Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of prey density on survival and growth of damselfly larvae

Abstract. 1 Instar 10, 11 and 12 Ischnura larvae were maintained throughout the instar on a constant food supply (Daphnia magna of a standard size). 2 A very narrow range of prey availability separated cohorts in which all the larvae successfully moulted to the next instar, from those in which all the larvae died (less than one Daphnia per day in the case of instar 10). 3 Larvae were able to survive long periods without food at 16°C. 4 Prey availability had a marked effect on development rates, which continued to increase at prey densities well in excess of 100% survival by the larvae. 5 The data on Ischnura survival and development rates are compared with previously published general models of these two components of the predators' rate of increase. 6 We conclude that starvation is very unlikely to be a significant cause of mortality in the field for Ischnura (or indeed most other Odonata larvae), but that prey availability undoubtedly influences development rates. Natural selection should therefore favour larvae that forage optimally to minimize development times.
MELT POOL MONITORING USING FUZZY BASED ANOMALY DETECTION IN LASER BEAM MELTING

With the introduction and further development of additive manufacturing (AM) processes and topology optimization algorithms, components are designed to meet high performance objectives. However, the quality standards required for the high-performance market are not entirely given yet. Known but hard to deterministically quantifiable influences have a considerable effect on the manufacturing process and consequently the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the components. Therefore, process monitoring systems are implemented for a better evaluation of the process itself and the quality of the component. Due to the challenging nature of the AM process, data uncertainties within the collected monitoring data are common. To achieve the high quality criteria not only an improved understanding of the present uncertain influences is crucial, but also correspondingly the correct mapping of the collected monitoring data itself. This paper presents an approach to monitor and evaluate the microstructure of a Laser Beam Melting (LBM) printed component. It aims to estimate the quality of the component by determining printing anomalies within the solid structure, using the fuzzy set theory for feature engineering. The anomaly detection exploits the collected melt pool data generated by image analysis with photodiode signals of microsections for the fuzzy based anomaly detection. The proposed concept is proven with nested printing anomalies.
A physiologically explicit morphospace for tracheid-based water transport in modern and extinct seed plants

Abstract We present a morphometric analysis of water transport cells within a physiologically explicit three-dimensional space. Previous work has shown that cell length, diameter, and pit resistance govern the hydraulic resistance of individual conducting cells; thus, we use these three parameters as axes for our morphospace. We compare living and extinct plants within this space to investigate how patterns of plant conductivity have changed over evolutionary time. Extinct coniferophytes fall within the range of living conifers, despite differences in tracheid-level anatomy. Living cycads, Ginkgo biloba, the Miocene fossil Ginkgo beckii, and extinct cycadeoids overlap with both conifers and vesselless angiosperms. Three Paleozoic seed plants, however, occur in a portion of the morphospace that no living seed plant occupies. Lyginopteris, Callistophyton, and, especially, Medullosa evolved tracheids with high conductivities similar to those of some vessel-bearing angiosperms. Such fossils indicate that extinct seed plants evolved a structural and functional diversity of xylem architectures broader, in some ways, than the range observable in living seed plants.
Adaptations to feast and famine in different strains of the marine heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium dominans and Oxyrrhis marina

Marine planktonic organisms endure fluctuations in food abundance and quality dur- ing their life. The degree of resource variability in each specific environment may have forced adaptive survival responses on the organisms inhabiting them. We studied the adaptations to feast and famine of 2 strains of the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium dominans (GYR-DK from Denmark; GYR-BCN from Barcelona) and Oxyrrhis marina (OXY-BCN from Barcelona; OXY-CRB from the Caribbean). Overall, the OXY strains showed contrasting results in terms of feeding, meta - bolism, and biochemical composition, whereas both GYR strains presented similar responses to the variables measured. OXY-BCN exhibited higher maximum ingestion rates, better capacity to exploit a pulse of food, higher carbon assimilation efficiency and lipid storage capacity, and longer survival time to starvation. When feeding on a fatty acid-rich alga (Rhodomonas salina, RHO), OXY- BCN displayed very high (75%) gross growth efficiencies (GGE), but showed no growth when con- ditioned to one that was more fatty acid deficient (Dunaliella tertiolecta, DUN). In contrast, both GYR strains had higher GGE when feeding on DUN (>50%) compared to a diet of RHO (16 to 22%). OXY-CRB showed low GGE (<2 0%), despite feeding actively on both prey. All strains maintained their carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry after 5 d starvation, but lost some fatty acids, especially OXY. Additionally, when starving, respiration rates decreased by 70% in OXY-BCN, 50% in GYR- DK, and by 25% in OXY-CRB. Our results demonstrate that OXY-BCN is a more opportunistic or- ganism, perfectly adapted to heterogeneous or unstable environments; although it requires a suitable biochemical composition in its prey. On the other hand, GYR seems better conditioned to more stable habitats, such as coastal and open waters. This study also stresses the phenotypic differences between strains (especially of OXY) originating from different ecosystems.
RELATIVE POLLINATOR EFFECTIVENESS AND EVOLUTION OF FLORAL TRAITS IN SPATHIPHYLLUM FRIEDRICHSTHALII (ARACEAE)

