Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Trace Elements in Pectoral Fin Rays to Assess Life History Movements in Sturgeon: Estimating Age at Initial Seawater Entry in Klamath River Green Sturgeon

Abstract To investigate the timing of the initial entry of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris into seawater, we examined the ratios of strontium and barium to calcium in pectoral fin rays via laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In a reference group of six hatchery fish that was reared 1-2 years in freshwater and 1-3 years in seawater, we found a significant increase in the Sr:Ca ratio, a decrease in the Ba:Ca ratio, and an increase in the Sr:Ba ratio in calcified growth zones during the transition from freshwater to seawater. In 10 wild adults captured in the Klamath River, California, combined evaluation of the Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios provided a clearer understanding of fish movements than the Sr:Ba ratio, probably because wild fish have a more complex life history. The Ba:Ca ratio dropped significantly between growth zones 1 and 2 (ages 0.5-1.5), indicating a transition into saline waters, such as the Klamath River estuary. The Sr:Ca ratio increased slightly in the same locatio.
NO3 uptake in shallow, oligotrophic, mountain lakes: the influence of elevated NO3 concentrations

Abstract Nutrient enrichment experiments were conducted in 1.2-m deep enclosures in 2 shallow, oligotrophic, mountain lakes. 15N-NO3 isotope tracer was used to compare the importance of phytoplankton and benthic compartments (epilithon, surface sediment [epipelon], and subsurface sediment) for NO3 uptake under high and low NO3 conditions. NO3 uptake approached saturation in the high-N lake, but not in the low-N lake. The capacity of phytoplankton and benthic compartments to take up NO3 differed among treatments and between lakes, and depended on water-column nutrient conditions and the history of NO3 availability. Phytoplankton productivity responded strongly to addition of limiting nutrients, and NO3 uptake was related to phytoplankton biomass and photosynthesis. However, more NO3 usually was taken up by benthic compartments (57–92% combined) than by phytoplankton, even though the response of benthic algal biomass to nutrient additions was less pronounced than that of phytoplankton and benthic NO3 uptake was unrelated to benthic algal biomass. In the low-N lake where NO3 uptake was unsaturated, C content or % was related to NO3 uptake in benthic substrates, suggesting that heterotrophic bacterial processes could be important in benthic NO3 uptake. These results suggest that phytoplankton are most sensitive to nutrient additions, but benthic processes are important for NO3 uptake in shallow, oligotrophic lakes.
Physicalism

re-entrant signalling, a theory that seeks to show how neuronal activity and networks of the range and complexity needed for a functioning human brain are integrated and organized so as to explain human consciousness. ‘Re-entry’ is a heuristic capturing the idea of recursive signalling among neurons and neuronal networks all the way up. McMahon uses this framework to argue that aesthetic form stimulates the system in such a way as to leave a gap that is filled by a ‘free-floating concept’ which functions like Kantian aesthetic ideas [143]. In familiar naturalistic manner, then, McMahon seeks to explain what something is—in this case, beauty—by reference to how it comes to be, here through a causal account of aesthetic experience in terms of response to aesthetic stimuli. Despite the novelty of the terms, the idea that beauty arises from the successful fit between mind and world has a long philosophical pedigree. The problem, as I see it, is that this functional view cannot sustain the rational ideas claim that supports the elevated conception of beautyMcMahon defends. The whole point about rational ideas is that, while they respond to needs that arise in us but which remain unfulfilled because of our cognitive limitations, they are not fantastical; otherwise how could aesthetic judgments, which are so intimately connected with such ideas, have any cognitive value? Either rational ideas give us clues about values and aspirations that are worth having, or they are quaint by-products of the system. At one point in the text, McMahon observes rational ideas are the objects of an ‘irrational [sic] interest’ [34]. At first reading, I considered ‘irrational’ to be a misprint (the book has a few); on reflection it might not be one. If it is not, then it is unclear howMcMahon can hold on to the cognitive value of beauty which she defends with statements such as ‘Beauty reveals the world to us in all its glory’ [86]. If aesthetic judgment is the effect of the ‘evolutionary adaptive’ psychological processes [84] which McMahon describes, then it is perfectly possible that beauty is a useful pleasure, contributing to the tasks of survival, but this is taking it down a notch or two from the elevated account we find elsewhere in the book. Despite my reservations about the success of the fusion of idealism and naturalism McMahon attempts in this book, she pursues her synthetic vision with verve and determination, claiming a place for constructive philosophy within a paradigm shaped by science, while also conveying forcefully the seriousness and importance of her topic.
Taxonomic Revision and Cladistic Analysis of the Genus Peschetius Guignot (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

