Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solid phase microextraction fibers for estimating the toxicity of nitroaromatic compounds

Solid phase microextraction fibers are useful for investigating bioavailable organic contaminants in complex environmental matrixes such as aquatic sediments. Solid phase microextraction fibers are polymer-coated silica fibers that sorb dissolved organic compounds from water and sediment. We investigated their concentrations as measures of exposure for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and its degradation products in acute sediment and water-only toxicity tests with Tubifex tubifex, Chironomus tentans, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Results from these exposures allowed us to compare solid phase microextraction fibers concentrations to two conventional measures of toxicant dose: external matrix (water, sediment) and internal (organism) concentrations. Because trinitrotoluene degrades within sediment and organisms, doses based on sediment, water, and organism concentrations were calculated using the molar sum of trinitrotoluene and its nitroaromatic degradation products. Among species and matrixes, median lethal doses based on solid phase microextraction fiber and organism concentrations ranged from 12.6 to 55.3 (μmol nitroaromatic per ml polyacrylate and 83.4 to 172.3 nmol nitroaromatic per gram tissue, wet weight, respectively. In contrast to matrix concentrations, which are specific to sediment or water, both organism and solid phase microextraction fiber concentrations appeared to provide measures of dose independent of exposure scenario (sediment or water). Median lethal doses based on fiber concentrations in whole-sediment and water-only Tubifex tubifex toxicity tests were within a factor of 1.1 (18.7 and 21.3 (μmol nitroaromatic per ml polyacrylate, respectively). Median lethal doses based on organism concentrations were within a factor 1.4 for Chironomus tentans exposed in water-only or whole-sediment scenarios (118.0 and 83.4 nmol nitroaromatic per gram tissue, wet weight, respectively). Solid phase microextraction fibers may provide a powerful chemical estimate of exposure with which to understand bioavailability and toxicity of organic compounds to benthic organisms.
The stylet structure of a leafhopper (Eupteryx melissae Curtis: Homoptera, Cicadellidae)

Summary The structure of the mandibular and maxillary stylets of the leafhopper Eupteryx melissae Curtis is described and comparisons made between them and the stylets of Heteroptera and other Homoptera with particular reference to the apical barbs, the marginal hairs and the stylet cavities. Maxillary barbs are absent but the flanges of both pairs of stylets bear microtrichia, those of the maxillaires much reduced. The axial stylet cavity of the mandibular is single, but that of the maxillary bifurcated distally: there is some evidence that the cavities of both pairs of stylets contain nerve fibres. The salivary canal is confined to the right maxillary stylet and both it and the food canal maintain constant dimensions along the stylet shaft so facilitating movement of one stylet upon the other, an important feature during plant penetration. There is some evidence, particularly from staining reactions, that the stylets contain resilin, but if present, it is overlaid and masked physically and functionally .
The Dinosaur Heresies

This study of the habits of dinosaurs covers how they ate, how they reproduced and how they moved. Robert Bakker's illustrations are based on first-hand studies of dinosaur exhibits in museums throughout the world. This book supports the view that dinosaurs were warm-blooded, intelligent and agile creatures bearing little resemblance to existing reptiles. More than 12 years ago, Robert Bakker provoked a heated controversy on this subject, opposing the widely held belief that dinosaurs were cold-blooded, lumbering and of low intelligence.
Chloroplast DNA polymorphisms in Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana

