Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ECHINODERM CALCITE: A MECHANICAL ANALYSIS FROM LARVAL SPICULES

The flexural stiffness (EI) was measured for simple and fenestrated spicules in echinoid larvae. A Young's modulus (E) of 36.3 x 109 N/m2 was estimated for these calcitic spicules by EI/I where I was calculated independently from measurements made by SEM. The flexural stiffness of fenestrated spicules is approximately three times greater than that of simple spicules. This increased flexural stiffness is due to structural and not material differences between the spicules. At the material level, this calcitic tissue behaves like a composite which will reduce stiffness but increase strength compared to inorganic calcite. At the structural level its porous nature increases its stiffness and buckling strength over that of a solid structure of similar weight. These characteristics should also increase the tensile strength of this skeletal component and increase its usefulness as a strong, stiff element in most echinoderm skeletons.
trnL-F and rpl16 Sequence Data and Dense Taxon Sampling Reveal Monophyly of Unilocular Anthered Gomphrenoideae (Amaranthaceae) and an Improved Picture of Their Internal Relationships

Abstract The Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae alliance has been the focus of several phylogenetic studies, but major questions concerning the internal relationships of Amaranthaceae still remain unanswered. This study aims to test the monophyly of the subfamily Gomphrenoideae and to examine the generic relationships within this group. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of trnL-F and rpl16 show that the subfamily Gomphrenoideae is monophyletic. The clade of Gomphrenoideae represents a large and diverse radiation of the Amaranthaceae in the New World. Unilocular anthers are a morphological synapomorphy for Gomphrenoideae that was derived from bilocular anthers. Three major clades are resolved: the Gomphrenoids, the Alternantheroids, and the Iresinoids, which are largely supported by pollen morphology. The Iresinoid clade is sister to Alternantheroids plus Gomphrenoids, rendering metareticulate pollen as the synapomorphy for the latter two clades. Tribes and subtribes delimited by androecium and inflorescence characters are poly- or paraphyletic. Several genera are monophyletic including the large genus Alternanthera, whereas Gomphrena is polyphyletic. Irenella and Woehleria are resolved within Iresine whereas Blutaparon and Lithophila fall within the polyphyletic Gomphrena. The trnL-F and rpl16 sequence data are the most variable chloroplast regions examined to date for the family and are highly effective in resolving relationships in Amaranthaceae.
The role of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the increase in apparent particle stickiness (α) during the decline of a diatom bloom

The termination of diatom spring blooms in temperate waters has been connected with the formation and subsequent rapid sedimentation of aggregates. According to coagulation theory, the rate of aggregate formation depends on the probability of particle collision and on the efficiency with which two particles adhere once they have collided (stickiness). During this study, the variation in particle stickiness was determined over the decline of a diatom bloom using the Couette Chamber assay with low shear (G = 0.86 s-1). A mixed diatom population, dominated by Skeletonema costatum, was sampled during the spring bloom in the Baltic Sea and incubated in the laboratory for 18 days. Measurements of diatom species composition, transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and bulk particle abundance, as well as chemical and biological variables, were conducted in order to reveal the determinants of coagulation efficiency. The investigation showed that an increase in TEP concen- tration relative to conventional particles at the decline of the bloom significantly enhanced apparent coagulation efficiencies. High proportions of TEP led to apparent values of stickiness >1, which indicates that collision rates can be substantially underestimated when the stickiness parameter a is calculated on the basis of conventional particle counting only, e.g. with the Coulter Counter. A new stickiness parameter, a9, was therefore estimated based on the combined volume fractions of TEP and conventional particles. The problems of stickiness measurements are discussed and the role of TEP in coagulation processes is emphasized.
Disturbance‐Mediated Drift in Tree Functional Groups in Amazonian Forest Fragments

