Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applying Health Risk Analysis to Assess the Chemical Quality of Water for Recreational Bathing: The Case of Tres Arroyos Creek, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to assess the probabilistic non-cancer and cancer risks by recreational bathing in Tres Arroyos creeks (southeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). In these waters, hazardous substances (heavy metals, pesticides) have been detected, possibly related to agricultural activities. To assess such risk, USEPA models in aggregated (exposure through accidental oral water intake and dermal contact simultaneously) and cumulative approaches (combined exposure to more than one substance) were applied, performed for bathers of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years old. The results show that chronic bathing in these waters is not harmful at the concentrations and the exposure scenarios considered. Arsenic was the riskiest substance for both non-cancer and cancer effects, affecting mainly the youngest age group, and the accidental water intake during bathing was the most relevant pathway of exposure. On the other hand, the study highlights the key role of the frequency and duration of the bath event. We discuss the results in light of a previous paper of our authorship concluding that the health risk assessment is a valid alternative to analyze recreational water quality, which, unfortunately, is unused by water management agencies in Argentina.
Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Cu-methionine Chelate and Cu-soy Proteinate on the Performance, Small Intestinal Microflora and Immune Response in Laying Hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Cu-methionine chelate (Cu-Met) and Cu-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) on the performance, small intestinal microflora and immune response in laying hens. A total of 960 Hy-line Brown Ⓡ laying hens of 39 wks old were assigned to one of the following 6 dietary treatment: control (C), antibiotic (Avilamycine 6 ppm), Cu-Met 50 and Cu-Met 100 (50 and 100 ppm Cu as Cu-methionine chelate), Cu-SP 50 and Cu-SP 100 (50 and 100ppm Cu as Cu-soy proteinate). Each treatment was replicated 4 times with forty birds per replication, housed in 2 birds per cages. Forty birds units were arranged according to randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted 6 wks under 16 hours lighting regimen. Hen-day and hen-house egg production of groups treated with Antibiotic and Cu supplements tended to be higher than the control with significant difference (P<0.05) shown between Cu-Me 100 and control. Egg weight was significantly (P<0.05) heavier in antibiotic and Cu-SP treatments than Cu-Met treatments but they were not significantly different from the control. Eggshell strength, egg shell thickness, egg yolk color and Haugh unit were not significantly different among treatments. There were no significant differences in leukocytes and erythrocytes in the chicken blood. But mean corpuscular hemoglobin value (MCH) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Cu-SP 100 than antibiotic treatment. The concentrations of serum IgG and IgA were not significantly different among treatments. Copper concentration in the liver tended to increase as the level of copper supplementation increased, that of Cu-SP 100 being significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the control and antibiotic treatment. Concentrations of iron and zinc of the liver were not significantly influenced by treatments. Populations of Cl. perfringens and Lactobacilli in the small intestinal content were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by treatments. Population of Cl. perfringens decreased and that of Lac- tobacilli increased in the copper supplemented groups. The result of this experiment showed that Cu-Met and Cu-SP are comparable to antibiotic in improving egg production in laying hens. Birds fed diets supplemented with Cu-SP produced heavier eggs than those fed diets with Cu-Met. There were no significant differences in the performances between 50 ppm and 100 ppm copper supple- mentation as organic forms.
Habitat use of adult White-throated Robins during the breeding season in a mosaic landscape in Costa Rica

Abstract Most work on the effects of land-cover change on tropical birds has focused on forest-interior birds because these species are assumed to be the most severely affected by forest loss. However, even species that use human-altered habitat types may be severely affected by forest loss. White-throated Robins (Turdus assimilis) frequently nest in coffee and pasture in southern Costa Rica, although several lines of evidence suggest the species could not exist solely in agricultural habitat. We used radio-telemetry to examine the area and proportion of different habitat types used by adult White-throated Robins. Mean area of use for the tracking period was 0.26 km2 and varied from 0.07 to 0.58 km2. No robins had areas of use solely in either primary forest or agricultural cover, although individuals were initially captured in both primary forest and a coffee plantation. All areas of use contained some forest, pasture, and coffee or regenerating forest. The mean percentages of the habitat types used by the birds were fairly equal with 30% forest, 33% pasture, and 38% coffee or regenerating forest. Our results, combined with other evidence, indicate that the White-throated Robin uses multiple habitat types but that it may require some threshold level of forest to sustain viable populations.
Chordate Evolution and Autonomous Specification of Cell Fate: The Ascidian Embryo Model

