Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is a proactive mum a good mum? A mother’s coping style influences early fawn survival in roe deer

Individual differences in behavior may strongly shape life-history trajectories. However, few empirical studies to date have investigated the link between behavioral traits and fitness, especially in wild populations. We measured the impact of coping style in female roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) on early survival of their offspring. Specifically, we expected offspring of proactive mothers, which should be more mobile and aggressive, to survive better than those of reactive females, which should be more passive and react less in stressful contexts. To test this prediction, we accounted for confounding effects of variation in early survival linked to habitat heterogeneity, as we also expected bed-site selection to impact fawn survival. Fawn survival was highly dependent on the interaction between habitat use and the coping style of the mother. As expected, fawns of proactive mothers survived better in open habitats. However, unexpectedly, fawns of reactive mothers had the highest survival in closed habitats. Our findings provide clear evidence that interindividual differences in the coping style of the mother can markedly impact early offspring survival and, thereby, female fitness, in wild populations of mammals. Moreover, we provide evidence that fitness consequences of copying styles are habitat-dependent, providing a possible mechanism for the maintenance of within-population variation in behavior.
Evaluation of Environmental Factors to Determine the Distribution of Functional Feeding Groups of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Using an Artificial Neural Network

Functional feeding groups (FFGs) of benthic macroinvertebrates are guilds of invertebrate taxa that obtain food in similar ways, regardless of their taxonomic affinities. They can represent a heterogeneous assemblage of benthic fauna and may indicate disturbances of their habitats. The proportion of different groups can change in response to disturbances that affect the food base of the system, thereby offering a means of assessing disruption of ecosystem functioning. In this study, we used benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at 650 sites of 23 different water types in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Physical and chemical environmental factors were measured at each sampling site. Each taxon was assigned to its corresponding FFG based on its food resources. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) using a backpropagation algorithm, a supervised artificial neural network, was applied to evaluate the influence of environmental variables to the FFGs of benthic macroinvertebrates through a sensitivity analysis. In the evaluation of input variables, the sensitivity analysis with partial derivatives demonstrates the relative importance of influential environmental variables on the FFG, showing that different variables influence the FFG in various ways. Collector-filterers and shredders were mainly influenced by Ca²+ and width of the streams, and scrapers were influenced mostly with Ca²+ and depth, and predators were by depth and pH. Ca²+ and depth displayed relatively high influence on all four FFGs, while some variables such as pH, %gravel, %silt, and %bank affected specific groups. This approach can help to characterize community structure and to ecologically assess target ecosystems.
Genotypic variability in isolates of Rhizoctonia solani from rice, maize and greengram

Molecular characterization of Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) isolates of three hosts, viz.rice, maize and greengram was done using three molecular markers, viz. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Universal Rice Primer (URP) and Internal Transcribed Spacer Region (ITS). The RAPD markers were found suitable for resolving the genetic polymorphism hidden among 22 R. solani isolates. The phylogenetic analysis based on RAPD revealed three clusters comprising two major clusters of maize and rice, and one minor cluster with four outliers of the isolates. The two greengram isolates, PRS21 and PRS22, were clustered with maize isolates. The URP markers could not identify and clearly differentiate the isolates of R. solani . Although these markers could sparsely cluster rice and maize isolates separately into two major clusters but most of the isolates were not clearly placed in any of these clusters. Both greengram isolates clustered together with maize which was analogous to RAPD results. The cluster analysis of full length ITS region formed four groups without any clear cut differentiation among isolates and did not follow the pattern of RAPD and URP analyses.
PNEUMATIZATION OF THE CRANIUM OF THE ZEBRA FINCH TAENIOPYGIA CASTANOTIS

Summary The process of cranial pneumatization in the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia castanotis is substantially similar to that described in the House Sparrow Passer domesticus, but is completed somewhat earlier. Full pneumatization of the cranium is usually attained between 138 and 153 days from hatching, though in some birds it may be retarded. A series of diagrams, representing 41 stages in the process, enables the ages of young birds to be established.
Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Induction of different isoenzymes in response to wounding and ethephon

Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities were assayed in roots, stems and leaves of 12-day-old chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants. While glucanase activity was higher in roots than in the aerial parts of the plant, leaves had higher Chitinase activity. Both glucanase and chitinase activities were induced in roots and stems in response to wounding (excision into 1-cm pieces), with activity increasing 6 h after treatment, reaching a maximum between 24 and 48 h, and thereafter remaining nearly constant up to 72 h. Ethephon treatment also induced β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase activities in stems but not in roots. Both enzymes occurred in root and stem tissues as a complex mixture of isoenzymes. At least four different peaks with glucanase and chitinase activities could be resolved by gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 and chromatofocusing on PBE 94 (pH 4–7). Following ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange on CM- and DEAE-Trisacryl, three β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase fractions, referred to as basic, neutral and acidic, were separated on the basis of their chromatographic behaviour. Most of the total protein (75%) of stem extracts was found in the acidic fraction, whereas the major glucanase (53%) and chitinase (62%) activities were in the basic and neutral fractions, respectively. While wounding resulted in an increase in the neutral glucanase and chitinase activities, the activities of the acidic fractions were promoted by ethephon.
Stimulus Deprivation Increases Pineal Gsα and Gβ

