Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food intake of reindeer in winter

Management of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the northern regions have historically focused on reindeer–vegetation interactions, while few data on the food intake of these animals exist. Dry matter intake (DMI) was therefore estimated successively during winter in reindeer calves fed (i) ad libitum pelleted reindeer feed (RF-80; n=6), (ii) fed ad libitum mixed lichens (n=6) and (iii) in free-ranging reindeer calves (n=3) on natural winter pasture (March/April; 69 °N). Faecal output, determined with faeces collection bags, was 24±4, 6±3 and 22±3 g DM/day/kg BM0·75 in reindeer fed RF-80, mixed lichens and on winter pasture, respectively. Actual DMI of reindeer in captivity fed RF-80 and mixed lichens was 70±10 g DM/day/kg BM0·75 and 27±8 g DM/day/kg BM0·75, respectively. The DMI of the captive reindeer calves was accurately estimated on both diets on the basis of the digestibility of their diet and their faecal output. Using the same method, the DMI of free-ranging reindeer calves on natural winter pastures in northern Norway was estimated to be 34–61 g DM/day/kg BM0·75. The present study discusses factors that influence the food intake of reindeer in winter with emphasis on the seasonal regulation of appetite and DMI in these Arctic ruminants.
Why is the world so poorly prepared for a pandemic of hypervirulent avian influenza?

The world is now extremely poorly prepared to counter a possible pandemic of hypervirulent H5N1 influenza. Most countries are planning for nothing worse than the Spanish flu pandemic. It may be possible that this can in large measure be explained as a consequence of an epidemic of wishful thinking, which may already have infected the health authorities (and parts of the scientific community as well) in most countries in the world. However, it may also be possible that it can have happened as a consequence of too little contact between medical scientists and more general biologists (natural scientists) from disciplines such as ornithology, ecology and evolutionary biology. This may have led to a lack of proper understanding among medical scientists (and health bureaucrats) of the nature of evolutionary processes affecting influenza viruses, as regards the evolution of host species adaptation, infectivity and virulence properties, and also a lack of appreciation of the ways in which such forms of evolutionary adaptation depend on ecological boundary conditions that have radically changed, comparing the world in 2006 to the world in 1918. While the Spanish flu virus possibly might be compared to a one-headed monster, it may be possible that highly virulent varieties of H5N1 virus might better be compared to a three-headed one – because there is evidence of at least three independent virulence factors connected with three different genes. It is highly unlikely that all of the high-virulence alleles will simultaneously mutate and disappear if and when the haemagglutinin gene changes so as to make the haemagglutinin molecule better adapted for the human-type (alpha-2,6-linked) receptor (which is a necessary prerequisite in order that a pandemic with H5N1 virus may start). It is more probable that evolutionary adaptation of the haemagglutinin of H5N1 viruses to the human-type receptor will happen without any simultaneous change in those other genetic properties that now are important for explaining the exceptionally high virulence of certain strains of avian-adapted H5N1 influenza virus. The change of the haemagglutinin molecule from avian adaptation to human adaptation must be expected to act as an additional virulence factor because it will enhance the total number of cells that can be infected (per host organism), increase the total rate of virus replication and potentiate the effects of the other virulence factors already present. The monster will then have four heads, not three, and case fatality rates must be expected to become even higher than they have been until now, perhaps reaching as high as 98–99% (at least in poor countries with less than optimal nutrition).
To match or mismatch? that is only one important question

This study examined the experiential attitude function--an attitude based on past experience(s)-and tested whether a message targeted at this function would elicit attitude change. Each of 139 undergraduates was assigned randomly to one of four conditions in which a fictitious Executive Committee for Academic Integrity (ECAI) report, written for a university president, supplied strong or weak arguments. Furthermore, these messages either argued that tenure should be abolished (anti-tenure) or that tenure should continue (pro-tenure). Results indicated that, although the functional target of the message was not related to posttest attitudes, conformity to message recommendations was contingent upon the discrepancy between the respondent's initial attitude and the position advocated in the message. Interestingly, the mean attitude change in every experimental condition was negative, indicating that regardless of the position advocated in the message, respondents' attitudes became increasingly antitenure.
Determination of nuclear transcription factor activity using a modified electrophoretic mobility shift assay

