Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Distribution of Invertebrates on Submerged Aquatic Plant Surfaces in Muskee Lake, Colorado

weedy species were studied in small plots located in the field. 1. Species varied in their ability to develop in different portions of the growing season. 2. The numbers of seedlings of Veronica peregrina, Polygonun persicaria, and Oxalis stricta were significantly greater and the number of Plantago rugelii was significantly less on the shaded plots than on the unshaded plots. 3. The numbers of seedlings of V. peregrina, P. perisicaria, 0. stricta, Setaria lutescens, and Trifoliumn repens were significantly less and the numbers of Taraxacum officinale and P. rugelii were significantly greater on the plots with living quackgrass rhizomes present than on the plots with no rhizomes present. 4. There was usually a delay of about one month in the period of maximum emergence of weedy species on the plots having live quackgrass rhizomes present compared to their emergence on plots with no live rhizomes present.
An Adaptive Algorithm for Calculating Crosstalk Error for Blind Source Separation

The crosstalk error is widely used to evaluate the performance of blind source separation. However, it needs to know the global separation matrix in advance, and it is not robust. In order to solve these problems, a new adaptive algorithm for calculating crosstalk error is presented, which calculates the crosstalk error by a cost function of least squares criterion, and the robustness of the crosstalk error is improved by introducing the position information of the maximum value in the global separation matrix. Finally, the method is compared with the conventional RLS algorithms in terms of performance, robustness and convergence rate. Furthermore, its validity is veriﬁed by simulation experiments and real world signals experiments.
Mechanical Aspects in the Relation between Locomotive Organs and Behavior of Beach Flea

An experimental study is presented outlining the mechanical aspects of biological locomotion in beach fleas. Two basic types of dynamic behavior of beach fleas were examined, and their locomotive organs were observed microscopically. The jumping and swimming of beach fleas were analyzed by the high-speed video camera system. The structural properties of swimming and leaping organs were also studied. In the experiment for the jumping analysis, the relation between the surface roughness of ground and the horizontal jump distance were examined. Mechanical aspects in the relation between locomotive organs and behavior of beach flea were considered.
Recent Invasion of a Red Alga (Bangia atropurpurea) in Lake Michigan

Bangia atropurpurea was first found on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan in 1968; by 1976 it had covered suitable substrates on the southern two thirds of the lakeshore. Optimal vegetative growth occurred above the low waterline during the spring and fall, especially near harbor areas. Vegetative growth is initiated from either perennating basal cells or monospores. Bangia contained extraordinarily high concentrations of bromine and zinc, suggesting it requires relatively high levels of halogens and trace metals, which are present in runoff waters and contaminated harbors. Key words: Bangia, invasion, Lake Michigan, halogens, trace metals, algal zonation
A statistical approach to estimate soil ciliate diversity and distribution based on data from five continents

A total of 359 soil samples collected from five continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America) were investigated for the presence/absence of soil ciliate species. Merging records by species identity, we have compiled a master data list (species by sample matrix). In the list, a total of 964 soil ciliate species (644 described and 320 undescribed) are recorded. The species distributions within the 359 samples and across the five continents are examined. The frequency distribution of the species over samples is used for global diversity estimation. A statistical ACE (abundance-based coverage estimation) model which links observed data to unseen species is applied to assess regional and global soil ciliate species richness. The model, whose reliability was tested by its power to predict the number of new species in additional samples from Africa, may resolve the controversial issue on global species diversity of soil ciliates. Although an accurate point estimate is not feasible due to severe undersampling, the statistical model enables us to obtain a minimum regional diversity and global species diversity. A consistent finding over all five continents is that at least half of the species diversity is still undiscovered. Our model also yields a global soil ciliate diversity of at least 1900 species, that is, doubles the number of currently known species, and thus diversity is relatively high. This is consistent with the finding of Foissner, who used a probability-based method. Soil ciliate distributions between continent pairs are analyzed by adjusted abundance-based similarity/overlap indices. These new indices account for the effect of unseen species and also reduce the bias generated by undersampling. The adjusted abundance-based Jaccard (or Sorensen) index shows that there is about 30% (18% for Sorensen) dis-similarity between any two continents, supporting the moderate endemicity model. The results are discussed with respect to protist species distribution, that is, whether they are cosmopolitan or of restricted distribution.
Asymmetry of Cerebellar Lobular Development in Ferrets