Les auteurs ont effectue un releve des polymorphismes de longueur de fragments de restriction de l'ADN chloroplastique au sein de l'aire naturelle de distribution de Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. et au sein d'une population de Tsuga caroliniana Engelm. Le releve incluait 179 individus de T. canadensis repartis dans sept populations du centre de l'aire de distribution, trois populations marginales de la zone jadis recouverte par les glaciers et cinq populations marginales de la zone jadis exempte de glaciation, ainsi que 11 individus de T. caroliniana. Les hybridations moleculaires ont ete effectuees a partir de sondes de Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. correspondant a environ 13 000 paires de bases du genome chloroplastique. Ces hybridations ont permis de reveler cinq polymorphismes de longueur de fragments Pstl et quatre polymorphismes de longueur de fragments Xhol chez T. canadensis, avec jusqu'a trois polymorphismes Pstl et quatre polymorphismes Xhol par population. Les estimes non biaises de diversite de polymorphismes atteignaient des valeurs aussi elevees que 0,73 au sein des populations. Les differences de frequences de ces polymorphismes parmi les populations de T. canadensis etaient au plus modestes, meme entre les populations centrales et les populations marginales de la zone jadis exempte de glaciation. Ce faible niveau de differenciation des populations decoulerait du flux genique chloroplastique par l'echange de pollen et (ou) par la formation de polymorphismes convergents par un site a haute frequence de mutation. Les frequences des polymorphismes de longueur de fragments XhoI de la population echantillonnee de T. caroliniana differaient passablement de ceux de la population adjacente de T. canadensis. Cette difference corrobore l'absence d'evidence dans la litterature concernant l'hybridation naturelle entre les deux especes. Les polymorphismes d'ADN chloroplastique rapportes par les auteurs pourraient s'averer utiles dans le cadre d'etudes de la micro-evolution.
Nutritional Aspects of Pyrldoxal as a Coenzyme

Introduction In the quarter of a century that has elapsed since Goldberger & Lillie (1926) first described a ' pellagra-like ' dermatitis in rats fed mainly maize extracted with alcohol, two main phases of progress may be distinguished. First, the macroscopic changes in the rat and other lower animals were studied mainly by Gyorgy, by Chick and by Lepkovsky with their colleagues; and the factor preventing these iesions was differentiated from the pellagra-preventing factor and riboflavin, was named vitamin B, (Gyorgy, 1934) or pyridoxin (Gyorgy & Eckhardt, 1939), was crystallized (Lepkovsky, 1938a, b ; Keresztesy & Stevens, 1938; Gyorgy, 1938; Kuhn & Wendt, 1938a, b ; Itiba & Miti, 1938), and was synthesized (Harris & Folkers, 1939a, b ; Kuhn, Westphal, Wendt & Westphal, 1939; Morii & Makino, 1939). Secondly, the coenzyme function of vitamin B, was elucidated mainly through the use of microorganisms by Snell (cf. Snell, 1952), Gunsalus (cf. Gunsalus, 1950) Gale (cf. Gale, 1946) and others. It will be convenient first to describe the macroscopic and microscopic effects of deficiency of vitamin B, as seen in lower animals and in man, then to mention briefly the proved or suggested coenzyme functions of the vitamin, and finally to attempt to correlate the two. The term vitamin B, will be retained to cover pyridoxin, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and other derivatives (such as the lactones of pyridoxic acids-pyracins) that have similar biological activity.
Geographic variation in chloroplast haplotypes in the California red fir-noble fir species complex and the status of Shasta red fir

I present the results of a molecular investigation into taxonomically unresolved issues of the California red fir – noble fir species complex. Samples were collected throughout the range of California red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murray), from the southern Sierra Nevada to the region in northern California and southern Oregon where morphological variation has suggested it hybridizes with noble fir (Abies procera Rehder). Two rbcL sequences were found within A. magnifica and showed perfect linkage with variation at the chloroplast trnD locus. Only populations in the region of hypothesized hybridization were polymorphic for rbcL. One haplotype is unique to A. magnifica in the southern part of its range, and the other is identical to that found in A. procera to the north, supporting a broad zone of hybridization. There was no evidence for a cryptic geographic barrier between the two species. A single A. procera tree from southwestern Washington also had the A. magnifica haplotype, suggesting that introgressio.
The Effects of Feeding High Protein Diets to Chickens

