Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mangrove Restoration: Do We Know Enough?

Mangrove restoration projects have been attempted, with mixed results, throughout the world. In this paper, I first examine goals of existing mangrove restoration projects and determine whether these goals are clear and adequate, and whether or not they account for the full range of biological diversity and ecological processes of mangrove ecosystems. Many restored mangrove forests resemble forest plantations rather than truly integrated ecosystems, but mangrove plantations can be a first step toward mangrove rehabilitation. Mangrove restoration projects that involve associated aquaculture or mariculture operations tend to be more likely to approximate the biological diversity and ecological processes of undisturbed mangrove ecosystems than are projects that focus only on the trees. These integrated restoration projects also provide a higher economic return than do silvicultural projects alone. Second, I briefly assess whether existing ecological data are sufficient to undergird successful restoration of mangal and define criteria for determining whether or not a mangrove ecosystem has been restored successfully. These criteria include characteristics of vegetation (forest) structure, levels of primary production, composition of associated animal communities, and hydrology. Finally, I suggest ways to improve mangrove restoration projects and identify key research needs required to support these efforts. Ecological theories derived from other wetland and upland systems rarely have been applied to either “basic” or “applied” mangrove forest studies, to the detriment of restoration projects, whereas lessons from restoration of the relatively species‐poor mangrove ecosystems could be beneficially applied to restoration projects in other contexts. An international database of mangrove restoration projects would reduce the likelihood that unsuccessful restoration projects would be repeated elsewhere. Clear criteria for evaluating success, greater accessibility of information by managers in the developing world, intensified international cooperation, and application of relevant ecological theories will improve the success rate of mangrove restoration projects.
Carbon and water economy of Australian NAD-ME and NADP-ME C4 grasses

C4 grasses are grouped into three biochemical subtypes,NAD malic enzyme (NAD–ME), NADP malic enzyme (NADP–ME)and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK), possessingcharacteristic leaf anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. This studyinvestigates the physiological implications of these differences by comparing growth, water use efficiency (WUE, dry matter gain per unit water transpired) and gas exchange characteristics of NAD–MEand NADP–ME C4 grasses belonging to threetaxonomic groups (main Chloroid assemblage, Paniceae and Andropogoneae). Wegrew 28 C4 grasses from seeds for 6 weeks in aglasshouse under ample water and nutrients in winter and summer. Theinter-specific variation in plant dry mass (30-fold) was much greater thanthat in WUE (2-fold). There was no significantdifference in average WUE between NAD–ME andNADP–ME grasses. Average plant dry mass andWUE were highest in the Paniceae (mostlyNADP–ME), lowest in the Andropogoneae (NADP–ME) and intermediate in the Chloroid (NAD–ME). CO2assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance(g) and the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 partial pressure (pi/p a )were measured under standard conditions at high light. AverageA and g were slightly higher inNADP–ME than NAD–ME grasses, but pi/p awas similar for the two subtypes. A did not differbetween winter and summer experiments in spite of a 3-fold difference inmaximal daily irradiance. Dry matter accumulation correlated positively withleaf area ratio (LAR; plant leaf area per unit plant drymass) and specific leaf area (SLA; leaf area per unitleaf dry mass) in NAD–ME, but not NADP–ME, grasses.Variation in A (expressed on a per area basis) did notcorrelate with biomass accumulation or SLA. Whenexpressed on a dry mass basis, A correlated withSLA in all C4 grasses. This studyshows that there is large inter-specific variation in growth among the C4 grasses, but average WUE andA/g are similar forNAD–ME and NADP–ME species under well-wateredconditions.
The performance of Kinect in assessing the shoulder joint mobility

