Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EDITOR'S CHOICE: Enhancing gardens as habitats for flower‐visiting aerial insects (pollinators): should we plant native or exotic species?

Summary Domestic gardens typically consist of a mixture of native and non-native plants which support biodiversity and provide valuable ecosystem services, particularly in urban environments. Many gardeners wish to encourage biodiversity by choosing appropriate plant taxa. The value of native and non-native plants in supporting animal biodiversity is, however, largely unknown. The relative value of native and non-native garden plants to invertebrates was investigated in a replicated field experiment. Plots (deliberately akin to garden borders) were planted with one of three treatments, representing assemblages of plants based on origin (native, near-native and exotic). Invertebrates and resource measurements were recorded over four years. This paper reports the abundance of flower-visiting aerial insects (‘pollinators’) associated with the three plant assemblages. For all pollinator groups on all treatments, greater floral resource resulted in an increase in visits. There was, however, a greater abundance of total pollinators recorded on native and near-native treatments compared with the exotic plots. Short-tongued bumblebees followed the same pattern whilst more hoverflies were recorded on the native treatment than the other treatments, and more honeybees on the near-native treatment. There was no difference between treatments in abundance of long-tongued bumblebees or solitary bees. The lack of difference in solitary bee abundance between treatments was probably due to a third of individuals from this group being recorded on one exotic plant species. The number of flower visitors corresponded to the peak flowering period of the treatments, that is there were fewer flower visitors to the exotic treatment compared with the other treatments in early summer but relatively more later in the season. Synthesis and applications. This experiment has demonstrated that utilizing plants from only a single region of origin (i.e. nativeness) may not be an optimal strategy for resource provision for pollinating insects in gardens. Gardens can be enhanced as a habitat by planting a variety of flowering plants, biased towards native and near-native species but with a selection of exotics to extend the flowering season and potentially provide resources for specialist groups.
Alergia, respiración oral y mordida cruzada, ¿una triada?

espanolAntecedentes: La alergia respiratoria en pediatria es una patologia que se presenta en nuestro medio con una prevalencia superior al 30% y una incidencia anual que va en aumento. La asociacion de la alergia respiratoria en la edad pediatrica y determinadas alteraciones estomatologicas ha sido demostrada en numerosos estudios. Objetivos: Estudiamos una muestra de pacientes en edad pediatrica de nuestro medio en la que pretendemos observar, si lo hubiera, una relacion entre la patologia alergica en vias respiratorias altas, con el habito respirador oral como causa de la disminucion del diametro transversal del maxilar superior como causa de mordida cruzada posterior. Material y metodo: Se recogen datos de todos los pacientes pediatricos de edades comprendidas entre los 1 y los 15 anos que acuden a la Clinica de Odontologia de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y del Deporte (Universidad de Zaragoza, ciudad de Huesca) entre los anos 2010 y 2014; en la encuesta se recoge la edad, el sexo, las alergias diagnosticadas por su pediatra que cursen con rinoconjuntivitis, respiracion bucal o mordida cruzada. Resultados: Llama especialmente la atencion las grandes diferencias en los porcentajes de pacientes alergicos con respiracion oral, un 81%, en contraste con el 20% de los pacientes no alergicos que respiran bucalmente. Tambien la mordida cruzada que se observa en el 17,4% de los pacientes alergicos, frente al 5,29% de los pacientes no alergicos con mordida cruzada, es otro dato que debe tenerse en cuenta. Conclusiones: Los pacientes pediatricos alergicos muestran una gran predisposicion a presentar respiracion bucal, asi como se incrementa significativamente el riesgo de padecer mordida cruzada. EnglishBackground:The respiratory allergy in children is a disease that occurs in our midst with a prevalence above 30% and an annual incidence is increasing. The association of respiratory allergy in children and certain stomatological alterations have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Objectives: We studied a sample of pediatric patients in our environment in which we intend to observe, if any, relationship between allergic disease in upper airway, the habit oral breathing as a cause of decreased transverse diameter of the upper jaw as a cause of posterior crossbite. Methods: Data of all pediatric patients aged between 1 and 15 years attending the Clinic of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport (University of Zaragoza, Huesca) were collected between 2010 and 2014; in the survey collects age, sex, allergies diagnosed by your doctor that course with rhinoconjunctivitis, oral breathing or crossbite. Results: Draws attention to the large differences in the percentages of allergic patients with oral breathing, 81%, compared with 20% of non-allergic patients who breathe buccally. Crossbite also observed in 17.4% of allergic patients versus 5.29% of non-allergic patients with crossbite, is another fact to be taken into account. Conclusions: Pediatric patients allergic show a predisposition to oral breathing, and significantly increases the risk of crossbite.
Phylogeography of the Chinese endemic freshwater crab Sinopotamon acutum (Brachyura, Potamidae)