The interactive effects of forest disturbance and fragmentation on tropical tree assemblages remain poorly understood. We examined the effects of forest patch and landscape metrics, and levels of forest disturbance on the patterns of floristic composition and abundance of tree functional groups within 21 forest fragments and two continuous forest sites in southern Brazilian Amazonia. Trees were sampled within 60 (10 × 250 m) plots placed in the core areas of the fragments. Tree assemblage composition and abundance were summarized using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Forest patch size explained 36.2 percent and 30 percent of the variance in the proportion of small‐seeded softwood and hardwood stems in the 21 forest patches, respectively. Large fragments retained a higher abundance of hardwood tree species whereas small‐seeded softwood trees appear to proliferate rapidly in small disturbed fragments. Generalized linear mixed models showed that time since fragmentation had both positive and negative effects on the density of different functional groups of trees and on the ordination axes describing tree abundance. The composition and abundance of different tree genera were also related to time since fragmentation, distance to the nearest edge, and fire severity, despite the recent post‐isolation history of the forest patches surveyed. Both the proliferation of fast‐growing pioneer trees and the decline of hardwood trees found in our forest plots have profound consequences on the floristic composition, forest dynamics, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in Amazonian forest fragments.
Opportunities for improving irrigation efficiency with quantitative models, soil water sensors and wireless technology

SUMMARY Increasingly serious shortages of water make it imperative to improve the efficiency of irrigation in agriculture, horticulture and in the maintenance of urban landscapes. The main aim of the current review is to identify ways of meeting this objective. After reviewing current irrigation practices, discussion is centred on the sensitivity of crops to water deficit, the finding that growth of many crops is unaffected by considerable lowering of soil water content and, on this basis, the creation of improved means of irrigation scheduling. Subsequently, attention is focused on irrigation problems associated with spatial variability in soil water and the often slow infiltration of water into soil, especially the subsoil. As monitoring of soil water is important for estimating irrigation requirements, the attributes of the two main types of soil water sensors and their most appropriate uses are described. Attention is also drawn to the contribution of wireless technology to the transmission of sensor outputs. Rapid progress is being made in transmitting sensor data, obtained from different depths down the soil profile across irrigated areas, to a PC that processes the data and on this basis automatically commands irrigation equipment to deliver amounts of water, according to need, across the field. To help interpret sensor outputs, and for many other reasons, principles of water processes in the soil–plant system are incorporated into simulation models that are calibrated and tested in field experiments. Finally, it is emphasized that the relative importance of the factors discussed in this review to any particular situation varies enormously.
Fine Root Biomass, Production, Turnover Rates, and Nutrient Contents in Boreal Forest Ecosystems in Relation to Species, Climate, Fertility, and Stand Age: Literature Review and Meta-Analyses

Fine roots <2 mm in diameter play a key role in regulating the biogeochemical cycles of ecosystems and are important to our understanding of ecosystem responses to global climate changes. Given the sensitivity of fine roots, especially in boreal region, to climate changes, it is important to assess whether and to what extent fine roots in this region change with climates. Here, in this synthesis, a data set of 218 root studies were complied to examine fine root patterns in the boreal forest in relation to site and climatic factors. The mean fine root biomass in the boreal forest was 5.28 Mg ha−1, and the production of fine roots was 2.82 Mg ha−1 yr−1, accounting for 32% of annual net primary production of the boreal forest. Fine roots in the boreal forest on average turned over 1.07 times per year. Fine roots contained 50.9 kg ha−1 of nitrogen (N) and 3.63 kg ha−1 of phosphorous (P). In total, fine roots in the boreal forest ecosystems contain 6.1 × 107 Mg N and 4.4×106Mg P pools, respectively, about 10% of the global nutrients of fine roots. Fine root biomass, production, and turnover rate generally increased with increasing mean annual temperature and precipitation. Fine root biomass in the boreal forest decreased significantly with soil N and P availability. With increasing stand age, fine root biomass increased until about 100 years old for forest stands and then leveled off or decreased thereafter. These results of meta analysis suggest that environmental factors strongly influence fine root biomass, production, and turnover in boreal forest, and future studies should place a particular emphasis on the root-environment relationships.
Diversity of zonal páramo plant communities in Ecuador