The genus Peschetius Guignot, 1942, is revised. At present, nine species are recognised, of which seven have an Ethiopian and two an Oriental distribution. A cladistic analysis of 16 taxa, including all Peschetius species, was undertaken. In all, 53 anatomical characters were considered. Two equally short trees were produced, differing only in the position of two taxa outside Peschetius. The present analysis supports the monophyly of Peschetius. Within the genus, however, the relations remain partly unclear. All species are described, and male and parts of female genitalia are illustrated. A key to the species, distribution based on verified material, and ecological information are given. P. ultimus sp.n. is described from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.
Inferential Transitions

ABSTRACT This paper provides a naturalistic account of inference. We posit that the core of inference is constituted by bare inferential transitions (BITs), transitions between discursive mental representations guided by rules built into the architecture of cognitive systems. In further developing the concept of BITs, we provide an account of what Boghossian [2014] calls ‘taking’—that is, the appreciation of the rule that guides an inferential transition. We argue that BITs are sufficient for implicit taking, and then, to analyse explicit taking, we posit rich inferential transitions (RITs), which are transitions that the subject is disposed to endorse.
Principales métodos para la determinación de la oxidación lipídica Main methods used in lipid oxidation determination

Main spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods for determination of lipid oxidation in foods and biological systems are reviewed. A new classification, according to the compounds produced in the oxidation phases, is suggested as follows: measurement of oxygen absorption, conjugated dienes, peroxide values, and decomposition of lipid peroxides. Both conjugated dienes (propagation phase) and thiobarbituric acid (termination phase) methods are the most used, despite their interferences; however, chromatographic methods are more precise and selective. Determination of bioavailability and metabolic pathway of the antioxidants in the human body are problems to be solved in the devel opment of new biological antioxidants.
Effect of yellow rust on yield components of barley cultivars with race-specific and slow rusting resistance to yellow rust

Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in some parts of the world. We compared the effectiveness of different types of resistance in field plots at Ardabil Agricultural Research Station (Iran) during 2010–2011. Yield components along with slow rusting parameters including final rust severity (FRS), apparent infection rate (r), relative area under disease progress curve (rAUDPC) and coefficient of infection (CI) were evaluated for 25 barley cultivars. In all, two barley cultivars with race-specific resistance, 19 cultivars with different levels of slow rusting resistance and four susceptible cultivars were included in two experiments with and without fungicide protection under high disease pressure. Barley cultivars with slow rusting resistance displayed a range of severity responses indicating phenotypic diversity. Mean thousand kernels weight (TKW) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 31, 3 and 12%, respectively, and mean kernels per spike (KPS) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 19, 0.2 and 8%, respectively. Correlation coefficient of mean TKW and KPS losses with epidemiological parameters; rAUDPC, r, CI and FRS were highly significant. Slow rusting cultivars with low values of different parameters as well as genotypes with low yield component losses despite moderate disease levels were identified. Such genotypes can be used for breeding barely genotypes with high levels of resistance and negligible yield losses.
Note. Hydrolysis of Onion and Kinetics of Non-Enzymatic Browning of its Hydrolysate