SYNOPSIS. Two parallel themes emerge in the history of the investigation of the ascidian tunicate [Urochordata] embryo: the realization that the larval stage is probably a surviving example of the earliest chordate body plan from which vertebrates arose, and secondly the unusual degree of autonomous specification of cell fate involved in the development of ascidian larval parts. Such developmental autonomy in larval structures results in patterns of development referred to as “mosaic. ” This paper follows the progress of these two themes from their beginnings in the second half of the nineteenth century to their status at the present time. Romer's concept of vertebrates as a “dual animal” (somatic and visceral) stands out as a landmark perception in support of the theory of vertebrate origin by paedomorphosis through a merger of the pelagic larval and benthic adult stages of a tunicate-like animal. The present contribution attempts to unite the two themes by postulating that autonomous specification further enhanced the modular nature of the developing tunicate embryo and permitted natural selection to act differentially on the largely independent organ systems of larvae and paedomorphs, in what amounts to a mosaic selection pattern. This, in turn, favored the very rapid emergence and radiation of the chordates during the Cambrian explosion.
MUSOPSIS N. GEN.: A BANANA‐LIKE LEAF GENUS FROM THE EARLY TERTIARY OF EASTERN NORTH GREENLAND

A fossil flora from the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene Thyra 0 Formation of eastern North Greenland (paleolatitude 770 N) has yielded monocotyledon leaf impressions with characters seen only in the closely related modern species in the families of Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Strelitziaceae. The combination of large costae widths and parallel, nonanastomosing, lateral veins that depart at right angles from the costae in the fossil material are features present only in leaves of extant species from these families. Three basic venation patterns also are recognized in the modern species of these families, but except for the genera Strelitzia and Phenakospermum, none of these patterns are present exclusively in any one family. Musopsis n. gen. is created for the fossil material from Greenland, but it is considered a form genus due to the lack of gross morphological features that can be used for separating leaves of the modern genera in Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Strelitiziaceae. It is the first known Arctic occurrence of fossil leaf material resembling this modern group of taxa.
The theory and use of two fire history models

The objective of this paper is to explain the distributions, assumptions, interpretations, and relationships of the two compatible, stochastic models of fire history: the negative exponential and the Weibull. For each model the "fire interval" and "time-sinee-fire" distributions are given. Both models apply to homogenous stationary stochastic processes. The negative exponential states that the instantaneous fire hazard rate is constant for all stand ages. The Weibull states that the instantaneous fire hazard rate increases with stand age when the shape parameter is > 1 (the negative exponential is a special ease of the Weibull when shape = 1). An empirical method is given for separating from an observed fire history distribution, the pre- and post-fire suppression distributions. Four relationships are derived from the models and defined per study region (per stand): (i) the fire cycle (average fire interval), (ii) the annual percent burned area (fire frequency), (iii) the average age of the vegetation (av.
Phylogenetic analysis of the Niphargus orcinus species–aggregate (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) with description of new taxa

The Niphargus orcinus aggregate, also “subgenus Orniphargus” of the genus Niphargus, is a widely distributed assemblage of large‐bodied amphipods. Although it comprises the most prominent European groundwater animals, its phylogeny has not yet been scrutinized and its monophyly has never been tested. In this study, 30 putative “Orniphargus” taxa and 14 other Niphargus and outgroup species were examined cladistically using a matrix of 71 morphological characters. The strict consensus tree constructed of 34 equally parsimonious trees demonstrated that “Orniphargus” does not constitute a monophylum. Most of the species were divided into two large clades. Both clades contain species from the western Balkans (mainly the Dinaric Karst) with partly overlapping ranges. Niphargus croaticus pachytelson and N. orcinus redenseki are elevated to species rank. Four new species are described: N. dolichopus sp. n. , N. polymorphus sp. n. , N. dabarensis sp. n. (all Bosnia and Herzegovina) and N. lourensis sp. n. (Greece).
A COMPARISON OF SUICIDAL THINKING AND REASONS FOR LIVING AMONG YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

A cross-sectional design was used to examine age-related differences in suicidal thinking and reasons for living among younger (n = 82; M age = 21) and older (n = 82; M age = 68) adults. Volunteers anonymously completed the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and the Reasons for Living Inventory. Findings indicated that older adults do not manifest suicidal ideation differently than younger adults. However, there does appear to be some age-related differences in reasons for not committing suicide. Compared to the younger group, the older group reported moral objections and child-related concerns as stronger reasons for not committing suicide. An implication is that the identification of specific reasons that deter individuals from committing suicide may be clinically useful and provide some assistance in suicide prevention efforts.
SUICIDE RISK FACTORS FOR YOUNG ADULTS: TESTING A MODEL ACROSS ETHNICITIES

