Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The biophilia hypothesis

"Biophilia" is the term coined by Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life and winner of two Pulitzer prizes, to describe what he believes is our innate affinity for the natural world. In his landmark book Biophilia, he examined how our tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes might be a biologically based need, integral to our development as individuals and as a species. The idea has caught the imagination of diverse thinkers. The Biophilia Hypothesis brings together the views of some of the most creative scientists of our time, each attempting to amplify and refine the concept of biophilia. The various perspectives - psychological, biological, cultural, symbolic, and aesthetic - frame the theoretical issues by presenting empirical evidence that supports or refutes the hypothesis. Numerous examples illustrate the idea that biophilia and its converse, biophobia, have a genetic component: people develop fear and even full-blown phobias of snakes and spiders with very little negative reinforcement, while more threatening modern artifacts - knives, guns, automobiles - rarely elicit such a response; people would rather look at water, green vegetation, or flowers than built structures of glass and concrete; and the development of language, myth, and thought appears to be greatly dependent on the use of natural symbols, particularly animals. The biophilia hypothesis, if substantiated, provides a powerful argument for the conservation of biological diversity. More important, it implies serious consequences for our well-being as society becomes further estranged from the natural world. Relentless environmental destruction could have a significant impact on our quality of life,not just materially but psychologically and even spiritually.
Polyploid evolution in the European orchid genus Nigritella: evidence from DNA fingerprinting

The genus Nigritella (Orchidaceae-Orchidinae) is a complex of species at four different ploidy levels. Fourteen taxa at species or subspecies level have been distinguished. The triploid N. nigra ssp. nigra is endemic to Scandinavia, whereas the remaining taxa are confined to different mountain regions in Central and Southern Europe. The polyploids are of hybrid origin and have arisen from taxa at lower ploidy levels by allopolyploidization. By using a recently developed PCR based DNA fingerprinting technique (AFLP), I have investigated the evolutionary history of the genus. I have also considered the genetic relationship between Nigritella and the closely related genus Gymnadenia. Tetraploid members of Nigritella are supposed to be the result of hybridization between diploids and triploids. The latter may have contributed unreduced gametes. Three different ancient triploid taxa would explain the origin of all present-day tetraploids. Nigritella nigra ssp. nigra and the other – today probably extinct – triploids may have survived the last glacial maximum in different Central and Southern European refugia. They may then have mixed with populations of diploids, thereby giving rise to new, tetraploid taxa. All the polyploids displayed several DNA bands that were rare or absent in the extant diploids. It is therefore reasonable to assume that ancestral diploids, somewhat different from present-day taxa, have been involved – at least in the formation of the intermediate triploid forms. The diploid samples only partly clustered in accordance with morphologically defined entities. Plants with the same geographic origin tended to cluster together, regardless of taxonomic belonging. The polyploids are mainly apomicts, but in spite of this fact, certain taxa varied in a complex way. This pattern could partly be explained by recurrent polyploidization, by which a given taxon may have several independent origins. The number of origins was estimated for different taxa, and varied between one and seven. It is not necessary to amalgamate the genera Nigritella and Gymnadenia. They were well separated from each other. Bigeneric hybrids clustered in between, and the origin of Gymnigritella runei was confirmed: this rare Scandinavian tetraploid is most likely the result of hybridization between N. nigra ssp. nigra and G. conopsea. (Less)
Analysis of Injury Timing and Compensatory Reaction of Soybean to Feeding of the Southern Green Stink Bug and the Bean Bug

[njury occurrence aiid cempensatory rcactiens of soybean to feeding of IVbzara viridula and RiPtortusclavatus wcre experimentally analyzcd in rc]ation to the density, duration of re]case and period ofrcleasc ofbugs. Severe feeding interference among individuals occurrcd on largc pocls, especially in N. viriditta. The density efiect considerably aflectcd feeding frequcncy and conscqucntly thc total feeding time. On infested plants, seed biomass decreased remarkably, whi]e the biomass of leaves, stems and rools increased with bug density, 1'hc total biemass of iniured plants was nearly equal to that on centrol (non-injured) plants. During thc carly pod growing stage, a compensatory reaction of plants to the feeding oi' bugs manifested as an increasc in pods. Iajury levels dccreased when bugs were releascd lat.er in the plant lifb cycle. The timing of feeding had a sensitive influence on soybeaa yield. Kizy zvorcis : ipjury occurrence, soybean, bugs, Alegara viridula, Riptortus clavatus
ANÁLISE DA COMPOSIÇÃO NUTRICIONAL E DE PARÂMETROS FÍSICO-QUÍMICOS DO PEQUI (CARYOCAR BRASILIENSE CAMB) IN NATURA