Phylogeographical inferences based on multiple molecular markers from different modes of inheritance (i.e. mtDNA and nucDNA) can help to explore drivers of current species divergence over different timescales and allow a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes. River systems and mountains, owing to their drainage networks and complex topography, are often a high priority when inferring external causes of phylogeographical patterns. Here, we selected the Chinese endemic freshwater crab Sinopotamon acutum inhabiting drainage networks across the Qinling–Daba Mountains, a watershed that divides northern from southern fauna in China, as a model species (1) to investigate whether river networks and mountain systems act as barriers in shaping the phylogeography of freshwater crabs and (2) to test the impact of historic environments and ecological habitats on crab distribution. Phylogenetic tree and network analyses based on mtDNA revealed divergence between eastern and western populations, but microsatellite DNA did not recover this. Frequent and male‐biased gene flow is evident. The adjacent tributaries, such as Weihe River 1 and Hanjiang River 1, although isolated by Qinling Mts, have low genetic variation in mtDNA. In addition, microsatellite DNA showed low variation between all rivers. Frequent gene flow, genetic variation and mitochondrial genetic structure in S. acutum indicated that the Qinling–Daba Mountains have had no effect on divergence in this species; instead, hydrological networks across these mountains serve as a continuous migration corridor for these crabs. Glacial refugia are probably responsible for the initial isolation of the eastern and western clades, and local adaptations after dispersal have further driven divergence. Cytonuclear discordance in phylogeographical patterns may be attributable to ongoing male‐biased gene flow.
Heterobasidion annosum root rot in Picea abies: Modelling economic outcomes of stump treatment in Scandinavian coniferous forests

Abstract The economic outcomes of stump treatment against spore infections of the root rot pathogen Heterobasiodion annosum s. l. were analysed based on simulations in four stands typical of Swedish forestry and forest management: (A) Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst. ] stand on former agricultural soil (SI = 32), (B) Norway spruce stand (SI = 26) on forest land; (C) Mixed stand of Norway spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (SI = 24) with only H. parviporum present, i.e. no infection of Scots pine and no possibility of interspecies spread of disease between hosts; and (D) same as C, but H. annosum s. str. (Fr.) Bref and H. parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen present, i.e. interspecies spread of disease possible. Models for disease development, growth and yield and cross-cutting were used in the simulations. The simulated decay frequency in Norway spruce trees ranged between 2 and 90%. Stump treatment at the previous final felling and in all thinning operations was profitable at interest rates 1 and 3% in stands A, B and D, but not in stand C. In stand C, no stump treatment at all or treatment in thinnings only gave the highest net future value. Implications for stump treatment in practical forestry are discussed.
Evaluation of nanogels as supports for enzyme immobilization

Nanogels are hydrophilic polymers made up of crosslinked nano-sized particles. These nanogels have large surface area that offers several functional groups as reserves for binding drugs, generating biosensors and as supports for enzyme immobilization. This mini-review is an attempt to evaluate the recent developments in the use of nanogels as supports in enzyme immobilization. Emphasis is laid on the effect of nanogel structure and immobilization protocol on the property profile of the immobilized enzymes as compared with their free counterparts. The prospective applications of the nanogel-immobilized enzymes are also evaluated. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Medicinal Mushroom Science: History, Current Status, Future Trends, and Unsolved Problems

The present review analyzes the history, current status, and future trends in the study of medicinal mushrooms. The target of the present review is to draw attention to many critically important unsolved problems in the future development of medicinal mushroom science in the 21st century. Special attention is paid to mushroom polysaccharides. Many, if not all, higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelium, and cultured broth. The data on mushroom polysaccharides are summarized for approximately 700 species of higher Hetero- and Homobasidiomycetes. The chemical structure of polysaccharides and its connection to antitumor activity, including possible ways of chemical modi fication, experimental testing, and clinical use of antitumor or immunostimulating polysaccharides, as well as possible mechanisms of their biological action, are discussed. Particularly, and most importantly for modern medicine, are polysaccharides with antitumor and immunostimulating properties. Several of the mushroom polysaccharide compounds have proceeded through Phase I, II, and III clinical trials and are used extensively and successfully in Asia to treat various cancers and other diseases. A total of 126 medicinal functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms and fungi, including antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, antihypercholesterolemia, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, detoxification, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects.
Aloes in the Eastern Cape of South Africa : the value of natural history observations in biological sciences : correspondence

Sir, - In a recent article in this journal, Parker and Bernard pose some noteworthy questions concerning observations on the real and assumed impact of elephant-induced changes on the population structure of Aloe ferox Mill. in the Thicket Biome in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. They also provide some thought-provoking comments on the long-term impact of elephant populations on the vegetation and flora of this biome in which the world-renowned Addo Elephant National Park is located.
The effect of hibernation status and cold- acclimation on hepatocyte gluconeogenesis in the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis)

