Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morpho-physiological Differences of the Spermatheca of Attini Ants (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae)

The insect's spermatheca store the spermatozoa from the time of copulation until the fertilization of the eggs and consists of a sac, usually associated to glands. The ant species Atta laevigata, Atta sexdens sexdens, Atta sexdens piriventris, Acromyrmex coronatus and Cyphomyrmex muelleri are considered pests, as they cause economics losses to several crops. The spermatheca of these species were examined by scanning electron microscopy, histological and histochemical techniques. Their morphology resembled that of a bilobular pouch partially jointed in the central portion. In A. coronatus and C. muelleri it is flatter in shape than those of other species. The external spermathecal gland, groups of secretory cells, was located at the joining point of the two spermathecal lobes of the reservoir. This was observed in A. laevigata, A. s. sexdens and A. coronatus, like a group of cells, while in C. muelleri, like filaments. An external associated gland was not observed in A. s. piriventris, instead secretory cells were arranged in a simple prismatic epithelium internally lining the spermathecal lumen. This epithelium was also observed in A. s. sexdens, although it was restricted to the joining point of the spermathecal lobes. The presence of an internal secretory epithelium in A. s. piriventris and A. s. sexdens suggests that their physiology for the maintenance of spermatozoa in viable conditions for egg fertilization might differ from A. laevigata, A. coronatus and C. muelleri, in which only an external spermathecal gland was observed.
Greater capacity to exploit warming temperatures in northern populations of European beech is partly driven by delayed leaf senescence

One of the most widespread consequences of climate change is the disruption of trees’ phenological cycles. The extent to which tree phenology varies with local climate is largely genetically determined, and while a combination of temperature and photoperiodic cues are typically found to trigger bud burst (BB) in spring, it has proven harder to identify the main cues driving leaf senescence (LS) in autumn. We used 925 individual field-observations of BB and LS from six Fagus sylvatica provenances, covering the range of environmental conditions found across the species distribution, to: (i) estimate the dates of BB and LS of these provenances; (ii) assess the main drivers of LS; and (iii) predict the likely variation in the growing season length (GSL; defined by BB and LS timing) across populations under current and future climate scenarios. To this end, we first calibrated linear mixed-effects models for LS as a function of temperature, insolation and BB date. Secondly, we calculated the GSL for each provenance as the number of days between BB and LS. We found that: i) there were larger differences among provenances in the date of LS than in the date of BB; ii) the temperature through September, October and November was the main determinant of LS in beech, although covariation of temperature with daily insolation and precipitation-related variables suggests that all three variables may affect LS timing; and iii) GSL was predicted to increase in northern beech provenances and to shrink in populations from the core and the southern range under climate change. Consequently, the large differences in GSL across beech range in the present climate are likely to decrease under future climates where rising temperatures will alter the relationship between BB and LS, with northern populations increasing productivity by extending their growing season to take advantage of warmer conditions.
Model fit does not predict accuracy in single-gene protein phylogenetics

When reconstructing a phylogeny from molecular data, it is regarded as best practice to perform relative model selection to determine the most appropriate evolutionary model for the data at hand. This procedure ranks all available evolutionary models by a certain theoretic information criterion (e.g. Akaike Information Criterion, AIC), and the best-fitting model is then specified for phylogenetic inference. While it is often assumed that using better-fitting models results in more accurate inferences, there is in fact no guarantee that this assumption will hold. Indeed, recent studies have observed that the specific model employed for phylogenetic construction may not have substantial effects on the inferred tree topologies. In this study, we examine whether there is a systematic relationship between model fit and inference accuracy, in the specific context of topological accuracy in protein phylogenetics, using both simulation studies as well as analysis of natural sequence data. Notably, the simulations performed here employ a robust codon-level generative approach that is fully distinct from all protein-level inference models. We broadly find that phylogenies inferred across a range of models with vastly different fits to the data yield highly consistent topologies. We additionally find that well-fitting and poorly-fitted models alike have similar potential to infer strongly-supported but incorrect nodes, raising the possibility that all available models of protein evolution may be systematically misspecified. Moreover, we find that the GTR model, where amino-acid exchangeabilities are treated as free parameters, performs very similarly to models with fixed substitution rates and appears reasonable to use in protein phylogenetics in spite of its tendency to overfit sequence data. In sum, this work builds on a growing body of literature finding that relative model selection does not necessarily guarantee increased accuracy in phylogenetic inference, and therefore may not be a critical step in analysis in spite of decades of tradition.
Twin introductions by independent invader mussel lineages are both associated with recent admixture with a native congener in Australia

