Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shoot Nutrient Content and Nutrient Resorption of Leymus chinensis in Various Legume Mixtures

The objective was to determine soil properties, and shoot nutrients and nutrient resorption of typical Eurasian steppe species Leymus chinensis in various legume mixtures (legume abundance was 0, 25, 50, and 75%). Mixtures with 25 or 50% legume significantly increased soil moisture and soil [N, P] availabilities. Increasing legume abundance enhanced stem and total biomass of green L. chinensis shoots, further enhanced the proportion of stem biomass by 14–24% in senesced L. chinensis shoots. Legume mixtures, especially 50% legume, enhanced green and senesced organs N concentrations and N pools of L. chinensis. Similarly, mixtures with 25 or 50% legume enhanced P concentration and pool of senesced L. chinensis shoots, whereas both were decreased by 75% legume. As legume abundance increased, contribution ratios of stem to total N and P pools of senesced chinensis shoots increased from 25 to 32 and 25 to 33%, respectively. Mixtures, especially 25 or 50% legume, decreased N and P resorption efficiency (NRE) of L. chinensis shoots, whereas 75% legume increased PRE of L. chinensis. Total resorbed nutrients may remain stable under varying soil conditions for L. chinensis, and resorption of nutrients was symmetric between leaf and stem. In conclusion, legume abundance affected nutrient uptake and return of grass in mixed grasslands, but high legume abundance meant no low N resorption and high litter N content of grass. Furthermore, with increasing legume abundance, stems had more important roles in driving plant production, nutrient utilization, and nutrient return of L. chinensis.
Social learning in dogs: the effect of a human demonstrator on the performance of dogs in a detour task

We recorded the behaviour of dogs in detour tests, in which an object (a favourite toy) or food was placed behind a V-shaped fence. Dogs were able to master this task; however, they did it more easily when they started from within the fence with the object placed outside it. Repeated detours starting from within the fence did not help the dogs to obtain the object more quickly if in a subsequent trial they started outside the fence with the object placed inside it. While six trials were not enough for the dogs to show significant improvement on their own in detouring the fence from outside, demonstration of this action by humans significantly improved the dogs’ performance within two–three trials. Owners and strangers were equally effective as demonstrators. Our experiments show that dogs are able to rely on information provided by human action when confronted with a new task. While they did not copy the exact path of the human demonstrator, they easily adopted the detour behaviour shown by humans to reach their goal.  2001 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Absolute versus per unit body length speed of prey as an estimator of vulnerability to predation

To study whether absolute (m/s) or relative (body lengths/s) speed should be used to compare the vulnerability of differently sized animals, we developed a simple computer simulation. Human ‘predators’ were asked to ‘catch’ (mouse-click) prey of different sizes, moving at different speeds across a computer screen. Using the simulation, a prey’s chances of escaping predation depended on its speed (faster prey were more difficult to catch than slower prey of the same body size), but also on its size (larger prey were easier to catch than smaller prey at the same speed). Catching time, the time needed to catch a prey, also depended on both prey speed and prey size. Relative prey speed (body lengths/s or body surface/s) was a better predictor of catching time than was absolute prey speed (m/s). Our experiment demonstrates that, in contrast to earlier assertions, per unit body length speed of prey may be more ‘ecologically relevant’ than absolute speed. © 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
A Review on Micromixers

Microfluidic devices have attracted increasing attention in the fields of biomedical diagnostics, food safety control, environmental protection, and animal epidemic prevention. Micromixing has a considerable impact on the efficiency and sensitivity of microfluidic devices. This work reviews recent advances on the passive and active micromixers for the development of various microfluidic chips. Recently reported active micromixers driven by pressure fields, electrical fields, sound fields, magnetic fields, and thermal fields, etc. and passive micromixers, which owned two-dimensional obstacles, unbalanced collisions, spiral and convergence-divergence structures or three-dimensional lamination and spiral structures, were summarized and discussed. The future trends for micromixers to combine with 3D printing and paper channel were brought forth as well.
The histology of the first batch of eggs and their associated tissues in the ovariole of Dysdercus fasciatus signoret (heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) as seen with the light microscope

