Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using multivariate statistics to explore trade‐offs among spatial planning scenarios

Scenario planning can be useful to guide decision-making under uncertainty. While systematic conservation planning can create protected-area networks for multiple and complex reserve-design scenarios, planners rarely compare different reserve networks explicitly, or quantify trade-offs among scenarios. We demonstrate the use of multivariate statistics traditionally applied in community ecology to compare reserves designed under different scenarios, using conservation planning for beaches in South Africa as an example. Twelve reserve-design scenarios were run in Marxan in a hierarchical experimental design with three levels: including/excluding the probability of site destruction; two different cost types; and three different configurations of existing terrestrial and marine reserves. Multivariate statistics proved to be useful tools in the conservation planning context. In our case study, they showed that the trade-off associated with including the probability of site destruction during coastal reserve design depended on the cost type: if the cost is related to the site-destruction probability then reserves are significantly larger; if not, then reserves are significantly more costly. In both cases, the configuration of existing reserves locked a priori into the solutions was more important and resulted in significantly larger and more costly reserves.Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates a novel application of multivariate statistical tools to robustly quantify potential trade-offs among diverse sets of reserve-design scenarios. These statistics can be applied: to support negotiations with stakeholders and decision-makers regarding reserve configurations in the face of uncertainty; in reserve-design sensitivity analyses; and in priority setting for future research and data collection to improve conservation plans.
Metabolism of Chloroform—I. The Metabolism of [14C] Chloroform by Different Species

Abstract1. The metabolism of [14C]chloroform by the mouse, rat and monkey has been investigated. A pronounced species variation was observed.2. In all three strains of mice examined about 80% of a dose of 60 mg/kg 14CHCl3 was converted to 14CO2. In the rat about 60% conversion occurred whilst only 20% conversion occurred in the squirrel monkey.3. [14C]Urea was present in the urine of both rat and mouse, together with at least two other metabolites.4. Whole-body autoradiography was carried out on rat and monkey.5. 14CHCl3 was detected in monkey bile.6. Blood levels of radioactivity were determined after oral dosage of 14CHCl3 to mice and monkeys.
The Mathematical Analysis of a Micro Scale Model for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this dissertation we consider a quasi-linear elliptic-parabolic system of pdes arising in the modeling of Li-ion batteries. We establish local existence of weak solutions by exploiting the properties of the elliptic subproblem. In three or less spatial dimensions we obtain uniqueness. As auxillary results we discuss two finite element discretizations of the elliptic subproblem and present some numerical results.
Morphological and dietary differences between common and uncommon subspecies of Crimson Finch, Neochmia phaeton, and Star Finch, Neochmia ruficauda, in northern Australia

Abstract Bill measurements and crop contents were collected from the uncommon subspecies of Crimson and Star Finches, Neochmia phaeton evangelinae and N. ruficauda clarescens, at two sites on Cape York Peninsula. Bill measurements and crop analyses were also taken from the widespread and common N. p. phaeton and N. r. subclarescens in Kununurra, Western Australia. Bill depth and bill width differed significantly between species and among subspecies. The common subspecies possessed wider bills and consumed seeds with a larger mean diameter. The range of seed diameters consumed was also related to bill width, but this relationship was apparent only during the dry season. The seeds found and consumed by adult N. r. clarescens during the dry season were also significantly smaller than those taken by immatures. Management implications are discussed.
The Colorado Potato Beetle: 125 Years of Mismanagement

Since the colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was first recognized as a pest of potatoes (Edgerton 1861) it has had a profound effect. on the potato crop and on all persons engaged in agricultural production and research. This insect resulted in the first large-scale use of insecticides on an agricultural crop, and this successful use quickly stimulated widespread applications to other crops. For over 80 yr the CPB was successfully controlled by insecticides, influencing generations of agriculturalists to depend upon this unilateral approach for managing this pest and others.
Sweet Sorghum as Biofuel Feedstock: Nutrient Source, Yield, Soil Quality, Economics, and Manure Transportation

