Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution in Steppe with Few Large, Hooved Mammals

The morphology of rhizomatous and caespitose grasses reflects the two extremes to which perennial grasses have evolved at least in partial response to continuous high versus low selection pressure by large congregating mammals. In North America steppe of the Bouteloua Province east of the Rockies is dominated by a mix of mainly rhizomatous C3 and C4 grasses which have long been associated with large herds of Bison and more recently with cattle. Introduction of cattle into these grasslands had much less effect on community structure than did livestock introduction into steppe of the Agropyron Province west of the Rockies which lacked large herds of mammals throughout the Holocene (and perhaps earlier). The underlying cause of native ungulate sparseness may have been related to the moisture cycle of the Prevailing Westerlies, which may have largely excluded C4 species, thereby severely controlling Bison numbers. In these communities both the dominant C3 caespitose grasses and the prominent cryptogam layer were soon destroyed by domestic ungulates and replaced largely by alien winter annuals. The relative changes in these two Provinces over the past 200 yr illustrate the importance in plants of herbivore-adapted traits in generating the overall physiognomy of some steppes and the resiliency of those grasslands to the introduction of novel selection pressure.
Protective effects of Manasamitra vatakam on aluminum-induced nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress, and histological damage

The aim of this study was to investigate the nephroprotective and antioxidant property of Manasamitra vatakam (MMV) against aluminum (Al)-induced toxicity in rats. The kidney function marker parameters such as serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine were significantly increased in Al-treated rats as compared with controls. Similarly, the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, Na+/K+-ATPase and Mg-ATPase, reduced glutathione were also found significantly increased in Al-treated rats. A significantly decreased level of these parameters was observed in the MMV (orally 100 mg kg−1 body weight)-treated group along with a reduced level of malonaldehyde, molecular chaperones of an antioxidative stress protein, and mRNA expression of HSP70. The biochemical observations were also supported by histopathological observations. Thus, this study supports the nephroprotective and antioxidant activities of MMV.
Marine Mammal Physiology : Requisites for Ocean Living

Diving and Locomotion Hydrodynamics Oxygen Stores and Diving Exercise Energetics Pressure Regulation Nutrition and Energetics Feeding Mechanisms Diet and Nutrition Water Balance Fasting Thermoregulation Reproduction Post-Partum Sensory Systems Acoustics Visual and Hydrodynamic Flow Perception Environmental Interactions Disease Toxicology and Poisons Conclusions and Questions Index
Use and Selection of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Cavities by Southern Flying Squirrels

Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) may have a negative impact on red-cock woodpeckers (RCW's, Picoides borealis). Thus, I examined cavities excavated by RCW's in central Georgia during 4 breeding seasons to determine the extent of cavity use by southern flying squirrels and other competitors, and to determine whether flying squirrels select cavities on the basis of cavity or tree characteristics. Species other than RCW's occupied 18-25% of the RCW cavities over the 4 years. Flying squirrels used 10-21% of RCW cavities, whereas avian species other than RCW's used 4-8% of the cavities. Flying squirrels selected cavities primarily on the basis of cavity entrance size. Entrances to cavities used by flying squirrels were smaller (P ≤ 0.05) than entrances to unused cavities, and squirrels strongly preferred (P ≤ 0.05) cavities that had not been enlarged
An Increased γδ T Cell Population in the Intestine of Thymus-Leukemia Antigen Transgenic Mice☆

Abstract In an approach to study thymic leukemia antigen's (TL's) function, we have developed transgenic mice that express T18 d on virtually all somatic cells; in such mice, we initially observed changes in T cells within the thymus and lymph nodes as well as the ability of TL to undergo recognition by splenic T cells. As phase II of our study, we now present the results on the composition of gut T cell populations which may be a better measure of TL's true function. We have demonstrated an increase in the number of γδ + T cells as well as the increase in γδ + T cells expressing the Vγ2 chain. These cells appear to be both CD4 and CD8 negative. This suggests that TL may select for a subset of γδ T cells within the gut and bolsters earlier reports implicating an H-2T regional gene product as the major histocompatibility complex ligand for γδ + T cells.
Arengomyia, new genus for the Colocasiomyia arenga species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with description of a new species

