Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A complex didemnid ascidian from Whangamata, New Zealand

An undescribed species of the genus Didemnum (Didemnidae) reported from installations in Whangamata Harbour (Coromandel Peninsula), has a unique and conspicuous three-dimensional growth form (possibly associated with vertical and undersurfaces it occupies). It is also distinguished by a combination of the few characters available to define these small, simplified, convergent organisms. Its stellate spicules are sparse except for a patchy layer in the surface test, primary common cloacal canals are the full depth of the zooids, nine vas deferens coils surround the testis, the gut is long forming a double loop, and larvae have six pairs of ectodermal ampullae. Eleven species said to belong to this genus have previously been reported from New Zealand, but only six are valid Didemnum spp. , and they all are distinguished readily from the present species. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that the new species is introduced, and the simplest explanation of it occurrence is that it is part of the little known indigenous didemnid fauna of New Zealand.
Digital reconstruction of Rodrigues Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) (Aves: Columbidae) physical appearance based on early descriptive observation and other evidence

Rodrigues Solitaire (Pezophapssolitaria) is an extinct (eighteenth century) flightless bird endemic to Rodrigues Island (Mascarene Islands) and a sister taxon of iconic extinct Mauritian Dodo (Raphuscucullatus) (Columbiformes, Raphinae). Although numerous sub-fossilised bones have been recovered, no soft-tissue samples or taxidermically prepared specimens of Pezophaps solitaria are known to exist. The objective of this study was to produce accurate detailed digital reconstructions of Pezophapssolitaria based on early descriptions, contemporary and post-contemporary paintings, academic literature and images of mounted skeletons. Reconstructed images of Pezophaps solitaria generated illustrate the use of an established approach to visualise the appearance of this bird just before human influence and extinction. Digital simulation of photographic quality of males, females, juveniles and eggs of Pezophaps solitaria was obtained for the first time in this study. Inferred plumage crypsis in the Solitaire can be suggested to be superfluous in that their habitat was free of predators. There were a relatively large number of birds seen on the island by contemporary visitors, and thus it can be suggested cryptic colouration might be part of an adaptive strategy for intraspecific competition.
Modelagem do escoamento superficial a partir das características físicas de alguns solos do Uruguai

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar e modelar o escoamento superficial para solos com diferentes caracteristicas fisicas a partir de diferentes intensidades de chuva. Foram realizadas chuvas simuladas em diferentes solos, no Uruguai. Chuvas artificiais com intensidades de 30, 60 e 120mm h-1 foram aplicadas utilizando-se um simulador estacionario de bicos multiplos e oscilantes. Em cada solo foram determinados o tempo de inicio e a taxa de escoamento superficial, alem da chuva (quantidade, duracao e intensidade), declividade do terreno, materia seca na superficie e cobertura do solo, densidade (do solo e de particula), porosidade do solo (macro, micro e total), textura (argila, silte e areia), umidade inicial e saturacao do solo. Foi utilizado o modelo modificado de Smith para estimativa do escoamento superficial. As perdas acumuladas por escoamento superficial foram de 64, 32, 30 e 15% do total aplicado para Vertissolo 1, Chernossolo, Argissolo e Vertissolo 2, respectivamente. Ha uma relacao inversa entre o tempo de inicio do escoamento e a taxa constante de escoamento superficial, independentemente das condicoes da superficie do solo e da chuva. Isso esta associado a intensidade da chuva, pois quanto mais esta aumentar, menor e o tempo de inicio do escoamento e maior e a taxa constante de escoamento superficial. O modelo modificado de Smith estima melhor o escoamento superficial sob condicoes de elevada umidade do solo.
Temporal Variation in Anuran Calling Behavior: Implications for Surveys and Monitoring Programs

