Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ammonia in estuaries and effects on fish

This review aims to explore the biological responses of fish in estuaries to increased levels of environmental ammonia. Results from laboratory and field studies on responses of fish to varying salinity and their responses increased ammonia will he evaluated, although studies which examine responses to ammonia, in relation to varying salinity, pH and temperature together are rare. In a survey of British estuaries the continuous measurement of total ammonia showed values that ranged from background levels increasing up to c. 10 mg N l -1 although higher values have been noted sporadically. In outer estuaries pH values tended to stabilize towards sea water values (e.g. c. pH 8). Upper reaches of estuaries are influenced by the quality of their fresh waters sources which can show a wide range of pH and water quality values depending on geological, climatic and pollution conditions. In general the ammonia toxicity (96 h LC 50 ) to marine species (e.g. 0.09-3.35 mg l -1 NH 3 ) appears to be roughly similar to freshwater species (e.g. 0.068-2.0 mg l -1 NN 3 ). Ammonia toxicity is related to differences between species and pH rather than to the comparatively minor influences of salinity and temperature. In the marine environment the toxicity of ionized ammonia (NH 4 + ) should be considered. The water quality standard for freshwater salmonids of 21 μg I -1 NH 3 -N was considered to be protective for most marine fish and estuarine fish although the influence of cyclical changes in pH, salinity and temperature were not considered. During ammonia exposures, whether chronic or episodic, estuarine fish may be most at risk as larvae or juveniles, at elevated temperatures, if salinity is near the seawater value and if the pH value of the water is decreased. They are also likely to be at risk from ammonia intoxication in waters of low salinity, high pH and high ammonia levels. These conditions are likely to promote ammonia transfer from the environment into the fish, both as ionized and unionized ammonia, as well as promoting ammonia retention by the fish. Fish are more likely to be prone to ammonia toxicity if they are not feeding, are stressed and if they are active and swimming. Episodic or cycling exposures should also be considered in relation to the rate at which the animal is able to accumulate and excrete ammonia and the physiological processes involved in the transfer of ammonia. In the complex environment of an estuary, evaluation of ammonia as a pollutant will involve field and laboratory experiments to determine the responses of fish to ammonia as salinity and temperature vary over a period of time. It will also be necessary to evaluate the responses of a variety of species including estuarine residents and migrants.
Effects of season and frequency of burning on soils and landscape functioning in a moist montane grassland

The effects of burning on soil properties and landscape function were investigated in a long-term experiment comparing different burning strategies in a moist montane grassland. Total C, total N, total S, bulk density, plant-available nutrients, and soil acidity were determined in the top 200mm of soil, together with vegetation basal cover at the soil surface. The no-burn treatment had the lowest basal cover (14.8%). Basal cover for the burnt treatments ranged from 19.0% (five-year spring burn) to 25.4% (alternate autumn/spring, burnt every 18 months). The organic matter content of these soils was very high with total carbon ranging from 114g kg−1 in the 0–50mm layer to 77g kg−1 in the 150–200mm layer. Bulk density was very low, being 0.57g ml−1 in the 0–50mm layer. There were no significant effects of burning on the quantity of soil organic matter. The C:N ratio was significantly affected throughout the top 200mm by burning treatments; in the 0–50mm layer it ranged from 14.43 in the no-burn treatment to 16.14 in the treatment burnt every 18 months. Higher C:N ratios in frequently burnt treatments suggests that grassland productivity is N-limited in these treatments. In the top 50mm, soil pH is lower in treatments burnt infrequently (5 year and no burn) than in those burnt frequently, whereas concentrations of basic exchangeable cations (K, Ca and Mg) were lower in treatments burnt infrequently (five-year and no burn) than in those burnt frequently. The higher pH and concentrations of basic cations in frequently burnt treatments was probably due to greater cycling of nutrients to the soil surface as a result of higher productivity and deposition of nutrients in ash, together with reduced leaching of cations with nitrate. Landscape Function Analysis was used to measure the functioning of the landscape in terms of scarce resources and the processes that maintain these resources. All sites were highly functional, irrespective of the burning treatment applied. The infrequently burned sites had significantly higher nutrient cycling and infiltration indices than frequently burnt sites and these indices were correlated well with soil chemical properties (acidity, acid saturation, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, P and pH). No significant differences were found between treatments for the stability index.
Blooms of the cylindrospermopsin containing cyanobacterium, Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Forti), in newly constructed lakes, Queensland, Australia