The arenga species group, hitherto consisting of three species, Colocasiomyia arenga, C. pararenga and C. sagittata, is separated from the genus Colocasiomyia, and established as the new genus Arengomyia Yafuso and Toda, gen. nov. Of the three species, C. pararenga Okada, 1990 is synonymized with C. arenga (Okada, 1987). A new species, Arengomyia xanthopleura Yafuso and Toda, sp. nov., is also described. Supplementary descriptions and revisions of some morphological characters are also provided for the known species.
Distribution of major sugars, acids and total phenols in juice of five grapevine (Vitis spp.) cultivars at different stages of berry development.

The juices of five grapevine cultivars cultivated in a typical Mediterranean climate were analyzed for sugars, organic acids, and phenols at four distinct stages of berry development. When the unripe berries were almost in full size, the glucose and fructose contents, based on HPLC detection, ranged from 13.3 to 30.7 g L -1 and from 8.3 to 23.7 g L -1 for ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ and ‘Muscat of Hamburg’, respectively. At this stage, tartaric acid concentration was between 10.3 (‘Italia’) and 12.3 g L -1 (‘Muscat of Alexandria’), while the level of total phenols was low. Up to veraison , there were slight reductions in organic acids, while sugar content increased slightly. However, dramatic changes in all genotypes were apparent after veraison . Slight reductions were determined in the glucose and fructose levels of ‘Italia’ prior to final analysis, possibly indicating this cultivar’s sensitivity to late harvest. In the final analysis, glucose and fructose content varied from 86.4 (‘Italia’) to 107.0 g L -1 (‘Muscat of Hamburg’), and from 73.1 (‘Italia’) to 94.1 g L -1 (‘Alphonse Lavallee’), respectively. Tartaric acid content of ripe berries was between 3.8 (‘Alphonse Lavallee’) and 5.2 g L -1 (‘Isabella’) with a mean value of 4.6 g L -1 , and phenol content of mature berries ranged from 2253 to 2847 mg L -1 . This study provides valuable information for further understanding the sugar, acid and total phenol changes that occur in some grape cultivars during berry maturation. Therefore, these results will be useful for future research on the biochemistry of the grape berry.
Microtubules and Microfilaments in Amphibian Neurulation

In the salamander embryo, the morphogenetic movements of neurulation are correlated with two cell shape changes in the neural epithelium: elongation and apical constriction of the columnar neural plate cells. Cells first elongate to form the flat open neural plate and then constrict apically as the plate rolls up to form the neural tube. Evidence is presented that these cell shape changes are intrinsic to the cells themselves and that they play a causal role in the morphogenetic movements. Neural plate cells contain numerous microtubules oriented parallel to the axis of elongation. These microtubules are critical to the elongation process. Possible mechanisms for microtubule function in cell elongation are considered. During apical constriction the cells contain bundles of microfilaments which encircle the cell apex in purse-string fashion. Evidence is presented which suggests that microfilament bundles play an active role in apical constriction, and that this localized contraction is produced by filament sliding.
On evolution of age of maturity and the adult lifespan