Rates of gluconeogenesis were measured in hepatocytes isolated from torpid, aroused, summer-sampled non-cold-acclimated, and summer-sampled cold-acclimated Spermophilus lateralis. At 7°C, no net glucose synthesis is measurable. At 37°C, 10 mM alanine supports low rates of gluconeogenesis that do not differ among groups. With 10 mM lactate/1 mM pyruvate, rates of gluconeogenesis are 60% higher in the torpid group than in the summer non-cold-acclimated group. With 10 mM glycerol, rates of gluconeogenesis are 2-fold higher in the torpid, aroused, and summer cold-acclimated groups than in the summer non-cold-acclimated group. The higher rates of gluconeogenesis with lactate/pyruvate and glycerol are probably more related to cold-acclimation than to hibernation/seasonal status per se, as no differences were noted among the cold-exposed groups. The observed differences in rates of gluconeogenesis cannot be readily explained by differences in apparent oxidative efficiencies of gluconeogenesis or activities of ke.
Seasonal growth patterns of Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae, Ochrophyta) in a glacially‐influenced subarctic estuary

Global climate warming is exacerbating the melting of glaciers in Arctic and subarctic nearshore regions. Glacial discharge causes increases in sedimentation, abrasion of organisms, and sand/silt cover along with lowered light intensity, salinity, nitrate and hard substrate cover. These effects can have deleterious consequences on foundation species, such as the kelps that provide important habitat structure and support tightly‐linked food webs. The purpose of this study was to determine if the kelp, Saccharina latissima, from a glacially‐influenced and an oceanic shore in a subarctic Alaskan estuary exhibits differing seasonal growth patterns in response to its environment. Reciprocal in situ shore transplant studies examined seasonal patterns in growth, physiological competence (as maximum quantum yield), morphology and storage product levels (mannitol) of S. latissima. In situ growth was seasonally different at the two shore locations, with a shorter growing season at the glacially‐influenced shore. During the glacial melt season, the thalli at the two shore locations were morphologically distinct. Mannitol levels were typically higher in thalli from the oceanic site, with generally low mannitol levels at the end and the beginning of the growing season on both shores. Maximum quantum yield was consistently high (≥0.7) at both shore sites and did not vary seasonally. Growth rates of glacially‐influenced transplants to the oceanic shore suggest that the glacially‐influenced population has a different seasonal growth pattern from that of the oceanic shore site, which seems to be genetically fixed or based on differences in gene expression. It appears that S. latissima is a highly resilient species, partly due to high phenotypic plasticity, which may have led to genetic fixation under persistent glacial conditions.
Selecting Merino rams for ability to withstand infertility caused by heat. 2. The effect of heat on scrotal and testicular blood flow

Rams selected for and against skin wrinkle (Folds Plus and Folds Minus) are known to differ in their susceptibility to infertility caused by heat. Rams of these types were therefore subjected to heat and the differences in their reactions studied in an attempt to cast light on the mechanisms involved in scrotal heat tolerance. An experiment to investigate the relationship between the degree of heat load to the scrotum and testes to ram fertility suggested that the scrotum and perhaps also the testes play an active role in modifying the damaging effects of high temperature. One of the factors that could influence the amount of heat reaching the testes is scrotal blood flow and this was found to increase with increases in scrotal temperature. Folds Minus rams showed greater increases than Folds Plus rams but only after 2.5 hours at a scrotal temperature of 40¦C. In all rams the lower regions of the scrotum showed a greater increase in blood flow than upper regions. Folds Plus rams showed no increase in testicular blood flow as temperature increased but Folds Minus rams showed an increased testicular blood flow at 40¦C.
Seasonal and diurnal rhythms of thyroidal status in the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

The concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the blood plasma of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) at intervals throughout the year have been measured by a chemically specific gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method. Mean hormone levels showed a seasonal variation, maximal levels of both hormones occurring in winter and minimal concentrations in mid summer. An apparent secondary maximum in mean T4 and T3 concentrations was observed in spring. (T4)/(T3) ratios have been found to be highest in winter and lowest in summer. A radioimmunoassay procedure, validated by GLC analyses, revealed the presence of a diurnal rhythm in serum T4 levels of trout sampled in September and in April.
Relation of Production Traits and Reproduction Traits in Swine

In order to investigate the relation of production traits and reproduction traits the data from Gyungnam heugdon(Berkshire) were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients of the reproductive traits including days to first farrowing, days to first breeding and no. of breeding for first litter with back fat thickness were ranged -. 24 to -. 26. Estimates of heritability and genetic correlation for the reproductive traits including days to first farrowing, days to first breeding and no. of breeding for first litter showed frequent and wide fluctuation due to lack of reproductive records. Pearson correlation coefficients of back fat with litter traits were low, but genetic correlation coefficients were relatively high. Genetic correlation coefficients of back fat with total litter size, pigs born alive, litter weight at birth and litter weight at weaning were . 21, . 24, . 11 and . 07 respectively. It suggests that thin back fat thickness deteriorates performance of litter traits. Genetic correlation coefficients of days to 90kg with total litter size, pigs born alive, litter weight at birth and litter weight at weaning were . 14, . 17, . 09 and . 00 respectively. This result imply that genetic improvement on the production traits reduce the litter trait performance.
Clustering and Power Transformation Based Methods for the Departure of Normality in Korean Soil Investigation Data