Published in Agron. J. 106:1722–1734 (2014) doi:10.2134/agronj13.0530 Copyright © 2014 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ABSTRACT
Tissue Carboxylesterases and Chlorpyrifos Toxicity in the Developing Rat

Young animals are more sensitive than adults to the neurotoxic effects of some organophosphorus insecticides. Many investigators attribute this difference in sensitivity to the immaturity of the detoxification capacity of preweanling rats. Chlorpyrifos [O,O-diethylO-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl)phosphorothionate] is an organophosphorus insecticide that demonstrates considerable age-related sensitivity. The carboxylesterases are a group of related enzymes that detoxify organophosphorus insecticides by stoichiometrically binding these molecules before they can inhibit acetylcholinesterase. This study presents in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrating that the carboxylesterases are critical for explaining the age-related sensitivity of chlorpyrifos. The data show that the fetal rat and the postnatal day 17 (PND17) rat pup have fewer molecules of carboxylesterase (less activity), less sensitive molecules of carboxylesterase, and a larger proportion of chlorpyrifos-insensitive molecules of carboxylesterase. An in vitro mixing experiment, using adult striatum as a source of acetylcholinesterase and liver homogenates as a source of carboxylesterase, demonstrates that the adult liver carboxylesterases are superior to the PND17 liver carboxylesterases for detoxifying chlorpyrifos. In the in vivo experiments the time course profiles of carboxylesterase and cholinesterase activity following a maximum tolerated dose of chlorpyrifos also suggest that the carboxylesterases of the PND17 rat were less capable of detoxifying chlorpyrifos. Carboxylesterase activity in the preweanling rat was not as severely inhibited as in the adult, but decrements in cholinesterase activity as a result of chlorpyrifos treatment were comparable. These in vitro and in vivo findings support the previously proffered postulate that the carboxylesterases are critical for determining the age-related sensitivity of chlorpyrifos. In addition, these detailed experiments allow us to propose that the detoxification potential of these enzymes is multifaceted, and depends on the (1) amount of activity (i.e., number of molecules), (2) affinity for the insecticide or metabolite, and (3) amount of carboxylesterase activity that is refractory to inhibition by the insecticide or metabolite.
Natural Hybridization and Morphometric Relationships Between Three Mallee Eucalypts in the Fitzgerald River National Park, W.A

The suspected occurrence of natural hybridization between Eucalyptus preissiana Schau, and E. Buprestium F. Muell, near West Mount Barren was investigated through a study of morphometric and reproductive parameters in allopatric and sympatric populations of these species. While E. Preissiana and E. buprestium were morphometrically distinct in allopatry, a small number of intermediate individuals occurred in one of the two sympatric populations examined. These intermediates set less fruit per plant than the parental species on average, a fact consistent with the hypothesis that they were hybrids showing partial F2 breakdown. The demonstration that New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novae-hollandiae) carried pollen of both parental species in a sympatric population was interpreted as further evidence in support of the occurrence of hybridization. The possible hybrid status of E. chrysantha Blakely & Steedman was investigated through determining its morphometric relationships in a multivariate analysis of E. sepulcralis F. Muell. , E. Preissiana and E. buprestium. E. chrysantha was intermediate between E. sepulcralis and E. preissiana, and distinguishable from E. preissiana-E. buprestium hybrids in this analysis. The taxonomic and evolutionary implications of the study are discussed.
Seasonal diet of Khulan (Equidae) in Northern Xinjiang, China