We studied the relative effectiveness of different pollinators of Spathiphyllumfriedrichsthalii Schott for 15 months on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Pollen-foraging stingless bees (Apidae: Trigona) made 87% of floral visits. Experiments showed that these bees pollinate flowers, and correlations of fruit- and seed-set with visitation frequencies and floral contact times suggested that they were responsible for the majority of seeds produced. Fifteen species of fragranceforaging, male euglossine bees (Apidae: Euglossini) collectively accounted for a small portion of seed-set in fewer than 27% of the inflorescences. Neocorynura (Halictidae) were pollen thieves and were unimportant as pollinators. We propose that euglossine and stingless bees differentially influence outcrossing rates and the evolution of floral traits of S. friedrichsthalii. behavior of male euglossines should allow for more long-distance pollen flow whereas stingless bees are likely to promote nearneighbor and geitonogamous pollinations. We discuss why the prolonged male phase of anthesis in this protogynous species may be maintained through pollination by stingless bees rather than male euglossines. Furthermore, although the floral fragrance is attractive to many species of male euglossines, it attracts few individuals. This condition may represent an intermediate step in the evolution of predominant pollination by male euglossines.
Genetic manipulation in chickens

Development of chicken embryo culture techniques provides precise methods for the manipulation of early chicken embryos and has made it possible to analyse the results of the manipulation in hatched chickens. Various attempts have been made to introduce exogenous DNA into the chicken germline, but an efficient method for producing transgenic chickens by non-viral methods has not yet been devised. Since the system for producing germline chimaeric chickens has been established by the transfer of primordial germ cells isolated from early stage embryos, manipulation of primordial germ cells seems to be one of the most promising methods for genetic manipulation in chickens.
Bioassay of endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor with abolishment of nitric oxide and the role of gap junctions in the porcine coronary circulation

Previous bioassays of endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) were partially related to the residual nitric oxide (NO) resistant to NO synthase inhibitors. Further, the role of gap junctions in EDHF is controversial. We performed a bioassay of EDHF with abolishment of NO production by using the NOS inhibitor NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine (l‐NNA) plus the NO scavenger hemoglobin (Hb) and examined the role of gap junctions/K+ channels related to EDHF in porcine coronary large and microarteries in an organ chamber/myograph. Bradykinin (BK)‐induced EDHF‐mediated relaxation and hyperpolarization (by a microelectrode) were studied with indomethacin (7 µM), l‐NNA (300 µM), and Hb (20 µM). NO concentrations ([NO]) were measured electrochemically. In large coronary arteries, BK increased [NO] (9.3±1.7 nM vs. 166.7±18.3 nM, P<0.01) that was significantly reduced by l‐NNA (49.3±7.8 nM, P<0.01) and eliminated by Hb, and hyperpolarized the downstream endothelium‐denuded artery by 9.0±1.4 mV (P<0.01) that was reduced but not abolished by l‐NNA and Hb (5.6±0.7 mV, P<0.01). In microarteries, elimination of NO decreased but did not abolish the hyperpolarization (−63.8±1.5 mV vs. −56.9±1.6 mV, P=0.01) and relaxation (70.2±5.7% vs. 42.3±4.4%, P<0.01). Charybdotoxin (0.1 µM) and apamin (0.5 µM), but neither glybenclimide (3 µM) nor gap junction inhibitors (18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid, 1‐heptanol, and gap 27) reduced the EDHF‐mediated response. We conclude that in porcine coronary arteries, with the abolishment of NO by NOS inhibitors plus the NO scavenger Hb, the non‐NO EDHF exists and is transferable from an endothelium‐intact artery to an endothelium‐denuded artery. Compared with the significant involvement of calcium‐activated K+ channels, the gap junctions may only play a minimal role in the EDHF‐mediated response even in the microcirculation of the porcine coronary artery. Drug Dev. Res. 58:99–110, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparison of the fish assemblages on natural and artificial reefs off Sal Island (Cape Verde)