Introduced species can impose profound impacts on the evolution of receiving communities with which they interact. If native and introduced taxa remain reproductively semi‐isolated, human‐mediated secondary contact may promote genetic exchange across newly created hybrid zones, potentially impacting native genetic diversity and invasive species spread. Here, we investigate the contributions of recent divergence histories and ongoing (post‐introduction) gene flow between the invasive marine mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and a morphologically indistinguishable and taxonomically contentious native Australian taxon, Mytilus planulatus. Using transcriptome‐wide markers, we demonstrate that two contemporary M. galloprovincialis introductions into south‐eastern Australia originate from genetically divergent lineages from its native range in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Europe, where both introductions have led to repeated instances of admixture between introduced and endemic populations. Through increased genome‐wide resolution of species relationships, combined with demographic modelling, we validate that mussels sampled in Tasmania are representative of the endemic Australian taxon (M. planulatus), but share strong genetic affinities to M. galloprovincialis. Demographic inferences indicate late‐Pleistocene divergence times and historical gene flow between the Tasmanian endemic lineage and northern M. galloprovincialis, suggesting that native and introduced taxa have experienced a period of historical isolation of at least 100,000 years. Our results demonstrate that many genomic loci and sufficient sampling of closely related lineages in both sympatric (e.g. Australian populations) and allopatric (e.g. northern hemisphere Mytilus taxa) ranges are necessary to accurately (a) interpret patterns of intraspecific differentiation and to (b) distinguish contemporary invasive introgression from signatures left by recent divergence histories in high dispersal marine species. More broadly, our study fills a significant gap in systematic knowledge of native Australian biodiversity and sheds light on the intrinsic challenges for invasive species research when native and introduced species boundaries are not well defined.
Characterization of functionally diverse intestinal bacterial flora of Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the southwest coast of India

Rock lobster Panulirus homarus is a commercially important species exploited in India and abroad, and has proven mariculture potential. The present study was focused on isolation, screening, biochemical and molecular level characterization of putative probiotic bacteria from the intestine of P. homarus sampled along the south west coat of India. The total plate count in the intestine ranged from 8 ×104 to 3.8 × 106 cfu g-1 (colony forming unit per g tissue). The intestinal bacterial flora as identified by the physiological and biochemical characters, consisted of strains belonging to Enterobactericeae, Bacillaceae, Vibrionaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Micrococcaceae and Moraxellaceae families. Among these, four strains which were functionally diverse viz. pigmented, proteolytic and denitrifying strains were characterized by molecular methods following 16S rDNA sequencing and were identified as Bacillus aerophilus KU296018, Micrococcus aloeverae KU296019, Psychrobacter sanguinins KU296021 and Pseudomonas caeni KU296020. In aquaculture beneficial bacteria could be introduced into artificial diets. The enzyme producing microorganisms isolated from the crustacean digestive tracts in the present study may be beneficially used as a probiotic supplement while formulating the diet, especially in the larval stages.
Examining the emerging role of groundwater in water inequity in India

This article addresses a gap in the water equity literature arising from the simultaneous use of surface water and groundwater in India. Using two diverse case studies – one agricultural (Kukdi) and one urban (Chennai) – we demonstrate how gaps in planning, design and policy exacerbate inequity. Groundwater abstraction from user wells allows wealthier users to both free-ride and capture a greater share of the resource. By converting a public resource to a private one, it worsens inequity and jeopardizes the sustainability of water projects. The article suggests that better monitoring, inter-agency coordination and rethinking water entitlements and norms are needed for going forward.
Predicting coastal eutrophication in the Baltic: a limnological approach

Coastal eutrophication is a key environmental concern in Finland. A highly indented, well-settled coastline with a myriad of small estuaries means that eutrophication occurs at numerous localities. There is a clear need for general models that predict eutrophication across estuaries. Lake eutrophication has been successfully predicted using a combination of chlorophyll a (Chl) - total phosphorus (TP) regression models and TP mass-balance models. We applied this limnological approach to 19 Finnish estuaries. The Chl-TP regression was highly significant, accounting for 67% of the variation in Chl. When combined with a TP mass-balance equation, log observed and predicted Chl differed by 28% on average. Accuracy was improved by dividing the estuaries into those dominated by non-point-source (NPS) loading (n = 11) and those dominated by point-source (PS) loading (n = 7). A land-use regression model based on percentage of the catchment forested and estuarine mean depth then best predicted Chl in the NPS-dominat.
A case of severe frost damage prior to budbreak in young conifers in Northeastern Ontario: Consequence of climate change?

