Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compartments in insect-plant associations and their consequences for community structure

Summary 1Compartmentation has been less explored than other forms of community structure. We assessed compartmentation of associations between insects and plants on a regional scale, and analysed some of its causes and consequences. The data set used was the host records of fruit flies (Diptera; Tephritidae) that breed in flowerheads of plants of the tribe Vernonieae (Asteraceae) in the Espinhaco Mountain range, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This data set was obtained with a consistent sampling protocol and is taxonomically fully resolved. 2The binary association matrix had a total of 35 insect and 81 plant species. Most of the insects were specialized on plants of a single subtribe, genus or species group. Correspondence analysis showed that the association matrix is divided in six well-delimited compartments of insects specialized on subtribes or genera of plants. 3Host dissimilarity among insects and insect dissimilarity among plants were expressed as Jaccard distances. Tests with a multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP) showed that both kinds of dissimilarities were higher among compartments than within them. 4Monte Carlo randomizations were used to compare matrix parameters with values expected in the absence of compartments. In 4000 runs, the number of insect species that shared at least one host plant (ecological neighbours) was smaller than expected. Nevertheless, mean host similarity among insects, and the proportion of exclusive host plants used by each insect species did not differ from null model predictions. Host similarity of insects with their nearest neighbours in niche space was higher than expected by the null model. On the other hand, host similarity with farthest neighbours was lower than expected. 6The observed compartmentation of insect/plant associations can be ascribed to the marked specialization of flowerhead tephritids, and allows the reduction of diffuse competition among insects. However, compartmentation did not decrease overall niche overlap among insects because reduction in number of neighbours is offset by increased overlap with species in the same compartment. Therefore, the pattern in this system cannot be derived from resource partitioning alone.
The role of elastic energy storage mechanisms in swimming: an analysis of mantle elasticity in escape jetting in the squid, Loligo opalescens

Elastic energy storage mechanisms have been shown to improve locomotory performance and efficiency in many animals. In this paper we consider the role of elastic energy storage in jet locomotion of the squid, Loligo opalescens. The jet is powered by the contraction of circular muscles in the mantle. In addition, the mantle contains a collagen fibre based energy storage system (the mantle "spring") which captures some of the mechanical energy produced by the circular muscles and then releases this energy to power the refilling of the mantle cavity. The mantle spring is constructed so that it stores energy from the circular muscles only at a time in the jet cycle when, by virtue of the cylindrical geometry of the mantle, the circular muscles are unable, to apply their full mechanical output to the generation of hydrodynamic thrust. Thus the mantle spring increases the utilization of the circular muscles, and our analysis indicates that these muscles are used at virtually 100% of their potential through the .
Colorful World of Microbes: Carotenoids and Their Applications

Microbial cells accumulate pigments under certain culture conditions, which have very important industrial applications. Microorganisms can serve as sources of carotenoids, the most widespread group of naturally occurring pigments. More than 750 structurally different yellow, orange, and red colored molecules are found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes with an estimated market of $ 919 million by 2015. Carotenoids protect cells against photooxidative damage and hence found important applications in environment, food and nutrition, disease control, and as potent antimicrobial agents. In addition to many research advances, this paper reviews concerns with recent evaluations, applications of microbial pigments, and recommendations for future researches with an understanding of evolution and biosynthetic pathways along with other relevant aspects.
Bet-hedging germination in annual plants: a sound empirical test of the theoretical foundations