Abstract Recent awareness of amphibian declines has raised the need for effective monitoring programs. Call surveys are a standard approach to monitoring populations of most anuran species. Temporal variation in calling activity, however, may result in failure to detect some species. Automated recording systems (ARS) allow consistent sampling for extended periods with little or no disturbance to calling anurans. We used an ARS to measure temporal variation in anuran calling activity during the summer of 1997 at a Carolina bay on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, South Carolina. We documented considerable interspecific variation in calling activity, a phenomenon that, using traditional call survey techniques, would result in failure to detect some species. In particular, we found that Southern Leopard Frogs (Rana sphenocephala), thought to breed only in early spring and fall in the region, called consistently from midnight until dawn during July. Because protocols for most call surveys dictate that the listener survey only during early evening hours, most call surveys would not detect the presence of this species. Our results indicate that temporal variation in anuran calling activity warrants further investigation and should be considered when developing anuran monitoring programs.
The role of plant characteristics in the resistance of white cabbage to onion thrips: Preliminary results

at full maturity.Antixenosis was found to be responsible for the resistance of ‘Balashi’, ‘Bloktor’ and ‘Riana’ varieties, since the number of adults and offspring found on head leaves was significantly lower than that of ‘Green gem’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Quisto’. The resistant varieties (‘Balashi’, ‘Bloktor’ and ‘Riana’) similarly suf fered significantly lower damage than the susceptible ones (‘Green gem’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Quisto’). The light reflectance spectra of all six varieties were almost identical in the case of the old leaves, but a difference was foundbetween thesusceptibleandresistantvarietieswhen thereflectanceoftheouterhead-formingleaveswas measured. Similarly, the colour of the old leaves was not greatly different, but that of the outer head-forming leaves was correlated to the number of thrips adults found in the cabbage heads.
TEMPORAL ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION TIPS THE BALANCE BETWEEN FACILITATION AND INTERFERENCE IN DESERT PLANTS

Recently, numerous studies have pointed to the importance of positive interactions in natural communities. There is now a broad consensus that the balance between negative and positive interactions should shift along environmental gradients, with competition prevailing under environmentally benign conditions and positive interactions dominating under harsh conditions. A commonly cited example of the importance of facilitation in harsh environments is the preference of desert annual plants for the areas under the canopy of shrubs. The recognition of apparently positive effects of desert shrubs on annuals, however, has been mostly based on density measurements, while fitness parameters of the understory plants have been ignored. Also, the temporal consistency of such effects has not been previously tested. Based on conceptual ideas about the balance between interference and facilitation, we predicted that positive effects of the shrubs on the understory should dominate in dry years, while in favorable years.
Methodological Experiment on Measuring Asset Ownership from a Gender Perspective

1 † (Corresponding Author) Senior Economist and Head of Methods Team, Surveys and Methods Unit (DECSM), Development Data Group (DECDG), World Bank, Via Labicana 110 Rome, Italy, tkilic@worldbank.org; ‡ Survey Specialist, DECSM, DECDG, World Bank, Via Labicana 110 Rome, Italy, hmoylan@worldbank.org. This document should be cited as “Kilic, T. , and Moylan, H. (2016). “Methodological experiment on measuring asset ownership from a gender perspective (MEXA): technical report. ” Washington, DC: World Bank. P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed
A unified assessment of marine Mediterranean assemblages: a lesson from benthic hydroids

Hydroids are important components of the communities of rocky bottom shallow coastal areas. The hydrozoan fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is probably one of most investigated in the world, with lots of faunistic and biogeographical studies. However, quantitative studies using the same sampling methodology and controlled sampling effort have been restricted to areas in the Western and Central Mediterranean. We compared hydroid assemblages in four areas of the Mediterranean Sea, from the Gulf of Cadiz to the South Adriatic Sea, following the same sampling and quantification methodology. Our analysis showed the dominant Atlantic character of the assemblages of the Gulf of Cadiz and the South Alboran Sea because of the influence of the inflowing Atlantic waters. Conversely, the hydroid assemblages of the North Alboran Sea were more similar to the assemblages in the Ligurian and in the South Adriatic, and with a number of species ranking between the observed in these two Mediterranean zones. Fourteen species were identified as making the most significant contributions to characterizing the Mediterranean hydroid species pool from a quantitative point of view. These taxa include species previously named as typical components of the Mediterranean hydroid fauna as well as those only recently recorded in the region (Eudendrium moulouyensis) and invaders such as Clytia hummelincki.
Nonzero-Sum Risk Sensitive Stochastic Games for Continuous Time Markov Chains