Motor impairments affecting old people require a regular and reliable monitoring of the body functional autonomy. Low cost camera-based systems, initially designed for entertainment applications, have been evaluated for a possible adoption in diagnosis and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, their adoption is partially hampered by noise, precision and accuracy issues. In this paper we evaluate the performance of the Kinect One sensor in assessing the shoulder joint mobility in subjects with different body sizes: we measure the maximum angle reached by a patient raising his/her arms, the time needed to perform such action and the time the patient is able to keep his/her arms up. The preliminary tests conducted on two healthy subjects revealed no significant difference in terms of relative error among measures collected for subjects with different body heights and sizes. However, statistical tests suggested a correlation between the relative errors on large angle amplitudes and the time spent with arms up.
Historical land use and altered habitats in the Great Basin

Abstract Vegetation in the Great Basin has been changing over millennia in response to climate but the rate of change since European settlement in the last 150 years has been unprecedented. Beyond the changing climate, explanations for these more recent vegetation alterations are diverse and include a myriad of human influences: the introduction of livestock (cattle, sheep, and horses), homesteading, cultivation, mining, introduction of invasive species, forage seeding programs, water diversion, elevated CO2 levels, changing fire frequencies, and recreation. These causes have had overlapping, interactive, and cumulative effects upon the landscapes of the Great Basin. This paper offers a survey of some of the most widespread historical land uses in the Great Basin since European settlement and how they may have altered natural plant communities and subsequently mammal habitats. By highlighting the nature, intensity, and extent of historical practices, this paper illustrates the need to consider a broad set of land-use legacies when defining wildlife–habitat associations at local and landscape scales. Further, it points to the need for more integrated efforts that combine historical ecology with wildlife ecology and management to address current knowledge gaps and guide effective conservation and restoration recommendations.
Neuropeptides and the Regulation of Islet Function

The pancreatic islets are richly innervated by autonomic nerves. The islet parasympathetic nerves emanate from intrapancreatic ganglia, which are controlled by preganglionic vagal nerves. The islet sympathetic nerves are postganglionic with the nerve cell bodies located in ganglia outside the pancreas. The sensory nerves originate from dorsal root ganglia near the spinal cord. Inside the islets, nerve terminals run close to the endocrine cells. In addition to the classic neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine, several neuropeptides exist in the islet nerve terminals. These neuropeptides are vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase–activating polypeptide, gastrin-releasing polypeptide, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in parasympathetic nerves; neuropeptide Y and galanin in the sympathetic nerves; and calcitonin gene–related polypeptide in sensory nerves. Activation of the parasympathetic nerves and administration of their neurotransmitters stimulate insulin and glucagon secretion, whereas activation of the sympathetic nerves and administration of their neurotransmitters inhibit insulin but stimulate glucagon secretion. The autonomic nerves contribute to the cephalic phase of insulin secretion, to glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia, to pancreatic polypeptide secretion, and to the inhibition of insulin secretion, which is seen during stress. In rodent models of diabetes, the number of islet autonomic nerves is upregulated. This review focuses on neural regulation of islet function, with emphasis on the neuropeptides.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease occurring almost exclusively in women of childbearing age. Genetic analysis has revealed common mutations in both the TSC1 and TSC2 genes that lead to both sporadic cases of LAM (S-LAM) and those associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC-LAM). S-LAM is characterized by multiple pulmonary and nonpulmonary complications including progressive airflow obstruction, recurrent pneumothoraces, chylothoraces, and renal angiomyolipomas. Despite the putative role of estrogen in the pathogenesis of this disease, antiestrogen therapies have not shown benefit in prospective clinical trials. Recent insights into the molecular pathogenesis of LAM have offered hope for newer therapies targeting specific signaling pathways that are believed to drive LAM cell proliferation. Patients should be encouraged to participate in clinical trials that will help determine the efficacy of these novel therapies. However, until these therapies are proven to be beneficial, lung transplantation remains the only viable option for patients with progressive end-stage lung disease.
Significance of nectar distribution for bumblebee behaviour within inflorescences, with reference to inflorescence architecture and display size

