Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MULE DEER SURVIVAL AMONG ADJACENT POPULATIONS IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO

Abstract We investigated survival and cause-specific mortality of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on 3 distinct winter ranges in southwest Idaho from 1992 to 1997 to identify demographic variation and potential limiting factors based on a sample of 447 radiocollared deer. During winters 1995–1996 and 1996–1997, we modeled overwinter fawn mortality based on early winter mass, sex, activity, and habitat use variables. Annual survival rates of adult mule deer varied among the 3 adjacent study areas (χ22 = 10.93, P = 0.004). Overwinter deer survival also varied among study areas (χ22 = 8.00, P = 0.018), and the study area × year, study area × sex, and study area × age interactions were all significant (P ≤ 0.018). Overwinter survival differences among the study areas were not consistent over time or among sexes and ages of deer. Winter malnutrition was the main cause of mortality for both adults and fawns during the severe winter of 1992–1993, when overall survival was low. Excluding harvest, predation was the major proximate cause of deer mortality during 1993–97 when overall survival was higher. The probability of winter fawn mortality increased with lower mass (χ21 = 7.38, P = 0.007), being male (χ21 = 5.61, P = 0.018), smaller group sizes (χ21 = 3.62, P = 0.057), and using steeper slopes (χ21 = 3.05, P = 0.081). Smaller group sizes and use of steep slopes corresponded to conditions where predators were more successful. Our findings suggest that coyote (Canis latrans) predation was largely compensatory whereas mountain lion (Puma concolor) predation was apparently independent of animal condition and dependent more on deer habitat use. Early winter fawn mass was a better predictor of overwinter fawn survival than a suite of winter resource use variables, lending further support for use of fawn mass to predict winters where fawn mortality may be high. No single population in this study could be used to make reliable inferences regarding deer survival in the other populations. Survival rate measurements should be used cautiously to make inferences in populations where survival has not been directly measured.
Nectarivore foraging ecology: rewards differing in sugar types

Abstract. 1 Honey bees, visiting artificial flower patches, were used as a model system to study the effects of sugar type (sucrose, glucose, fructose, and mixed monosaccharide), caloric reward, and floral colour on nectarivore foraging behaviour. Observed behaviour was compared to the predictions of various (sometimes contradictory) foraging models. 2 Bees drank indiscriminately from flowers in patches with a blue‐white flower dimorphism when caloric values of rewards were equal (e.g. 1M sucrose in both colours; 1 M sucrose versus 2 M monosaccharide of either type), but when nectar caloric rewards were unequal, they switched to the flower colour with the calorically greater reward. 3 In yellow‐blue dimorphic flower patches, on the other hand, bees did not maximize caloric reward. Rather, bees were individually constant, some to blue, others to yellow, regardless of the sugar types or energy content of the rewards provided in the two flower morphs. 4 The results suggest that optimal foraging theory (maximization of net caloric gain per unit time) is a robust predictor of behaviour with regard to the sugar types common to nectars; such optimal foraging is, however, limited by a superstructure of individual constancy.
REVIEW ARTICLE Epidemic influenza and vitamin D

SUMMARY In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a ‘seasonal stimulus ’ intimately associated with solar radiation explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic influenza. Solar radiation triggers robust seasonal vitamin D production in the skin ; vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity. 1,25(OH)2D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the ‘oxidative burst ’ potential of macrophages. Perhaps most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they play a major role in protecting the lung from infection. Volunteers inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus are more likely to develop fever and serological evidence of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory infections. Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children. We conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be Hope-Simpson’s ‘seasonal stimulus ’.
Leaf life span and nutrient resorption as determinants of plant nutrient conservation in temperate‐arctic regions

