Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in bark thickness in a tropical forest community of Western Ghats in India

1. We examined the relation between bark thickness and girth in a large sample of trees from evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forest. 2. There is a significant tendency for bark thickness to increase with tree girth. Removing this tendency, we find a significant trend for species from more disturbed habitats to possess thicker bark. 3. Species from more disturbed habitats also have a greater propensity for secreting gums and resins. 4. Nine of the 29 species occurring in more than one habitat type and with a sample size of at least 11 individuals show a tendency for possession of a thicker bark by individuals in the more disturbed habitats. 5. We conclude that bark thickness and occurrence of gums and resins are physiognomic-structural attributes of value in characterizing tree communities created by different levels of disturbance.
Techniques of Death: Buddhist Practice, Femininity and Self-Cultivation at the Last Stage of Life in Vietnam

This article explores how death is conceptualised by elderly lay Buddhist women in Hồ Chí Minh City (Vietnam). It explores the traits of a ‘good death’ which elderly laywomen wish to experience, and their dedicated practice of Buddhism to prepare themselves for a peaceful end stage of life. This article contends that, in fact, women’s perceptions of death speak to their desires to live a life with dignity and retain their full personhood and nurturing femininity which they have embodied throughout their adult lives even until their last moments. They pursue devotional practices to train their body and mind in order to prepare themselves for the critical moment of dying, believing that these self-cultivating practices will enable them to transcend physical suffering and mental confusion, and immediately move on to the next, better life.
The significance of materiality in shaping institutional habitus: exploring dynamics preceding school effects

This article examines the objective possibilities of Swedish schools to offer an equal and functional pedagogical practice for students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills. The data consist of policy documents, observations, and interviews with students, teachers, and head teachers in three educational settings distinguished by different social demographics. The focus allows for a comparative understanding of how tangible objects generate formations of schools as a relational phenomenon depending on geographic location and social background of students. The article indicates that the impact of materiality lies in its preceding power. It shapes the condition of institutions visualised in architecture, buildings, and the quality of and design of facilities and artefacts. From this material root emanates schools’ values, appeal, social status, and pedagogical organisations – school effects – that empower or weaken the school’s attraction and self-confidence. Different materialities influence each school’s institutional habitus, producing school effects with unequal educational outcomes.
Systematic revision and phylogeny of the Palaearctic species of the genus Achalcus Loew (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) with the description of four new species

Abstract. The Palaearctic species of the genus Achalcus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) are revised. Besides redescriptions of A.cinereus, A.fiavicollis, A.melanotrichus, A.thalhammeri and A.vaillanti, four species are described as new: A.bimaculatus, A.britannicus, A.nigropunctatus Pollet & Brunhes and A.phragmitidis. Keys to males and females of all Palaearctic species of the genus are given. Both morphologically and ecologically, A.melanotrichus is clearly distinct from all other species and seems to demonstrate the most primitive characters, especially in the thoracic and leg chaetotaxy. Epandrial setae and the epandrial lobe are clearly separated in the hypopygium of this species, whereas the former seem to be incorporated in the epandrial lobe in all other Palaearctic species. Seven out of 9 species show pale abdominal stemites and the presence or absence of the sutural bristle proves to be of special diagnostic value within this group. Furthermore, the reduced size of the anterodorsal bristles on the hind femur is considered a significant synapomorphy in four species. Finally, the investigation of Nearctic, Neotropic and Australasian Achalcus is considered relevant to confirm the polarity of a number of characters in this genus.
Pleomorphic conidiogenesis among strains of Knufia cryptophialidica