We study nonzero-sum stochastic games for continuous time Markov chains on a denumerable state space with risk sensitive discounted and ergodic cost criteria. For the discounted cost criterion we first show that the corresponding system of coupled HJB equations has an appropriate solution. Then under an additional additive structure on the transition rate matrix and payoff functions, we establish the existence of a Nash equilibrium in Markov strategies. For the ergodic cost criterion we assume a Lyapunov type stability assumption and a small cost condition. Under these assumptions we show that the corresponding system of coupled HJB equations admits a solution which leads to the existence of Nash equilibrium in stationary strategies.
Analytical mass formula and nuclear surface properties in the ETF approximation. Part II: asymmetric nuclei

Properties of the nuclear medium M Baldo and G F Burgio-Estimating the relevance of predictions from the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model P-G Reinhard-Recent citations Nuclear skin and the curvature of the symmetry energy Ad. R. Raduta and F. Gulminelli-Constraints on the nuclear equation of state from nuclear masses and radii in a Thomas-Fermi meta-modeling approach D. Chatterjee et al-This content was downloaded from IP address 192.93. 53.6 on 17/03 Abstract We have recently addressed the problem of the determination of the nuclear surface energy for symmetric nuclei in the framework of the extended Thomas-Fermi (ETF) approximation using Skyrme functionals. We presently extend this formalism to the case of asymmetric nuclei and the question of the surface symmetry energy. We propose an approximate expression for the diffuseness and the surface energy. These quantities are analytically related to the parameters of the energy functional. In particular, the influence of the different equation of state parameters can be explicitly quantified. Detailed analyses of the different energy components (local/non-local, isoscalar/iso-vector, surface/curvature and higher order) are also performed. Our analytical solution of the ETF integral improves previous models and leads to a precision of better than 200keV per nucleon in the determination of the nuclear binding energy for dripline nuclei.
Wyeomyia-virus isolations in Trinidad, West Indies.

Summary Details are given regarding 28 isolations of Wyeomyia virus from mosquitoes collected in Trinidad during the period mid-1953 through mid-1966. No other island source, mammalian, avian, or reptilian, or other arthropod, has yielded the virus. The serum of eight of 30 Trinidad residents and one of 100 birds was protective in neutralization test, but it is not known whether these reactions are specific.
Maturation increases superoxide radical production without increasing oxidative damage in the skeletal muscle of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata)

Diving vertebrates represent unique models for the study of the physiological responses to reactive oxygen spe- cies (ROS) production and oxidative stress because of their adaptability to cope with dive-derived ROS production. We hypothesized that in the skeletal muscle of a diving mammal, the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)), ROS production increases with maturation but the accumulation of oxidative damage does not. To test this, we analyzed the tissue capacity to produce ROS, the accumulation of oxidative damage, and the activity and protein content of the cooper, zinc, and manganese dependent superoxide dismutases (Cu,ZnSOD, MnSOD) in skeletal muscle from neonates, weaned pups, and adult hooded seals. Our results showed higher tissue capacity to produce ROS, higher Cu,ZnSOD and MnSOD activities, and higher MnSOD protein content in adult seals than in pups. No differences in oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, or DNA were detected among groups. Results suggest that increased SOD activity likely counters the oxi- dative damage commonly associated with increased ROS production. These findings highlight the unusual tolerance of skeletal muscle of seals to increased ROS production. Resume ´ : Les vertebres plongeurs sont des modeles uniques pour l'etude des reactions physiologiques ala production d'especes d'oxygene reactif (ROS) et du stress oxydatif a cause de leur adaptabilitepour faire face a la production de ROS produits durant la plongee. Nous emettons l'hypothese selon laquelle, dans le muscle squelettique du phoque acapu- chon (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)), la production de ROS augmente en fonction de la maturation, mais non l'ac- cumulation de dommages oxydatifs. Afin de tester l'hypothese, nous analysons la capacitedu tissu a produire des ROS, l'accumulation de dommages oxydatifs, ainsi que l'activiteet le contenu proteinique des superoxydes dismutases depen- dantes du cuivre, du zinc et du manganese (Cu,ZnSOD, MnSOD) dans le muscle squelettique chez des phoques acapu- chon nouveau nes, des petits sevres et des adultes. Les tissus ont une plus forte capacitede production de ROS et possedent des activites plus elevees de Cu,ZnSOD et de MnSOD et des contenus proteiniques plus importants de MnSOD chez les phoques adultes que chez les petits. Aucune difference n'a pu etre decelee entre les groupes dans les dommages oxydatifs aux lipides, aux proteines et al'ADN. Nos resultats laissent croire que l'activiteaccrue des SOD bloque vrai- semblablement les dommages oxydatifs couramment associesala production plus elevee de ROS. Ces observations souli- gnent la tolerance exceptionnelle du muscle squelettique des phoques ala production accrue de ROS. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Long time semiclassical Egorov theorem for $\hbar$-pseudodifferential systems