ABSTRACT In this work, several major procedures of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were modified including swift extraction of the nucleic protein, labeling of the probe and radioautography. The modified assay required shorter time, simplified the nucleic protein extraction, increased the radioactivity of the labeling probe, skipped the tedious process of gel drying, and produced clear images. Its results were comparable, reproducible and stable. It thus has merited for wide application. Key words : Nuclear transcription factor, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, methodology, modification * Author for correspondence INTRODUCTION The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA, also known as gel retardation assay or band shift assay) is the simplest and, perhaps, the most widely used method for investigating the protein-nucleic acid interactions (Lane et al., 1992). This technique originated from the early work on the rRNA-protein interaction (Dahlberg et al., 1969; Shaup et al., 1970), and its widespread use dates from its development for the studies on the transcriptional regulation in the bacteria (Fried and Crothers, 1981; Garner and Revzin, 1981). It is based on the observation that the protein bound to the DNA or RNA fragment usually leads to a reduction in the electrophoretic mobility of the fragment in the nondenaturing polyacrylamide or agarose gels. The nucleic acid probe is usually labeled by the radioisotope. In 1983, Dignam et al (1983) firstly built up the technique of the nucleic protein extraction, followed by a multitude of such protocols for the EMSA. In China, over recent years, these techniques have been utilized to probe the activity of the nuclear transcription factors in the cellular signal transduction pathways. However, these protocols are tedious and difficult to grasp. It is therefore imperative to seek a simple, stable, and reliable EMSA protocol for studying the cellular signal transduction pathways. According to the protocols documented, a simple, economical and reproducible EMSA protocol was established, which was adopted in studying the activity of the nuclear transcription factors NF-κB
Purification and biochemical characterization of β-xylosidase from Humicola grisea var. thermoidea

β-d-Xylosidase production was maximal for Humicola grisea var. thermoidea grown on xylan as the sole carbon source. The main β-d-xylosidase activity was localised in the periplasm. β-Xylosidase was purified from crude extracts by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. The purified enzyme was a monomer of molecular mass estimated to be 43 kDa by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. Optima of pH and temperature were 6.0 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme activity was stimulated by Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+. The purified β-xylosidase did not exhibit xylanase, carboxymethylcelullase, galactosidase, glucosidase, fucosidase or arabinosidase activities. The purified β-xylosidase hydrolysed xylobiose and xylo-oligosaccharides of up to five monosaccharide units. The enzyme had a Km of 0.49 mM for p-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside and was not inhibited by its product, xylose.
Conséquences du stress hydrique chez huit cultivars de Pomme de terre (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract The objective is to identify, in the greenhouse conditions, genotypes of Potato, which are well adapted to climate of Sahel, characterised by almost permanent water deficit. Désirée and Sahel present the best yield in terms of the number of tubers obtained per plant, with 5.6 and 5.4 tubers/plant respectively. The best weight of tuber yield is obtained from Sahel (124.2 g/plant), Claustar (110.2 g/plant) and Aïda (104.4 g/plant). Claustar, Sahel and Atlas are the most resistant to water stress, with yield reduction estimated at 80, 68 and 62% respectively. Best results on the ratio plant growth/tuber yield are obtained with cv Claustar and Sahel in the conditions of water stress. The mean values of tuber yield parameters converge on the index rate of susceptibility to drought according to Acevedo (1991).
Comparison of Vegetation Indices and Red‐edge Parameters for Estimating Grassland Cover from Canopy Reflectance Data

There has been a great deal of interests in the estimation of grassland biophysical parameters such as percentage of vegetation cover (PVC), aboveground biomass, and leaf-area index with remote sensing data at the canopy scale. In this paper, the percentage of vegetation cover was estimated from vegetation indices using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data and red-edge parameters through the first derivative spectrum from in situ hypserspectral reflectance data. Hyperspectral reflectance measurements were made on grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China, using an Analytical Spectral Devices spectroradiometer. Vegetation indices such as the difference, simple ratio, normalized difference, renormalized difference, soil-adjusted and modified soil-adjusted vegetation indices (DVI, RVI, NDVI, RDVI, SAVIL = 0.5 and MSAVI2) were calculated from the hyperspectral reflectance of various vegetation covers. The percentage of vegetation cover was estimated using an unsupervised spectral-contextual classifier automatically. Relationships between percentage of vegetation cover and various vegetation indices and red-edge parameters were compared using a linear and second-order polynomial regression. Our analysis indicated that MSAVI2 and RVI yielded more accurate estimations for a wide range of vegetation cover than other vegetation indices and red-edge parameters for the linear and second-order polynomial regression, respectively.
Preliminary analysis of Stearoyl Co-A Desaturase gene transcripts in River buffalo