Abstract: Denervation and other forms of stimulus deprivation cause an increase in the magnitude of subsequent responses, a phenomenon commonly referred to as denervation supersensitivity. This has been well demonstrated with the cyclic AMP response to norepinephrine in the pineal gland. In the present report, we address the question of whether stimulus deprivation alters α and β subunits of the GTP binding regulatory protein that stimulates adenylyl cyclase activity (Gs). Stimulus deprivation of the pineal gland was produced by denervation (superior cervical ganglionectomy), decentralization of the superior cervical ganglia, or by exposure of the animal to continuous lighting. All increased both the α and β subunits of Gs (Gsα and Gβ) by up to fourfold, as estimated using semiquantitative western blot technology. These effects were detectable after 1 day of stimulus deprivation and were sustained for 2 weeks. The stimulatory effects of constant light‐induced stimulus deprivation were also apparent by measuring cholera toxin‐dependent ADP‐ribosylation of Gsα, which revealed a fourfold increase in the amount of labeled substrate. The results of in vivo studies were confirmed with in vitro studies, which demonstrated a spontaneous increase in both Gsα and Gβ during 72 h of organ culture. The constant light‐induced increases in both Gsα and Gβ were prevented by continuous administration of isoproterenol (0.3 mg/kg/day), supporting the suggestion that adrenergic stimulation controls the levels of Gsα and Gβ. These studies indicate that stimulus deprivation increases both Gsα and Gβ. It appears that such increases play a central role in generating supersensitivity in the pineal gland and may play a role in supersensitivity in other systems.
Validation of a four‐day Ceriodaphnia toxicity test and statistical considerations in data analysis

This study evaluated the technical feasibility of a shorter alternative to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recommended 7-d chronic toxicity test with Ceriodaphnia dubia. The results of 4-d and 7-d Ceriodaphnia dubia toxicity tests, conducted concurrently, were compared using treated municipal effluent, metals, PCP, ethylene glycol, phenol and surfactants. The experimental technique was similar for both studies with the exception of the duration and age of the test species at test initiation. The 4-d static-renewal test was initiated with 3-day-old Ceriodaphnia dubia, and 1-day-old organisms were used in the 7-d tests. The chronic values of the replicated studies, based on survival and young production, were within a factor of two in approximately 70% of the total tests conducted and in all tests conducted with municipal effluent. Based on the available results, the 4-d toxicity study appears to be a technically valid alternative to the EPA-recommended 7-day test, particularly for treated municipal effluent. An important factor in toxicity testing is the use of valid statistical procedures. The validity of the various methods for Ceriodaphnia dubia depends upon their appropriate use; however, it is difficult to justify the widespread use of multiple comparison methods, particularly Dunnett's procedure.
Author's personal copy Doublet of D and 2D bands in graphene deposited with Ag nanoparticles by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface enhanced Raman spectrum of graphene was obtained by modifying graphene with Ag nano-particles. The doublet of D band and 2D band was observed due to surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement and relaxation of the selection rules originated from the interaction of Ag nano-particles and graphene. The difference in the doublet of D band in which the separation between the two peaks is 11 cm 1 is close to the theoretical value of 9 cm 1 and can be attributed to the disorder and edge effect. The doublet of 2D band can be assigned to the asymmetry of dispersion relation along KM and KU respectively. The phonon mode at 1510 cm 1 can be associated with the iTO phonon near UK/4. This confirms the phonon dispersion based on double resonance (DR) theory in iTO
The taxonomy and origins of the cultivated bananas

A taxonomy scoring method is used to classify the edible bananas and to provide evidence on their evolution. Edible diploid forms of Musa acuminata are thought to be the primary source of the whole group to which another species, M. balbisiana, has contributed by hybridization. Thus there exist diploid and triploid edible forms of M. acuminata and diploid, triploid and tetraploid hybrid types of genetic constitutions that vary according to their histories. There is a faint possibility that a third wild species has contributed to their origins of a small group of triploids hybrids types. Triploidy was probably established under human selection for vigour and fruit size; tetraploidy is inexplicably rare. The centre of origin of the group is indo-malaya and malaya is probably the primary centre. The two linnaean species M. paradisiaca and M. sapientum refer to identifiable edible varieties which are both shown here to be of hybrid origin. The names therefore may be rejected from the nomenclature of the wild bananas.
Broomrape (Orobanche Cumana Wallr.) Resistance Breeding Utilizing Wild Helianthus Species