Nutrient conservation plays an important role in plants adapted to infertile environments. Nutrients can be conserved mainly by extending the life span of plant parts and/or by minimizing the nutrient content of those parts that are abscissed. Together these two parameters (life span and resorption) define the mean residence time (MRT) of a nutrient. In this review we summarize available information on nitrogen resorption and life span, and evaluate their relationship to the MRT of nitrogen, both between and within species. Abundant information with respect to nitrogen resorption efficiency and life span is available at the leaf level. By definition, woody evergreen plants have a much longer leaf life span than species of other life-forms. Conversely, differences in resorption efficiency among life-forms or among plants in habitats differing in soil fertility appear to be small. Inter-specific variation in leaf life span is much larger than intra-specific variation (factor of >200 compared with 2, respectively), while resorption efficiency varies by about the same magnitude at both levels (factor of 3.8 compared with 2.7, respectively). The importance of resorption efficiency in determining leaf-level MRT increases exponentially towards and above the maximum resorption efficiency observed in nature. This effect is independent of leaf life span, which may explain the lack of life-form related differences in resorption efficiency. When scaling up from the leaf to the whole-plant level, fundamental differences in turnover rate among different plant organs must be considered. Woody species invest c. 50% of their net productivity into their low-turnover stems, while in herbaceous species the life span of stems is only slightly longer than that of leaves. As a result, nutrient turnover of woody (evergreen and deciduous) plants is generally lower than that of herbaceous species (herbs and graminoids) on a whole-plant basis. At the intra-specific level empirical data show that both biomass life span (i.e. the inverse of biomass loss rate) and resorption efficiency are important sources of variation in MRT. However, we argue that the relative importance of resorption efficiency in explaining variation in MRT is lower at the inter-specific level, whereas the reverse is true for life span. This is because variation in MRT and life span is much larger at the inter-specific level compared with variation in resorption efficiency. Plant traits related to nutrient conservation are discussed with respect to their implications for leaf structure, plant growth, competition, succession and ecosystem nutrient cycling.
Thymus vulgaris L., Glycyrrhiza glabra or Combo ® enzyme in corn vs. barley-based broiler diets

®in barley-soybean meal diets together with mentioned medicinal plants in broiler diets. Methods: A total of 270 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) was randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 3 replications of 15 birds in each. Diets were comprised of the control (T1), the inclusion of T. vulgaris, G. glabra, their mixture (equal amount), Combo ® supplementation (T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively) in diets based on corn-soybean meal diets and enzyme supplementation plus equal amount of tested medicinal plants (T6) based on barley-soybean meal diets. Medicinal plants and enzyme were included in diets at level 0.5% and 0.2% of diets, respectively. Results: The highest feed intake was obtained by T1 at 1-21 d of age (P<0.05). All diets caused significant increases in weight gain and significant decreases in feed conversion ratio compared to control at this age (P<0.05). Significant reductions were acquired in feed intake by T3 and T6 at 22-42 d of age (P<0.05). All diets significantly decreased total number of aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Gram-negative bacteria and increased lactic acid bacteria compared to control (P<0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that basal diet has vital character to effectiveness of medicinal plants in broiler diets. Beneficial effects on intestinal microflora were brought by use of T. vulgaris L. and G. glabra in corn-based diets or in barley-based diets together with enzyme. Thus, this capability can support growth performance of broiler chickens at lower age. Peer reviewer
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ as a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family comprises three distinct isotypes: PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. PPARs are nuclear hormone receptors that mediate the effects of fatty acids and their derivatives at the transcriptional level. Until recently, the characterisation of the important role of PPARα in fatty acid oxidation and of PPARγ in lipid storage contrasted with the sparse information concerning PPARβ/δ. However, evidence is now emerging for a role of PPARβ/δ in tissue repair and energy homeostasis. Experiments with tissue-specific overexpression of PPARβ/δ or treatment of mice with selective PPARβ/δ agonists demonstrated that activation of PPARβ/δ in vivo increases lipid catabolism in skeletal muscle, heart and adipose tissue and improves the serum lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in several animal models. PPARβ/δ activation also prevents the development of obesity and improves cholesterol homeostasis in obesity-prone mouse models. These new insights into PPARβ/δ functions suggest that targeting PPARβ/δ may be helpful for treating disorders associated with the metabolic syndrome. Although these perspectives are promising, several independent and contradictory reports raise concerns about the safety of PPARβ/δ ligands with respect to tumourigenic activity in the gut. Thus, it appears that further exploration of PPARβ/δ functions is necessary to better define its potential as a therapeutic target.
Profiting from overreaction in soccer betting odds