In the telotrophic ovarioles of Dysdercus fasciatus, mononucleate, binucleate and multinucleate trophocytes are seen in the germarium. Cellular breakdown of the multinucleate cells is seen in the posterior part of this tissue. The nutritive cords, which are continuous with the trophic core at the one end and the oocytes of the vitellarium at the other, contain material of fibrous appearance which continues into the trophic core. The ovariole is enclosed in two sheaths throughout its length. Prefollicular tissue in the germarium appears to give rise to the follicle cells. Mitosis is common in this zone. Oocytes are at first surrounded by a multilayered epithelium. This is later reduced progressively to one layer. This one layered follicular epithelium is at first columnar but then changes to cuboidal mononucleate, cuboidal binucleate and finally to a squamous binucleate condition This epithelium thus seems to accommodate the increased volume of the oocyte by growth and a change of shape. The oocyte grows fastest at those times when it is surrounded by cuboidal and squamous epithelial cells.
Effects of Oxytocin on Stress Reactivity and Craving in Veterans With Co-Occurring PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly prevalent and commonly co-occur. The dual diagnosis of PTSD/AUD is associated with serious negative sequalae, and there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments for this comorbidity. Both PTSD and AUD are characterized by dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which helps modulate stress reactivity. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide that attenuates HPA axis dysregulation, may be beneficial for individuals with co-occurring PTSD/AUD. Thus, the current study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) as compared with placebo on stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol) as well as subjective alcohol craving in response to a laboratory stress task (Trier Social Stress Task). Participants were 67 male U.S. military veterans with current PTSD and AUD (oxytocin n = 32, placebo n = 35; overall mean age = 49.06 years). Baseline cortisol levels were examined as a moderator of outcome. The findings revealed that oxytocin marginally attenuated cortisol reactivity in response to the stress task. Furthermore, oxytocin’s effect was moderated by baseline cortisol level, such that oxytocin mitigated cortisol reactivity to a greater extent among participants with higher, as compared with lower, baseline cortisol. Oxytocin did not reduce craving. Although preliminary, the findings are the first to examine oxytocin in co-occurring PTSD/AUD. The findings from this study contribute to the growing literature examining the potential utility of oxytocin among individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD and substance use disorders.
Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Alters Rat Ophthalmic Artery Reactivity Through Oxidative Stress, Endothelin and Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Pathways.

Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea recently has been associated with a higher frequency of ischemic optic neuropathies. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has been proposed as a major component of obstructive sleep apnea cardiovascular consequences. However, there currently are no pathophysiologic data regarding the effect of IH on the ocular vascular system. Thus, we assessed the impact of chronic IH exposure on the morphology and vascular reactivity of the rat ophthalmic artery (OA). Methods Rats were exposed to 14 days of IH or normoxia (NX). Ophthalmic artery reactivity was studied using wire myography in rats treated or not with tempol (1 mM/day). Expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors, and of the three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform genes was quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the retina and optic nerve. Structural alterations (optical and electron microscopy) and superoxide anion production were studied in OA sections. Results Superoxide ion expression in the OA wall was increased by 23% after IH exposure. Ophthalmic artery contractile response to 3.10-8 M ET-1 was increased by 18.6% and nitric oxide-mediated relaxation was significantly delayed in IH compared to NX rats. In the absence of nitric oxide, cytochrome P450 blockade increased relaxation to acetylcholine in IH rats and delayed it in NX rats. Tempol treatment abolished the IH-induced changes in OA reactivity. Conclusions These results strongly suggest that chronic IH induces oxidative stress in the rat OA, associated with endothelial dysfunction through alterations of nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factors (EDHF) pathways.
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: A Coming-of-Age Story

What has become standard textbook knowledge over the last decade was a hotly debated matter a decade earlier: the proposition that new neurons are generated in the adult mammalian CNS. The early discovery by Altman and colleagues in the 1960s was vulnerable to criticism due to the lack of technical strategies for unequivocal demonstration, quantification, and physiological analysis of newly generated neurons in adult brain tissue. After several technological advancements had been made in the field, we published a paper in 1996 describing the generation of new neurons in the adult rat brain and the decline of hippocampal neurogenesis during aging. The paper coincided with the publication of several other studies that together established neurogenesis as a cellular mechanism in the adult mammalian brain. In this Progressions article, which is by no means a comprehensive review, we recount our personal view of the initial setting that led to our study and we discuss some of its implications and developments that followed. We also address questions that remain regarding the regulation and function of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain, in particular the existence of neurogenesis in the adult human brain.
Do female tamarins use visual cues to detect fruit rewards more successfully than do males?

Abstract Primates are unique among eutherian mammals for possessing trichromatic colour vision. It is generally proposed that trichromacy evolved to aid detection of ripe fruits against mature foliage. However, while trichromacy is routine in all Old World monkeys and apes (the catarrhines), a cone opsin polymorphism in New World monkeys (the platyrrhines) results in foraging groups with mixed capacities for chromatic distinction. Although 50–66% of female platyrrhines are trichromatic, all males are dichromatic. Here, we test the hypothesis that trichromatic platyrrhines use visual cues to detect fruit rewards more successfully than do males. Specifically, we ask whether female emperor tamarins, Saguinus imperator imperator , and saddleback tamarins, S. fuscicollis weddelli , are the first members of their foraging group to locate food patches; and, furthermore, whether they are more successful than males in using colour, shape and size cues to discriminate between sham and reward feeding sites. Our results show that females and males do not differ in their ability to locate or discriminate between feeding sites. We conclude that trichromatic vision in female tamarins does not confer an advantage for detecting yellow fruit rewards against mature foliage. Copyright 2003 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Micro-Dumbbells—A Versatile Tool for Optical Tweezers