Seed dormancy is thought to be a key mechanism allowing annual plants to spread extinction risk in unpredictably varying environments. Theory predicts increasing germination fractions with increasing probability of reproductive success but solid empirical evidence is scarce and often confounded with environmental factors. Here we provide an empirical test of bet-hedging via delayed germination for three annual plant species along a ‘predictability gradient’ in Israel. We excluded confounding environmental and maternal effects by raising inbred seed families and germinating them under controlled conditions. Additionally, we germinated field-collected seeds in three consecutive seasons to compare their germination with inbred families where maternal effects were removed. Risk of reproductive failure was quantified using demographic data from the field and from second-generation inbred lines raised in a rainfall gradient in the greenhouse. Our findings were consistent with bet-hedging theory in that germination fraction was negatively related to species- and site-specific risk of reproductive failure. Both field and hand-raised seeds of one species exhibited higher dormancy with increasing risk of reproductive failure across sites, and hand-raised seeds of another species showed the same pattern. The third species exhibited a rather random pattern of germination between years and sites, corresponding to the lack of site-specific risk of reproductive failure. Species-specific patterns of dormancy and risk could be related to alternative risk-spreading strategies such as high adult survival, but were also affected by phylogeny. We provide strong empirical evidence for seed dormancy being a mechanism to reduce the risk of reproductive failure in highly variable environments, but a larger number of rigorous experimental tests of bet hedging germination are needed. Specifically, the genetic basis of bet-hedging must be shown in species with different life histories, for demonstrating that dormancy is adaptive and how it is modified by other risk-spreading traits.
Crustacean symbionts of the sea anemone Telmatactis cricoides at Madeira and the Canary Islands

The crustacean symbionts of the club-tipped sea anemone Telmatactis cricoides (Duchassaing, 1850) were studied at Madeira (n= 81 anemones) and the Canary Islands (n= 124 anemones). Of all anemones, 86% had crustacean symbionts. Nineteen species of crustaceans were encountered in association with Telmatactis cricoides. There were up to 18 individuals of up to four crustacean species associated with the same anemone. Anemone size and number of crustacean symbionts were positively correlated (P < 0.001) but only weakly so (r=+0.27). The most common crustacean symbiont was the shrimp Thor amboinensis, encountered with 65% of all anemones. Frequency and type of association with Telmatactis cricoides is described for each of the crustacean symbionts, Thor amboinensis, Lysmata grabhami, Lysmata seticaudata, Eualus occultus, Brachycarpus biunguiculatus, Stenorhynchus lanceolatus, Homola barbata, Pilumnus villosissimus, Gnathophyllum elegans, Inachus phalangium, Heteromysis sp. nuv. , Palaemonella atlantica, Herbstia condyliata, Stenopus spinosus, Athanas nitescens, Dromia personata Xantho incisus, Galathea sp. , Liocarcinus sp. The shrimp Lysmata grabhami appears to live in stable pairs of two simultaneous hermaphrodites, a social structure not previously described for any crustacean species.
Variability among Accessions of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp): From Qualitative Scoring to Quantitative Analyses

Genetic variability and inter-character association in 25 accessions of cowpea were studied through their expression of qualitative morphological traits. Accessions were collected from the Genetic Resources Centre of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and assessed in the field in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. Twelve (12) qualitative traits were evaluated utilizing 10 plants for each accession per replication. Heritability and Genotypic correlations were estimated with Plant Breeding Tools (PB-Tools) version 1.4. The information were exposed to cluster and Principal Component (PC) analyses utilizing Palaeontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis (PAST). All the 12 qualitative traits separated accessions successfully. Heritability for all traits was 100 percent, which showed that in cowpea, the effect of environment on manifestation of qualitative traits is insignificant. The most variable trait was immature pigmentation (84.24%) and the trait with the least variability was leaf colour (20.92%). In the bi-plots, accessions in group I and II which differed to accessions in group IV in important traits such as growth pattern, plant hairiness, pod attachment to peduncle and leaf colour are recommended together with these important traits in cowpea improvement programmes. Conclusively, combination of PCA, bi-plot, cluster analysis and genotypic correlations were efficient in revealing significant relationships among characteristics of cowpea accessions for selection purposes, and are therefore recommended.
Patterns in seasonal abundance, growth and biomass of the atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia, in a New England estuary