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a composicao nutricional e os parâmetros fisico-quimicos do pequi ( Caryocar brasiliense Camb ) in natura . Foi utilizada polpa de pequi in natura para as analises da composicao nutricional (umidade, proteinas, lipidios, cinzas, fibras alimentares, carboidratos “disponiveis”, vitamina C, betacaroteno e fenolicos totais), do valor energetico e dos parâmetros fisico-quimicos (pH, acidez, solidos soluveis e atividade antioxidante). Para realizacao das analises, metodos analiticos oficiais foram adotados. Os carboidratos “disponiveis” foram determinados por diferenca e pelo metodo fenol-sulfurico. As analises foram realizadas em triplicata, com excecao da atividade antioxidante (n=2), e os resultados expressos em media e desvio-padrao. O pequi apresentou: 52,4% umidade; 2,4% proteinas; 31,5% lipidios; 308,2 kcal.100g -1 (1294,6 kj.100g -1 ); 0,7% cinzas; 9,5% fibras alimentares; 3,4% e 9,4% de carboidratos “disponiveis”; 45 mg.100g -1 vitamina C; 5,4 mg.100g -1 betacaroteno e 531,5 mg.100g -1 fenolicos; pH 7,0; 0,7% de acidez; 15,0o Brix solidos soluveis e 13,7% de atividade antioxidante. O pequi apresentou-se como importante fonte de nutrientes, dessa forma, o seu consumo deve ser incentivado, pois o pequi pode contribuir para melhorar o aporte nutricional da populacao do Cerrado.
Pectic acid degrading enzymes from human feces.

Pectic substances exist in the cell walls of plant tissues,1* and these substances are ingested from vegetables, fruits, etc. Pectic substances are dealt with as dietary fibers, but other physiological functions are not clear. Pectic acid is degraded in the digestive tract of man,2) and it is considered that digestion is by the action of intestinal bacteria.3~6) Among intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron produces pectate lyase and pectate hydrolase,7) and the
Lynx prey selection for age and sex classes of roe deer varies with season

Predator selectivity for age and sex classes has large implications for their impact on prey populations. We examined whether the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx selects specific sex and age categories of roe deer Capreolus capreolus, and if this selection pattern differs between summer and winter. Data on sex and age of 194 roe deer killed by 44 VHF- and GPS-marked lynx were collected in southern Norway from 1995 to 2010. The sex and age distribution of the roe deer population was estimated using demographic parameters estimated from radio-collared roe deer in the study area. We found that lynx selection differed between summer and winter. In both seasons, lynx selected adult roe deer of both sexes. In summer, there was a clear selection against yearlings, but in winter, lynx selected male yearlings. Compared with the availability, fawns of both sexes were under-represented during summer. Male and female lynx did not differ in their prey selection, but yearling lynx tended to kill a larger proportion of roe deer fawns than older lynx. We argue that seasonal differences in behaviour, activity and habitat use by roe deer may explain this variation in lynx selection patterns, supporting the view that prey selection is affected by the life cycle stage of both the predators and the prey.
Epiphytic bacterium, Erwinia ananas, commonly isolated from rice plants and brown planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens) in hopperburn patches.

frorn rice plants (cv. Hinohlkari) of private paddy ficlds in Yoshiki, Chikushine city, on October 3, 1994 (Exp. 2). One hopperburm patch (Site 1) in Exp, 1 and three hopperburn patches CSites 2, 3, 4) in Exp. 2 were selected fbr use in this study. In addition, brown-colorcd or grcen-colored leaves of rice plants in private paddy fields in Tsukuba city in Ibaraki Prefecturc werc used as centrols (Exp. 3, Sites 5, 6, 7), since rice plants cultivated in this area have not been infested with BPH. Lcaves were collected on
Must Browning in Relation to the Behavior of Phenolic Compounds During Oxidation