A general path model based on existing suicide risk research was developed to test factors contributing to current suicidal ideation in young adults. A sample of 673 undergraduate students completed a packet of questionnaires containing the Beck Depression Inventory, Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire,and Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale. They also provided information on history of suicidality and exposure to attempted and completed suicide in others. Structural equation modeling was used to test the fit of the data to the hypothesized model. Goodness-of-fit indices were adequate and supported the interactive effects of exposure, repulsion by life, depression, and history of self-harm on current ideation. Model fit for three subgroups based on race/ethnicity (i.e.,White, Black, and Hispanic) determined that repulsion by life and depression function differently across groups. Implications of these findings for current methods of suicide risk assessment and future research are discussed in the context of the importance of culture.
Response of cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to cheese wood, Alstonia boonei De Wild stem bark oil extracted with different solvents

Cheese wood, Alstonia boonei De Wild stem bark was extracted with five different solvents namely: methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether and n-hexane. The extracts were tested for insecticidal activity on cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). Adult mortality and adult emergence of the insects were investigated. Oviposition deterrences using dual-choice and multiple-choice tests were also investigated as well as percentage damage and weight loss at temperature of 28 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity. Results showed that at the rate of 2% extract per 20 g of cowpea seeds, methanol, petroleum ether and n-hexane extracts caused 100% mortality of adult cowpea bruchid after four days of post treatment. When the bruchid had choice of oviposition substrate, they laid significantly (p < 0.05) fewer eggs on cowpea seeds treated with extracts compared to untreated seeds. There was no adult emergence in seeds treated with methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether and n-hexane extracts and 100% reduction in F1 progeny was recorded compared with untreated that had 81.86% adults emergence and 0% reduction in F1 progeny. The results obtained from this study revealed that methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether and n-hexane extracts of A. boonei stem bark were effective in controlling C. maculatus and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides for the protection of stored cowpeas against bruchids.
Allozyme Variation in Four Geographic Areas of Cinnamomum kanehirae

The once dominant endemic broadleaf tree species In Taiwan, CInnamomum kanehlrae Hay. , has become a rare and endangered species due to overcutting. A done bank, consisting of at least 220 clones collected istandwide, was established at the Uukuel station, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute. Genetic diversity wtthln and genetic differentiation among four geographic areas of C. kanehlrae were Investigated using 164 clones collected from the clone bank. Seven out of the 11 loci examined were polymorphic. The average proportion of polymorphic loci per area was 51% at the 99% criterion for polymorphism. Mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.188-0.261 In the different areas, and 0.238 at the species level. On average the percent heterozygous loci per individual ranged from 13.9-21.6%, the number of alleies per locus ranged from 1.7-1.9, and the effective number of alleies per locus ranged from 1.34-1.54 at the area level. The much higher expected heterozygosity and higher number of aJtofes per locus compared to other local woody species investigated may support the hypothesis that Taiwan was a distributional center of CInnamomum. Partitioning the genetic variability Into withinand among-geographlc area components with F statistics and gene diversity analysis led to an estimate of wtthin-area variation amounting to 88% of the total variation. A slight barrier to gene flow among areas could be due to the large seed size and to Insect pollination. The limitation of seed dispersion, erratic flowering times, and several subpopulations wtthln the same geographic areas may contribute to the lower levels of observed heterozygosity than expected heterozygosity among the seven polymorphic loci, indicating some degree of Inbreeding and the Wahlund effect and thus a slight deficiency of heterozygotes (Fto = 0.157). Area 4, located in southeastern Taiwan has a much lower elevational distribution and showed a higher proportion of polymorphic loci, implying that genetic variation of area 4 may have developed under different climate conditions.
INTENTIONS OF BURIAL: MOURNING, POLITICS, AND MEMORIALS FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE AT SREBRENICA

In the aftermath of tragedy, memorials and gravesites are frequently constructed. Research needs to pay attention to the goals of mourners for such places. The 1995 massacre at Srebrenica in Bosnia-Herzegovina left over 7,000 Muslim men missing and presumed dead. Five years later, families fought to bury the remains that had been collected. Qualitative interviews with 67 people, including survivors and key informants were completed over thesummer of 2000. This article examines the intentions of the burial from the perspective of two groups of family members who lost loved ones: survivors who remain politically isolated and those involved in advocacy or political organizations. For the politically isolated, burial was important in reshaping individual mourning after mass death and in the face of unidentified remains. For those involved in advocacy groups, burial was a means of recognizing the past massacre, understanding the massacre's impact on current political divisions, and shaping future directions. Both mourning and political functions are elaborated on in the setting of Bosnian culture and society.
THE GENUS THERMOPLASMA *

Perhaps the organism we have isolated which has elicited the most interest (and some controversy) has been Thermoplasma. The credit for this organism goes first to Gary Darland, who was smart enough to recognize that something others would have considered to be a precipitate was indeed living, and to Robert Belly, who (among other important contributions in my laboratory), showed the significance and distribution of the organism.
Practical large-scale forest stand inventory using a small-footprint airborne scanning laser