ABSTRACT The Korean guidelines developed by the Ministry of Environment for soil investigations do not seriously take into account statistical characteristics of collected data and statistical assumptions required for the methods applied. In this article, we point out the statistical omissions in the Korean guidelines and propose some supplements to them. Systematic sampling is recommended, since systematic sampling raises sample representativeness and provides a more efficient allocation of resources that lead to cost-savings. The type of statistical inference should be determined according to the objective of the investigation and the presence of normality. We provide a diagram for selecting an appropriate type of inference. We also introduce power transformation and propose a clustering-based stratification method for improving the accuracy of analysis and the normality condition of data. Both methods are illustrated with real datasets collected from a northern region of South Korea. One of those non-normal datasets was normalized simply by applying power transformation. The other needed to be clustered into two heterogeneous groups by our proposed method before transformation, which enables applying normality-based methods to the data.
Relationship between Mast Cell Counts and Different Types of Periodontitis

Background and aims. Mast cells play an important role in allergic reactions, host defense, local homeostasis, inflamma-tion and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mast cell counts and different types of periodontitis. Materials and methods. Gingival specimens were taken from 20 moderate-to-advanced chronic and 19 moderate-to-advanced aggressive periodontal sites as case groups and 18 healthy/gingivitis sites as control group in routine periodontal flap and crown lengthening procedures. All the specimens were stained by toluidine blue for mast cell counting and hematoxy-lin/eosin to assess inflammation. Inflammatory and mast cells were assessed in 5-micron sections by two observers 3 times, utilizing light microscopy at ×100 and ×400 magnification. ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze data. Statistical signifi-cance was defined at α=0.05. Results. Mast cell counts were higher in chronic versus aggressive periodontitis and healthy/gingivitis cases (P = 0.000). The aggressive periodontitis cases did not demonstrate higher counts of mast cells as compared to healthy/gingivitis cases (P >0.05). There was no relationship between mast cell counts and degree of inflammation in the three groups. Conclusion. The present study indicated higher mast cell counts inthe chronic periodontitis sites compared to other sites. The results of this study suggest that further studies are necessary to simultaneously evaluate dynamic aspects of host defense andother aspects of immune system.
Antitumour Efficacy of Cyclodextrin-complexed and Niosome-encapsulated Plumbagin in Mice Bearing Melanoma B16F1

An inclusion complex of plumbagin with β-cyclodextrin was prepared with a view to increasing the aqueous solubility and stability of the drug. The drug complex and the free drug were entrapped in niosomes using a lipid layer hydration method with cholesterol, Span 60 and dicetyl phosphate. The niosomal entrapment efficiency of the drug complex was 74%, with the drug being incorporated into the aqueous layer of the vesicle. When administered subcutaneously to C57BL/6J mice bearing melanoma B16F1 at a dose of 5 mg kg−1 the niosome entrapped drug complex had improved anticancer activity as evidenced by the enhanced volume doubling time and growth delay. Complexation with cyclodextrin increases the solubility and stability of plumbagin and also its efficacy. These effects were more pronounced when the complex was entrapped in the nonionic surfactant vesicles.
Differences in cognitive flexibility between healthy weight and obese children: an ERP study (629.6)

Obesity is associated with cognitive decline in later adulthood; however, the implication of obesity on childhood cognitive and brain health remains controversial. Accordingly, this study investigated the effect of weight status (healthy weight [HW] or obese [OB]) on behavioral and neuroelectric measures of cognitive control among 80 prepubertal children (8‐9‐years). HW (n=40) and OB (n=40) children completed a switch (cognitive flexibility) task while event‐related brain potentials were concurrently measured. Adiposity and aerobic fitness were assessed using DXA and VO2max, respectively. Groups were matched on key covariates including age, sex, IQ, SES, fat‐free VO2max, and ADHD. There were no differences in response accuracy or reaction time between groups on both the homogenous and heterogeneous trials. However, obese children exhibited greater global switch costs related to response accuracy. In addition, obese children displayed smaller central‐parietal P3 amplitude during heterogeneous trials, signifying decreased allocation of attentional resources. Given that global switch costs reflect efficiency of maintaining task sets in working memory as well as the selection of subsequent tasks, our findings indicate that obese children may exhibit lower cognitive flexibility when faced with greater executive function demands.