Abstract Wild Helianthus species possess valuable resistance genes for sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.), especially the 39 largely underutilized perennial species. Resistance to race F has been transferred into a cultivated background via bridging of interspecific amphiploids. More recently, a single dominant gene resistant to race G was identified in annual H. debilis ssp. tardiflorus and transferred into cultivated HA 89. Interspecific crosses between wild annual Helianthus species and cultivated lines are relatively easy compared to those involving wild perennial species, which were made easier only after the development of embryo rescue techniques. Interspecific amphiploids resulting from colchicine treatment of F1 hybrids provide bridging materials for transferring genes without relying on embryo rescue. Among the diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid perennial species, the speed of gene utilization follows the ploidy level of diploids, tetraploids, and hexaploids due to the time-consuming backcrosses required to eliminate the extra chromosomes in the latter two groups. In the development of pre-breeding materials, the retention rate of genetic material of the wild species is another concern with each additional backcross. For crosses involving tetraploid and hexaploid wild perennials, the use of 2n=51 chromosome F1 or BC1F1 generation, as pollen source, could accelerate chromosome reduction to 2n=34 in BC1F1 or BC2F1, resulting in useful materials with fewer backcrosses for trait selection.
Physical characteristics and effects of processing methods on pigeon pea varieties

Three varieties of pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) were subjected to physical characteristics, cooking and sensory evaluation. Swelling capacity and cooking time ranged between 45.7 to 54.7% and 170–210 mins respectively. The red-brown coloured variety was the most acceptable among the varieties by sensory analysis. The effects of different processing methods were studied on the proximate, mineral and anti-nutritional factors of pigeon pea. Soaking and cooking method reduced cooking time but most of the processing methods reduced protein and mineral contents of pigeon pea. Roasted and fried seeds had higher protein, fat and ash contents than seeds from other processing methods. All processing methods significantly reduced the tannin, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitor contents of the seeds.
Learning From Sparse Demonstrations

In this article, we develop the method of continuous Pontryagin differentiable programming (Continuous PDP), which enables a robot to learn an objective function from a few sparsely demonstrated keyframes. The keyframes, labeled with some time stamps, are the desired task-space outputs, which a robot is expected to follow sequentially. The time stamps of the keyframes can be different from the time of the robot's actual execution. The method jointly finds an objective function and a time-warping function such that the robot's resulting trajectory sequentially follows the keyframes with minimal discrepancy loss. The Continuous PDP minimizes the discrepancy loss using projected gradient descent by efficiently solving the gradient of the robot trajectory with respect to the unknown parameters. The method is first evaluated on a simulated robot arm and then applied to a 6-DoF quadrotor to learn an objective function for motion planning in unmodeled environments. The results show the efficiency of the method, its ability to handle time misalignment between keyframes and robot execution, and the generalization of objective learning into unseen motion conditions.
Reflections on Different Learning Analytics Indicators for Supporting Study Success

Common factors, which are related to study success include students’ sociodemographic factors, cognitive capacity, or prior academic performance, and individual attributes as well as course related factors such as active learning and attention or environmental factors related to supportive academic and social embeddedness. In addition, there are various stages of a learner’s learning journey from the beginning when commencing learning until its completion, as well as different indicators or variables that can be examined to gauge or predict how successfully that journey can or will be at different points during that journey, or how successful learners may complete the study and thereby acquiring the intended learning outcomes. The aim of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of not only if learning analytics can support study success, but which aspects of a learner’s learning journey can benefit from the utilisation of learning analytics. We, therefore, examined different learning analytics indicators to show which aspect of the learning journey they were successfully supporting. Key indicators may include GPA, learning history, and clickstream data. Depending on the type of higher education institution, and the mode of education (face-to-face and/or distance), the chosen indicators may be different due to them having different importance in predicting the learning outcomes and study success.
Chemosynthetic Primary Production at East Pacific Sea Floor Spreading Centers