ABSTRACT Because pollinator behaviour within plants affects the mating outcomes of animal-pollinated plants, plants may regulate the pollinator behaviour by controlling floral design and display to maximize pollination efficiency. We assessed how extent of the display size, inflorescence architecture, and nectar distribution within inflorescences alter bumblebee behaviour (number of flowers visited, time of stay, and nectar intake efficiency) under controlled conditions using artificial inflorescences. The effect of display size on bumblebee attraction was also measured. Eighteen types of artificial inflorescences, two display sizes (large and small) × three architectures (panicle, umbel, and raceme) × three nectar distributions (constant nectar content in every flower, gradual changes in nectar content, and random distribution of empty and rewarded flowers) were visited by bumblebees. The mean nectar amount per flower was set as 3 μL in 2003 and 1 μL in 2004. Although the inflorescence architecture had little effect on bumblebee behaviour, the random nectar distribution decreased the number of successive flower visits (both 3 μL and 1 μL) and staying time (only 3 μL) during a single visit and increased the foraging efficiency (both 3 μL and 1 μL). These features may contribute to decreases in the geitonogamous pollination and pollen loss during pollinator movements. Display size did not influence the attraction of bumblebees in this study. Our results suggest that nectar distribution within inflorescences can be a strategy for efficient pollination by manipulating pollinator behaviour.
EVIDENCE FOR GENETIC VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN CHERRY FRUIT FLY, RHAGOLETIS CERASI (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND HYBRIDIZATION EXPERIMENTS

Rhagoletis pupae were collected in fourteen countries from Prunus avium, P. cerasus, Lonicera xylosteum and Berberis vulgaris. Analysis of the emergence curves of the flies and of crosses carried out between flies from the different hosts and between geographic strains collected on sweet cherries showed that the European population of Rhagoletis cerasi L. is subdivided into several distinct host races or sibling species. Whereas in the cherry race there is evidence for the existence of a western and an eastern European complex exhibiting unidirectional sterility in hybrid crosses, no differences could be observed in the emergence patterns along a west‐east cline. However, the emergence patterns changed significantly along the north‐south transect through Europe with prolonged emergence periods occurring with decreasing latitude and possibly with increasing altitude.
SUICIDE FOLLOWING PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION: THE INTERACTION EFFECTS OF DEFENSELESSNESS AND ADVERSE LIFE EVENTS

The hypothesis was tested that following psychiatric hospitalization, those subjects who subsequently completed suicide would be distinguished from those who did not by the interaction of two circumstances: a state of defenselessness at the time of hospitalization, and experience of adverse life events following release from hospital. Subjects were 40 male VA psychiatric inpatients: 20 who completed suicide following release, and 20 controls matched on age, race, and time at risk in the community. Defenselessness (the incapacity to defend against distressful negative self-feelings) was defined in terms of scores derived from the extended Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale administered shortly after the patient's hospitalization. Adverse life events were eight events characterized simultaneously as undesirable, unlikely to have been initiated by the subject, and having a score of 30 or above on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. In confirmation of the hypothesis, it was found that completed suicide subjects were significantly and appreciably more likely both to have had high defenselessness scores at the time of hospitalization and to have experienced adverse life events during the posthospitalization period, whereas neither circumstance in the absence of the other was predictive. The findings support the position that suicide is a response to experiences with self-threatening implications, in the face of personal incapacity to defend against, adapt to, or cope with such experiences.
The Influence of Drip Irrigation or Subirrigation on Zucchini Squash Grown in Closed-loop Substrate Culture with High and Low Nutrient Solution Concentrations

Zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo L. cultivar Afrodite) were grown during a summer-fall season in closed-soilless systems using a mixture peat-pumice to evaluate the effects of irrigation system (drip irrigation and subirrigation) and nutrient solution concentration (half = 1 dSm -1 and full = 2 dSm -1 ) in terms of substrate electrical conductivity (ECs) using the dilution 1:1.5 media:water method, growth, yield, leaf mineral composition, fruit quality, and mineral solution composition. At the end of the cultural cycle, the highest ECs at the upper (0 to 7.5 cm) and lower (7.5 to 15.0 cm) layers were recorded with subirrigation using a full nutrient solution concentration. The highest plant growth, yield, and leaf macroelements concentration (nitrogen, phospho- rus, and potassium) were recorded in both irrigation systems using a full-strength solution, followed by drip irrigation, and finally by subirrigation treatment using a half- strength nutrient solution. Fruit yield, fruit mineral composition (phosphorus, potas- sium, calcium, and magnesium), and leaf macroelements concentration (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium) were substantially reduced when the concen- trations of macronutrients in the feed solution were lowered to 50% of control. Using half-nutrient solution concentration, the marketable yield reduction was more pro- nounced with subirrigation (58%) than with drip irrigation (42%). The variation of the macronutrient and EC in the solution during the growing cycle was less pro- nounced in the subirrigation than with the drip irrigation system, which represents an important aspect for the simplification of the closed-loop management of the nutrient solution.
LEPTIN CENTERED THERAPY FOR DIABETES: GREAT HOPE FOR IMMINENT

Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome characterized by the chronic elevation of blood sugar levels resulting from faults in insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both. Leptin is a hormone known to have positive effects on hunger and energy expenditure and glucose breakdown. Leptin has beneficial effects on the glucose-insulin metabolism, by decreasing hyperglycemia, enhancing insulinemia and insulin resistance. Leptin is a protein of high molecular mass (16 kDa). Leptin is translated as a 167 amino acid protein with an amino-terminal secretory signal order of 21 amino acids. Leptin and insulin are important for weight regulation by controlling appetite levels and can be important for preventing diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels. Hypothalamic insulin and leptin signaling play a crucial role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and in the development of insulin resistance. Leptin microinjections into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) have been shown to elicit sympathoexcitatory responses and potentiate the cardiovascular responses to activation of the chemo reflex.
SURVEY AND SUMMARY The ancestral role of ATP hydrolysis in type II topoisomerases: prevention of DNA double-strand breaks

Type II DNA topoisomerases (topos) catalyse changes in DNA topology by passing one doublestranded DNA segment through another. This reaction is essential to processes such as replication and transcription, but carries with it the inherent danger of permanent double-strand break (DSB) formation. All type II topos hydrolyse ATP during their reactions; however, only DNA gyrase is able to harness the free energy of hydrolysis to drive DNA supercoiling, an energetically unfavourable process. A long-standing puzzle has been to understand why the majority of type II enzymes consume ATP to support reactions that do not require a net energy input. While certain type II topos are known to ‘simplify’ distributions of DNA topoisomers below thermodynamic equilibrium levels, the energy required for this process is very low, suggesting that this behaviour is not the principal reason for ATP hydrolysis. Instead, we propose that the energy of ATP hydrolysis is needed to control the separation of protein–protein interfaces and prevent the accidental formation of potentially mutagenic or cytotoxic DSBs. This interpretation has parallels with the actions of a variety of molecular machines that catalyse the conformational rearrangement of biological macromolecules.
Cholecystokinin

Purpose of reviewThe hormone cholecystokinin was discovered in 1928 because of its ability to induce gallbladder contraction. Since then, cholecystokinin has been shown to possess multiple functions in the gastrointestinal tract and brain. This review discusses several significant developments in cholecystokinin biology that show how it plays a role in gastrointestinal diseases, including control of appetite. Recent findingsCholecystokinin was shown to induce satiety by interacting through CCK-1 receptors located in specialized regions of the hindbrain. Cholecystokinin also inhibits expression of orexigenic peptides in the hypothalamus and prevents stimulation of specialized neurons by ghrelin. In the pancreas, cholecystokinin increased the proliferation of insulin-producing beta cells and reduced insulin-induced hyperphagia. Elevated cholecystokinin levels decreased appetite and reduced intestinal inflammation caused by parasites and bacterial toxins. SummaryUnderstanding the mechanisms by which cholecystokinin regulates orexigenic pathways in the body may lead to strategies for controlling appetite-related disorders such as obesity and bulimia. The reduction of intestinal inflammation by dietary fats (by elevating cholecystokinin) suggests that the hormone plays an integrated role in regulating the ingestion and digestion of food that may be relevant to inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The Balance of Nature and Human Impact: The paradox of the plankton