Tourism is a growing activity in Cape Verde, which can lead to more intensive and uncontrolled fishing and diving activities, affecting the quality of marine habitats. To mitigate this biodiversity problem, a private diving operator, supported by the local authorities, decided to deploy the first artificial reefs (ARs) in the Archipelago just off Santa Maria Bay (Sal Island). To evaluate the ARs capacity to promote marine fish biodiversity in Santa Maria Bay, the fish assemblages were compared to those from nearby natural reefs (NRs), located at the same depth (10 and 28 m depth), by means of visual census. All study sites were surveyed by visual census in August 2009. A total of 64 species were recorded, mostly consisting of sedentary and/or benthophagous demersal species, followed by highly-sedentary benthic cryptic species. ‘Tchuklassa’ NR showed the highest species richness (58 species), while the lowest was recorded at ‘Santo Antão’ AR (48 species). An overall positive relationship was observed between habitat rugosity and mean species richness. The results showed a high percentage of common species on both reef types. Higher mean values of community descriptors (number of species, Shannon–Weaver diversity index, Simpson dominance index and equitability) and fish density were found on the ARs, with slightly higher densities recorded on the deeper reefs. These results suggest that ARs can have an important role promoting the local fish biodiversity and supporting local sustainable development of diving tourism.
Predominance of Multidrug Resistant Zoonotic Salmonella Enteritidis Genotypes in Poultry of Bangladesh

Salmonella infection is one of the major constraints in poultry farming that has hindered its development in Bangladesh. Salmonella serotypes with multidrug resistant phenotypes are a threat to the poultry of Bangladesh. This study focused on genotypic characterization of Salmonella spp. isolated previously from 5 different poultry farms of Savar, Bangladesh. Among the 67 Salmonella isolates, 12 were found to be plasmid-free and showed resistance to as high as 7 groups of antibiotics. PCR using Salmonella specific primers ascertained that all 67 isolates were invA gene positive, 17 were sefA gene positive and 4 were fliC gene positive. Genotyping using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA) differentiated three distinct genetic variants circulating in five poultry farms indicating no single source of infection. Sequencing of representatives from each genotype detected close similarity to S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg within the poultry samples indicating significant zoonotic hazard. S. Enteritidis was highly prevalent, accounting for 88% (59 out of 67) of the poultry isolates. Contaminations or prevalence of such multidrug resistant zoonotic Salmonella indicates an unhygienic practice of poultry farming in Bangladesh which is becoming a potential threat to public health.
Internal Cycling of Nitrate in Soils of a Mature Coniferous Forest

Gross rates of N mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification were mea- sured by '5N isotope dilution in a 10-yr-old conifer plantation and in a mature conifer forest. Gross rates revealed nutrient cycling characteristics that differ from expectations based on more common measures of net rates. Although net mineralization rates were somewhat higher in the young forest than in the old forest, gross mineralization rates in the old forest were 2-3 times as high as gross mineralization rates in the young forest, indicating more rapid turnover of inorganic-N pools in the old forest. Net mineralization rates were < 14% of gross mineralization rates. Smaller N03 pool size and lower net nitrification rates in the old forest than the young forest might lead to the conclusion that the old forest is a non-nitrifying ecosystem and that nitrate is important only in the N cycle of the young forest. However, gross nitrification rates were similar in both young and old forests. Microbial assimilation of N03 was also significant in both forests, indicating a rapid turnover of a small but important N03- pool. Microbial assimilation may be an important pathway for N03 retention in forest ecosystems.
Composition and temporal change of the macrofauna in a shallow, sandy bottom in the Lysekil archipelago, western Sweden