The ferret cerebellum is anteriorly right-lateralized and posteriorly left-lateralized. This study characterized the left/right difference in ferret cerebellar lobular morphology using 3D-rendered magnetic resonance images of fixed brains from seven male and seven female ferrets on postnatal day 90. Asymmetrical lobular morphology showed asymmetrical sublobular development in the anterior vermis, lobulus simplex, and ansiform lobules and additional grooves asymmetrically appearing in the paramedian lobule, lobule VI, and ansiform lobules. Although we observed these asymmetric hallmarks in four cerebellar transverse domains in both sexes, there was no left/right difference in their incidence in each domain. Males showed a significantly higher incidence of the additional grooves in the left side of the ansiform lobules than in females. Data were combined and classified as per the asymmetry quotient (AQ) into left- (AQ < 0) and right-dominant (AQ > 0) groups. There were significantly higher incidences of poor sublobular development of ansiform lobules and additional groove appearing in lobule VI on the right than on the left in the left-dominant group. Asymmetric hallmarks visible on the cerebellar surface of ferrets are relevant to the left-biased volume asymmetry of the central zone of cerebellar transversus domains containing lobule VI and ansiform lobules.
An analysis of environmental and economic implications of nil and restricted grazing systems designed to reduce nitrate leaching from New Zealand dairy farms. I. Nitrogen losses

Abstract Nitrate leaching is perceived to be a serious consequence of dairy farming due to the uneven return of N in small concentrated urine patches. Management systems in which the direct deposition of urine is avoided throughout the year (nil grazing) or during autumn/winter when the risk of nitrate leaching is highest (restricted grazing) could potentially reduce nitrate leaching. However, possible disadvantages of such systems include a reduction in the clover content of pastures, increases in gaseous losses, and increases in capital and/or operating costs. This paper examines some of the effects of nil and restricted grazing management systems for dairy farming on N flows and losses to the environment. The estimates of N losses are based on the results of a long‐term farmlet study under conventional grazing, on data for an average New Zealand farm, and on literature information. The analysis showed that in nil grazing systems nitrate leaching losses may be reduced by 55–65% compared with conventional grazing systems, and by 35–50% in restricted grazing systems. For nil grazing systems, however, total N losses were 10–35% higher than under conventional grazing because of increased gaseous losses. The total N losses from restricted grazing systems were similar (‐10 to +5%) to those from conventional systems. The analysis showed the potential benefit of a restricted grazing system as a management tool to reduce nitrate leaching losses, especially in areas where contamination of ground and surface waters is ol particular concern.
Response of transpiration and photosynthesis to a transient change in illuminated foliage area for a Pinus radiata D. Don tree

Sudden but transient changes in the fraction of illuminated foliage area in a well-watered 7-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don tree were imposed by completely covering either the upper 22% or the lower 78% of the foliage for periods of up to 36 h. Measurements of transpiration flux density (E), tree conductance (g t ), stomatal conductance (g s ) and net photosynthesis (A) were made to test the hypothesis that compensatory responses would occur in the remaining illuminated foliage when the cover was installed. When the lower foliage was covered there was an immediate decrease in g t. However, when tree conductance was normalized with respect to the illuminated leaf area (g t ), it increased between 50 and 75%, depending on the value of air saturation deficit (D). The effect was also apparent from concurrent measurements of increases in g s and A up to 59 and 24%, respectively, for needles in the top third of the crown. When the cover was removed these effects were reversed. The changes in the lower foliage when the upper foliage was covered were much smaller. Changes in bulk needle water potential were small. It is suggested that the observed responses occurred because of a perturbation to the hydraulic pathway in the xylem that could have triggered the action of a chemical signal to regulate stomatal conductance and photosynthesis.
Anthozoa from the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone

Abstract An annotated list of deep-sea Anthozoa of the orders Actiniaria, Antipatharia, Scleractinia, Alcyonacea and Pennatulacea collected on the G.O. Sars MAR-ECO cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the Azores and the southern tip of the Reykjanes Ridge is given. A total of 33 species is reported of which 32 were identified to species or genus level. The groups most rich in species were Actiniaria (nine species), Scleractinia (eight species) and Pennatulacea (eight species). Scleractinia, Antipatharia and Pennatulacea were mainly represented by species with a wide or cosmopolitan geographical distribution. In contrast, most of the actiniarians had been rarely recorded in the North Atlantic. Three species, Schizopathes affinis Brook, 1889 (Antipatharia), Dendrobrachia multispina Opresko & Bayer, 1991 and Heteropolypus cf. insolitus Tixier-Durivault, 1964 (Alcyonacea) are reported from the North Atlantic for the first time.
Before and after an oil spill : the Arthur Kill

