotic index and 3H-thymidine uptake.
respiration by competing with oxygen at cytochrome oxidase

Nitric oxide (NO) reversibly inhibited oxygen consumption of brain synaptosomes. Inhibition was reversible, occurred at the level of cytochrome oxidase, and was apparently competitive with oxygen, with half-inhibition by 270 nM NO at oxygen concentrations around 145 PM and by 60 nM NO at around 30 PM Oz. Isolated cytochrome oxidase was inhibited by similar levels of NO. These levels of NO are within the measured physiological and pathological range for a number of tissues and conditions, suggesting that NO inhibition of cytochrome oxidase and the competion with oxygen may occur in vivo.
Microencapsulation of Langerhans Islets in Agarose Microbeads and Their Application for a Bioartificial Pancreas

Microencapsulation of islets is considered to be a promising approach to the development of a bioartificial pancreas. In this study agarose was examined as a material to microencapsulate islets. By a low-temperature gelation tech nique, islets can be easily microencapsulated into agarose microbeads without any adverse effect on the functions of islets. Encapsulated islets in agarose microbeads maintained their intact round shapes during the entire period of culturing. They secreted 50-70 μU islet-1 day -1 insulin into the culture medium and regulated insulin secretion minute by minute in response to the change of glucose concentration even after 140 days of in vitro culture. The molecular weight permeability of agarose microbeads can be modulated by changing the agarose concentration. Agarose microbeads containing higher than 10 wt% can hinder the penetration of bovine serum albumin (M.W. = 67,000), and thus can protect islets from the attack of immunoglobulin. Hamster islets encapsulated in microbeads containing 11 wt% agarose were xenogenically transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of a diabetic mouse. Before the transplantation plasma glucose levels were higher than 400 mg dL-1. After transplantation plasma glucose levels were normalized within two days and the normoglycemic period was 29 days. Although more studies are needed to prolong this period for bioartificial pancreas function, agarose is a prominent basic material for en capsulating islets.
The impact of anaesthetic technique on survival and fertility in Drosophila

Abstract The consequences of ice and carbon dioxide anaesthetics on the survival and reproductive success of Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster were investigated after observations of high levels of mortality in D. simulans, possibly associated with brief chill coma. The association between brief chill coma and death is confirmed in female D. simulans but there is no mortality in male D. simulans or D. melanogaster of either sex. Mortality is unlikely to be associated with a strain specific cold intolerance because two geographically distinct populations of D. simulans were examined. In addition to the effect of ice anaesthesia, anaesthetizing newly‐eclosed male D. simulans with CO2 causes a reduction in fertility, which is evident 9–13 days after anaesthesia. This finding is important given that CO2 anaesthesia is a standard technique used in Drosophila and other insect cultures, and may have important consequences for studies of male fertility and sperm competition.
Natural Sprawl *

Sprawling and leapfrogging suburbs, as opposed to compact central cities, appear peaceful, clean, and safe. They appear happy and healthy. On the other hand, suburbs look and feel fake, dull, and alienating. Which one is happier and healthier, sprawling or compact areas? I discuss pros and cons of sprawling and compact counties drawing on social and natural sciences. I also perform a simple quantitative exercise—I regress several wellbeing/health measures on sprawl and density at county level. Sprawl is measured with Ewing’s index. Sprawling and low-density counties are healthier in terms of mentally and physically healthy days than non-sprawling counties, controlling for many predictors of health. I interpret it as the advantage of low-density living close to nature. Given rather unaesthetic nature of American suburbia, I argue that if we left more nature in suburbs, people living there would be even happier.
TRUE WINTER RANGE OF THE VEERY (CATHARUS FUSCESCENS): LESSONS FOR DETERMINING WINTER RANGES OF SPECIES THAT WINTER IN THE TROPICS

Abstract Most recent references describe the winter range of the Veery (Catharus fuscescens) as including an extensive area from northern Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana south to south-central Brazil. Analysis of seasonal distribution of specimen records in South America, however, shows that 91 of 105 specimens were taken during spring and fall, not winter; the remaining 14, taken from 2 December to 20 February, are all from three small areas at the periphery or south of the Amazon basin. Thus, the true winter range is almost completely south and east of the area generally described. The seasonal distribution of specimen records is consistent with observational data from South America and banding data from the Neotropics. Although those data must be treated cautiously, it appears that the true winter range of the Veery is in south-central and southeastern Brazil, an area where habitat destruction threatens many natural habitats, rather than in the relatively undisturbed areas of western Amazonia. Widespre.
Considerations on the Dynamics of the pH Values and Lactic Acid Content during Lactic Acid Fermentation of Carrot Juices with Different Pure Cultures

Suitability of the carrots for obtaining lactic acid fermented juices using different lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium sp. that are not constitutive from the epiphytic microbiota of vegetables was tested. One the one hand, the aim of this work was to obtain related data to the dynamics of the titrable acidity and the pH during the course of the controlled fermentation, due of the importance of these parameters on the shelf life of the final products. Optimum type of culture and optimum amount of inoculum was determined. On the other hand, the work proposes also model predictions for expressing the pH values and the lactic acid content dynamics, during lactic acid fermentation of carrot juices with different pure cultures. Using the CurveExpert 1.3 software application, specific regression equations were determined.