White musts prepared from 24 Vitis vinifera varieties were supplied with oxygen by diffusion through silicone tubing. The oxygen consumption was followed by means of an oxymeter, the initial glutathione content was determined, and the concentration of hydroxycinnamic acids monitored by HPLC. Tristimulus color values were measured using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* Scale on the crude and filtered oxidized musts. A principal component analysis was performed on the analytical data and tristimulus parameters. The first axis contrasted b*F (yellowness of the filtered musts), a*C (redness of the crude musts), initial concentration of hydroxycinnamic acids, maximum levels of caftaric and GRP o -quinones, and oxygen consumption with b*C (yellowness of the crude musts), L*C and L*F (lightness of the crude and filtered musts). It differentiated light (resistant to oxidation), colored (sensitive to oxidation), and intermediate musts. Must browning susceptibility appeared essentially related to their initial hydroxycinnamic acid content. Yet, each of these three classes showed a characteristic behavior of caftaric acid derivatives during must oxidation, itself depending on the hydroxycinnamic acid to glutathione molar ratio. It seems, however, that other grape components compete with glutathione to trap caftaric acid quinones.
The movement and implications of the Ganges-Bramhaputra runoff on entering the Bay of Bengal

The Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers discharge annually approximately 10 sup(2) m sup(3) of freshwater into the Bay of Bengal at its northern end. We propose that the spread of this water, accompaniEd. by mixing with the ambient waters, occurs in three phases. The Ganges-Brahmaputra discharge appears to lead to cooler sea surface temperatures in the northern Bay and to a stronger coastal current along the West Coast of India, both during the northeast monsoon.
Squirrel numbers and the abundance of tree seeds

This is a literature review of the relationship between the abundance of tree seeds and the productivity, survival and dispersal of Holarctic tree squirrels. Causal links between changes in tree seed supplies and changes in squirrel numbers are often masked by various factors including intraspecifk and interspecific competition for seed, weather, predation and seed hoarding; density-dependent relationships have not been clearly established. Tamiasciurus and Sciurus species have different seed-hoarding strategies which are associated with differences in their social and spatial organization. Average squirrel densities in the long-term are discussed in relation to forest habitat type, and directions for future research indicated.
Untangling the Interplay Among Navigational Strategies Used by the Ant Formica podzolica

Abstract Ants use a variety of navigational mechanisms in homing, including pheromone trails, landmarks, compasses, and visual “snapshots” of the landscape. In many cases, an ant has more than one of these information types available and may give priority to one mechanism over the others. We investigated how the ant Formica podzolica Francoeur makes use of polarized light during the initial stages of homing. When ants were displaced to an unfamiliar area, they spent significantly more time in the 90° arc centered on their perception of the direction to the nest. This preference was eliminated by modifying the ants’ view of the sky with a polarizing filter, suggesting that F. podzolica use polarized light information. However, the displacements also showed that the ants make use of nest-specific information (possibly landmarks or snapshot matching) to recalibrate their homeward paths. When confronted with incompatible orientation information from polarized light in the sky and landmarks, the ant seems to reorient using landmarks, overriding the information from polarized light.
Release of macromolecular organic complexes by heterotrophic marine flagellates