In January 1990, the New York Harbor suffered a major oil spill when an underwater pipe at an Exxon refinery leaked into the Arthur Kill, the fifteen-mile strait that runs between New Jersey and Staten Island. The waterway is home to herons and egrets, fiddler crabs and sea turtles, and a favorite place for recreational fishing, bird-watching, hiking, and boating. It is also lined with refineries and a busy corridor for oil tankers. Because this industrial activity posed such an imposing threat to the fragile ecosystem, biologists had been monitoring the region's water, soil, vegetation, and wildlife for some time before the oil spill. Thus, we have "before" -and-"after" data about the habitat--the only oil spill anywhere for which this is true. This unique book discusses the human consequences of the oil spill as well as providing detailed studies of its effects on the plants and animals of the Arthur Kill. Biologists, environmentalists, lawyers, and officials worldwide will find this book an essential guide to dealing with--and possibly preventing--future environmental disasters. The contributors areJohn Brzorad, Angela Christini, Keith Cooper, Lynn Frink, Michael Gochfeld, Paul Hauge, Gordon Johnson, Alan D. Maccarone, Katherine Parsons, Carolyn Summers, Robert Tucker.
Analysis on the Influence of Tencent’s Business Model Innovation on Business performance

This paper takes Internet enterprise Tencent as the research target, the purpose of which is to explore the relationship between business model innovation and business performance, and to provide concrete and feasible guidance and suggestions for enterprises in reality with specific cases. In this paper, the typical enterprises are taken as the analysis object and the path of business model innovation affecting the business performance of enterprises is obtained by logical reasoning method. Business model innovation affects the path of business performance. Therefore, the influence of business model innovation on business performance of Internet enterprises is analyzed and the advantages of economic value added in measuring business performance are discussed. By using normative research methods, mathematical model and statics are analyzed by combination of common characteristics of enterprises in the field of the Internet. This paper found that there was a synchronous relationship among business model innovation and business performance. In other words, the innovation of business model has positive impact on a firm’s business performance.
Variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism in the most widely ranging lizard: testing the effects of reproductive mode and climate

Abstract Reproductive mode, ancestry, and climate are hypothesized to determine body size variation in reptiles but their effects have rarely been estimated simultaneously, especially at the intraspecific level. The common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) occupies almost the entire Northern Eurasia and includes viviparous and oviparous lineages, thus representing an excellent model for such studies. Using body length data for >10,000 individuals from 72 geographically distinct populations over the species' range, we analyzed how sex‐specific adult body size and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is associated with reproductive mode, lineage identity, and several climatic variables. Variation in male size was low and poorly explained by our predictors. In contrast, female size and SSD varied considerably, demonstrating significant effects of reproductive mode and particularly seasonality. Populations of the western oviparous lineage (northern Spain, south‐western France) exhibited a smaller female size and less female‐biased SSD than those of the western viviparous (France to Eastern Europe) and the eastern viviparous (Eastern Europe to Far East) lineages; this pattern persisted even after controlling for climatic effects. The phenotypic response to seasonality was complex: across the lineages, as well as within the eastern viviparous lineage, female size and SSD increase with increasing seasonality, whereas the western viviparous lineage followed the opposing trends. Altogether, viviparous populations seem to follow a saw‐tooth geographic cline, which might reflect the nonmonotonic relationship of body size at maturity in females with the length of activity season. This relationship is predicted to arise in perennial ectotherms as a response to environmental constraints caused by seasonality of growth and reproduction. The SSD allometry followed the converse of Rensch's rule, a rare pattern for amniotes. Our results provide the first evidence of opposing body size—climate relationships in intraspecific units.
Development of Nanosized Mn3O4-Co3O4 on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Cathode Catalyst in Urea Fuel Cell

Double-oxide Mn3O4-Co3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and anchored on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via a single-step solvothermal method. The largest specific area (99.82 m2g−1) of the catalyst was confirmed via a nitrogen adsorption isotherm. Furthermore, the uniform coating of the Mn3O4-Co3O4 nanoparticles on the surface of the MWCNTs was observed via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; the uniform coating provided an effective transport pathway during the electrocatalytic activities. The rotating disk electrode and rotating ring disk electrode measurements indicated that the electron transfer number was 3.96 and the evolution of H2O2 was 2%. In addition, the Mn3O4-Co3O4/MWCNT catalyst did not undergo urea poisoning and remained stable in an alkaline solution. Conversely, commercial Pt/C could not withstand urea poisoning for long. The performance cell achieved a power density of 0.4226 mW cm−2 at 50 °C. Therefore, Mn3O4-Co3O4/MWCNT is an efficient and inexpensive noble-metal-free cathodic catalyst for direct urea fuel cells.
A Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Translocated Leucine-Rich Repeat Effector Protein Inhibits NF-κB-Dependent Gene Expression