Abstract DIETS for chickens containing more than 22% crude protein have been considered high protein diets in this study. Milne (1932) observed an adverse effect on the growth and liveability of chickens fed diets containing 38% protein. Heller and Penquite (1945) found poor growth in chickens on diets containing 35 or 40% protein. Almquist and Asmundson (1944), Heller and Penquite (1945), and Singsen (1949) obtained satisfactory growth of chickens fed diets up to 30% protein. Donaldson et al. (1956) found that less protein was required for a unit gain in weight of chicks as the calorie/protein ratio was increased for the diets containing 15 to 27% protein and 1760 and 2640 kcal. /kg. of productive (P.E.) energy. Sunde (1956) overcame the growth-depressing effects in the diets containing 1440 and 1700 kcal. /kg. P.E. due to an increase in the protein level from 20 to 28% by increasing the energy levels from 1760 to …
Giemsa C-banding Pattern in Some Cultivars of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb

To assess the role of heterochromatin, if any, in intraspecific diversification, a detailed study of the distribution pattern of Giemsa C-heterochromatin in three gynoecious cultivars of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. , namely, ‘Kali, ‘Kalyani’ and ‘Sanjiban’ has been undertaken.The somatic chromosomes are characterized by distinct telomeric bands. The differential banding pattern can be conveniently used for distinguishing between the cultivars. The cultivar ‘Sanjiban’ stands apart from the rest in possessing seven chromosomes with one or more intercalary bands in addition to the telomeric bands at both arms. The cultivars ‘Kali’ and ‘Kalyani’, however, can be distinguished from each other by the presence of five chromosomes with two telomeric bands in each in the former while four such chromosomes are represented in the latter.The application of Giemsa C-banding method reveals a differential distribution of C-heterochromatin in the cultivars investigated thus demonstrating the active involvement of heterochromatin in intraspecific diversification of T. dioica.
North Atlantic Oscillation signatures in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems—a meta‐analysis

Climate variations over the Northern Hemisphere are to a substantial proportion associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Recently, many studies revealed the impacts of the NAO on the dynamics of organisms in different ecosystems but the results in the single studies were inconsistent. Here, we used meta‐analysis techniques for a quantitative synthesis of results. We tested the influence of the NAO on the timing of life history events, on biomass of organisms, and on biomass of different trophic levels. We found a clear NAO signature in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. The response of life history events to the NAO was similar in all environments but less pronounced at higher latitudes. The magnitude of the biomass response was significantly related to the NAO, either positively in aquatic or negatively in terrestrial ecosystems. The response depended on longitude, the effect being less pronounced in Eastern Europe. The results stressed that a meta‐analysis is a valuable tool in the field of climate‐driven ecosystem responses and can identify more general ecological responses than single studies. We recommend the inclusion of nonsignificant results in order to archive an objective view of the strength of NAO and climate impacts in general.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF WING FEATHER TAXIS IN BIRDS: MACROEVOLUTIONARY PATTERNS OF GENETIC DRIFT?

Abstract Most recent research on character evolution attempts to identify either (1) homology or homoplasy (systematic use of the term character), or (2) the adaptive function or selective regime underlying the origin of a character (“adaptationist” use of the term character). There have been relatively few serious considerations or examples of neutral character evolution above the molecular level. Wing feather taxis in birds, the presence or absence of the fifth secondary feather, provides an intriguing possible example of nonadaptive character evolution. We examine the phylogenetic pattern of wing feather taxis among birds to (1) determine its polarity in modern birds (Neornithes), (2) hypothesize the frequency and taxonomic locations of changes in the taxic state, (3) test whether taxis is relatively labile or inert phylogenetically, and (4) allow preliminary consideration of whether adaptive or selectively neutral processes have produced those patterns. Minimum tree length necessary to explain the distribution of wing feather taxis was calculated at the family level using Sibley and Ahlquist's DNA–DNA hybridization tree (1990). Parsimony analysis indicates that the eutaxic condition (fifth secondary present) is ancestral in modern birds, and that diastataxy (fifth secondary absent) has originated independently at least 7 times and reversed to the eutaxic condition on at least 13 occasions within modern birds. Despite multiple independent origins and reversals, wing feather taxis is extremely conserved throughout the tree, such that one or the other state completely characterizes many large multiordinal or multifamilial clades. Lack of obvious correlations with morphological and ecological traits suggest that no single adaptive scenario will explain the evolution of wing feather taxis. Instead, the biological details and phylogenetic patterns make nonadaptive, or selectively neutral evolutionary processes, such as genetic drift, an equally if not more plausible explanation for the distribution of wing feather taxis.
Géométrie morphologique des ailes des Acrididae (Orthoptera : Caelifera) : sexe, stridulation, caractère