Abstract Betting odds are generally considered to represent accurate reflections of the underlying probabilities for the outcomes of sporting events. There are, however, known to be a number of inherent biases such as the favorite-longshot bias in which outsiders are generally priced with poorer value odds than favorites. Using data from European soccer matches, this paper demonstrates the existence of another bias in which the match odds overreact to favorable and unfavorable runs of results. A statistic is defined, called the Combined Odds Distribution (COD) statistic, which measures the performance of a team relative to expectations given their odds over previous matches. Teams that overperform expectations tend to have a high COD statistic and those that underperform tend to have a low COD statistic. Using data from twenty different leagues over twelve seasons, it is shown that teams with a low COD statistic tend to be assigned more generous odds by bookmakers. This can be exploited and a sustained and robust profit can be made. It is suggested that the bias in the odds can be explained in the context of the “hot hand fallacy”, in which gamblers overestimate variation in the ability of each team over time.
Ground-dwelling Spider Assemblages Inhabiting Riparian Forests and Hedgerows in an Agricultural Landscape

Abstract Generalist predators, such as spiders, play an important role as natural enemies in agroecosystems and, given the annual disturbance of most field crops, these predators typically re-colonize fields from adjacent habitats such as hedgerows or riparian forests. To test whether the biota of these source habitats differed, we collected ground-dwelling spiders (Araneae) from thin (<15 m) riparian forests, wide (>50 m) riparian forests and hedgerows (<15 m wide) located next to soybean or corn fields in south-west Ohio. Pitfall traps collected spiders at the stream edge, the interior of forests or hedgerows and the agricultural edge. Rarefaction analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination tested how spider diversity and community structure, respectively, differed between hedgerows and riparian forests and by trap location. Wide riparian forests harbored a higher diversity of spiders than thin riparian forests and hedgerows contained the lowest spider diversity. The latter result may be due in part to the invasive honeysuckle shrub Lonicera maackii in hedgerows, which can reduce habitat complexity on the ground-layer. Ordination analysis revealed the spider community found at the edge of hedgerows is distinct from other trap locations, as was the spider assemblage located adjacent to the stream, the latter containing some hygrophilous species. The spider fauna at the edge of hedgerows contained several species typically found in high densities in agricultural plots, supporting the need for these habitat features in an agricultural landscape.
THYROID HORMONE-LIKE FUNCTION IN ECHINOIDS: A MODULAR SIGNALING SYSTEM COOPTED FOR LARVAL DEVELOPMENT AND CRITICAL FOR LIFE HISTORY EVOLUTION

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy THYROID HORMONE-LIKE FUNCTION IN ECHINOIDS: A MODULAR SIGNALING SYSTEM COOPTED FOR LARVAL DEVELOPMENT AND CRITICAL FOR LIFE HISTORY EVOLUTION By Andreas Heyland August 2004 Chair: David Julian Major Department: Zoology Cooption and modularity are edifying concepts in evolutionary developmental biology. Genes function within complex networks that act as modules in development. These modules can then be coopted in various functional and evolutionary contexts. Hormonal signaling, the main focus of this thesis, has a modular character. By regulating the activities of genes, proteins and other cellular molecules, a hormonal signal can have major effects on physiological and ontogenetic processes within and across tissues over a wide spatial and temporal scale. Because of this property, we argue that hormones are frequently involved in the coordination of life history transitions (LHTs) and their evolution (LHE). Here we promote the usefulness of a comparative, non-model system approach towards understanding how hormones function and guide development and evolution, highlighting thyroid hormone function in echinoid larval development and metamorphosis as an example. We compare thyroid hormone and thyroid hormone
Apoptosis initiation of b-ionone in SGC-7901 gastric carcinoma cancer cells via a PI3K-AKT pathway

b-ionone has been shown to hold potent anti- proliferative and apoptosis induction properties in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the effects of b-ionone on apoptosis initiation and its possible mechanisms of action, we qual- ified cell apoptosis, proteins related to apoptosis and a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)—AKT pathway in human gastric adenocarcinoma cancer SGC-7901 cells. The results demonstrated that b-ionone-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in SGC-7901 cells treated with b-ionone (25, 50, 100 and 200 lmol/L) for 24 h. b-ionone was also shown to induce the expression of cleaved-cas- pase-3 and inhibit bcl-2 expression in SGC-7901 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The significantly decreased lev- els of p-PI3K and p-AKT expression were observed in SGC-7901 cells after b-ionone treatments in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P \ 0.01). Thus, the apoptosis induction in SGC-7901 cells by b-ionone may be regulated through a PI3K-AKT pathway. These results demonstrate a potential mechanism by which b-ionone to induce apop- tosis initiation in SGC-7901 cells.
REVIEW OF INVESTIGATION THE PARASITIC FAUNA OF DEER (Fam. Cervidae/ subfam. Cervinae) IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Overview of the deer (Fam. Cervidae/ Subfam . Cervinae ) parasitofauna in Southeastern Europe. Health control represents an inseparable segment of the wildlife menagement whether in free roaming or farming population. Having knowledge on the wildlife health status enables health preservation of the wildlife, but also of human and domestic animal health considering the wild animals as potential reservoars to infective disesases. The parasitofauna status of the game is a valuable segment of the total epizootic situtation in order to implement the game health control programs. This paper presents the most important available data on the deer parasitofauna (Fam. Cervida/subfam. Cervinae) in Southeastern Europe. Key words: parasitic fauna, deer, Southeastern Europe
Synthesis of Unsaturated Aminopyranosides as Possible Transition State Mimics for Glycosidases