The cyanobacterium, Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Forti) is reported herein for the first time in Australia. Its distribution appears to be restricted to an isolated subtropical region which has distinctive water quality parameters including ready availability of nutrients and relatively high chloride and hardness levels. Blooms of A. ovalisporum in Queensland, Australia, formed a thick brown surface scum from spring to autumn in newly constructed shallow lakes. During such blooms, the water and cellular material were both found to contain cylindrospermopsin, a water soluble toxin that produced fatty livers with hepatocyte necrosis in mice similar to the toxicity produced by Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Wolosz.). Toxin levels in freeze‐dried A. ovalisporum are approximately 25% of those present in freeze‐dried C. raciborskii. However, A. ovalisporum appears to release more of the produced toxin into the water body than does C. raciborskii.
Effect of surface functionalization on the electronic transport properties of Ti3C2 MXene

The effects of surface functionalization on the electronic transport properties of the MXene compound Ti3C2 are studied using density-functional theory in combination with the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. Fluorinated, oxidized and hydroxylated surfaces are considered and the obtained results are compared with the ones for the pristine MXene. It is found that the surface termination has a considerable impact on the electronic transport in MXene. For example, the fluorinated sample shows the largest transmission, whereas surface oxidation results in a considerable reduction of the electronic transmission. The current in the former sample can be up to 4 times larger for a given bias voltage as compared to the case of bare MXene. The increased transmission originates from the extended electronic states and smaller variations of the electrostatic potential profile. Our findings can be useful in designing MXene-based anode materials for energy storage applications, where enhanced electronic transport will be an asset.
Variation in the condition factors of California pelagic fishes and associated environmental factors

Time series of condition factors for mackerel, Scomber japonicus, jack mackerel, Truchurus symmetricus, and northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, stocks in the Southern California region were compared with time series of oceanographic indices to develop hypotheses concerning physical environmental forcing of the population dynamics and energetics of small pelagic fishes. Mackerel and jack mackerel condition factor time series showed decade-scale variation, whereas those of anchovy showed coherent fluctuations for 1 to 2 years. Mackerel, and to a lesser extent jack mackerel, condition factors were correlated with proxy indices of alongshore advection (sea level), offshore advection (Ekman transport), ambient temperature (shore station temperature), and ambient salinity (shore station salinity). The condition factor of anchovy was much less correlated with environmental variables. Multiple regression analyses which included sea level, upwelling and salinity proxies explained 80% (33%) of the variance in the annual (monthly) condition factor of mackerel. The first-order variation in condition factors of mackerel and jack mackerel suggests that they are responding to very large-scale perturbations of the California Current system which are at least partially described by variations in sea level. The population size of mackerel is apparently also responding to these large-scale perturbations, making it difficult to isolate environmental dependence of condition factors from density dependence. The second-order variation is more regional in nature and unexpectedly it appears to be associated with upwelling in the Baja California region.
Studies on the Genus Orbitolina (Foraminiferida)