Models in evolutionary genetics show that the average number of offspring produced over an individual’s total lifespan (I&) is a measure of Darwinian fitness in a non-growing population (Lande, 1982, Charnov, 1986); at evolutionary equilibrium in such a population the age of maturity (a) will be set to a value which maximizes R, in the face of tradeoffs between adult reproductive opportunities and pre-or mortality (Roff, 1984; 1986, Charnov, 1989). A similar tradeoff is involved in evolution of a in growing populations where the Malthusian parameter is the appropriate fitness measure (Charlesworth, 1980; Stearns and Crandall, 1981; Stearns and Koella, 1986, Crandall and Stearns, 1982). Predictions of the age/size of maturity, for growing as well as non-growing populations, probably represent the most successful empirical area of life-history theory (work of Stearns and Crandall, 1981; Stearns and Koella, 1986; Roff, 1984; 1986; Schaffer and Elson, 1975; Bell, 1980; and Charnov, 1989), even for the situation of within-sex polymorphisms due to frequency dependent fitnesses (Gross and Charnov, 1980; Gross, 1985 for alternative male life histories). This note develops a way to view normalizing or equilibrium selection on a in a non-growing population. The approach builds on the work of Crandall and Steams (1982), and my own previous life history work Charnov 1986, Charnov and Schaffer 1973. It differs from previous theoretical work in two respects. First, I shall partition R, into preand post a effects, but will lump all post a effects into one “aggregate or phenomenological” parameter, albeit one with intuitive and transparent biological meaning. Second, the partition of & used here leads immediately to a graphical visualization of the optimization problem. This geometrical approach is quite handy to explore how various transformations of the tradeoffs affect the optimal or equilibria1 a. After development of the general approach, I will use the formalism in two ways. First it will be used to explore some implications of the density dependence which may be at work in the population. Second, since the resulting optimization principle
Female choice selects for lifetime lekking performance in black grouse males

‘Good genes’ models assume that females can use a signal such as mating effort to assess a male's lifetime fitness. Inferring long–term performance from short–term behavioural observations can be unreliable, and repeated sampling may be needed for more accurate assessment of males. Additionally, if sexual advertisement is viewed as a life–history trait subject to trade–offs, reliable comparison of mates should yield information on all life–history components rather than on one trait value in one season. We show that in the lekking black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), a male's success is best explained by assuming that females are informed of the past history of males up to the beginning of the study (eight years). Much of this extremely lasting ‘memory’ can be attributed to females observing long–term outcomes of male–male competition: current territory position is the only momentarily observable variable that has high power in predicting female choice, and it correlates to a male's past lekking effort on a cumulative lifetime scale. We conclude that females can use territory position as a signal that conveys information of a male's lifetime performance that combines lekking effort and longevity. Females may thus overcome the problem of male allocations varying in time, without the need to pay costs associated with repeated sampling.
URANIUM INDUCED EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT AND MINERAL NUTRITION OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

This study aimed to investigate effects on growth and development and alterations in the nutrient profiles for Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings following uranium exposure. Seventeen-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, grown in hydroponics, were exposed to 0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μM uranium for one, three and seven days. Fresh weight of leaves and roots decreased after exposure to 100 μM uranium for one and three days and after exposure to 1, 10 and 100 μM uranium for seven days. Anthocyanous-colored leaves and stunted yellow roots were observed after exposure to 100 μM uranium. The uranium content of the roots highly increased but the root-to-shoot transfer of uranium was limited. Uranium exposure resulted in disturbed macro- and micronutrient profiles, especially following exposure to 100 μM. This study indicates that elevated uranium concentrations can cause important morphological and physiological effects and disturb the nutrient profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.
WORKER-MALE CONFLICT AND INBREEDING IN BUMBLE BEES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)

Abstract Worker-male conflict in different bumble bee species is strongly associated with tendency, toward inbreeding. It is hypothesized that the major cost imposed by inbreeding arises from the production of diploid males in place of workers, during the early phases of colony development. The consequent dilution of the labour force slows down colony growth and leads to ultimate reduction in reproductive success. An experiment to test this hypothesis is described, using consanguineously mated queens of B. atratus Fkln. Colonies yielding a 1:1 mixture of males and workers grew significantly more slowly than normal all-worker producing colonies, providing support for the hypothesis.
Involvement of vitamin A in the photoperiodic induction of diapause in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae is demonstrated by rearing an albino mutant on a semi‐synthetic diet with and without p‐carotene or vitamin A

Abstract. Data are presented on the development from egg to adult of a wild‐type and an albino strain of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae on a semi‐synthetic liquid diet.The diet is a modification of the diet developed by Van der Geest et al. (1983). Apart from the standard diet without added carotenoids, diets supplemented with either β‐carotene or vitamin A were tested.A high incidence of diapause was found in the wild‐type strain under short‐day conditions on all three diets.No diapause was found in the albino mutant under short days on the standard diet.Partial restoration of the photoperiodic response was obtained after addition of β‐carotene to the diet, and full restoration was found after the addition of vitamin A.Diapause could be terminated in diet‐reared diapausing females of both strains after a cold rest of 3 weeks at 4°C.The results lead to the conclusion that vitamin A or a derivative of vitamin A probably functions as the photoreceptor pigment for the photoperiodic induction of diapause in the spider mite.
Sensory Bias and the Adaptiveness of Female Choice