Résumé La nervation des élytres d’Acrididae de la région ouest paléarctique a été étudiée au moyen de 2 méthodes de morphométrie de manière à faire ressortir les caractères adaptatifs relatifs à la stridulation et les marqueurs de phylogénie. Huit Points de Repère (PR) situés dans la région proximale des élytres, incluant le champ médian, ont été considérés pour l’analyse de morphométrie géométrique. L’importance relative des champs a été appréhendée par ACP. Il apparaît que le dimorphisme sexuel des PR caractérise les espèces à stridulation de forte intensité chez le mâle (Gomphocerinae et Stethophyma grossum). Les mâles présentent par rapport aux femelles un élargissement des champs sous-costaux antérieur et postérieur, et du champ radial, lié à un déplacement distal de la bifurcation entre les radiales antérieure et postérieure, ce qui entraîne un élargissement de la surface de résonance. L’élargissement du champ cubital antérieur est une déformation propre à la tribu des Locustini et n’a pas de valeur adaptative apparente.
THE ROLE OF HIERARCHY LEVELS IN VOCAL IMITATIONS OF SONGBIRDS

The singing of adult birds shows a clear hierarchical organization and, due to its development through vocal imitation of sound patterns, makes an excellent biological model to examine the variables that influence the imitation of patterns on different hierarchy levels, e.g., songs and elements composing the songs. We studied such variables in the nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), i.e., a species that in the wild uses a large repertoire of songs. Subjects were raised in the lab and tutored by presenting them with a serial learning task, here a sequence of differently patterned songs. Analyses of singing, which the trained subjects performed at the end of their vocal ontogeny, allowed us to uncover hierarchy-related accomplishments and also specific constraints in learning by imitation. Our results showed that an imitation of elements and element sequences reflected a kind of "gestalt" learning, which finally became visible in the form of specific song patterns. An imitation of song sequences, on the other hand, reflected a kind of "list" learning, which finally emerged into the formation of specific subrepertoires of song types. The structure of such subrepertoires mirrored the serial order of imitated songs but allowed, nevertheless, a serially flexible retrieval of single types of songs. These findings contribute to a better understanding of relationships between signal imitation and signal use during vocal interactions among songbirds.
Segment-level stand inventory for forest management

The aim of this study was to develop a method for segment-based forest inventory and determine whether segment-level inventories can be used in forest management planning. The study area covered 76 ha located in two different aerial photographs in eastern Finland. The study area was segmented into 220 segments with the aid of aerial photographs and the segment-level forest characteristics were assessed in the field using relascope sample plots and a field computer which displayed the aerial photographs, segment borders and surveyor's location on the screen. The segment estimates were calculated as weighted averages of k nearest neighbours (kNN) for the segments and the sample plots. The estimates were tested with a cross-validation technique. The averages and the standard deviations of the spectral values of aerial images extracted for the segments and the sample plots were used in the kNN estimation. The relative root mean square error of the mean volume was 58.1% (bias –6.4%) at the segment level and 57.9% (bias –0.9%) at the sample plot level. The segment-based approach studied here needs further research and improvement before it can be applied to forest management planning.
Genetic relatedness and cultivar identification in a valuable garden species, Hesperantha coccinea (Schizostylis coccinea)

DNA fingerprinting using microsatellites is a useful aid in cultivar identification, but has rarely been applied to garden plants. Eleven microsatellite markers were developed for the valuable garden plant Hesperantha coccinea (Schizostylis coccinea), and used to determine relatedness of accessions. Several accessions, described as separate cultivars, appeared to have identical genotypes. Among the 53 accessions tested, there were 34 unique multilocus genotypes. The level of polymorphism detected in the cultivars was high, with on average seven alleles per locus and an average expected heterozygosity of 0.72 across loci. It is clear from the genotypes that a large proportion of the cultivars are closely related to each other. The resulting markers can now be used to generate a complete database of all known cultivars of the species and to detect essentially derived cultivars. As an extension of this study, the markers identified here could also inform us about the genetic diversity in wild populations.
Comparison of Actual and Predicted Gains in Barley Selection Experiments1