In spring 2007, young planted and natural conifers suffered extensive needle and bud injury near Hearst and Kapuskasing in northeastern Ontario. Damage was observed on all species of conifers up to 20 years old and 8 m in height. Taller trees, especially those in the overstory, and young understory trees protected by a closed canopy had less damage. The damage was caused by earlier than normal loss of cold hardiness followed by late spring frosts according to damage observations, weather station data, and calculated thermal time requirements for budbreak and cold hardiness of conifers. During May 19 to 21, 2007, minimum temperatures were recorded between -8°C and -9°C, and before this period, temperatures were warm enough to induce early dehardening and loss of trees' cold hardiness. According to the historical weather data for Kapuskasing, estimated budbreak time has become earlier since 1918 and freezing temperatures during budbreak and shoot elongation (between growing degree days 100 and June 15) have.
High juvenile mortality during migration in a declining population of a long-distance migratory raptor

Many populations of long-distance migrants are declining and there is increasing evidence that declines may be caused by factors operating outside the breeding season. Among the four vulture species breeding in the western Palaearctic, the species showing the steepest population decline, the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, is a longdistance migrant wintering in Africa. However, the flyways and wintering areas of the species are only known for some populations, and without knowledge of where mortality occurs, effective conservation management is not possible. We tracked 19 juvenile Egyptian Vultures from the declining breeding population on the Balkan Peninsula between 2010 and 2014 to estimate survival and identify important migratory routes and wintering areas for this species. Mortality during the first autumn migration was high (monthly survival probability 0.75) but mortality during migration was exclusively associated with suboptimal navigation. All birds from western breeding areas and three birds from central and eastern breeding areas attempted to fly south over the Mediterranean Sea, but only one in 10 birds survived this route, probably due to stronger tailwind. All eight birds using the migratory route via Turkey and the Middle East successfully completed their first autumn migration. Of 14 individual and environmental variables examined to explain why juvenile birds did or did not successfully complete their first migration, the natal origin of the bird was the most influential. We speculate that in a declining population with fewer experienced adults, an increasing proportion of juvenile birds are forced to migrate without conspecific guidance, leading to high mortality as a consequence of following sub-optimal migratory routes. Juvenile Egyptian Vultures wintered across a vast range of the Sahel and eastern Africa, and had large movement ranges with core use areas at intermediate elevations in savannah, cropland or desert. Two birds were shot in Africa, where several significant threats exist for vultures at continental scales. Given the broad distribution of the birds and threats, effective conservation in Africa will be challenging and will require long-term investment. We recommend that in the short term, more efficient conservation could target narrow migration corridors in southern Turkey and the Middle East, and known congregation sites in African wintering areas.
Towards an effective asteroseismology of solar-like stars: time-dependent convection effects on pulsation frequencies

Since the early days of helioseismology, adiabatic models have shown their limits for a precise fitting of individual oscillation frequencies. This discrepancy, which also exists for solar-type stars, is known to originate near the surface superadiabatic convective region where the interaction between oscillations and convection is likely to have a large effect on the frequencies. We present an asteroseismic study to address the adequacy of time-dependent convection (TDC) non-adiabatic models to better reproduce the observed individual frequencies. We select, for this purpose, three solar-like stars, in addition to the Sun, to which we fit the observed frequencies in a grid of TDC non-adiabatic models. The best model selection is done by applying a maximum likelihood method. The results are compared to pure adiabatic and near-surface corrected adiabatic models. We show that, first, TDC models give very good agreement for the mode frequencies and average lifetimes. In the solar case, the frequency discrepancy is reduced to <1.75 μHz over 95 per cent of the modes considered. Secondly, TDC models give an asteroseismic insight into the usually unconstrained ad hoc stellar parameters, such as the mixing-length parameter αMLT.
Synthetic logs of multipole sources in boreholes based on the Kelvin-Voigt stress-strain relation

SUMMARY We design a numerical algorithm for wave simulation in a borehole due to multipole sources. The stress–strain relation of the formation is based on the Kelvin–Voigt mechanical model to describe the attenuation. The modelling, which requires two anelastic parameters and twice the spatial derivatives of the lossless case, simulates 3-D waves in an axisymmetric medium by using the Fourier and Chebyshev methods to compute the spatial derivatives along the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. Instabilities of the Chebyshev differential operator due to the implementation of the fluid–solid boundary conditions are solved with a characteristic approach, where the characteristic variables are evaluated at the source central frequency. The algorithm uses two meshes to model the fluid and the solid. The presence of the logging tool is modelled by imposing rigid boundary conditions at the inner surface of the fluid mesh. Examples illustrating the propagation of waves are presented, namely, by using monopoles, dipoles and a quadrupoles as sources in hard and soft formations. Moreover, the presence of casing and layers is considered. The modelling correctly simulates the features—traveltime and attenuation—of the wave modes observed in sonic logs, namely, the P and S body waves, the Stoneley wave, and the dispersive S waves in the case of multipole sources.
Astrocytic striatal GABA transporter activity governs dopamine release and shows maladaptive downregulation in early parkinsonism