These vents, as commonly termed, were found to be surrounded by dense populations of benthic animals. Especially striking were the tightly packed clusters of mussels, clams (Fig. 2), and vestimentiferan tubeworms of unusual size (Ballard 1977, Corliss et al. 1979, Galapagos Biology Expedition Participants 1979). Early in 1979, more vents were located and visited by Alvin west of the original diving area and also further north along the East Pacific Rise spreading zone near the Mexican coast (see Fig. 1). What is the food supply that sustains these unusually rich communities, which are located at an ocean depth far removed from surface waters of only moderate photosynthetic production? An explanation discussed in a preliminary communication by Lonsdale (1977) proposes thermoconvective currents caused by rising warm water, which may lead to an entrainment of nutrient-rich bottom water. An alternate hypothesis originated from one of the first direct observations from the portholes of Alvin at close range: The most active vents emitted "milky bluish" water. This indicated the possible presence of suspended particulate or colloidal sulfur as a product of spontaneous oxidation and thereby the potential for bacterial oxidation of reduced sulfur species. The presence of hydrogen sulfide was soon confirmed. Since this process involves the conversion of inorganic into organic carbon, as in photosynthesis, the possibility arose that those unusual deepsea populations might be supported by primary
Is the number of species on earth increasing or decreasing? Time, chaos and the origin of species

Darwin's On the Origin of Species has led to a theory of evolution with a mass of empirical detail on population genetics below species level, together with heated debate on the details of macroevolutionary patterns above species level. Most of the main principles are clear and generally accepted, notably that life originated once and has evolved over time by descent with modification. Here, I review the fossil and molecular phylogenetic records of the response of life on Earth to Quaternary climatic changes. I suggest that the record can be best understood in terms of the nonlinear dynamics of the relationship between genotype and phenotype, and between climate and environments. ‘The origin of species’ is essentially unpredictable, but is nevertheless an inevitable consequence of the way that organisms reproduce through time. The process is ‘chaotic’, but not ‘random’. I suggest that biodiversity is best considered as continuously branching systems of lineages, where ‘species’ are the branch tips. The Earth's biodiversity should thus (1) be in a state of continuous increase and (2) show continuous discrepancies between genetic and morphological data in time and space.
Fructose Drives Glucose via Direct Oxidation and Promotes Palmitate/ Oleate Co-Release from Hepg2 Cells: Relevance with the Randle Cycle

Background & methods: Evidence indicates that there are significant differences in how glucose and fructose affect host metabolism although the details remain unclear. We determined how liver cells adopt intermediary metabolism to fructose administration. Cultured HepG2 cells were incubated with 5 mM glucose or fructose, above the 5 mM glucose concentration in control cultures. [1,213 C2]-D-glucose was used as the single metabolic tracer. Results: Addition of 5 mM glucose maintained the ratio of complete glucose oxidation to that of other acetateyielding substrates, while addition of 5 mM added fructose significantly decreased 13 CO2 Delta by its contribution to citrate and glutamate in the TCA cycle. Fructose maintained a high rate of direct glucose oxidation via G6PDH which was also seen with glucose-treatment. New palmitate production via fatty acid synthase was significantly increased by both sugars. In contrast to glucose-treatment which resulted in increased intracellular palmitate and oleate content, fructose increased the co-release of newly formed palmitate and oleate into the culture media. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that fructose rearranges TCA cycle metabolism by providing acetylCoA for oxidation, increasing citrate shuttling and strongly promoting triglyceride efflux of altered de novo synthesis pathways.
The gas‐phase basicities and proton affinities of amino acids and peptides

The methods of establishing gas-phase basicities and proton affinities are reviewed, particularly as applied to thermally labile and involatile molecules. The literature on the basicities of amino acids is critically reviewed, and a consistent set of gas-phase basicities for α-amino acids is recommended. The problems associated with deriving proton affinities from these data are discussed. The literature on the gas-phase basicities of peptides is reviewed, and inconsistencies in the experimental results are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Mass Spectrom Rev 16, 201–217, 1997
Regional and Elevational Patterns in Vascular Epiphyte Richness on an East Asian Island

The distribution of species on mountains has been related to various predictor variables, especially temperature. Thermal specialization—presumed to be more pronounced on tropical mountains than on temperate mountains—accounts for the elevational pattern of species richness and varies between organisms and geographic areas. In this study, the elevational and regional distribution patterns of 331 epiphyte species in Taiwan were explored using 39,084 botanic collections, mostly from herbaria. Species richness showed a peak in elevation at 500–1500 m. This peak could not be explained by a null model, the mid‐domain effect, suggesting that environmental variables accounted mostly for the distribution of species on the mountains. Next, species distributions were modeled to assess epiphyte regional and elevational distribution patterns. The model results not only corroborated the position of the mid‐elevation peak in richness, but also identified two mountain areas on the island with exceptionally high species richness. These areas of high epiphyte diversity coincide with areas of high rainfall in relation to the direction of the prevailing winds. Moreover, a subsequent exploratory ordination analysis showed a varied thermal preference between epiphyte subcategories (hemiepiphytes, dicotyledons, orchids, and ferns). In contrast to predictions by the elevational Rapoport's rule, ordination analysis also showed that the degree of thermal specialization increased with elevation, suggesting that highland species may be especially vulnerable to global warming.