Abstract The macrofauna from a shallow (12 m), sandy bottom at Bredholmen in the outer Lysekil archipelago, western Sweden, was collected quantitatively with a suction sampler at regular intervals between June 1980 and August 1981. This area was inhabited by a dense population of the burrowing crustacean Upogebia deltaura, with a rich infaunal community, high in abundance and diversity throughout the study period. A total of 7297 individuals comprising 126 taxa were obtained from the 52 samples (4 replicates on each occasion). A total of 64 polychaete taxa were found, followed by 22 molluscs, 21 crustaceans, 7 echinoderms, and 12 species not belonging to any of these taxonomical groups (varia). Molluscs dominated in abundance throughout the study period except in November 1980, January 1981, and March 1981, when polychaetes dominated. Species abundance varied seasonally. The multivariate analyses of abundance data also demonstrated a limited temporal change, less pronounced during winter months. Bottom water salinity was negatively correlated to the number of taxa. Bottom water temperature was negatively correlated to polychaete abundance, and positively correlated to mollusc abundance. U. deltaura correlated positively with four taxa: Nereimyra sp. , Spisula subtruncata, one species within the family Talitridae, and Mya truncata, and negatively to Scoloplos armiger.
Biomass, Nutrient Content and Growth Response to Fertilisers of Six-year-old Eucalyptus globulus Plantations at Three Contrasting Sites in Gippsland, Victoria

Factorial combinations of three rates of N (up to 400 kg ha-1 elemental) and four rates of P (up to 200 kg ha-1) were applied during the establishment phase of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations on three contrasting sites in Gippsland, south-eastern Australia. Mean annual increments of volume at 71 months ranged from 8 m3 ha-1 year-1 in control treatments on a duplex sandy loam (annual rainfall 850 mm) and a uniform sand (620 mm rainfall) to 23 m3 ha-1 year-1 at the highest combined additions of N and P on a gradational clay loam (1000 mm rainfall). Volumes to 71 months were greatest at the highest combined additions of N and P on the uniform and gradational soils, but significant effects of N and P additions were not sustained on the duplex soil, where the availability of K was limiting after 45 months. Trees were sampled for above-ground biomass and nutrient content at 6 years from four treatments involving the highest additions of N and P and treatment responses were interpreted using vector analysis. The greater magnitude of P vectors than N vectors at all sites indicated that P additions, in particular, were important for good early growth. However, relationships between above-ground biomass and P content indicated accumulation of P in excess of growth requirements and reduced efficiency of P additions at the highest rates. The paper concludes with general recommendations for fertiliser additions during the establishment phase of E. globulus plantations.
Interactions between frugivorous birds and plants in savanna and forest formations of the Cerrado

Registramos interacoes entre aves frugivoras e plantas no Cerrado e avaliamos o papel e a importância das aves como potenciais dispersoras de sementes. Observamos como numeros de registros de alimentacao e de interacoes e composicao de especies de aves se distribuem entre formacoes savânicas e florestais e entre as estacoes seca e chuvosa. Realizamos amostragens entre agosto/2009 e outubro/2010 e entre novembro/2011 e agosto/2012 por meio de transeccoes e observacoes focais. Observamos 348 registros de alimentacao e 187 interacoes envolvendo 44 especies de plantas e 60 especies de aves. A maioria dos registros de alimentacao foi observada nas florestas e durante a estacao seca (χ2 = 39,529; gl = 1; p < 0,001). Ja em relacao ao numero de interacoes nao encontramos diferenca significativa (χ2 = 15,975; gl = 1; p = 0,06) entre as duas formacoes vegetacionais e entre as estacoes. A composicao de especies de aves diferiu entre formacoes savânicas e florestais (ANOSIM, R = 0,238; p < 0,001) e entre as estacoes seca e chuvosa (ANOSIM, R = 0,223; p < 0,001). A maioria das especies potencialmente dispersoras foi aves generalistas que ocupam preferencialmente florestas durante a estacao seca. Durante a estacao seca ha aumento de registros de alimentacao nas formacoes florestais, indicativo de que as aves usam estes locais como area de forrageio nesse periodo. Sugerimos que a manutencao de florestas em ecossistemas predominantemente savânicos como o Cerrado e extremamente importante para a avifauna frugivora e para as interacoes frugivoro-planta.
A laboratory device for producing single drops in uniform sizes of 150–450 μm diameter