Patterns in seasonal abundance (no. per m2 surface area), growth and biomass (g per m2 surface area) of an annual fish, the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia (L.) were investigated in a marsh and more seaward bay region of Essex Bay, Massachusetts from August 1976 to May 1978 using a quantitative beach seining technique. Silverside abundance varied greatly by season and year class during the study period. Abundance was high in 1976 but winter mortality (99%) left an adult density of only . 01 per m2 surface area in the marsh during spring 1977. Resultant 1977 year class density in the marsh was 1.88 per m2 by late fall 1977 but winter mortality again produced an adult density of . 01 per m2 in spring 1978. Abundance was generally higher in the marsh than in the bay region especially during spring and late fall when catches in the bay were negligible. Based on catch rate comparisons, the summer and fall juvenile abundance of the 1976 year class was much higher than the juvenile abundance of the 1977 year class. Coincidentally, mean lengths and condition of the abundant 1976 year class in the late fall were significantly lower than those of the 1977 year class, suggesting density dependent population regulation. In both years, juveniles grew rapidly and reached full adult size by November when an offshore movement to deeper waters outside Essex Bay occurred. Biomass peaked in the marsh region in late fall 1977 at 7.8 g per m2 wet weight. Winter mortality was size selective, favoring larger individuals. The annual life history design of M. menidia including an offshore winter movement and high winter mortality suggests that silversides represent an important pathway of energy flow from marsh to offshore trophic systems.
Individual Differences in Receptivity to Scientific Bullshit

Pseudo profound bullshit receptivity is the tendency to perceive meaning in important-sounding, nonsense statements. To understand how bullshit receptivity differs across domains, we developed a scale to measure scientific bullshit receptivity—the tendency to perceive truthfulness in nonsensical scientific statements. Across three studies (total N = 1,948), scientific bullshit receptivity was positively correlated with pseudo profound bullshit receptivity. Both types of bullshit receptivity were positively correlated with belief in science, conservative political beliefs, and faith in intuition. However, compared to pseudo profound bullshit receptivity, scientific bullshit receptivity was more strongly correlated with belief in science, and less strongly correlated with conservative political beliefs and faith in intuition. Finally, scientific literacy moderated the relationship the two types of bullshit receptivity; the correlation between the two types of receptivity was weaker for individuals scoring high in scientific literacy.
Impaired Uterine Receptivityin Infertile Women over Age 40having Oocyte Donation and Correctionwith Increased Progesterone Replacement

Significantly fewer ongoing and delivered pregnancies occurred in infertile women aged >40 years receiving oocyte donation from young normal women (8%, P<0.02) than in a similar group of younger recipients receiving identical treatment (43%). A significant improvement (46Yo ongoing and delivered, P<0.01) was achieved in another group of women over 40, treated with a doubled dose of progesterone. The results are consistent with those observed in animal studies and suggest an effect of ageing on uterine receptivity that is at least partly correctable by augmented progesterone stimulation of the endometrium.
Inhibition of starfish oocyte maturation by some inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes

Starfish oocyte maturation is triggered by a natural hormone, 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde), produced in the follicle cells, or artificially by dithiothreitol (DTT). These substances act on the oocyte surface to produce a cytoplasmic maturation-promoting factor (MPF), which induces germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and subsequent processes of meiotic maturation. Further, MPF is amplified in immature oocytes that have received the injection of MPF. In this paper the effect of leupeptin and antipain, protease inhibitors of microbial origin, on starfish oocyte maturation was investigated. The protease inhibitors were found to inhibit 1-MeAde-induced maturation when they were applied externally or injected into oocytes. DTT-induced maturation was also inhibited by injection of leupeptin. However, leupeptin did not inhibit the maturation-inducing action of MPF or MPF amplification. These results show that the protease inhibitors suppress the production of MPF by 1-MeAde or DTT, suggesting that some endogenous protease(s) acts in the production of MPF.
Binocular Integration of Perceptually Suppressed Visual Information in Amblyopia