Patterns of vascular plant species diversity in high‐altitude Ecuadorian ecosystems (‘páramos’) are examined. Data from two independent surveys were used: the first from 12 different locations and 192 samples, the other from 18 locations and 243 samples. These surveys included 348 and 284 species, respectively. The data confirmed the occurrence of two main zones in terms of vascular plant species diversity. The grass páramo and superpáramo were distinguished by differences in plant cover, species richness, α‐diversity and β‐diversity. The transition between these two zones begins at around 4000 m. Grass páramo samples comprised more species but the strong dominance of tussock grasses resulted in low equitability compared with the superpáramo, where safe sites for plant survival are limited and the environment does not permit continuous grass cover. Turnover of species across the altitudinal gradient is higher in the grass páramo than in the superpáramo. This is due largely to agricultural fires at lower altitudes, which create a fine‐scale mosaic of burned patches that enhances variability at this scale. Despite the loss of equitability, intermediate levels of fire disturbance appear to promote species richness within the samples. It is suggested that the complex patterns of páramo diversity in the Ecuadorian Andes are largely the outcome of three interrelated factors: altitude, disturbance and the availability of safe sites at the highest altitudes.
Study regarding influence of osmotic stress upon chlorophyll content at some barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes.

The purpose of that study was the applying of an indirect test method to drought tolerance, based on influence determination of hydric stress upon chlorophyll accumulation. The hydric stress was made through the glycol polyethylene usage 6000 (PEG 6000). Determination of chlorophyll content was realized at 3, 10, 17, 24 days from stress induction using the portable chlorophyll meter. The applying of some different osmotic pressure made some variations regarding the chlorophyll content. At 'Dina', 'Madalin', 'Precoce', 'Andre', and double haploid line of DH19/1, had obtained the lowest values regarding the chlorophyll content, those being less influenced by PEG 6000 action. Genotypes the most affected were 'Tas', 'Lyric', 'Regal' and 'Orizont'.
Phenotypic characteristics of the three hybridization groups of Aeromonas hydrophila complex isolated from different sources

Biochemical characteristics, SDS-PAGE analysis of whole cell proteins and maximum growth temperature were used for phenotypic characterization of the three DNA hybridization groups (HG 1, HG 2 and HG 3) of the Aeromonas hydrophila complex (96 strains). DNA-DNA hybridization was made with 22 strains using both 32P- and digoxigenin-labelled probes. The strains originated from raw foods of animal origin, drinking water, fresh water, diseased fish and clinical material. The biochemical tests which were shown to be of value in the separation of the three hybridization groups (HG) were DL-lactate and urocanic acid utilization and acid production from D-sorbitol and from D-rhamnose. A new marker, the maximum growth temperature determined with a temperature-gradient incubator, was shown to separate HG 1 from HG 2 and HG 3. The mean maximum growth temperature (Tmax) of confirmed and putative HG 1 strains was significantly higher (41.1 ±0.56°C;P )than that of HG 2 (38.2 ± 0.79°C) or HG 3 (38.6 ± 0.75°C) strains. The lower Tmax of HG 2 and HG 3 may explain why the results of biochemical tests may differ if incubation temperatures of 30° or 37°C are used. The SDS-PAGE protein pattern analysis indicated that the strains of HG 3 have a band of variable molecular weight of 24, 25 or 26 kDa not possessed by strains of HG 1 and HG 2. HG 2 strains had two weak bands of molecular weight 24 and 25 kDa. HG 1 organisms were isolated from ground beef, chicken and clinical material but not from fresh water or drinking water. HG 2 and HG 3 organisms were isolated from foods of animal origin and from the water samples.
Impact of Social Responsibility Accounting On the Performance of Corporate Organizations in Nigeria: A Study of Selected Companies