In the Heisenberg picture, we study the semiclassical time evolution of a bounded quantum observable $Q^w(x,\hbar D_x)$ associated to a $(m\times m)$ matrix-valued symbol $Q$ generated by a semiclassical matrix-valued Hamiltonian $H\sim H_0+\hbar H_1$. Under a non-crossing assumption on the eigenvalues of the principal symbol $H_0$ that ensures the existence of almost invariant subspaces of $L^{2}(\mathbb R^n)\otimes \mathbb C^m$, and for a class of observables that are semiclassically block-diagonal with respect to the projections onto these almost invariants subspaces, we establish a long time matrix-valued version for the semiclassical Egorov theorem valid in a large time interval of Ehrenfest type $T(\hbar)\simeq log(\hbar^{-1})$.
The shrubs of the Western Ghats (South India): floristics and status

This study examines the understorey shrub community in a wet evergreen forest of South India. The shrub community in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Sri Lanka, South-east Asia, Neotropics, Africa and Madagascar are compared. The shrub community is richer in the Old World Tropics as compared to the Neotropics. The common families in the Old World Tropics are: Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrsinaceae and Annonaceae. The number of families constituting the understorey shrub community falls from forty-six (Western Ghats) to thirteen (Central Amazon). The study concludes that the evergreen forests in the Western Ghats probably have the richest understorey shrub community. Resume. L'etude concerne la communaute d'arbustes de sous-bois d'une foret sempervirente du Sud de l'lnde. Les communautes d'arbustes dans les forets sempervirentes des Ghâts Occidentaux, des Ghâts Orientaux, du Sri Lanka, du Sud-Est Asie, des Neotropiques, de l'Afrique et de Madagascar sont comparees. La communaute d'arbustes est plus riche dans le Vieux Monde Tropical que dans les Neotropiques. Les families communes dans le Vieux Monde Tropical sont; Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrsinaceae et Annonaceae. Le nombre de families constituant la communaute d'arbustes de sous-bois varie de 46 (Ghâts Occidentaux) a 13 (Amazonie Centrale). L'etude conclue que les forets sempervierentes des Ghats Occidentaux ont probablement la plus riche communaute d'arbustes de sois-bois. Mots cles. Communaute d'arbustes de sous-bois, forets sempervirentes, Ghâts Occidentaux, endemisme, Inde.
Integrating ecophysiology and plankton dynamics into projected maximum fisheries catch potential under climate change in the Northeast Atlantic