Pleomorphic conidiogenesis was examined in four strains of Knufia cryptophialidica Hutchison & Untereiner in culture. The ex-type strain (DAOM 216555) was the most plastic, exhibiting various patterns of conidiogenesis, and was the only strain that produced phialides, that is, the most important diagnostic structure of the genus, although many of these phialides were aberrant and produced abnormally swollen conidia that appeared to lack cytoplasm. Subsequently, hyphae emerged from the aberrant phialides and some of these hyphae later disarticulated to form thallic-arthric conidia. The ex-type strain ceased to produce normal phialides after several serial transfers onto malt extract agar. Endoconidiogenesis in K. cryptophialidica, reported here for the first time, involved subdivision of conidiogenous cells by septation and schizolysis through the septa, and their release was by rupture and subsequent degeneration of the conidiogenous cell wall. Both thallic-arthric and endogenous conidia occurred in all s.
The selection of suitable indices for the measurement and analysis of fish condition

A survey of the studies published in two leading fisheries journals revealed that the analysis and measurement of condition, based on length-weight data, has been performed using a wide variety of indices and statistical procedures. Eight forms of index were identified which can be categorized into those which measure the condition of individual fish, i.e. condition factors‘, and those which measure the condition of subpopulations as a whole, i.e. regressions of log, 10 weight on log, 10 length and the parameters of such regressions. Analysis of a test data set indicated that both the form of index and properties of the data set size can dictate the patterns of condition observed. The various indices were reviewed in terms of appropriateness, simplicity and statistical correctness. It was concluded that an index should be selected only after a detailed examination of both the underlying assumptions of the index and the properties of the data set.
Studies on Morinia: Recognition of Morinia longiappendiculata sp. nov. as a new endophytic fungus, and a new circumscription of Morinia pestalozzioides

A new coelomycete, Morinia longiappendiculata sp. nov., isolated from living stems of four plant species in central Spain, is described. The distinctive morphological characteristics of this fungus are the production of conidia with long basal and apical appendages on filiform conidiogenous cells that contrasts with the short-appendaged conidia and cylindrical conidiogenic cells of the type species, M. pestalozzioides. Comparative sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA region and fragments of the translation elongation factor 1α, actin and chitin synthase 1 genes and the study of the HPLC profiles of the M. longiappendiculata and M. pestalozzioides isolates supported the recognition of the new species. Comparison of the ITS rDNA sequences of the Morinia isolates with GenBank sequences indicated that the genus belongs to the Amphisphaeriaceae with the highest similarity to Bartalinia and Truncatella. Bresadola’s original definition of M. pestalozzioides is updated by adding information on conidiogenesis and molecular data. A lectotype and epitype are designated for the species. A study of bioactive metabolites revealed that M. pestalozzioides cultures produced moriniafungin, a novel sordarin analog with potent antifungal activity.
Molecular and phenotypic description of the widespread root symbiont Acephala applanata gen. et sp. nov., formerly known as dark-septate endophyte Type 1

Acephala applanata gen. et sp. nov. is described. A. applanata is a dark-septate endophyte (DSE) of conifer roots and belongs to the Phialocephala fortinii species complex. Several genetic markers, including isozymes, inter-simple-sequence-repeat (ISSR) fingerprints, single-copy restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) and sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), let us unambiguously separate isolates of A. applanata from isolates of P. fortinii s.l. and other dark-septate endophytes. Alleles at four RFLP loci and two fixed nucleotides in the ITS region were diagnostic for A. applanata. One of the fixed nucleotides resulted in the addition of an Afa I restriction site. PCR amplification with primers prITS4 and the newly developed primer PF_ITS_F (ACT CTG AAT GTT AGT GAT GTC TGA GT) and restriction digestion with Afa I yielded three fragments (203 bp, 117 bp, 56 bp) in A. applanata but only two (260 bp and 117 bp) in P. fortinii s.l. Population differentiation (GST) between A. applanata and other cryptic species of P. fortinii was pronounced, and the index of association (IA) did not deviate significantly from zero, showing that recombination occurs or had occurred in A. applanata. Although isolates of A. applanata never were observed to sporulate, it can be distinguished morphologically from P. fortinii s.l. by the scarcity of aerial mycelium, significantly slower growth and denser mycelium on cellophane overlaid on water agar. These phenotypic characteristics, combined with diagnostic RFLP alleles and/or PCR-RFLP of the ITS fragment with the fixed Afa I restriction site, unequivocally allow identification of A. applanata.
Association of ergot alkaloids with conidiation in Aspergillus fumigatus

Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins that affect the nervous and reproductive systems of exposed individuals through interactions with monoamine receptors. They have been studied more widely in ergot fungi and grass endophytes but also are found in Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human pathogen that reproduces and disseminates exclusively through conidia. The ergot alkaloids festuclavine and fumigaclavines A, B and C are present in or on conidia of A. fumigatus. Cultures of the fungus that are free of conidia are difficult to obtain, obscuring comparisons of conidia versus vegetative hyphae as sources of the ergot alkaloids. To create conidiation-deficient strains of A. fumigatus we manipulated the bristle A gene (brlA), which controls vesicle formation or budding growth necessary for conidiation in Aspergillus spp. Disruption of brlA in A. fumigatus, via homologous recombination, resulted in a nonconidiating mutant that produced bristle-like structures instead of conidiophores and conidia. Moreover the disrupted strain failed to produce ergot alkaloids as verified by HPLC analyses. Complementation with a wild-type allele restored conidiation and ergot alkaloid production. These results suggest that ergot alkaloids are not produced within the vegetative mycelium of the fungus and are associated directly with conidiation.
Individual and combined effects of cadmium and copper on the growth response of Chlorella vulgaris

The individual and combined effects of cadmium and copper on the growth response of the green alga, Chlorella vulgaris, were examined. The effects of pH alone, and in combination with copper were also evaluated. An increase in cadmium and copper concentrations caused a significant reduction in the growth of C. vulgaris cells, and the corresponding EC50 values were 1.02 and 4.01 mg L−1, respectively. For a pH range of 2–7, the inhibitory effect due to increased copper concentrations (coupled with the resulting drop in pH) was significantly higher than the impact due to increased acidity (by addition of HCl) alone. At lower metal concentrations (5 mg L−1 Cu + < 2 mg L−1 Cd or 2.5 mg L−1 Cd + < 4 mg L−1 Cu), a combination of copper and cadmium appeared to have a stronger inhibitory effect on cell growth than that of a single metal. In contrast, at higher metal concentrations (5 mg L−1 Cu + > 2 mg L−1 Cd or 2.5 mg L−1 Cd + > 4 mg L−1 Cu), the effect of a single metal exhibited a significantly stronger effect compared to a combination of the two metals. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 14: 347–353, 1999
Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Crude Extracts and Isolated Compounds of Xylocarpus mollucensis

The fractionated crude extracts and three isolated pure compounds XM-1, XM-2 and XM-3 from stem bark of Xylocarpus mollucensis were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and cytotoxicity against brine shrimp nauplii. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) extracts and the compounds isolated from EtOAc fractions were studied for their antimicrobial activities. Cytotoxic activities were conducted only with EtOAc extract and its selected fractions. The EtOAc extract showed promising antimicrobial activities against all the gram positive and gram negative bacteria whereas petroleum ether extract showed moderate activities and the MeOH extract did not show any antimicrobial activities. The isolated pure compounds XM-1, XM-2 and XM-3, whose structures were not elucidated, exhibited activities against most of the bacterial strains. The cytotoxicity towards brine shrimp nauplii of the crude EtOAC extract and its selected fractions were studied. The LC 50 values of the EtoAc extract was 12.6 ? g/ml and for the fractions 2, 5, 8 and 13 were 17.78, 13.34, 14.13 and 15.85 ? g/ml, respectively. Key words: Antimicrobial; Cytotoxic; Xylocarpus ; Meliaceae. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 6(2): 109-112, 2007 (December)
Molecular markers for systematic identification and population genetics of the invasive Ponto‐Caspian freshwater gammarid Dikerogammarus villosus (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