Abstract The natural diet of khulan (Equus hemionus Pallas, 1775) was observed over the period of a year in northern Xinjiang, China, using faecal analysis. The winter food habits of the khulan and domestic sheep were also compared. The faecal analysis method demonstrated that khulan ate 46 species of plants during the year. Diets varied seasonally, with the widest food breadth in winter (0.43) and the least in summer (0.10). Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae were major foods of khulan, and during spring, forbs were quite important as well. In contrast, Stipa glareosa was preferred during spring and summer, but consumed less during autumn and winter. Shrubs dominated the khulan's natural diet during autumn and winter. The dietary overlap between khulan and domestic sheep was 48.3% during winter. As a grazer living in arid environments, khulan ate more shrubs than other equids living in grassland, and their winter diet was an adaptation to avoid competition from domestic sheep. The number of sheep in the reserve should be reduced to lessen the pressure of competition.
Possible Involvement of Iron-Dependent Lipid Peroxidation in the Delayed Neuronal Death of Rat Brain after a Transient Ischemia

Lipid peroxide levels in rat hippocampus and cortex were determined at 6, 24, and 48h following ischemia for a period of 20min. A significant (p<0.05) but transient increase in lipid peroxide formation was found in the hippocampus at 24h following ischemia. Regional iron concentration determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry revealed that the concentration of iron in the hippocampus was also significantly elevated at 24h following ischemia, suggesting that in the hippocampus the increase in the concentration of iron resulted in promotion of lipid peroxidation. Though lipid peroxide and iron levels were reversed at 48h following ischemia, iron-dependent lipid peroxidation was possibly involved in the onset of delayed neuronal death in the rat hippocampus.
Early stages of Calluna vulgaris regeneration after burning of coastal heath in central Norway

Abstract Questions: How does Calluna vulgaris regenerate after burning wet and dry heaths of different age? Location: Central Norway. Methods: Patches of Calluna dominated old and young wet heath and old dry heath were burned. The mean temperatures reached in the categories of heath were measured. Cover, frequency, height and number of seedlings of Calluna were studied in plots. Results: The mean burning temperatures varied from 680 to 740 °C, and were highest in wet heath that had not been burned for at least 50 years. Regeneration of Calluna was evident in the year of burning, but only from seeds. Even heath with a short burning interval lacked vegetative regeneration. Calluna cover increased yearly and exceeded 50 % three years after burning. Regeneration was evident in the year of burning, and was highest in heath with a short burning interval. The height increased regularly at all sites, but was most rapid in dry heath, probably because of better microclimatic conditions. There were more seedlings in the heath with a short burning interval. Conclusions: Calluna only regenerates from seeds after burning in central Norway. The density of Calluna increased rapidly, which is positive for the conservation and management of coastal heaths in central Norway.
Have Southern Texas Savannas Been Converted to Woodlands in Recent History?

At savanna woodland sites in southern Texas, discrete clusters of woody plants form in herbaceous clearings following the invasion of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa), an arborescent legume. The growth rate of these clusters has been shown to vary with precipitation and size. Based on field data and a knowledge of mechanisms of woody-plant successional processes, a simulation model was developed to estimate the rates of growth and development of these woody-plant assemblages on sandy-loam uplands under different precipitation regimes. In the simulation, the establishment of other woody species beneath invading Prosopis occurred within 10-15 yr. As a cluster developed around the Prosopis nucleus, species richness increased rapidly for 35-45 yr and became asymptotic at 10 species per cluster. The estimated age of the oldest Prosopis plant found in clusters was 172-217 yr. However, model-derived size-age relationships predicted that most (90%) clusters and mesquite plants at the site are less than 100 yr old. A lack of field evidence of mortality among large clusters and Prosopis plants suggests that populations are young and expanding geometrically. There was no evidence of density-dependent restrictions on recruitment or expansion. Thus, as new clusters are initiated and existing clusters expand, coalescence to continuous canopy woodlands may eventually occur. Predicted long-term mean radial trunk growth of Prosopis (0.8-1.9 mm/yr) was reasonable in comparison with short-term field measurements on Prosopis in other, more-mesic systems (2-4 mm/yr). Model output was also consistent with historical observations suggesting that the conversion of savannas to woodlands in the Rio Grande Plains has been recent and coincident with both heavy grazing by livestock and seasonal shifts in precipitation that began in the late 1800s. This is in agreement with woody-plant invasions documented in other North American arid and semiarid systems by the direct aging of woody plants.
Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Antioxidant Activity and Content of Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds of Cactus Pear Cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Cactus pears (Opuntia ficus-indica) are draught resistant plants originated in Mexico. Their flattened stem segments, called cladodes, have moisture, protein and fibre contents of 92, 1-2 and 4-6% respectively, and a pectin content in the range of 0.8-3.3% depending on the species. They also contain certain concentration of carotenoids which are of special interest because of their antioxidant activity. This work is aimed to identify and quantify the main carotenoids present in the stems and to evaluate the effect of thermal treatments on the antioxidant activity and concentration of carotenoids and phenolic compounds. The carotenoids -cryptoxanthin, -carotene and lutein were identified in the cladodes, the latter having the highest concentration. Thermal treatments increased the extractability of these pigments and the antioxidant activity was related to the carotenoids concentration. Total phenolic content decreased after the thermal treatments; however this result had little effect on the antioxidant activity. Mucilage present in the stems decreased the extractability of the carotenoids.
Spermidine and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) affect maturation and endogenous polyamine content of Scots pine embryogenic cultures