The study examined the impact of social responsibility accounting on the performance of corporate organizations in selected sectors in Nigeria. Ten (10) selected companies representing different sectors of the economy for a period of ten (10) consecutive years 2004 – 2014 were studied. Annual reports were majorly used to elicit data used for the study using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model of multiple regression, which was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Result showed amongst others that corporate social responsibility or accounting has a significant impact on returns of Shareholders of Organisations in Nigeria. The study recommended amongst others, that shareholders should advise management in their regular meetings to critically and extensively look into corporate social responsibility as it affects such organisations since there is a significant impact of corporate social responsibility on shareholders‟ returns.
TOXIC EFFECTS (BY LC 50ANALYSIS) OF CYPERMETHRIN ON A CYCLOPOID COPEPOD , MESOCYCLOPS LEUCKARTI (CLAUS, 1857)

Use of pesticides has been a very common practice in modern agricultural methods and out of them insecticides are potentially the most toxic to aquatic invertebrates, especially, when they get drained off into the natural water bodies, thus posing a threat to the aquatic organisms. The present study was carried to elaborate the lethal effects of one s uch pesticide (cypermethrin) on the fresh water cyclopoid copepod , Mesocyclops leuckarti (Claus, 1857). Cypermethrin is known to be a highly efficient pesticide. The LC 50 studies conducted on the copepod have indicated that even minute doses like 0.0001 pp m were lethal, for M. leuckarti when exposure time was 96 hours. The forthcoming paper details LC 50 values of this pesticide for different periods of exposure. The 2, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC 50 values of cypermethrin for adult Mesocyclops leuckartiwere estimated at 0.00085 ppm, 0.00063 ppm, 0.00038 ppm, 0.00032 ppm and 0.00029 ppm, respectively. Obtained data from the cypermethrin acute toxicity tests were evaluated using the probit analysis method.
MICROSATELLITE DNA VARIATION IN TULE ELK

Abstract California's 22 tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes) herds reportedly were founded by the single elk pair remaining in southern California in the 1870s and have been extensively managed during the ensuing 132 years. In our study, the first report of microsatellite variation among tule elk herds, we detected few significant genetic differences among herds. Furthermore, variation at 12 microsatellite loci was extremely limited within tule elk herds. We found large, significant differences between tule elk and both Rocky Mountain (C. e. nelsoni) and Manitoban elk (C. e. manitobensis) at the same 12 microsatellite loci. Tule elk possessed ≤50% of the allelic diversity and heterozygosity found in the other subspecies. Tule elk were fixed at 5 loci at which the other subspecies possessed an average of 4.6 alleles. We observed very large pairwise Fst values and genetic distances between tule elk and both other subspecies, likely due to the very restricted variation in tule elk, rather than the presence of unique variation. Modeling of the genetic characteristics of tule elk indicated that management strategies involving transplants among all tule elk herds appear to be the most beneficial for the maintenance of nuclear variation in this subspecies. We also investigated impacts of small herd size and varying sex ratios on maintenance of microsatellite variation in tule elk.
Formaldehyde treatment of concentrate diets for sheep. I. Partition of the digestion of organic matter and nitrogen between the stomach and intestines

The effect of formaldehyde treatment of barley/soybean meal diets was studied in fistulated crossbred sheep at four protein levels. The overall digestion of organic matter was similar for all diets; the small differences in the partition of organic matter digestion in response to treatment were not significant. Dietary starch was completely digested. The partition of starch digestion was variable but was not affected by protein level or treatment. The relationship between nitrogen intake and the amount of non-ammonia nitrogen (NAN) digested in the intestines was curvilinear; NAN digested was calculated to reach a maximum when 17.4% of the dietary organic matter was crude protein. Formaldehyde treatment substantially increased the amount of NAN digested in the intestines; a treated diet in which 12.6% of the organic matter was crude protein would provide the same amount of NAN digested as the 17.4% untreated diet. The apparent digestibility of NAN in the intestines was not affected by protein level or treatment; treatment at the highest protein level appeared to cause a reduction in true digestibility to 0.75 from the mean of 0.80 obtained for the other diets. Treatment appeared to have no consistent effect on the efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis. The flows of water and of digesta from the rumen and abomasum were not affected by protein level or treatment; differences between sheep were responsible for much of the variance in these parameters. The treatment reduced rumen ammonia and volatile fatty acid levels and plasma urea levels. Neither the amount and composition of the long-chain fatty acids reaching the intestine nor their digestion there were affected by the treatment.
A new species of saw‐scaled viper of the Echis coloratus complex (Ophidia: Viperidae) from Oman, Eastern Arabia