The genus Orbitolina is described in detail and is shown to be represented by one species only: Orbitolina lenticularis (Blumenbach). This species can be subdivided into form-groups, based on the characteristics of the megalospheric embryonic apparatus. The evolution of the species is orthogenetic. The specimens probably lived with the apex of the cone pointed downward. The microspheric test starts with a strepto-spiral, the megalospheric test with an embryonic apparatus consisting of a proloculus, a deuteroconch, and a varying number of epiembryonic chambers. The embryonic apparatus is the only consistent feature on which the age of Orbitolina can be determined; the method applied will be described. The neanic chamber layers consist of tubular chamber passages; the chamber layers are interconnected by oblique, aligned stolons, placed alternately left and right of the chamber passages. The contemporaneous allies Coskinolinoides texanus Keijzer, Dictyoconus walnutensis (Carsey), Orbitolinopsis kiliani (Prever), Dictyoconus floridanus (Cole) subsp. elongata (Moullade) and Simplorbitolina manasi Ciry & Rat are described and some remarks are presented on the family Orbitolinidae.
Stock identification of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using minisatellite DNA variation

On a examine les variations geographiques d'ADN minisatellite dans 28 stocks de saumon quinnat (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) de la Colombie-Britannique et 3 stocks du territoire du Yukon. L'ADN genomique etait restreint par les enzymes RsaI et HinfI et hybride avec trois segments d'ADN minisatellite employes comme sondes. On a observe une differenciation selon la region des frequences des alleles et des comptes de fragments (bandes) d'ADN chez les stocks du fleuve Fraser, de la cote est de l'ile de Vancouver, de la cote ouest de cette meme ile, du sud de la partie continentale et du nord de la Colombie-Britannique, qui formaient des groupes distincts. Si l'on supposait que les frequences des alleles ou les comptes des bandes des stocks de base etaient fixes ou exactes, les estimations de la composition des stocks faites a partir de melanges simules dans les bassins hydrographiques du Fraser et de la riviere Skeena etaient exactes et precises, ce qui suggere que la discrimination entre les stocks d'un meme bassin hydrographique pourrait etre possible. Les specimens de saumon quinnat etaient classes avec une exactitude moyenne de 35% pour le stock (30 stocks de base) et avec une exactitude moyenne de 65% pour la region (huit regions). La variation de l'ADN minisatellite rend possible une evaluation exacte et precise de la composition des stocks de saumon quinnat sur une echelle geographique fine.
Genetic polymorphism of growth hormone gene in native sheep breeds of India

Genetic polymorphism of growth hormone gene at locus A1575G and A781G was studied for 9 sheep breeds of different agro-ecological regions of India. A total of 324 random blood samples of Indian sheep breeds were analyzed by PCR- RFLP (Polymerase chain reaction- Restriction fragment length polymorphism) technique. Restriction digestion analysis at A781G locus revealed two allelic variants (A= 0.6016 and B= 0.3983) and two genotypes (AA= 0.2032, AB= 0.7968). At A1575G locus, all individuals were homozygous (CC) in all 9 breeds. The allelic frequency differences for both alleles across the Indian breeds, irrespective of their geographic distribution, colour pattern and utility traits, were statistically non-significant. The average heterozygosity was 0.4712. These findings reveal that substantial level of genetic variation exists at A781G locus and adds substance to search for QTL(quantitative trait locus) for growth trait in Indian sheep breeds.
A comparison of point-count and mist-net detections of songbirds by habitat and time-of-season

Abstract We compared the results of point-count and mist-net surveys during the breeding and post-breeding seasons in four Missouri Ozark habitats: mature upland forest, mature riparian forest, 9- to 10-yr-old upland forest and 3- to 4-yr-old upland forest created by clearcutting. We determined whether differences in abundance estimates among habitats or between breeding and post-breeding seasons varied with survey method (i.e., habitat × method, season × method, or habitat × season × method interaction effects). The habitat × method interaction was significant for 13 of 16 species. The general pattern was for canopy or sub-canopy species to be detected by point counts more often in the mature-forest habitats, and to be detected by mist nets more often in the young-forest habitats. The season × method interaction was significant for 6 species largely because there was a greater decrease from breeding to post breeding season in mist-net captures than point-count detections. Two species had a significant habitat × season × method interaction. Differences in the patterns in abundance among habitats and between seasons, by survey method, are indicative of bias in the survey methods. Individuals planning bird surveys should recognize these biases and select the method that best samples the segment of the community they are surveying and that is least likely to confound treatment effects. Often this may require the use of multiple survey methods.
PHYTOCHEMICAL BASIS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANT- MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA

Introduction: Since time immemorial, A. aspera used as folk medicine, holds a reputed position as medicinal herb in different systems of medicine. The phytchemical basis of the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the standard guidelines issued by WHO. Aim: The effect of ethanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera was studied on Mice of either sex by using the acute mice model (Carrageenan Induced Paw Oedema). Preliminary Phyotochemical screening of A. aspera was carried out using WHO guidelines. The separation and purification of plant constituents was also carried out by using chromatographic techniques. Result: phytochemical analysis of A. aspera shown that it is rich reservoir of different types of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, Cardiac Glycosides, Diterpenoids, phenolic acids, polyphenols, saponines, sapogenins & sequiterpene lactones. The results indicated that alcoholic extract of stem [35.17%] at 1 hr and leaf [28.98%] at 3 hr shows highest percentage inhibition in paw volume comparable to that of standard at 1hr. It has shown slight activity against Aspergillus niger and Verticillium moderate against Fusarium oxysporium while in-effective against Candida species It’s acetone extract has prevented the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve)[40mm], Escherichia coli (Gram–ve) [10mm]. Conclusion: A. aspera proven to be a rich reservoir of phytochemicals. A. aspera is an effective ant-inflammatory agent, antibacterial agent for gram positive bacteria, while it not that much effective antifungal agent. It may be due to presence of specific combination of chemicals present in this plant.
A phylogeny of Cribrariaceae among Myxomycetes derived from morphological characters

A cladistic study of the Cribrariaceae was performed to examine its phylogenetic position among the Myxomycetes based on a data matrix comprising 54 morphological characters and 55 exemplar myxomycete species. Parsimony ratchet with implied weighting was employed as tree search strategy. Results show the Cribrariaceae as a monophyletic group that includes Cribraria and Dictydium but not Lindbladia and suggest Trichiales as the sister group. Our analyses neither support Dictydium as a genus separated from Cribraria nor the Liceales as monophyletic. This is the first attempt to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of this group using morphological characters from representative species of all Myxomycetes within a cladistic framework.
Water temperature and timing of capelin spawning determine seabird diets

Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Programme, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, NL, Canada A1B 3X9*Corresponding author: tel: +1 204 4747497; fax: +1 204 4747588; e-mail: davoreng@cc.umanitoba. ca.Davoren, G. K. , Penton, P., Burke, C. , and Montevecchi, W. A. Water temperature and timing of capelin spawning determine seabird diets. –ICES Journal of Marine Science, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fss032.Received 1 September 2011; accepted 25 January 2012.
Estimating the biomass of woodland caribou forage lichens

Lichens are an important winter food source for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), but quantifying their abundance is difficult. Here, we present an efficient method for assessing lichen biomass at the stand level in boreal forests. We measured lichens occurring in high enough abundance to serve as a winter food source for woodland caribou in 51 boreal forest stands. Samples of each species or genus were collected from each stand and a mean abundance (cover) to biomass ratio was established. The method does not require samples to be collected or weighed, due to this predetermined relationship, and it also accounts for the variation in biomass among lichen species that are equally abundant. The variation in lichen growth between stands was assessed by means of five lichen abundance classes. The proposed method was tested in 34 stands with a wide range of ages and stem densities. The average time to complete a lichen biomass assessment was approximately 2 h. This method is an efficient and accura.
Seismic ocean thermometry