We examined whether or not the heterotrophic manne flagellate Paraphysomonas Imperforata releases macromolecular dissolved organic matter (DOM) 3H-bacterial prey (Vibrio spp ) were added to flagellate cultures and the accumulation of 3 ~ ~ ~ ~ was measured Flagellates released a large amount of macromolecular DOM (6 to 57 % of 3 ~ ~ 0 ~ ) that was nch in llpids (11pid macromolecular ratio = 0 20 0 92) One component of the macromolecular DOM was a digestive enzyme (acid phosphatase] of the flagellate The flagellate acld phosphatase was not degraded by proteases but it was suscephble to proteases after treatment with polymyxin B which destroys bacterial membranes These data suggest that bactenal membranes protected the released acid phosphatase from proteolyhc attack Ultracentnfugation showed that the sedimentation coefficient of the phosphatase was 15 to 42 S consistent with the hypothesis that the phosphatase IS part of a macromolecular complex We hypothesize that flagellates release thelr own digestive enzymes and incompletely digested membranes and probably other cellular components from bactenal prey and that these compounds form liposomehke organlc complexes These complexes may be important for understanding the chemical natuie and turnover of DOM in the oceans
Breeding habitat selection and larval performance of two anurans in freshwater rock-pools

I studied breeding habitat choice of common toad Bufo bufo and common frog Rana temporaria in 221 freshwater rock-pools on 15 small islands in the southwestern coast of Finland. I monitored tadpole growth rate in a number of rock-pools differing in size, competitors and predator regime. Furthermore, I carried out a short-term field experiment to investigate the effects of different predators on larval survival. Rana bred in pools of virtually all sizes, although the very smallest ones were usually avoided. A logistic regression analysis showed that the amount of aquatic macrophyte vegetation and pool surface area were the most important pool characters for Rana. Bufo preferred the largest pools, and pool surface area was by far the most important habitat variable. Rana avoided pools with the lowest pH, but was more common than expected at pools with pH around 6. In Bufo such an effect was not found, but this may be due to relatively low number of pools occupied by Bufo. In Rana there was a positive correlation between pool area and tadpole body length in early June, but two weeks later this relationship was not significant. In Bufo tadpole body size was not significantly affected by pool area. Presence of predators or presence of the other tadpole species did not affect growth or tadpole body size in either Rana or Bulb. A short-term experiment in wading pools indicated that both species suffered heavy mortality in the presence of a diving beetle larva. In the presence of predatory fish, mortality of Bufo did not differ from controls, whereas mortality was high among Rana tadpoles. It appears that although predators prey heavily on Rana tadpoles, they do not exclude Rana from larger rock-pools. However, it is not evident from this study why Bufo avoids smaller pools.
The Efficiency of a Sleep Hygiene Intervention to Improve Sleep Problems in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Maternal Mental Health

Aim: Pediatric sleep problems can result in negative consequences for both mothers and children. Considering the relatively high prevalence of sleep disorders among children with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), this study was designed to investigate the impact of a sleep hygiene intervention to promote sleep problems in children with ADHD and maternal mental health. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 62 children aged 7-13 years with the diagnosis of ADHD and comorbid sleep dis orders accompanied by their mothers. Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) were completed by the children's mothers, and then the participants were allocated randomly into experimental and control groups. Mothers of the children in the experimental group received a sleep hygiene educational intervention, which was delivered through a training session and a booklet followed by two telephone calls and educational text messages. Participants in the control group received usual clinical care. The post-test was performed two months after intervention. Findings: 56 participants (experimental group: n=28, control group: n=28) completed the survey. Data analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the experimental group had a significant reduction in mean scores of CSHQ (P=0.001) and stress subscale scores (F= 0.106, P= 0/015), after controlling pre-test. Besides, the mothers' stress was correlated with the children's CSHQ overall scores (r= 0.52, P= 0.001). Conclusion: Implementing a sleep hygiene intervention in a sample of children with ADHD could result in improved children sleep problems and maternal well-being.
Female extra–pair behaviour and environmental quality in the serin (Serinus serinus): a test of the ‘constrained female hypothesis’

Recent behavioural and molecular studies have shown that in most monogamous bird species extra–pair copulations and fertilizations outside the pair bond occur routinely. The consequences of female extra–pair behaviour might comprise effects on important life–history traits, such as the extent of male parental care. In this study we test the assumption that, within a species, females' options for extra–pair mating depend on female quality and the environments that females occupy. This‘constrained female hypothesis’ predicts that females in good environments or high–quality females are able to resist males' control efforts better than females in poor environments or low–quality females. We test the idea in the socially monogamous serin. We found that the likelihood of extra–pair paternity is significantly higher in territories with high availability of food. There was a negative relationship between environmental quality (food availability) and paternity both in natural and in experimentally manipulated habitats. Male feeding rates were negatively related to food availability and positively related to paternity. These data and the additional result that in better environments all of a females' offspring were sired by one extra–pair male provide support for Gowaty's ‘constrained female hypothesis’.
Anatomia do lenho de Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) de solos com diferentes níveis de umidade