SINCE Fisher Best proposed the idea of partitioning variances, numerous experiments have been conducted by animal and plant breeders to determine the relative importance of environmental and genetic variances in heterogeneous populations. The ratio of gsnotypic to total variance was termed "heritability" by Lush. It is possible to find in the literature, heritability percentages for various characteristics in most of the important crop plants. However, the literature is notably void of reports testing the realism of heritability values. The study reported herein was conducted to test the accuracy of heritability percentages for four characters in barley by comparing predicted gains with those jictually obtained in selection experiments. The barley plant characteristics measured, namely, yield, test weight, heading date, and plant height, were each considered to be multigenically inherited.
The effect of acetylation of capsidiol phytoalexin on fungitoxic activity

Abstract Natural products have become increasingly sought after as ecologically safer alternatives to herbicides and pesticides, as well as a source of new medicines. However, the biological activity of these compounds is often affected by their stereochemistry, lipophilicity and other factors. Slight modifications can alter the bioactivity either positively or negatively. Capsidiol is the principal phytoalexin of Capsicum annuum. As part of a structure – activity investigation of this phytoalexin, acetyl-capsidiol was synthesized and tested in vitro for antifungal activity. Acetyl capsidiol was found to have a low inhibition effect on Aspergillus niger mycelial growth and spore germination. The results suggest that OH groups are indispensable for activity.
Language planning from below: the case of the Xhariep District of the Free State Province

The Xhariep District is the largest district municipality of the Free State Province of South Africa, covering 26% of the total land surface of this province. It comprises three local municipalities, namely Letsemeng, Kopanong and Mohokare and contains a total of 17 towns. The District is a multilingual area, with Afrikaans (37.1%) and Sotho (37.1%) as the two predominant home languages, followed by Xhosa (19.9%) as the third most prevalent home language. The draft language policy of the Xhariep partly acknowledges this demographic distribution of the languages. In terms of this policy, Afrikaans and Sotho are two of the official languages of the Xhariep District Municipality. English, which is the home language of less than 1% of the Xhariep population, is recognised as the third official language of the Municipality. In the interim, without a formal new language policy, the communities of the area have come up with their own language initiatives. This article presents an analysis of such micro-language planning initiatives at the community level. Language-related problems and the needs of the community are identified, along with the types of intervention that exist at the community level in order to deal with these problems. The investigation is based on an analysis of ethnographic data, collected in a subregion of the Kopanong Municipality during 2008 and 2009, concerning the deployment of a new language policy in the area since 1994.
Karyotype Analysis in Wild Diploid, Tetraploid and Hexaploid Strawberries, Fragaria (Rosaceae)

The strawberry, genus Fragaria (Rosaceae), has a basic chromosome of x=7, and is comprised of 20 wild species having an euploid series from diploid (2n=2x=14) through decaploid (2n=10x=70). Few karyotypes of species in this genus have been reported. The objective of this research was to determine the chromosomal morphology and karyotype analysis of wild diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid Fragaria species. Somatic chromosome images of 20 genotypes of diploids, tetraploids, and hexaploids were taken at the metaphase stage of mitosis under a light microscope. Karyotype analysis was performed in 17 accessions. The phylogenetic relationships between species were constructed using cluster analysis based on karyotypic similarity. Somatic chromosome numbers of wild diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid species were 2n=2x=14, 2n=4x=28 and 2n=6x=42. Chromosome morphology in wild diploid species had greater uniformity than that in the tetraploid species. Results of the cluster analysis showed that the diploid and tetraploid species reside in separate clades, with one exception. Fragaria tibetica, a tetraploid, clustered with the diploid species clade. The hexaploid, F. moschata, clustered with the tetraploid species clade.