Striatal dopamine (DA) is critical for action and learning. Recent data show DA release is under tonic inhibition by striatal GABA. Ambient striatal GABA tone on striatal projection neurons can be governed by plasma membrane GABA uptake transporters (GATs) on astrocytes. However, whether striatal GATs and astrocytes determine DA output are unknown. We reveal that DA release in mouse dorsolateral striatum, but not nucleus accumbens core, is governed by GAT-3 and GAT-1. These GATs are partly localized to astrocytes, and are enriched in dorsolateral striatum compared to accumbens core. In a mouse model of parkinsonism, GATs become downregulated and tonic GABAergic inhibition of DA release augmented, despite attenuated GABA co-release from dopaminergic axons. These data define previously unappreciated and important roles for GATs and astrocytes in determining DA release in striatum, and reveal that they underlie maladaptive plasticity in early parkinsonism that impairs DA output in vulnerable striatal regions. Highlights GABA transporters set the level of GABA inhibition of DA output in dorsal striatum Astrocytes facilitate DA release by limiting tonic GABA inhibition Tonic GABA inhibition of DA release is augmented in mouse model of parkinsonism DA and GABA co-release are reduced in mouse model of parkinsonism
A New Leakage Reduction Technique at Nanoscale circuit Design

— The popularity and necessity of portable electronic systems by users have strongly influenced VLSI designers to make great effort for reduced silicon area, improved speeds, long duration battery life, and great reliability. The VLSI designers always try to save power consumption while designing a system. The performance of circuit is strongly influenced by the choice of logic style to design the digital circuit. In a few technology generations, leakage power is supposed to become a main contributor of total power consumption. Power consumption has become primary design issue and needs suitable power management in the design of digital circuits where switching and standby mode affects the performance of system. In this paper we have calculate the leakage power consumption of conventional gates and proposed leakage reduction techniques over various gates at 32nm process technology with supply voltage of 0.8V by using HSPICE simulator at 100MHz frequency.
Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction and Nitrification in Estuarine Sediments

Enumeration of populations of nitrate respiring bacteria in estuarine sediments of the River Tay, Scotland, showed that bacteria capable of dissimilating NO, to NH,+ predominated over those denitrifying NO, to N2. On the other hand, seasonal data and depth profile studies, using 5N03, showed that denitrification was the principal route of dissimilatory NOT reduction (7890% of NO, respired), with maximum rates of both processes occurring in the summer. Population densities of both populations of NO; respiring bacteria were highest in the 0-2cm horizon in Tay estuary mud-flats where maximum rates of NO, respiration were also recorded l28.56 pg N d(g dry wt sediment)'1. Autotrophic nitrification rates in Tay estuary sediments showed a distinct seasonality, highest rates C0.93 pg N d-' (g dry wt sediment)-'] occurring during the summer. Nitrification rates declined rapidly with sediment depth and were not detectable below the oxidized zone (3 cm). Population densities of autotrophic NHJ and NO, oxidizing bacteria followed a similar pattern of distribution. Heterotrophic nitrification appears to play an insignificant role in Tay estuary sediments.
DEVELOPMENT OF UAV AIR ROADS BY USING 3D GRID SYSTEM

Abstract. With the drastic development of low-altitude UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology, UAV will be used for long-distance logistics in the near future. Many countries begin to develop UTM (UAV Traffic Management) system, and one of the objectives for the system is preparation of UAV-logistics era. In that era, hundreds of drone will simultaneously fly at one area. To prevent UAV collision in the air, UAV air road should be designed. The Korean government have supported research projects related with UAV air roads. This paper deals with development of UAV air roads by using 3D grid system. First, detail 3D spatial information for UAV air roads is constructed. In many cases, 3D digital map does not include transmission towers, utility poles, power lines, or trees, since the interests of 3D digital map are focussed on digital elevation model and digital surface model with buildings. The transmission towers, utility poles, and power lines could be obstacles when UAV perform its logistics mission. Therefore, detail 3D information should be constructed for UAV air roads. We constructed such detail 3D information by using MMS (Mobile Mapping System) and aerial survey with Lidar and digital photograph. Next, 3D grid system is proposed to present such detail 3D information. Usual object based 3D information is huge size and hard to control. To provide 3D information to a flying UAV, data should be light. Therefore, light-weight 3D grid system is effective to provide air road information to UAV. Proposed 3D grid based air roads can be used for UAV flight plan, traffic management etc.