Hearing the heat Most of the excess heat that causes global warming is absorbed by the oceans. Quantifying that heat increase is challenging because it requires many different temperature measurements over both the vertical and horizontal extent of the oceans. Wu et al. report success in this effort through the use of a different method: They inferred temperature changes from sound waves generated by repeating earthquakes (see the Perspective by Wunsch). The travel time of these earthquakes from source to receiver reflects changes in the average water temperature that they encounter. This technique should substantially enhance our ability to monitor ocean warming. Science, this issue p. 1510; see also p. 1433 Global seismic ocean thermometry using noise from earthquakes provides a distinct means of measuring ocean warming. More than 90% of the energy trapped on Earth by increasingly abundant greenhouse gases is absorbed by the ocean. Monitoring the resulting ocean warming remains a challenging sampling problem. To complement existing point measurements, we introduce a method that infers basin-scale deep-ocean temperature changes from the travel times of sound waves that are generated by repeating earthquakes. A first implementation of this seismic ocean thermometry constrains temperature anomalies averaged across a 3000-kilometer-long section in the equatorial East Indian Ocean with a standard error of 0.0060 kelvin. Between 2005 and 2016, we find temperature fluctuations on time scales of 12 months, 6 months, and ~10 days, and we infer a decadal warming trend that substantially exceeds previous estimates.
How functional response and productivity modulate intraguild predation

Numerous models have been developed to predict the effect of environmental productivity on the coexistence of prey and predators within the three-species module of intraguild predation. Theoretical models have mainly used Holling Type I and Type II functional response, the latter typically best describing the functional response of a predator. However, no empirical study has simultaneously examined the form of the functional response and the effect of prey density on intraguild interactions. This is surprising considering that the strength of the functional response is crucially important for the stability of simple predator-prey systems and the persistence, sustainability and biodiversity of communities. In this study, we first developed a linear and a nonlinear functional response model for intraguild predators and next used a plant–aphid–predator mesocosm to parameterize the models and test their predictions at different prey densities. As expected, the assumptions of the linear model are not supported by empirical results which lead to systemic overestimation of the predation rate and the intensity of intraguild predation. On the other hand, the predictions of the nonlinear functional response model fit very well with experimental observations mainly because key behavioral characteristics such as handling time are integrated in this model. The nonlinear model is thus a good predictor of intraguild predation and allows a better understanding of how environmental productivity and predator behavior influence the occurrence and outcome of multiple predator interactions.
An in vivo screening method for antifungal activity against the plant pathogen Pythium ultimum Trow

A new assay which can be used for in vivo screening of fungicides and microbiologically produced metabolites against Pythium ultimum is described. The assay uses cress (Lepidium sativum L.) as a test plant, and can be performed quickly and does not require more space than many in vitro tests. Zusammenfassung Eine in vivo-Screeningmethode fur fungizide Aktivitat gegenuber dem Pflanzenpathogen Pythium ultimum Trow Beschrieben wird ein neuer Assay, der Anwendung beim in vivo-Screening von Fungiziden und Metaboliten aus Mikroorganismen findet, um Aktivitat gegen Pythium ultimum festzustellen. Die Kresse (Lepidium sativum L.) wird als Testpflanze im Assay verwendet. Der Assay ist schnell in der Durchfuhrung und nimmt nicht mehr Platz in Anspruch als viele in vitro-Tests.
SilhoNet: An RGB Method for 3D Object Pose Estimation and Grasp Planning.

Autonomous robot manipulation often involves both estimating the pose of the object to be manipulated and selecting a viable grasp point. Methods using RGB-D data have shown great success in solving these problems. However, there are situations where cost constraints or the working environment may limit the use of RGB-D sensors. When limited to monocular camera data only, both the problem of object pose estimation and of grasp point selection are very challenging. In the past, research has focused on solving these problems separately. In this work, we introduce a novel method called SilhoNet that bridges the gap between these two tasks. We use a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) pipeline that takes in ROI proposals to simultaneously predict an intermediate silhouette representation for objects with an associated occlusion mask. The 3D pose is then regressed from the predicted silhouettes. Grasp points from a precomputed database are filtered by back-projecting them onto the occlusion mask to find which points are visible in the scene. We show that our method achieves better overall performance than the state-of-the art PoseCNN network for 3D pose estimation on the YCB-video dataset.