”The paradox of the plankton" involves questions about the coexistence of multiple species in aquatic ecosystems that exist under a physically homogeneous and stable environment. Some plausible hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism of coexistence, mainly from observations of terrestrial and benthic communities. However, the species diversity of pelagic organisms, especially of oceanic zooplankton, can not be explained fully by these hypotheses. In this paper some representative hypotheses, disequilibrium, niche segregation, patchiness, predation and micro-habitats are overviewed and the problems in adopting them as proposed maintenance mechanisms of zooplankton species-diversity are discussed.
Revision of the millipede subfamily Spiromiminae, a Malagasy group with Indian connections? (Diplopoda Spirobolida Pachybolidae).

Recent inventory work on Madagascar has led to the discovery of several undescribed species of the millipede order Spirobolida. All three known species belonging to the endemic Malagasy subfamily Spiromiminae Brolemann 1914 are redescribed here, and 10 new species are added. The genus Pygodon de Saussure & Zehntner 1901 is synonymized under Spiromimus de Saussure & Zehntner 1901, rendering the Spiromiminae monotypic and including Spiromimus voeltzkowi de Saussure & Zehntner 1901, S. univirgatus de Saussure & Zehntner 1901, S. dorsovittatum (de Saussure & Zehntner 1901) n. comb. , S. triaureus n. sp. , S. electricus n. sp. , S. litoralis n. sp. , S. scapularis n. sp. , S. albipes n. sp. , S. laticoxalis n. sp. , S. simplicicoxalis n. sp. , S. grallator n. sp. , S. namoroka n. sp. , and S. simplex n. sp. Antennae, gnathochilarium, mandible and female copulatory organs were compared using scanning electron microscopy. In order to find apomorphies of the Spiromiminae and to construct a species-level phylogeny of Spiromimus , members of the other described spirobolidan genera from Madagascar, Aphistogoniulus Silvestri 1897 and Madabolus Wesener & Enghoff 2008, as well as the Indian genus Xenobolus Carl 1918 and the SE Asian genus Aulacobolus Pocock 1903, were added as outgroups to the data matrix. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in an (albeit weakly supported) strict consensus tree with the following structure: Aulacobolus , Madabolus , Aphistogoniulus , ( Xenobolus ( Spiromimus simplicicoxalis ( S. laticoxalis ( S. voeltzkowi ( S. litoralis ( S. electricus ( S. dorsovittatus , S. triaureus ) ( S. scapularis ( S. univirgatus , S. albipes ). Distribution and habitat (in dry forest vs. rainforest) were mapped on the tree.
Echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function in congenital heart disease

Objective This review aims to provide an overview of conventional and novel indices used in clinical and research arenas for evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function in congenital heart diseases with a dual‐chambered circulation. Data sources Articles cited in this review were selected using PubMed search of publications in English with no date limits. The search terms included “echocardiography”, “right ventricle”, “RV function”, “cardiac function”, and “congenital heart disease”. Key references were also searched for additional publications. Study selection Articles related to description of echocardiographic techniques in the evaluation of subpulmonary or systemic RV function and their applications in congenital cardiac malformations were retrieved and reviewed. Results Three approaches have been used to evaluate subpulmonary and systemic RV function: (1) assessment of changes in RV size in the cardiac cycle, (2) determination of Doppler‐derived velocities and systolic and diastolic time intervals, and (3) quantification of myocardial velocities and deformation. Conclusions Conventional and novel echocardiographic techniques enable the evaluation of subpulmonary and systemic RV function. Novel echocardiographic techniques have further allowed quantification of RV volumes and direct interrogation of myocardial deformation. These new techniques show promise in a more comprehensive evaluation beyond “eye‐balling” of RV function in the growing population of adolescent and adult congenital heart patients.