Abstract Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). In cattle, SCD gene extends over a DNA segment of ~17.0 Kb, and it is organized in 6 exons and 5 introns. The SCD gene has been indicated as the candidate gene to change the saturated/unsaturated FAs ratio and hence it has been suggested as the gene influencing the fat quality. In cattle, eight SNPs have been identified and one of them, (T→C) at 231st nt of 5th exon, is responsible for the Val→Ala amino acid change. The C allele has been associated with higher content of MUFAs in carcasses, and it is positively related to a higher index of desaturation (C18:0/C18:1 and C16:0/C16:1) in the milk. In this study, we report on preliminary results of analysis of transcripts of the SCD encoding gene in river buffalo. The electrophoretic analysis of the RT-PCR products and the subsequent sequencing showed at least five different populations of mRNA. The most represented population is correctly assembled (~1300 bp), followed by the one which is deleted of ~750bp, corresponding to the 3rd, 4th and 5th exon and partially to the 2nd and 6th exon.
Histochemical study of the ovarian development of the blue land crab Cardisoma guanhumi (Crustacea: Gecarcinidae)

The reproductive tract of female Cardisoma guanhumi was macroscopically and microscopically described. The stages of sexual maturation were defined and related to gonad coloration and to the degree of development of the germ cells, including oogonia (diameter 14.17 ± 0.97 µm), forming nests in the germ zone; pre-vitellogenic oocytes (PVO, 51.02 ± 2.90 µm) of a basophilic nature, with one or two nucleoli; vitellogenic oocytes (VO, 110.93 ± 7.04 µm) of acidophilic nature; mature oocytes (MO, 237.52 ± 13.54 µm), revealing the chorion; and atretic oocytes (AO). Follicular cells were found close to germ cells. The following gonad development stages were identified: immature (translucent color, germ zone containing oogonia, and peripheral maturation zone with PVO); maturing (color ranging from yellow to dark brown; maturation zone with VO); mature (dark brown color; predominance of MO in maturation zone); spawning (dark brown or yellow color, containing oocytes in early atresia, stage observed in ovigerous females); and resting (translucent to yellow color, thick gonad wall, and residual AO).
Cultural Variation and Mycorrhizal Status of Blueberry Plants in NW Oregon Commercial Production Fields

ABSTRACT Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of blueberry plants providing increased access to nutrients from fertilizers and soil. In August of 2001, we sampled 55 fields in Oregon to assess the mycorrhizal status of blueberry plants under production conditions and to determine whether any relationships exist between field characteristics, root distribution, soil characteristics and level of colonization by mycorrhizal fungi. Variation in measured soil characteristics, root type, root distribution and mycorrhizal colonization occurred with cultivar, field age, bed type, rate of nitrogen fertilization, irrigation type, and mulch. Root biomass was lower in the upper 15 cm of soil compared to 15-30 cm depth. Distribution of roots between the two sampled depths varied significantly with field age, nitrogen fertilization rate, and the time of 50% harvest for the different cultivars sampled. Root length was generally greatest in the upper 15 cm of the soil than at the 15-30 cm depth. Root colonization by ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) ranged from 0.5 to 44% of total root length with higher colonization generally occurring in the upper 15 cm of the soil where the majority of smaller, finer roots were found. Colonization generally increased with increasing plant age. In young plants the highest levels of colonization were found in roots from the upper 15 cm of soil while in older plants the highest levels of colonization were found in roots at the 15-30 cm depth. Colonization of roots by EMF in the upper 15 cm of the soil tended to decrease with increasing N fertilization rate, while root colonization at the 15-30 cm depth was unaffected by rate of N fertilization. Roots on cultivars that fruited early in the season tended to have higher levels of colonization than cultivars that fruited later in the growing season. Root biomass and root length were negatively correlated with soil pH and available Ca in soil, while root colonization by EMF was negatively correlated with ammonium levels in the soil. Differences in soil characteristics, root type and distribution, and mycorrhizal colonization found in this study need to be investigated in terms of production efficiency of blueberry in Oregon.
COMPARISON OF THE BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY-II AND THE INVENTORY TO DIAGNOSE DEPRESSION: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNSELORS

Community college counselors need to assess depressive symptoms in students and to differentiate depressive symptoms from anxiety symptoms to help them implement crisis intervention strategies. Two instruments available to the community college counselor are the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Inventory to Diagnose Depression (IDD). This article, which is based on the published literature, reports on and discusses the construct and discriminant validities of the BDI-II and IDD so that community college counselors may use them with knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each instrument. Although results should be interpreted with caution, both instruments are useful in measuring the presence or absence of depressive symptoms.
Numerical Magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract The ideal MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) equations accurately describe the macroscopic dynamics of a perfectly conducting plasma. Adopting a continuum, single fluid description in terms of the plasma density ρ, velocity v, thermal pressure p and magnetic field B, the ideal MHD system expresses conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and magnetic flux. This nonlinear, conservative system of 8 partial differential equations enriches the Euler equations governing the dynamics of a compressible gas with the dynamical influence - through the Lorentz force - and evolution - through the additional induction equation - of the magnetic field B. In multi-dimensional problems, the topological constraint expressed by the Maxwell equation ▿ · B = 0, represents an additional complication for numerical MHD. Basic concepts of shock-capturing high-resolution schemes for computational MHD are presented, with an emphasis on how they cope with the thight physical demands resulting from nonlinearity, compressibility, conservation, and solenoidality.
Length polymorphism at the Glu-A3 and Glu-D3 in wild relatives of wheat