Abnormal visual experience during an early critical period of visual cortex development can lead to a neurodevelopmental disorder of vision called amblyopia. A key feature of amblyopia is interocular suppression, whereby information from the amblyopic eye is blocked from conscious awareness when both eyes are open. Suppression of the amblyopic eye is thought to occur at an early stage of visual processing and to be absolute. Using a binocular rivalry paradigm, we demonstrate that suppressed visual information from the amblyopic eye remains available for binocular integration and can influence overall perception of stimuli. This finding reveals that suppressed visual information continues to be represented within the brain even when it is blocked from conscious awareness by chronic pathological suppression. These results have direct implications for the clinical management of amblyopia.
Removing Belady’s Anomaly from Caches with Prefetch Data

Belady’s anomaly occurs when a small cache gets more hits than a larger cache, given identical input conditions regarding the workload and caching algorithms. The implication of this anomaly is that upgrading a cache could result in a lowering of performance. This paper proves that Belady’s anomaly may occur with almost all combinations of prefetch techniques and cache replacement policies. The repercussions of the ubiquity of this anomaly is that it is very difﬁcult to evaluate the performance of a cache with prefetching. This paper analyzes why Belady’s anomaly is an inherent feature of caching and prefetching systems. The anomaly occurs because the content and ordering of the cache replacement queue are dependent on the prefetch cache size. Based on this evaluation, the paper presents a prefetch technique and an LRU variant that does not exhibit the anomaly.
Kinases and chromatin structure

Chromatin structure is regulated by families of proteins that are able to covalently modify the histones and the DNA, as well as to regulate the spacing of nucleosomes along the DNA. Over the years, these chromatin remodeling factors have been proven to be essential to a variety of processes, including gene expression, DNA replication, and chromosome cohesion. The function of these remodeling factors is regulated by a number of chemical and developmental signals and, in turn, changes in the chromatin structure eventually contribute to the response to changes in the cellular environment. Exciting new research findings by the laboratories of Sharon Dent and Steve Jackson indicate, in two different contexts, that changes in the chromatin structure may, in reverse, signal to intracellular signaling pathways to regulate cell fate. The discoveries clearly challenge our traditional view of ‘epigenetics’, and may have important implications in human health.
A survey of cryptomonad diversity and seasonality at a coastal Mediterranean site

The composition and seasonal cycle of the cryptomonad community were investigated at a coastal station in the Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea) from March 2002 to March 2004. Serial dilution cultures were established from samples collected fortnightly in surface waters and single species abundances were estimated as most probable number. For species identification, unialgal cultures obtained by further dilution were analysed with light and scanning electron microscopy and spectrophotometry. Additional data collected at the same station and from other Mediterranean areas are also presented. Sixteen different morphs were recognized from 103 cultures. These included Plagioselmis prolonga, Proteomonas sulcata (haplomorph and diplomorph), Rhinomonas pauca, R. reticulata, Rhodomonas salina, R. cf. marina, Storeatula major, Teleaulax cf. acuta. Seven other morphs belonging to the genera Cryptochloris, Hemiselmis, Rhodomonas and Storeatula did not fit the descriptions of any described species, demonstrating a high rate of unknown diversity in the group. Total cryptomonad abundance showed peaks in spring–summer and autumn of both years. Some species were recorded occasionally, others (P. prolonga) throughout the year, still others (Hemiselmis sp., P. sulcata, R. pauca and R. reticulata) only at certain times of the year, the occurrence pattern recurring in both years. The species-specific occurrence patterns and the seasonal succession suggest that these species differ in their ecological requirements.
HLA-DPp residue 69 plays a crucial role in allorecognition