Manipulation of micro- and nano-sized objects with optical tweezers is a well-established, albeit still evolving technique. While many objects can be trapped directly with focused laser beam(s), for some applications indirect manipulation with tweezers-operated tools is preferred. We introduce a simple, versatile micro-tool operated with holographic optical tweezers. The 40 µm long dumbbell-shaped tool, fabricated with two-photon laser 3D photolithography has two beads for efficient optical trapping and a probing spike on one end. We demonstrate fluids viscosity measurements and vibration detection as examples of possible applications.
Limited perception of video images by domestic hens

Abstract In experiment 1 six domestic hens, Gallus gallus domesticus , learned a food-maintained discrimination between two real stimuli in a Y-maze. They were highly accurate on discriminations between real stimuli: red and green cardboard; a white hen and no hen; and a brown hen and no hen. In generalization-probe sessions, where on one in five of the trials the real stimuli were replaced with their video images and no reinforcer was delivered, the hens showed better than chance discrimination between red and green and brown-hen and no-hen video stimuli, but not between the white-hen and no-hen video stimuli. The hens showed immediate, accurate discrimination performance on a subsequent red versus green video discrimination and gradual improvement on a brown-hen versus no-hen video discrimination, but chance performance on a white-hen versus no-hen video discrimi-nation. Thus simple real stimuli (red versus green) appeared to be similar to their video images, but more complex (hen versus no hen) stimuli were not. In experiment 2 six hens (group R) learned a discrimination between a real brown hen and a brown basketball and six hens (group V) learned a discrimination between the video images of these. Group R acquired the discrimination rapidly, whilst group V required several hundred trials before making accurate video discriminations. Both groups had generalization-probe sessions where on one in 10 of the trials the training stimulus was replaced with the other type of stimulus and no reinforcer was delivered. Group R scored no better than chance on the probes with video stimuli. Group V results were ambiguous. These data suggest that, for hens, complex video images are not equivalent to the real stimuli, although aspects of them, such as colour, may be equivalent to aspects of the real stimuli.
Egg recognition and egg stealing in murres (Uria spp.)

Abstract Abstract. Experiments in egg recognition previously applied to common murres, U. aalge, were repeated on thick-billed murres, Uria lomvia. Both species recognized and retrieved their eggs when presented with a choice between their own and a foreign egg. However, thick-billed murres were more likely than common murres to accept a foreign egg if their own had been removed. This interspecific difference in behaviour may relate to differences in the choice of breeding sites. The readiness with which thick-billed murres accept foreign eggs make them prone to steal eggs from other birds if their own are lost, creating situations where some chicks are unrelated to the adults rearing them, and some pairs rear more than one offspring a year.
Spatial Exploration in Transgenic Mice Expressing Human β-S100

Abstract β-S100 is a calcium-binding protein in the CNS which is involved in the development of the nervous system. In addition, it has been postulated to play a role in longterm potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. To test its role in behavior related to hippocampal function, the gene was overexpressed (80 copies) in CD-1 transgenic mice, and the exploration of a novel environment was examined in two experiments. In both experiments subjects′ exploratory behavior was observed in an open-field arena containing four objects. No differences in emotional behavior were found between transgenic mice and their controls as measured by the subjects′ motility, defecation, and urination. The results of Experiment 1 revealed that transgenic mice explored objects significantly less than the controls, and they did not respond overtly to the spatial change after object displacement. The control CD-1 subjects, on the other hand, showed increased selective reexploration of the displaced object. The results of Experiment 2 replicated the findings of Experiment 1 and revealed more subtle differences in object exploration between the groups. Transgenic mice climbed objects less often and they had longer latencies of object approach than normal CD-1 mice. The study suggests the possible involvement of β-S100 protein in general exploratory behavior, which includes learning of spatial characteristics of the environment. Specifically, the overexpression of the β-S100 gene seems to affect the subjects′ reactivity to the arousal-inducing properties of novel stimuli.
The effects of body size and sexual dimorphism on the reproductive behaviour of sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka


Abstract Abstract. Factors associated with the evolution of sexual dimorphism in sockeye salmon were examined by relating individual behavioural correlates of reproductive success with morphological measurements in both sexes. Adult salmon were captured, measured and tagged, then released and observed in Iliamna Lake, Alaska. Males were generally larger than females (447 versus 428 mm) and had larger dorsal humps and more elongated jaws for their length. Indices of male reproductive success varied considerably among individuals (e.g. 0-12 observations in dominant status). Male social status was positively associated with both length and dorsal hump size, independent of length. All resident females completed spawning and only nine of 82 had their nests dug up by other females. However, size-related variation in spawning-site location was observed; larger females tended to spawn in shallower water than did smaller females. Thus reproductive success apparently varied much more in males than in females. Consistent with the theory regarding the evolution of sexual dimorphism, the greater variability in male reproduction was directly associated with the greater average size and exaggerated shape of males.
The evolution of cooperation in mobile organisms