Summary Exogenous spermidine (Spd) and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), a putative inhibitor of Spd synthesis, improved somatic embryo formation of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). The induced maturation due to MGBG and Spd was accompanied by significantly retarded proliferation growth and by reduction in the concentration of free polyamines compared to the control cultures. The action of MGBG revealed that it has a non-specific effect on the whole polyamine metabolism of Scots pine. Furthermore, at certain concentrations it may induce plant differentiation as well.
Apparent and standardised ileal digestibilities and growth performance of finishing pigs fed diets formulated with new corn hybrids

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of four new corn hybrids (H515, P7573, P30F94 and P3086). In Experiment 1, five crossbred (Yorkshire×Duroc) finishing barrows (52 kg initial body weight [BW]), were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the terminal ileum, to determine the apparent (AID) and standardised (SID) ileal digestibilities of amino acids (AA) and other nutrients. Pigs were individually penned in metabolism crates and had free access to water; feed was offered at 2.5 times the metabolisable energy (ME) requirement for maintenance. A 5×5 latin square design was used, with five periods of seven days each; the collection of samples was at days sixth and seventh, every two h. In Experiment 2, 15 finishing (63±2.4 kg initial BW) barrows were randomly allotted into three diets to determine growth performance and backfat thickness. The experiment lasted 49 days. In Experiment 1, the AID and SID of all AA were similar between diets (hybrids). Only the P3086 corn diet had the highest AID and SID for cystine, ash and crude protein (CP). In Experiment 2, the average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency of pigs were not affected by the formulation system. The backfat thickness was higher in pigs fed T3. These results show that the new corn hybrids had similar nutritive value for finishing pigs as in regular corn.
Sex allocation in a facultatively polygynous ant: between-population and between-colony variation

We investigated sex allocation in three U.K. populations of the facultatively polygynous ant Leptothorax acervorum over 1–3 years. The first main finding was that, across sites, the population sex-investment ratio changed from significantly female biased to significantly male biased with increasing polygyny. This was consistent with workers controlling sex allocation and reacting to changes in their population-level relatedness asymmetry. It was also consistent with local resource competition due to reproduction by colony budding under polygyny. Worker control was supported by the finding that queen number had no effect on sex allocation among polygynous colonies. The second main result was that monogynous colonies consistently produced more female-biased sex-investment ratios than polygynous colonies in one site only (Santon). The results from Santon supported both the relative relatedness asymmetry hypothesis and the idea of sex ratio compensation due to colony budding. The workers’ response to their population-level relatedness asymmetry reinforced the case for relatedness asymmetry being influential at the colony level. The other populations could have lacked split sex ratios because polygynous colonies were either comparatively rare or common, making them behave as almost entirely monogynous (Aberfoyle) or polygynous (Roydon) populations. In Roydon, this was consistent with the inference from allozyme data that monogynous and polygynous colonies did not differ in their worker relatedness asymmetries. The final principal finding was that, of hypotheses linking the colony sex-investment ratio with sexual productivity, there was support for the constant female hypothesis but not for the constant male, cost variation, or multifaceted parental investment hypotheses.
Race diversity and complexity in selected populations of fungal biotrophic pathogens of cereals