Mean tree height, dominant height, mean diameter, stem number, basal area and timber volume of 116 georeferenced field sample plots were estimated from various canopy height and canopy density metrics derived by means of a small-footprint laser scanner over young and mature forest stands using regression analysis. The sample plots were distributed systematically throughout a 6500 ha study area, and the size of each plot was 232.9 m2. Regressions for coniferous forest explained 60–97% of the variability in ground reference values of the six studied characteristics. A proposed practical two-phase procedure for prediction of corresponding characteristics of entire forest stands was tested. Fifty-seven test plots within the study area with a size of approximately 3740 m2 each were divided into 232.9 m2 regular grid cells. The six examined characteristics were predicted for each grid cell from the corresponding laser data using the estimated regression equations. Average values for each test plot were computed and compared with ground-based estimates measured over the entire plot. The bias and standard deviations of the differences between predicted and ground reference values (in parentheses) of mean height, dominant height, mean diameter, stem number, basal area and volume were −0.58 to −0.85 m (0.64–1.01 m), −0.60 to −0.99 m (0.67–0.84 m), 0.15–0.74 cm (1.33–2.42 cm), 34–108 ha−1 (97–466 ha−1), 0.43–2.51 m2 ha−1 (1.83–3.94 m2 ha−1) and 5.9–16.1 m3 ha−1 (15.1–35.1 m3 ha−1), respectively.
Variations in heart rate and rhythm of harbor seal pups during rehabilitation

Heart rate and rhythm is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which matures during the first months of life. Little is known about heart rate and rhythm development and potential arrhythmias in seal pups during rehabilitation in seal centers. Using an iPhone ECG device, 1 min ECGs were obtained from harbor seal pups admitted to a seal rehabilitation facility. ECGs were taken from 55 seals after admission, 53 seals after 14 d, and 52 seals prior to release. From 24 seal pups additional ECGs were taken daily for the first week of rehabilitation. At admission sinus rhythm with a median heart rate of 148 complexes per minute was detected, prior to release sinus bradycardia or sinus arrhythmia with a median heart rate of 104 complexes minute was present. P wave morphology was highly variable and single supra- and ventricular premature complexes were recorded in individual animals. The first 14 d were characterized by highly variable heart rates and rhythms, including episodes of sinus tachycardia and 2nd degree atrioventricular blocks. The reduction in heart rates and development of a regular heart rhythm during rehabilitation suggest adaptation to the unfamiliar environment, resolution of disease, and/or maturation of the autonomic nervous system.
Phylogenetic relationships of leptellinid brachiopods

The relationships among the diverse genera comprising the family Leptellinidae (Brachiopoda) are reviewed in the light of the revised edition of the Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology. Taxonomic work reassessed all the genera identified as Leptellinidae in the most current classification. Four genera were discarded, namely Bekkerella, Benignites, Leptastichidia and Nikitinamena. Cladistic analysis reveals the paraphyly of these genera; their abandonment leading to more morphologically coherent subdivisions of the family. Two subfamilies, Leptellininae and Palaeostrophomeninae, are emended and taxonomically restructured. The palaeogeographical history of the Leptellinidae is complicated. The Leptellinidae are first recorded in Baltica in the late Floian (Early Ordovician) and rapidly dispersed to circum-Iapetus palaeocontinents by the Dapingian, thence to most terranes composing Gondwana by the Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician).
PHOTOPERIOD DEFINES THE PHENOLOGY OF BIRTH IN CAPTIVE CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS

A population-based analysis was used to evaluate the role of photoperiod in regulating the precise annual birth timing of captive California sea lions. Latitudinal variation of 463 birth dates was explained by a response to a common photoperiod, 11.48 h/d, occurring 242 d pre-partum and immediately before blastocyst implantation. The lengths of the pupping seasons at the 18 largest captive colonies were significantly correlated to those estimated by the photoperiod model. Hence, the phenology of birth in this species is defined by photoperiod.
New and known species of Enoplolaimus (Enoplida: Thoracostomopsidae) from the Sea of Japan

Two new thoracostomopsid species, Enoplolaimus pectinatus sp. n. , E. patrokli sp. n. , and one known species, E. medius , from the Sea of Japan, are described and illustrated with the aid of LM and LSM pictures. Enoplolaimus pectinatus sp. n. belongs to a group of species lacking a preanal supplementary organ and differs from the other species in this group by the shape of the spicules and the gubernaculum, which has a plate-like triangular crura provided with a comb of 14 denticles. Enoplolaimus patrokli sp. n. is characterised by the straight spicules and also differs from other species by the shape of the gubernaculum which has a plate-like cuneus with a dorsal, V-like, thickening and a small proximal dorsal process. Additional information is provided for E. medius on the basis of confocal microscopy. The structure of the head and spicules of E. medius is described. A pictorial key for the genus Enoplolaimus is proposed.