Current game theory models of cooperation based on reciprocity do not take into account the active switching of partners made possible by mobility. Since such situations cannot be understood by means of a repeated Prisoner's Dilemma game, new theory is developed which considers both a current partner and the access to other partners. It is shown that mobility seriously restricts the evoluton of cooperation: an efficient free rider could move rapidly through a population of cooperative individuals, searching out victims to exploit. Properties of the social environment, such as population size and density, influence the search time for a free rider and thus the possibilities for the evolution of cooperation. Behavioural adaptations, such as initial suspiciousness towards strangers, and gossiping, may to some extent counteract the effects of mobility and favour cooperation. The possible importance of search time is illustrated by comparative data on the relationship between nest sharing and size of nest aggregations in sphecid wasps.
Characterizing the climatological distribution of rain frequency and intensity

Fig. 4: Maps of climatological annual mean (top) rain amount peak, (second row) rain frequency peak, (third row) rain amount width and (bottom) rain frequency width (color) with total precipitation indicated in black contours (1 mm/d dashed, and 4 and 7 mm/d solid) from (left) GPCP 1DD, (center) TRMM 3B42, and (right) CESM1. Rain frequency peak follows mean precipitation, while rain amount peak does not. In the zonal mean, rain amount peak varies little with latitude compared to total precipitation. The rain amount width varies inversely with total precipitation. GPCP 1DD, TRMM 3B42, and CESM1 agree qualitatively on the patterns of variation of rain amount peak, rain frequency peak, and rain amount width. They differ on the magnitude of the rain amount peak and width. GPCP and TRMM disagree on the spatial pattern of rain frequency peak. These results show that further study of observations is necessary to advance our understanding of the distribution of precipitation, and to confidently validate precipitation in climate models.
Female dunnocks use vocalizations to compete for males

Abstract In songbirds, males are usually the more competitive sex and they use vocalizations to attract females and to compete with rival males. When levels of female–female competition were experimentally increased in a population of dunnocks,Prunella modularis, females were predicted to increase their vocalization rates and to use vocalizations in comparable ways to competing males. Females produced tseep calls in territorial conflicts with rival females, and trill calls during the pre-breeding and fertile periods when they were left alone by their mate. Males were more likely to approach trills than tseeps, and females were more likely to trill than tseep in response to the song of their mate. Removal experiments to increase polygyny showed that females produced both types of call more when they were competing for male attention. Three out of 13 polygynous, fertile females also produced complex songs when their mate left to join another female. Songs were produced in the same context as the songs of female alpine accentors,P. collaris, a congener which breeds in large, polygynandrous groups where female competition for mates is intense, and females attract males with song. The possible functions of the mate-attracting trills and songs of females are discussed; in dunnocks they may (1) attract mates away from other females to reduce the likelihood of polygyny, (2) ensure that the male copulates sufficiently to cross a helping threshold, and (3) enable the female to assess future levels of parental care from her mate.
60-Hour Sleep Deprivation Affects Submaximal but Not Maximal Physical Performance

The effect of 60-h sleep deprivation (SD) on physical performance and motor control was studied. Twenty cadets were measured for aerobic performance (VO2) before and immediately after the SD period. Maximal strength and EMG of the knee extensor muscles were measured before and after 60 h of SD. Balance, reaction times and motor control were assessed every evening and morning during the SD period. Main effects were observed for heart rate (p = 0.002, partial eta squared: 0.669), VO2 (p = 0.004, partial eta squared: 0.621), ventilation (p = 0.016, partial eta squared: 0.049), and lactate concentration (p = 0.022, partial eta squared: 0.501), whereas RER remained unaltered (p = 0.213, partial eta squared: 0.166). Pairwise comparisons revealed decreased values at submaximal loads in heart rate, VO2, ventilation (all p < 0.05) but not in RER, whereas all of their respective maximal values remained unchanged. Moreover, pairwise comparisons revealed decreased lactate concentration at maximal performance but only at 8-min time point during submaximal workloads (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons of maximal strength, EMG and rate of force development revealed no change after SD. Main effects were observed for motor and postural control, as well as for reaction times (all p < 0.05), whereas pairwise comparison did not reveal a consistent pattern of change. In conclusion, motor control can mostly be maintained during 60-h SD, and maximal neuromuscular and aerobic performances are unaffected. However, submaximal cardiorespiratory responses seem to be attenuated after SD.