: To investigate the contribution to allorecognition of the individual polymorphic positions Glu 69 and Val 36 from the DPB1*02012 allele, DPB1*02012 cDNA was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis and alleles expressing Lys at 69 and Ala at 36 were generated. The Iymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) 45.EM1, a previously generated mutant B-LCL which expresses normal levels of DPA mRNA but is not able to transcribe DPB, was transfect-ed with wild-type or mutant DPBl*02012 cDNAs. The ability of two HLA-DPw2 alloreactive CD4+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones to lyse the panel of DPBl*02012 wild-type and site-directed mutant B-cell lines was tested. Both CTL clones (8.3 and 8.9) lysed the B-LCL 45.1, which is haploid for HLA and expresses wild-type DPBl*02012, and transfectants expressing Ala at 36 instead of Val, indicating that this polymorphic residue is not critical for T-cell recognition. However, the change of Glu to Lys at 69 prevented recognition by clones 8.3 and 8.9. These data demonstrate that the residue at peptide-binding position 69 is crucial for T-cell receptor recognition and suggest the requirement for a negatively charged residue at this position for allostimulation of these T-cell clones. The side chain of DP(3–69 is predicted to point into the peptide-binding groove, and the existence of positive (Lys) or negative (Glu) residues probably leads to substantial differences in the allo- or auto-DP-bound peptides or to differences in the conformation of the peptide-MHC complex, which would therefore be responsible for specific DPw2 allorecognition. The binding of a panel of monomorphic and polymorphic anti-HLA-DP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to these transfectants was also tested by flow cytometry. The changes at Glu 69 and Val 36 did not affect recognition by any of the monomorphic antibodies tested. However, the binding pattern of some of the polymorphic mAbs was clearly modified. Therefore, even though it is not crucial for T-cell allorecognition, polymorphic residue 36 must be involved in epitopes recognized by some polymorphic anti-DP antibodies, while residue 69 of the DPB molecule is crucial both for T-cell allorecognition and recognition by some mAbs.
Alona iberica, New Species: First Evidence of Noncosmopolitanism within the A. karua Complex (Cladocera: Chydoridae)

ABSTRACT Alonaiberica, new species, belongs to the A. karua complex and differs from an Australian population and previous descriptions of A. karua (King) G. O. Sars, 1888, in having: (1) the posterodorsal comer of carapace higher, (2) the preanal angle of the postabdomen higher, (3) the postanal portion of the postabdomen longer, (4) the PP/IP ratio greater, (5) the tip of the labrum rounded, and (6) the ridges on carapace more prominent. Alona iberica inhabits temporary and weakly mineralized waters over sandy or rocky substrates in semiarid regions. This new species is endemic to the western part of the Iberian Peninsula and Minorca.
Histological effects of cyanide, stress and starvation on the intestinal mucosa of Pomacentrus coelestis, a marine aquarium fish species

The histological effects of cyanide, stress and starvation on the gastrointestinal tract of Pomacentrus coelestis, a common marine aquarium fish species, were investigated. Neither anaesthetic cyanide nor stress were found to have any detectable effects on the mucosal lining of the intestine. However, starvation resulted in a significant reduction in the intestine length, the surface area of the intestinal mucosa and the mucosal thickness, all occurring within 13 days.
Black Stain Root Disease in Ozone-Stressed Ponderosa Pine

Needle injury was greater and stem growth was less in seedlings inoculated with L. wageneri var. ponderosum than in noninoculated seedlings. The length of the black stain in roots of inoculated seedlings increased as the ozone exposure increased; 43% of the seedlings exposed to charcoal-filtered air (with an ozone concentration of 0.26 ppm-hr/day) had visible black staining, whereas 79% of those exposed to ozone at 2.84 ppm-hr/day were stained
TECHNOLOGIES FOR RURAL WOMEN IN AFRICA POLICY BRIEF RAISING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY, AND REDUCING PHYSICAL BURDEN OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

Despite women accounting for 43 percent of the agricultural labor force in developing countries and even more than 50 percent of the agricultural workforce in most of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, the productivity gap between men and women farmers persists (FAO, 2011). 1 Existing family farm research shows that women consistently have lower productivity compared to male farmers, with the productivity deficit estimated to range between 13–25 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa (O’Sullivan, Rao, Banerjee, Gulati, & Vinez, 2014).