Abstract A study of 353 museum specimens of the Echis coloratus complex from its entire range of distribution revealed an undescribed species in the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman. The results of UPGMA clustering and principal coordinate analysis of 138 male and 142 female specimens yielded for both sexes two major clusters, one with specimens from the UAE and northern Oman and one from southern and western Arabia, the Levant and Egypt. The new species has a longer tail with higher subcaudal counts; the lower prenasal scale is often missing and the upper prenasal is frequently fused with the nasal; the subnasal is often missing or fused with the nasal. The gular scales between the chin‐shield and the preventrals are round or only slightly elongate, not elongate as in Echis coloratus, and their number is higher. Other differences in characters of the gular area indicate a different scale structure of the ventral surface of the head. The new species is allopatric or parapatric with E. coloratus, but sympatric with Echis carinatus sochureki.
The catechism effect: Child testimonies during a 17th-century witch panic as related to educational achievement

Testimonies from 488 children given to the priests of the parish of Rättvik during a preliminary investigation of a Swedish witch panic in 1670-71 are examined in relation to records from parish catechetical meetings held in 1671. The result implies that children who knew and understood at least parts of Luther's catechism were less liable to have falsely alleged that they had been kidnapped by female satanists during the witch panic of the previous year. It is suggested that these effects were caused by differences in cognitive, social, and emotional resources among these children as compared to those who were unable to learn and understand any parts of Luther's catechism.
Editor's introductory comments

Mentoring & Tutoring (M&T), an international refereed journal published by Taylor & Francis, has a threefold emphasis on mentoring, tutoring and partnership. Theory and practice have been enriched in this issue with works from inside and outside education, and from different disciplines and perspectives. Speci®cally, from within the educational domain, articles re ̄ect the four ®elds of educational leadership, teacher education, service learning and school life, and, from outside, business and industry. Moreover, those who have authored feature articles represent three countriesÐ South Africa, Australia and the United States (Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas). The directions they take cover such rigorous, vigorous and/or innovative orientations as learner-centered leadership, standardsbased leadership, peer mentorship, peer teaching, ̄ow theory, service learning and phenomenological inquiry. Pieces published in this trimonthly (April, August and December) journal make connections to and have implications for mentorship. Feature articles, commentaries and book reviews that are illuminatory and informative will continue to be published. Creative approaches to inquiry, as well as innovative textual formats, are encouraged, and artwork, ®gures and tables will be accepted. Contributors may apply interpretive or traditional inquiry approaches to such subjects as pre-service teacher education, inservice teaching, pre-service or in-service leadership, drama education, higher education, adult education and distance learning, among others. International submissions, which are being eagerly sought, would satisfy our mission to bring a strong, diverse voice to this journal. The editorial board's strong commitment to diversity, and speci®cally to promoting an academic community that includes traditionally underrepresented and non-westernized populations, depends on the ongoing support of universities. A more diverse tomorrow depends on publishing mores changing to match the inclusive rhetoric of the academy. A deep, cultural shift in the publishing culture can enable social justice commitments and intellectual freedom agendas to thrive in higher education (Mullen, 2003). This epistemological view of reality breaks with `the underlying assumptions of modernity' and `rejects the idea of differentiation based on order and hierarchy' (English, 2003,