A device is described which can produce single drops of liquids in uniform sizes. Drop size can be adjusted, and with an aqueous solution of a non-ionic surfactant (“Agral”; 1 ml/litre) sizes 160–490 μm diam. were produced. Suitable techniques of calibration are given. The device is a useful research tool for study of the effects of form of deposit on herbicide performance.
Leflunomide's Bioactive Metabolite Has the Minimal Structural Requirements for the Efficient Inhibition of Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase

Abstract The α-cyano-β-hydroxy enamide 1 is an inhibitor of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (IC 50 = 0.26 μM), the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. A structure–activity analysis based on selected derivatives of 1 demonstrates that both its structural characteristics and its physicochemical properties are mandatory for the efficient inhibition of the enzyme.
Effect of lameness on dairy cows' visits to automatic milking systems

Lameness is a major welfare problem for dairy cows and has important economic consequences. On-farm detection of lameness is difficult, and automated methods may be useful for early diagnoses. Lameness may reduce the efficiency of automated milking systems (AMS) if lame cows are less willing to visit the automatic milking unit voluntarily and poor attendance at milking units may help detect lameness. To determine whether a low frequency of visits in an AMS could serve as an indicator of lameness, data on the frequency of visits of 578 cows in 12 AMS on eight farms were collected. From each AMS, 22 cows (from a mean of 54 cows per AMS), were classified as either the 11 highest visitors or the 11 lowest visitors based on the total number of visits to the milking unit. These selected cows (n= 256) were videotaped while walking in a standard test area and their gait scored on a 5-point scale (1 = sound 5 = severely lame). Intra- and inter-observer reliability values between and within observers were high for .
Evaluation of water stress in soybean based on the difference in canopy temperature between soybean and rice.

農家圃場における夏期のダイズの水ストレス状態を簡易に把握するために，熱収支式に基準温度として水稲群落の表面温度を組み込んだ方法について検討を行い，計測例も示した．ダイズと水稲群落の蒸散速度比の補数（1−ES/ER）は，（1）ダイズと水稲群落における空気力学的抵抗が等しい，（2）水稲群落の植被抵抗は圃場間で差異がないと仮定することにより，ダイズと水稲群落の表面温度差（TcS−TcR）と水稲群落と大気間の水蒸気圧勾配（VPD*）を用いた簡易な式により表わすことができる．モデル式の感度解析の結果に基づくと，これらの仮定に伴う誤差は比較的小さいと見積もられた．2006年に福知山市夜久野町大油子集落で行った測定では，1−ES/ERの測定時間による変動は小さく，代表的な水ストレス指標であるCWSI（Crop Water Stress Index）と同程度の傾向を得ることができた．対照とする水稲群落の均一性や，ダイズと水稲群落における気象の同一性などが求められるものの，本法は農家圃場における効果的な評価手法であり，今後航空機リモートセンシングなどへの適用が期待できると考えられた．
Biotic and Abiotic Determinants of the Diet of Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, in Lakes of the Laurentian Shield

From a survey of 12 lakes containing brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, 12 lakes containing brook trout and creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, and 13 lakes containing brook trout and white sucker, Catostomus commersoni, we built seven multiple linear regression models to account for the mean percent weight of different prey categories in the diet of brook trout. Presence of chub and sucker, zooplankton community structure, sampling date, morphoedaphic index, and the importance of rock outcrops accounted for 88% of the variation in weight of zoobenthos eaten by trout, which was the preferred prey in allopatry. Thirty percent of the variation in weight of zooplankton eaten by trout was explained by the importance of macrophytes and other refuges for fish. Models for amphipods, dipteran pupae, swimming insects, terrestrial insects, and prey-fish explained between 36 and 63% of the variation. The presence of white sucker or an index of their impact (mean length or density of Cladocera) and the characterist.