Enzymatic hydrolysis of onion was performed by three different commercial enzyme products (Econase, Rapidase and Viscozyme) for preparation of onion hydrolysates. The hydrolysis yield was determined through the analysis of reducing and total sugar contents in final hydrolysates. Total sugar contents after 2 h-hydrolysis with Econase, Rapidase and Viscozyme were 59.6, 64.1 and 62.2 mg/mL, respectively, and reducing sugar contents of 28.5, 42.7 and 35.9 mg/mL in the same order. According to these results Rapidase was more suitable for the hydrolysis of onion than the other enzymatic products. The effect of temperature on non-enzymatic browning reaction kinetics of the onion hydrolysate was determined. The browning index variation was adequately described by both the first- and the zero-order kinetic. However, the zero-order kinetic model was preferred because its fitting was higher. The values of kinetic constants were 0.081 (60 C), 0.185 (70 C), 0.270 (80 C) and 0.377 (90 C). According to the Arrhenius model, the activation energy for browning index in the range 60–90 C was 21.9 kJ/mol.
Vec2Struc: A Method Towards Explainable Structural-Based Node Embeddings

Network embeddings are a popular new method for encapsulating the complexity of networks in a reduced feature space. However, embeddings obfuscates the complexity of networks and make explainability of such models difﬁcult. We propose Vec2Struc, a new method aimed at providing more explain-able representations of network models. This approach examines nodes similar to one another in the generated embedding space and highlights common structures among them. This method provides a means to explore embeddings distribution-ally and visually, leading towards more transparent and inter-pretable AI systems utilizing state-of-the-art structural-based node embeddings.
Water Resources Analysis: An Approach based on Agent-Based Modeling

The paper aims to present a river basin modeling using GAMA platform for water resources analysis. Currently, several models based on multi-agent systems are used for natural resources management and they present satisfactory results for this type of scenario. GAMA is agents based and widely used in this context with several studies already published. In this study, the Sa o Gonc alo and Lagoa Mirim basins were considered from georeferenced data. In the modeling, regions, and rivers are agents on the system where rivers water can flow among neighbors regions.
In vivo efficacy of a novel double liposome as an oral dosage form of salmon calcitonin

A simple method for the preparation of the inner liposomes for double liposomes (DL) was developed. The encapsulation efficiency of erythrosine in liposomes prepared by this new method is superior to that of the previous method because of the concentration of the drug in the lipid membrane. To evaluate the usefulness of DL prepared by the glass‐filter method modified in this study as an oral dosage form of salmon calcitonin (SCT), a suspension of liposomes containing SCT was administered to rats at a dose of 10 μg SCT/kg. Each type of DL showed better efficacy than its inner liposomes alone. The decrease in plasma calcium level was dependent on the electrical charge and particle size of the inner liposomes. The hypocalcemic efficacy of DL encapsulating SCT‐loading cationic liposomes relative to that after subcutaneous administration of SCT at a dose of 1 μg/kg was 6.47%, which was the largest value obtained. These results indicated that not only the particle size but also the electrical charge of inner liposomes affect intestinal absorption. This study verified that the efficacy was increased because of the decrease in diameter of the inner liposomes and the use of lipid with a positive charge. These findings concluded that DL might be useful as an oral dosage form of SCT. Drug Dev. Res. 58:253–257, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occurrence of polytene chromosomes in the bicellular and mature pollen grains of endangered plant species Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract Endoreduplication is a modified form of mitotic cycle in which repeated rounds of DNA replication occur without chromosome segregation and cell division, leading to formation of larger and thicker chromosomes called polytenics. In the present study, spontaneous formation of polytene chromosomes in the generative nuclei of pollen grains of Amaryllidaceae, and presumably in angiosperms, was described for the first time. For this purpose, microspores and mature pollens of the endangered species Pancratium maritimum L. were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy with a special reference to the observation of polytenic nuclei. Polytene chromosomes were detected in most of the generative cells of young bicellular pollen grains and mature pollen grains found in some anther locules, but they were rare or absent in the other anther locules. Polytenization of chromosomes did not follow the same pattern in all of the pollen grains. Polytene structures found in the developing pollen grains of P. maritimum exhibited variation from a diffuse to a condensed state and from reticulate to cable-like structures with different degrees of bonding. In addition to cryptic polyteny, cable-like polytene chromosomes with bands resembling classic polytene chromosomes were also detected. However, some nuclei did not exhibit polytenic structure clearly. Morphological changes in polytene chromosomes that are caused by the formation of functional structures such as DNA amplification, puffing and looping were also recognized. Other reasons for morphological differences of polytene chromosomes are discussed in detail.
Increased Temperature Influences hilA Gene Fusion Expression in a Salmonella Typhimurium Poultry Isolate