The Ponto-Caspian amphipod, Dikerogammarus villosus, is an invasive species of many European rivers. First, we show that size difference of nrDNA ITS1 allows discriminating D. villosus from Dikerogammarus bispinosus, a closely related but morphologically hardly distinguishable species. Second, we present two types of polymorphic markers for D. villosus, three microsatellites and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of mtDNA COI gene, which were scored by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). These markers will be very useful in studying population genetics of D. villosus.
Maize leaf development biases caused by air-apex temperature differences

Accurate determination of leaf appearance rate is required in crop simulation models to estimate canopy development and ultimately crop yield. Most crop simulation models use air temperature for thermal time calculations to estimate leaf appearance rate, although the near soil temperature is more closely related to the growing apex temperature than air temperature before stem elongation. A field experiment was conducted in 1996 at East Lansing, MI, to determine the effect of soil, air, and apex temperatures on maize (Zea mays L.) leaf development. Maize leaf tip appearance dates and leaf numbers were observed on four sowing dates to provide variations in the thermal regime of developing plants. Solar irradiance and temperature of the air (1.5 m height), apex, and soil (1-, 3-, and 5-cm depths) were recorded on 0.5-h (half-hourly) intervals. The daily average soil temperature at the 3- to 5-cm depth was reasonably close (+0.6°C in average) to the daily average apex temperature for use as a surrogate for apex temperature to increase the accuracy of maize development simulation in the sowing to ninth leaf tip stage. Thereafter, the air temperature was sufficiently accurate to estimate plant development. Using apex temperatures from leaf 3 to 9, this study indicated that the phyllochron was near 55°C d (degree days) per leaf tip appearance. The consistent bias between air and apex temperature from sowing to V6 found in this study dearly indicates the necessity of using the right temperature in thermal time calculations for accurate maize development simulation.
Tubeufia asiana, the teleomorph of Aquaphila albicans in the Tubeufiaceae, Pleosporales, based on cultural and molecular data

The teleomorph of Aquaphila albicans was discovered on submerged wood collected in Thailand. Its black, soft-textured, setose ascomata, bitunicate asci and hyaline to pale brown, multiseptate ascospores indicated an affinity to Tubeufiaceae (Dothideomycetes). After morphological or molecular comparisons with related species in Tubeufia, Acanthostigma and Taphrophila, it is described and illustrated as a new species, T. asiana Sivichai & K.M. Tsui, sp. nov. Finding this Tubeufia teleomorph was surprising, given the falcate conidia of its A. albicans anamorph, which superficially resemble the conidia of Fusarium and not the coiled, helicosporous conidia of other species in Tubeufiaceae. We assessed the phylogenetic relationships of A. albicans-T. asiana with ribosomal sequences from SSU and ITS and partial LSU regions by parsimony and Bayesian analysis. An initial set of 40 taxa representing a wide range of ascomycete families and their SSU sequences from GenBank showed A. albicans-T. asiana to be nested within the Tubeufiaceae with 100% bootstrap support. Their placement was inferred with ITS and partial LSU ribosomal sequences. The nearly identical ITS sequences of two isolates of A. albicans and one isolate of Tubeufia asiana united these fungi as a monophyletic group with 100% bootstrap support and further nested them, with 88% bootstrap support, in a clade containing Helicoon gigantisporum and Helicoma chlamydosporum. This is the first molecular phylogenetic study to place a nonhelicosporous species within the Tubeufiaceae and to show that helical conidia were lost at least once within the family.
An Unnatural Amino Acid that Induces β-Sheet Folding and Interaction in Peptides