Previous global analyses projected shifts in species distributions and maximum fisheries catch potential across ocean basins by 2050 under the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) A1B. However, these studies did not account for the effects of changes in ocean biogeochemistry and phytoplankton community structure that affect fish and invertebrate distribution and productivity. This paper uses a dynamic bioclimatic envelope model that incorporates these factors to project distribution and maximum catch potential of 120 species of exploited demersal fish and invertebrates in the Northeast Atlantic. Using projections from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model (ESM2.1) under the SRES A1B, we project an average rate of distribution-centroid shift of 52 km decade 21 northwards and 5.1 m decade 21 deeper from 2005 to 2050. Ocean acidification and reduction in oxygen content reduce growth performance, increase the rate of range shift, and lower the estimated catch potentials (10-year average of 2050 relative to 2005) by 20 –30% relative to simulations without considering these factors. Consideration of phytoplankton community structure may further reduce projected catch potentials by � 10%. These results highlight the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to biogeochemical changes and the need to incorporate likely hypotheses of their biological and ecological effects in assessing climate change impacts.
Thermophilic biomethanation of acetic acid: morphology and ultrastructure of a granular consortium

The ultrastructure of a thermophilic methanogenic consortium appearing as morphologically distinct bacterial granules (up to approximately 3 mm in diameter) has been studied. The consortium was enriched and maintained at 60 °C in continuous culture in a defined mineral – vitamin – acetic acid medium at a hydraulic retention time of 44 h. Thin-section electron microscopy showed three morphologically distinct layers of the granules. (1) The outer division zone bears resemblance to a pseudoparenchyma and consists of "macrocysts" and coccoid cells, resembling Methanosarcina cells. (2) The inner zone is built up of loosely packed ovoid cells and (3) internal cavities containing rods.The cavities were the exclusive site of gas formation, as shown with a specially designed minifermenter allowing direct light microscopic observation of gassing granules. Based on labeling studies with cationic ferritin and scanning electron microscopy a working model for methane formation from acetate by the consortium is presented.
The effects of fluoride on hypermethylation, transcription and expression of p16 gene in osteoblasts of rats

Objective To establish an in vitro model of primary osteoblasts fluorosis and to detect the influences of different doses of fluorosis on promoter methylation, transcription and expression of p16, then study the epigenetic effects of p16 gene on skeletal fluorosis. Methods Osteoblasts were isolated from Sprague- Dawley neonatal rats by enzyme digestion, and identified by morphology, alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining. Osteoblast were treated with 0 (control group), 200, 400, 800 and 1 600 μmol/L NaF for 72 h. The p16 gene promoter region was amplified in the transcription initiation site - 88 - + 143 region by bisulfate-sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP). The mRNA transcription and the protein expression of p16 were detected by realtime quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Results Among the groups of osteoblasts treated with 200, 400, 800, 1 600 μmol/L NaF, the positive rates of DNA methylation of promoter region in p16 gene of osteoblasts were 5.88% (10/170), 12.94% (22/170), 17.65% (30/170) and 33.53% (57/170), respectively. No DNA methylation was observed in the control group. There were significant differences between the control group and the NaF- treated osteoblasts groups (χ2 = 92.87,P < 0.05). Average levels of p16 mRNA were 1.050 ± 0.073, 0.869 ± 0.037, 1.065 ± 0.118 and 0.786 ± 0.148 in 200, 400, 800 and 1 600 μmol/L NaF-treated osteoblasts groups, compared with the control group(1.110 ± 0.315), there were significant differences among groups (allP < 0.05) and 1 600 μmol/L NaF- treated osteoblasts group was much lower than other groups (P < 0.05). Average levels of p16 protein were 1.190 ± 0.050, 1.214 ± 0.058, 1.122 ± 0.123 and 0.320 ± 0.074 in 200, 400, 800 and 1 600 μmol/L NaF-treated osteoblasts groups, compared with the control group (1.115 ± 0.057), there were significant differences among groups (allP < 0.05) and 1 600 μmol/L group was much lower than other groups. Conclusion NaF can cause hypermethylation in the promoter region of p16 gene, then suppress the expression of mRNA and protein, which might be one of the important mechanisms of cell proliferation change and cell cycle disorder in skeletal fluorosis. Key words: Fluoride; Osteoblast; p16 gene; DNA methylation