Entry of a pathogen into a warm-blooded host can be accompanied by an increase in temperature. Therefore, it is expected that heat shock genes could play an important role in bacterial infection. The gene hilA encodes for a transcriptional regulator and is essential for S. Typhimurium invasion. In the current study, we generated a transcriptional fusion between the promoter of hilA and the gene gfp[LVA] encoding for a mutant GFP with a half-life of 40 min to observe the effect of heat as a stressor in activating hilA in Salmonella. β-galactosidase assays were also conducted to verify the expression of hilA under the investigated conditions. The highest induction of hilA (3.38 fold) was observed after 1 h of heat treatment (45ºC) as measured by the hilA-gfp[LVA] fusion construct. The cell transfer back to 37ºC resulted in a gradual decrease in hilA expression and no detectable induction after 2 h. Based on the activity of β-galactosidase, heat treatment of S. Typhimurium hilA::lacZY fusion strain at 45ºC was found to induce the expression of hilA 1.56 fold. The data demonstrates that elevated temperature may be an inducer of hilA expression. More studies including broader range of temperatures and conditions are needed to better characterize the influence of temperature increases on Salmonella pathogenicity.
In silico analysis of Eucalyptus thioredoxins

The Eucalyptus Genome Sequencing Project (FORESTs), an initiative from the Brazilian ONSA consortium (Organization for Nucleotide Sequencing and Analysis), has achieved the sequencing of 123.889 EST clones from 18 different cDNA libraries. We have investigated the FORESTs data set to identify EST clusters potentially encoding thioredoxins (TRX). Two types of thioredoxin families described in plants, chloroplastic (TRXm/f/x/y) and cytosolic (TRXh), have been found in the transcriptome. Putative typical TRXs have been identified in fifteen clusters, four m-type, seven h-type, two f-type, one cluster for each x/y-types and one putative homologue of the TDX gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. One cluster presents an atypical active site WCMPS, different from the conserved WCGPC present in the other 15 clusters, and corresponds to a subgroup of cytosolic thioredoxins. Except in specific libraries from callus, roots, seedlings and wood tissues, thioredoxin deduced ESTs are found in all remaining libraries. According to the calculated frequencies of ESTs, chloroplastic thioredoxins are preferentially present in green tissues such as leaves whilst cytoplasmic thioredoxins are more general but demonstrate elevated frequencies in seedlings and flower tissues. TRX frequency patterns in the Eucalyptus transcriptome seem to indicate a good coherence with data from Arabidopsis thaliana gene expression.
Acute exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO2) induces oxidative stress in zebrafish gill tissues

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) produced globally is estimated to reach 6.8 million tonnes in 2016. The extensive use of TiO2 will thus result in environmental exposure to these nanoparticles (NPs). At present, there is limited information on the ecotoxicolgical consequences of TiO2 NP exposure focusing on aquatic life. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine toxicity of TiO2NPs to address the risks using a zebrafish model system. In both qualitative and quantitative analyses, TiO2 NP was found to accumulate in gills of treated groups. Decreased activity of acetylcholine esterase as well as activities of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants was observed. In contrast, there was an increase in levels of protein content, reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyls, and lipid peroxidation products. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra reveal a stress response of gill tissue in TiO2-treated fish. Distortion in the normal architecture of the gill was found upon histological examination. Our results demonstrate that TiO2 NP induced oxidative stress leading to respiratory distress in zebrafish.
In situ Hybridization Detection of Koi Herpesvirus in Paraffin-embedded Tissues of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio Collected in 1998 in Korea