This paper introduces a unique amino acid that can readily be incorporated into peptides to make them fold into β-sheetlike structures that dimerize through β-sheet interactions. This new amino acid, Orn(i-PrCO-Hao), consists of an ornithine residue with the β-strand-mimicking amino acid Hao [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 7654−7661] attached to its side chain. When Orn(i-PrCO-Hao) is incorporated into a peptide, or appended to its N-terminus, the Hao group hydrogen bonds to the three subsequent residues to form a β-sheetlike structure. The amino acid Orn(i-PrCO-Hao) is readily used in peptide synthesis as its Fmoc derivative, Fmoc-Orn(i-PrCO-Hao)-OH (3). Fmoc-Orn(i-PrCO-Hao)-OH behaves like a regular amino acid in peptide synthesis and was uneventfully incorporated into the peptide o-anisoyl-Val-Orn(i-PrCO-Hao)-Phe-Ile-Leu-NHMe (4) through standard automated Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis, with DIC and HOAt as the coupling agent for Fmoc-Orn(i-PrCO-Hao)-OH and o-anisic acid and HATU as the coupling age.
Use of Statistical Models for the Estimation of Abundance from Groundfish Trawl Survey Data

Estimates of fish abundance from stratified random trawl surveys are highly variable and a number of estimators from various statistical models have been suggested to provide more precise estimates. However, model-based estimates of the survey finite population mean which are not based on the sample mean, can be biased and nonrobust to deviations from the model. This is demonstrated in particular for estimates based on the Δ-distribution. A criterion known as asymptotic design consistency (ADC) is presented for selecting those models that can provide estimates of the finite population mean which are asymptotically robust to deviations from the model. The concept of a predictive estimate is presented as a means of incorporating models into an estimate of the finite population mean which can provide more information than the sample mean. Predictive estimates use statistical models to relate the abundance measured in the sample to covariates measured over the whole survey area. This paper demonstrates that c.
Mycosphaerella suberosa and M. intermedia sp. nov. on Eucalyptus in New Zealand

Abstract Mvcosphaerella suberosa is repofled for the ‘'st time from New Zea1and On Eucalyptus muelleriana. It has slightly smaller pseudothecia than those described for M. suberosa fi‐om Brazil and Australia and is from a previously unrecorded host. Mycosphaerella intemedia sp. nov. on Eucalyptzds saligna is also described. An annotated list of the six Previously recorded species Of Mycosphaerella On Eucalyptus in New Zealand is included.
Vertical distribution of organic matter in eight vegetation types near Eagle Summit, Alaska

The amount and distribution of organic matter was measured in different categories in six montane tundra vegetation types in a snow accumulation area and in tussock and intertussock areas in Eriophorum vaginatum tussock tundra in central Alaska. In root properties, the tussock and intertussock areas were more similar to the fellfield zone than to the vegetation zones below the snow accumulation area. Root density apparently increased as soil nutrients decreased, but this increase may be caused by higher soil moisture and higher root relative water content. The tussock tundra has accumulated more dead soil organic matter than any of the montane zones.
Doctoral theses

Whilst widening participation sits under one national policy, individual institutions enact this in different ways. Using a comparative approach, this thesis examined how and why practices diverge. Adopting a two-phase approach, a critical discourse analysis of the 2016–2017 access agreements across 10 institutions was conducted in order to explore the commonalities and differences in discourses deployed in policy by different types of institution. Phase two then explored some of these issues with 16 semi-structured interviews which used creative methods to delve beyond rhetorical discussions of issues such as targeting and ‘raising aspirations’. The findings identified a policy–practice gap in relation to a number of specific issues. These included: the role of marketisation in driving institutional agendas, who is framed as a ‘potential’ student, and the role understandings of aspiration play in interpreting national widening participation policy agendas. Additionally, this thesis developed a framework for understanding how individuals’ personal and professional experiences can shape policy enactment in widening participation. This thesis foregrounds a previously under-researched group; individuals in widening participation outreach roles. It also makes a theoretical contribution to the sociology of education through considering the role of temporality in understanding policy through a critical realist approach.