The relationships between several variables (sample size, measures of race number and frequency, number of discriminant differential hosts) and mathematical estimates of race diversity and complexity were studied by means of linear correlation and principal component analysis in various populations of cereal biotrophic pathogens, using race survey data from the literature. No constant relationships between the variables studied were found in geographically distinct populations of several rust and powdery mildew pathogens of cereals, suggesting a large local effect of selection by resistance genes on race diversity and complexity in these populations. Diversity estimates based on race abundance, race dominance, or synthetic indexes were generally correlated, irrespective of the population considered; no clear correlation was found between estimates of diversity and complexity. The increase in virulence complexity in rust pathogens and stability of complexity at a low level in powdery mildew fungi as new genes are introduced in the host population are possibly related to the biology of the pathogens considered, and particularly the presence or absence of a sexual phase. The large incidence of the characteristics of the differential set used on recognized diversity and complexity patterns is shown and discussed.
STUDIES OF CAVITATION IN ISOLATED VASCULAR BUNDLES AND WHOLE LEAVES OF PLANTAGO MAJOR L.

Summary Cavitation has been studied by acoustic detection in preserved and fresh vascular bundles and in whole leaves of Plantago and other plants. ‘Clicks’, indicating cavitation vibrations, were produced as vascular bundles lost water in a manner similar to that of Ricinus leaves (Milburn, 1973a), but the process was more rapid and freely suspended bundles jerked as they cavitated, like spore elator systems. Clicks were counted in a semi-quantitative study of both cavitation and the reverse process, the restoration of water-filled xylem conduits. Restoration was greatly enhanced by compression or vacuum infiltration treatments in comparison with simple soaking: apparently gas entrainment is the major obstacle preventing refilling. Cavitation within wilting leaves was much less extensive than when isolated bundles are dried, indicating that cavitation is generally incomplete under natural conditions. Xylem sap tensions at which cavitation is incipient were estimated approximately by balancing cavitation against the external humidity. Sap tensions at incipient cavitation could be measured more accurately using a pressure bomb, however. These tensions were surprisingly low, covering a range of tensions (5-15 bar) expected to occur under field conditions. Cavitation was detected in Plantago under natural field conditions and in other plants also, especially Tussilago, Further implications are discussed.
Endophytes Aspergillus caespitosus LK12 and Phoma sp. LK13 of Moringa peregrina produce gibberellins and improve rice plant growth

Two new strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the bark of Moringa peregrina and identified as Aspergillus caespitosus LK12 and Phoma sp. LK13. These endophytes were identified through amplifying polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing the 18S internal transcribed spacer of DNA extracted from both endophytes. Pure cultures of endophytic fungi were subjected to extract and isolate gibberellins (GAs). Deuterated standards of [17,17-2H2]-GA1, [17,17-2H2]-GA3, [17, 17-2H2]-GA4 and [17, 17-2H2]-GA7 were used to quantify the endophytic fungal GAs. The analysis revealed that both the endophytes are producing bioactive GAs in various quantities (ng mL−1). A. caespitosus LK12 was producing GA1 (54.51 ± 1.23), GA4 (26.5 ± 0.65), and GA7 (2.87 ± 1.23) while Phoma sp. LK13 was secreting GA1 (4.8 ± 0.12), GA3 (8.65 ± 0.21), GA4 (23.7 ± 0.98), and GA7 (22.7 ± 0.73). The culture filtrate (CF) of A. caespitosus and Phoma sp. significantly increased the shoot length of GAs-deficient mutant waito-c and normal Dongjin-beyo rice seedlings as compared to control. Application of such growth-promoting and GAs-producing endophytes can ameliorate poorly growing crop plants.