In Korea, mass mortalities occurred among cultured common carp Cyprinus carpio in 1998. Moribund fish showed clinical signs like those of koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease. In this study, we applied in situ hybridization (ISH) method to detect KHV DNA in parafin-embedded tissue specimens that had been prepared from the moribund carp of nine fish farms at four diferent regions in 1998. ISH-positive cels were found in various tissues including kidney, spleen, heart, liver, gils and intestine from eight fish farms. Our results suggest that the mass mortality of carp in 1998 was associated with KHV infection and thus KHV was introduced into fish culture farms in South Korea in
Use of fluorogenic Scorpions for fast and sensitive detection of plant viruses

Very recently, a novel nucleic acid detection technology based on a primer with a quenched fluorophore and a probe complementary to an internal portion of the amplicon has been developed. The primer probe, named ‘Scorpion’, fluoresces only upon hybridization with its target, i.e. if the specific extension product of the primer is synthesized during the reaction. We have used Scorpion primers in RT-PCR assays to detect Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus and Plum pox potyvirus in naturally infected plants. Amplified products of the expected size were detected either by real-time measurements or by visual estimation of fluorescence emission from tubes placed over an ultraviolet light source at the end of the Scorpion-RT-PCR. In serially diluted plant sap, the visual method allowed detection of 7.5 pg of infected plant tissue and proved at least as sensitive as visual estimation of ethidium bromide-stained amplicons separated by gel electrophoresis.
Estimating Black Bear Density Using DNA Data From Hair Snares

Abstract DNA-based mark–recapture has become a methodological cornerstone of research focused on bear species. The objective of such studies is often to estimate population size; however, doing so is frequently complicated by movement of individual bears. Movement affects the probability of detection and the assumption of closure of the population required in most models. To mitigate the bias caused by movement of individuals, population size and density estimates are often adjusted using ad hoc methods, including buffering the minimum polygon of the trapping array. We used a hierarchical, spatial capture–recapture model that contains explicit components for the spatial-point process that governs the distribution of individuals and their exposure to (via movement), and detection by, traps. We modeled detection probability as a function of each individual's distance to the trap and an indicator variable for previous capture to account for possible behavioral responses. We applied our model to a 2006 hair-snare study of a black bear (Ursus americanus) population in northern New York, USA. Based on the microsatellite marker analysis of collected hair samples, 47 individuals were identified. We estimated mean density at 0.20 bears/km2. A positive estimate of the indicator variable suggests that bears are attracted to baited sites; therefore, including a trap-dependence covariate is important when using bait to attract individuals. Bayesian analysis of the model was implemented in WinBUGS, and we provide the model specification. The model can be applied to any spatially organized trapping array (hair snares, camera traps, mist nests, etc.) to estimate density and can also account for heterogeneity and covariate information at the trap or individual level.
Protected areas and property rights in Thailand

Vandergeest (1996) suggested that the protected area (PA) system in Thailand is too large. He proposed that the state should recognize claims to private property rights within the PA system and subject remaining lands to collective property rights where villagers would be allowed to burn, cut and graze for commercial purposes. We disagree and summarize some of our concerns below.
Hitachi Materials Informatics Analytics Platform Assisting Rapid Development

The data science platform for materials developments is demonstrated. Due to the recent great advances in artiﬁcial intelligence, it becomes more realistic that the industrial application of materials informatics (MI) which is the data-driven approach to discover and investigate materials characteristics. However, it is not quite easy for materials manufacturers to set up MI analytics environments without any help. Therefore, we provide the user-friendly cloud-based IT platform for non-experts of IT enabling materials scientists in R&D departments to analyze their experimental data effectively for rapid developments.