Theories of the evolution of female choice are commonly divided (Bradbury and Andersson 1987; Hill 1994; Pomiankowski 1994) into those that are described as adaptive (e.g., the female gains "good genes" as a result of choosing one male rather than another) and those that are described as nonadaptive or arbitrary. Into the "adaptive" category go theories of honest advertisement ofmale quality because females are held to pass on genetic benefits to both their male and their female offspring by choosing males with costly ornaments that indicate "quality" (Zahavi 1977; Andersson 1982; Hamilton and Zuk 1982). Into the nonadaptive category go theories of "sensory bias," "sensory exploitation" (Basolo 1990; Endler 1993; Ryan and Rand 1993), or "sensory traps" (West-Eberhard 1983), which are often taken to imply that females may respond to particular signals from males because their sensory systems just happen to be preadapted to such stimulation. Fisher's "runaway" theory (Fisher 1958; Lande 1981) sits uneasily between the two, described as nonadaptive by some on the grounds that the females do not gain viability genes for their offspring (Bradbury and Andersson 1987; Hill 1994), but being clearly adaptive in the sense that the females gain genetically through the attractiveness of their sons. This distinction between adaptive and nonadaptive theories is, however, misleading if "adaptive" is taken as synonymous only with obtaining enes for viability. Thus, Hill (1994) contrasts "models of adaptive mate choice" (which he specifically equates with honest advertisement models; p. 64) with "truly arbitrary mate choice" such as sensory bias models. He argues that "biases in the sensory systems of females can promote a preference for male display traits independent of sexual selection" (p. 64). Kirkpatrick (1987) similarly refers to female preferences "that are built into the sensory modality being used and may have no intrinsic adaptive value" (p. 68). The implication is that the only way in which female choice can be described as adaptive is if the choice results in offspring with genes for increased viability. However, there are numerous other ways in which female preferences for a trait might affect he survival or mating success of the female or her offspring and thus constitute an adaptive trait. Just because a female gains no beneficial genetic effects from mating with one male rather than another does not mean that her choice is nonadaptive since she may still obtain direct benefits (Kirkpatrick 1987; Reynolds and Gross 1990; Kirkpatrick and Ryan 1991) such as resources. But we now suggest that she can also independently gain from responding to a sensory bias. We argue that before it can properly be claimed that female sensory biases are nonadaptive, it must be
ON DEDUCTIVE RELATIONAL DATABASES * †

During the past decade, a theory of relational databases has been evolving. This theory began with the pioneering work of Codd. '. ' However, a full theory of relational databases that explains all phenomena has not yet been agreed upon. It will be argued here that a relational database can be understood best by relating it to mathematical logic. By viewing relational databases in terms of logic, one can handle a wider class of problems than in the model of relational databases originally proposed by Codd. In particular, it will be shown that problems dealing with negated data, null values (where data is missing), and indefinite data (where data may be of the form a V band it is unknown whether a, b, or both are true) may be understood best in the context of logic. We shall describe relational databases in terms of logic and shall refer to such databases as deductive relational databases. They are also referred to as logic databases. ' The logical framework for databases will follow work by R e i t e ~ . ~ We shall discuss various different types of deductive relational databases, each characterized by a different set of axioms. In the following section, we shall provide the background on mathematical logic needed for the remainder of the paper. Next, we shall provide a description of Horn databases. Such databases provide a natural extension to relational databases as conceived by Codd. We then discuss indefinite databases. Understanding indefinite databases serves to clarify the concept of null values in relational databases. This discussion is followed by a brief survey of the uses of logic in databases, including network and hierarchic databases. Finally, we shall summarize the results contained in the paper. A comprehensive list of references to the essential literature concerning logic and databases is provided.
Effect of Pathogen Inoculum, Antagonist Density, and Plant Species on Biological Control of Phytophthora and Pythium Damping-off by Bacillus subtilis Cot1 in High-Humidity Fogging Glasshouses.