ABSTRACT Nontyphoidal salmonellae are enteric pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis and colonize the intestinal tract for prolonged periods. In the intestinal epithelia, these bacteria induce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), which leads to a profound inflammatory response through recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Production of IL-8 induced by Salmonella spp. is due to the activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). This work demonstrates that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium can downmodulate IL-8 production after invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. The Salmonella translocated effector proteins SspH1 and SptP participate in this process. SspH1 is a member of the bacterial LPX repeat protein family that localizes to the mammalian nucleus and inhibits NF-κB-dependent gene expression. A Shigella flexneri translocated effector, IpaH9.8, which has a similar structure and subcellular localization in mammalian cells, also inhibits NF-κB-dependent gene expression. We propose that suppression of inflammatory responses by intracellular S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and perhaps Shigella flexneri, contributes to bacterial colonization of host tissues and pathogenesis.
Properties of Entropy-Based Topological Measures of Fullerenes

A fullerene is a cubic three-connected graph whose faces are entirely composed of pentagons and hexagons. Entropy applied to graphs is one of the significant approaches to measuring the complexity of relational structures. Recently, the research on complex networks has received great attention, because many complex systems can be modelled as networks consisting of components as well as relations among these components. Information—theoretic measures have been used to analyze chemical structures possessing bond types and hetero-atoms. In the present article, we reviewed various entropy-based measures on fullerene graphs. In particular, we surveyed results on the topological information content of a graph, namely the orbit-entropy Ia(G), the symmetry index, a degree-based entropy measure Iλ(G), the eccentric-entropy Ifσ(G) and the Hosoya entropy H(G).
A Comparative Ultrastructural Investigation of Some Nannochloris Species (Chlorococcales) with Particular Reference to the Systematic Position of Nanochlorum eucaryotum

Nanochlorum eucaryotum was described by Wilhelm et al. (1982) as a new algal species with an uncertain taxonomic position. Whereas some features were chlorococcacean, others suggested an isolated position in the sense of a “pre-eucaryote” (Wilhelm, 1983; Zahn, 1984; Geisert et al., 1987). Our comparative ultrastructural, physiological and biochemical examinations of coccoid microalgae (Menzel, 1988) gave no arguments for the separation of Nanochlorum eucaryotum from the genus Nannochloris. This paper is concerned with the ultrastructural composition of the cell wall and mode of reproduction in Nanochlorum eucaryotum as well as in three Nannochloris species. The systematic position of Nanochlorum eucaryotum is discussed in comparison with representatives of the genus Nannochloris. As a result, Nanochlorum eucaryotum has been included in the genus Nannochloris.
Phenotypic flexibility in background-mediated color change in sticklebacks

Abstract Phenotypic flexibility may incur a selective advantage in changing and heterogeneous environments, and is increasingly recognized as an integral aspect of organismal adaptation. Despite the widespread occurrence and potential importance of rapid and reversible background-mediated color change for predator avoidance, knowledge gaps remain regarding its adaptive value, repeatability within individuals, phenotypic correlates, and whether its expression is context dependent. We used manipulative experiments to investigate these issues in two fish species, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius). We sequentially exposed individuals to dark and light visual background treatments, quantified color change from video recordings, and examined associations of color change with phenotypic dimensions that can influence the outcome of predator-prey interactions. G. aculeatus expressed a greater degree of color change compared to P. pungitius. In G. aculeatus, the color change response was repeatable within individuals. Moreover, the color change response was independent of body size but affected by sex and boldness, with males and bolder individuals changing less. Infection by the parasite Schistocephalus solidus did not affect the degree of color change, but it did modulate its association with sex and boldness. G. aculeatus adjusted the expression of color change in response to predation risk, with enhanced color change expression in individuals exposed to either simulated attacks, or olfactory cues from a natural predator. These results provide novel evidence on repeatability, correlated traits, and context dependence in the color change response and highlight how a suite of factors can contribute to individual variation in phenotypic flexibility.
Role of Endothelium in the Control of Pulmonary Vascular Tone

In addition to passive factors, pulmonary vascular tone is under the control of adrenergic, cholinergic, NANC vasodilator nerves and humoral mechanisms. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction plays an important role in the active control of pulmonary vascular tone. Adrenergic nerves, HPV and vasoconstrictor humoral substances are the vasoconstricting forces, whereas cholinergic, NANC mechanisms and vasodilator humoral substances are the dilating factors. Basal and stimulated release of NO from endothelial cells also represents dilating force. Thus, a balance between these two sets of opposing forces determines the normal resting pulmonary vascular tone. Disturbance of this balance may result in or/and contribute to the development of some pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension. Endothelium-derived NO plays an important role in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone. It inhibits adrenergic contraction, hypoxic pulmonary vasocon-striction and the contractile response to many vasoconstrict.