Low molecular weight glutenin subunits are important components of wheat seed storage protein, and play a significant in determining the end-use quality characteristics of wheat varieties. Allelic variation of the LMW-GS is associated with the significant differences of dough quality in bread and durum wheat, and has been widely evaluated at protein level in wheat and its relatives. In this study seven specific primers, specifically amplify genes located at the Glu-A3 and Glu-D3 loci, were employed to assay the length variation of LMW-GS genes in the A and D-genomes of diploid wheats. A total of 86 accessions of diploid wheats, including 10 accessions of T. boeoticum and 76 accessions of Ae. tauschii, were investigated. Seven alleles were detected in accessions of T. boeoticum (Glu-A3 locus) by two pairs of specific primers and eighteen alleles were detected in accessions of Ae. tauschii (Glu-D3 locus) by five pairs of specific primers. A higher level of allelic variation of LMW-GS was found in accession T. boeoticum and Ae. tauschii with Nei’s genetic variation index (H) of 0.82 and 0.92, respectively. This allelic variation could be used as valuable source for the enrichment of genetic variations and the alteration of flour-processing properties of the cultivated wheat.
Habitat influences Northern Bobwhite survival at fine spatiotemporal scales

ABSTRACT Habitat quality influences individual survival at widely varying spatial and temporal scales. Understanding interactions between habitat and survival among individuals in declining populations that occupy highly modified landscapes can inform conservation strategies aimed at improving survival and population growth. We used radiotelemetry to monitor space use and daily survival of wintering Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) at the northern end of their range to test for fine spatial- and temporal-scale relationships between individual survival and habitat composition around radio-locations in agricultural landscapes in Ohio, USA. Habitat composition within daily and seasonal movement ranges of individuals (n = 189) during periods without snow cover did not explain variation in daily survival rates. However, mortality increased substantially in the presence of snow cover, and availability of woody cover and row crops within 95 m of an individual radio-location were positively associated with daily survival during those periods. A similar relationship between row crop availability and survival was supported at a larger scale that reflected composition of seasonal ranges (300-m buffer) but was less influential than fine-scale influences of woody cover and row crops. Our results suggest that previously documented selection for woody cover in our agricultural study areas was an adaptive behavior to improve individual survival during periods of snow cover. Positive associations between survival and row crop cover at daily and seasonal range scales suggest that agricultural landscapes confer improved survival probabilities when underlying constraints on occupancy related to woody cover are met. Collectively, our results suggest that targeted conservation practices focused on provision of suitable woody cover in agricultural landscapes in the northern end of the Northern Bobwhite's range has potential to improve winter survival and perhaps abate long-term population declines in the region.
Deep reinforcement learning for time-continuous substrates NICE Conference 2021 - online

To achieve their goal of realizing fast and energy-efficient learning, neuromorphic systems require computationally powerful models that obey the constraints imposed by a physical implementation of neural network structure and dynamics, such as the inevitability of relaxation times or the locality of plasticity. In this work, we provide a first-principles derivation of a mechanistic model for cortical computation based on the premise of "neuronal least action". The resulting time-continuous neuron and synapse dynamics realize gradient-descent learning through error backpropagation both in supervised and in reinforcement learning scenarios. In particular, the derived equations of motion reproduce well-established microscopic phenomena such as neuronal leaky integration of afferent signals, while enabling synaptic learning using only locally available information. Our principled framework can thus serve as a starting point for hardware-focused models of highly efficient time-continuous learning.
The adhesion of treefrog toe-pads to glass: cryogenic examination of a capillary adhesion system

Treefrog adhesive toe-pads in contact with a glass surface were examined with scanning electron microscopy after preparation of the specimens using cryogenic methods. Frozen two-pads lost all adhesive abilities, which may be ascribed to the freezing and cold contraction of the intermediary fluid found between the toe-pad and the substrate. Residue from this fluid remained behind on both toe-pad and the substrate. Impressions of toe-pad epithelial cells in the residue indicate that the individual cells may be relatively free to find their own closest contact with the substrate. The results corroborate earlier models indicating the importance of the intermediary fluid in a capillary adhesion system.