Bacillus subtilis Cot1 prevented Phytophthora and Pythium damping-off of Astilbe, Photinia, and Hemerocallis microplants and conventional Brassica seedlings under high-humidity conditions in fogging glasshouses. With Photinia, biocontrol activity was similar to that of the commercial fungicide metalaxyl when the antagonist concentration applied to roots was ≥3 × 105 CFU/g root fresh weight (RFW) and fungal inoculum was ≤102 oospores per g of peat. B. subtilis Cot1 colonized the developing root system of Photinia microplants and Brassica seedlings growing in peat substrate during the 28-day in vivo acclimatization period in the fogging glasshouse. With inocula of 4 × 106 and 3 × 105 CFU/g RFW, spore numbers remained between 105 and 106 CFU/g RFW in the older sections of the root system and between 104 and 105 CFU on root-tip sections. B. subtilis Cot1 application slightly reduced damping-off on Daphne plants. Poor persistence on Daphne roots and suppression of B. subtilis Cot1 by spent media of Daphne tissue cultures suggests that poor biocontrol activity was due to the release of inhibitory compounds by Daphne roots.
Fruit Set, Abscission and Dry Matter Accumulation on Girdled Branches of Macadamia

The patterns of fruit growth, abscission and dry matter accumulation were determined for ungirdled macadamia branches and compared with the patterns on girdled branches. The relationships between fruit set, fruit drop, and the number of available leaves were also assessed. Approximately 50 leaves were required to support development of each fruit on girdled branches, so that final fruit numbers on girdled branches were higher or lower than on ungirdled controls, depending on leaf number. High leaf numbers did not cause any increase in fruit size on girdled branches, but low leaf numbers resulted in fruit volumes up to 23% lower than the controls. The number of fruits set on ungirdled branches was independent of the number of leaves on the branch. Defoliation of ungirdled branches had no effect on the number of fruits set, with fruit set on these branches apparently being supported almost entirely from carbohydrates obtained elsewhere in the tree. Three phases of fruit drop were observed, with maxima at 2, 6-7, and 10 weeks post-anthesis, separated by phases of relatively low fruit drop at 4 and 8 weeks post-anthesis. The maximum dry weight increase of the crop occurred between 10 and 20 weeks post-anthesis, when there was very little fruit drop. Therefore, although limited availability of assimilates may influence fruit retention in macadamia, there is no simple relationship between structural carbon demand and fruit drop.
Close Association between Aleurone Traits and Lipid Contents of Rice Grains Observed in Widely Different GeneticResources of Oryza sativa

Abstract We investigated 321 varieties to identify the aleurone traits that are closely related to the lipid content of rice. Brown rice seeds were cut crosswise near the center with a razor blade and the cut surface was stained with Oil Red O, and then observed under integrated fluorescence microscope (BZ9000). We found wide variations among varieties in the area stained, but the japonica group contained many varieties with a large stained area. We selected 17 representative varieties covering the whole range of stained areas and confirmed the thickness of aleurone layer using Kawamoto’s film method (micro-thin sections that were created with cryomicrotome). Aleurone traits were examined under a light microscope and measured. We found a strong correlation between the area of the aleurone layer and the stained area (r = 0.799***) and between the thickness of the aleurone layer and the thickness of the stained region (r = 0.543*). The area of the stained region therefore provides a fast and effective indicator for selecting varieties for the thickness of the aleurone layer. We also measured the amount (mg per 100 seeds) and proportion of triacylglycerols (TAGs) to 1 g of seed (mg g-1) in brown rice seeds without embryos. The amount and proportion of TAG to 1 g of seed were both significantly correlated with the area, average thickness and percentage of aleurone layer. This suggests that the aleurone traits will be good indicators for the selection of varieties with high levels of TAG.