Este estudo analisou a anatomia do lenho de individuos de Croton urucurana de areas com o solo alagado, umido e seco. A estrutura anatomica foi analisada quantitativamente atraves de medicoes de vinte e duas caracteristicas, envolvendo os elementos de vasos, as fibras, os parenquimas axial e radial; o valor medio das caracteristicas em cada tipo de solo foi comparado estatisticamente. Foram obtidos dados de umidade de solo, quinzenalmente, no periodo de um ano, de cada uma das tres areas, juntamente com a curva de retencao de agua do solo para a caracterizacao do nivel de umidade. Quatorze caracteristicas, ao nivel de 5% de significância, apresentaram-se diferentes nos especimes de pelo menos duas localidades diferentes de solo. De tais caracteristicas, dez apresentaram-se significativamente diferentes entre os especimes de solo da condicao seca e alagada. A frequencia e o diâmetro dos vasos, apresentaram-se com medias maiores nos especimes do solo alagado, e menores nos de solo seco. Tal dado revela um fato novo: o aumento da frequencia e do diâmetro dos vasos dos especimes que vivem na condicao estressante do solo alagado.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS OF ADULT UCA SUBCYLINDRICA TO SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENTS'

Salinity tolerance, osmotic and ionic regulation abilities, desiccation tolerance, and gill morphometry of Uca subcylindrica, which inhabits semi-arid supratidal areas, were compared with more typically intertidal fiddler crabs, especially U. longisignalis. Salinity tolerance was less in U. subcylindrica (2â€”90%o) than in U. longisignalis (0.08â€” 1lO%o). Blood osmolality and sodium and chloride concentrations were regulated over a wide range of salinities in both species, but U. subcylindrica maintained a smaller gradient against the external medium at the lowest salinity at which it survived and at the higher salinities. The osmoregulatory responses were contrary to predictions based on field distributions, but U. subcylindrica generally survived desiccation longer and always tolerated a greater percent body water loss than U. longisignalis, U. rapax, and U. panacea. Differences in gill morphometrics among the four species were consistent with features accompanying increasing terrestriality.
Establishment and characterisation of wheat genetic mapping populations

Doubled haploid populations from 5 carefully selected wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses were established in order to produce genetic maps. The characterisation of the parental material included pedigree analyses to define the extent of the genetic relationships among the lines and to determine the occurrence of alien chromosome segments that may contribute to segregation distortion. The characterisation of the parents also defined the range of grain quality traits that could be examined in the lines derived from each cross. Populations of up to 321 lines were produced using wide cross-mediated doubled haploid production from F1 plants. Assessment of the lines for heterogeneity was carried out using readily identifiable phenotypic markers and electrophoresis of seed storage proteins, with 2.3–11.6% of the lines being removed from further analysis. Segregation distortion was estimated in several populations where sufficient information from genetic markers was available. In a Sunco/Tasman doubled haploid population, heterogeneity was detected between the first 51 lines and the remainder of the mapping population and this could be traced to F1 plants that were produced from an earlier set of crosses. χ2 tests on the mapping data available for the Cranbrook/Halberd, CD87/Katepwa, and Sunco/Tasman doubled haploid populations revealed segregation distortion at rates of 1.8%, 5.1%, and 12.5% respectively. Whereas the wide-cross doubled haploid protocol does not appear responsible for the bulk of the non-Mendelian segregation observed, several potential sources were identified. In particular, clustering of distorted loci at specific chromosome regions appeared to be associated with the presence of alien introgressions in one of the parents. This was especially marked in the Sunco/Tasman population. Providing such distortions are recognised in the models used, these populations provide powerful tools for extensive mapping studies to determine the genetic factors controlling grain quality traits and other wheat characters of interest.