Four unsaturated aminopyranosides have been prepared as possible transition‐state mimics targeted towards carbohydrate processing enzymes. The conformations of the protonated aminosugars have been investigated by molecular modelling and their ability to inhibit α‐ and β‐glucosidases and an α‐mannosidase have been probed. Two targets proved moderate inhibitors of α‐glucosidases from Brewer's yeast and Bacillus stearothermophilus. †This paper is dedicated to Professor Gérard Descotes on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
Thin Layer Chromatographic Profile of Ipomoea quamoclit Linn Whole Plant.

Present study is designed with an aim to establish thin layer chromatographic profile of an ethnomedicinally important plant, Ipomoea quamoclit, belongs to Convolvulaceae family. Plant was collected, shade dried and mechanically made into powder. This powder was subjected to cold maceration and preliminary phytochemical screening by standard methods. Thin layer chromatography study was conducted by using different mobile phases and detecting agents according to standard literature. In detection of alkaloids, three spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.39, 0.46 and 0.73. In detection of carbohydrates, four spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.41, 0.52, 0.79 and 0.87. In detection of saponins, four spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.46, 0.59, 0.73 and 0.91. In detection of tannins, two spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.41 and 0.79. In detection of flavonoids, four spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.39, 0.45, 0.57 and 0.86. In detection of amino acids, five spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.32, 0.52, 0.61, 0.68 and 0.81. In detection of phytosterols, four spots were identified whose Rf values were found to be 0.21, 0.42, 0.65 and 0.95.
Agonist and Inverse Agonist Actions of β-Blockers at the Human β2-Adrenoceptor Provide Evidence for Agonist-Directed Signaling

Beta-blockers have beneficial effects in heart failure, although the underlying mechanism is unknown. Beta2-adrenoceptors, however, are proportionally higher in the failing human heart. This study shows several clinically used beta-blockers are agonists at the human beta2-adrenoceptor. Although these agonist effects were small at the cAMP level, they were substantial at the level of cAMP response element (CRE)-mediated gene transcription. Some of the effects of "beta-blockers" seen in heart failure may be related to the beta2-agonist actions of these compounds. CRE-gene transcription responses to beta2-agonists, forskolin, and cAMP-analogs were sensitive to p42/44-mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway inhibitors. p42/44-MAP kinase activation was also shown directly by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. N-[2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline (H89; a protein kinase A inhibitor) stimulated cAMP accumulation and CRE gene transcription via the beta2-adrenoceptor at concentrations at which protein kinase A was inhibited, providing evidence for an alternative pathway. Propranolol, however, produced paradoxical effects; it reduced basal cAMP accumulation (via beta2-mediated inverse agonism) but stimulated beta2-mediated CRE gene transcription. This cannot be explained by a sequential pathway from Gs-adenylyl cyclase-cAMP to CRE binding protein phosphorylation. Both responses to propranolol were insensitive to pertussis toxin, thus excluding Gi-protein involvement. Propranolol CRE gene transcription responses were attenuated by p42/44-MAP kinase inhibitors and propranolol was also found to directly stimulate the p42/44-MAP kinase pathway. Studies of inositol phosphate accumulation and of protein kinase C or Rho kinase inhibitors on CRE-gene transcription provided no evidence for Gq/11 or G12/13 involvement. These data suggest that propranolol can simultaneously act as an inverse agonist through a Gs-coupled mechanism while stimulating the p42/44-MAP kinase pathway through an alternative G-protein-independent mechanism.
Inheritance of Twisted Pods in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Additional index words. vegetable breeding Abstract. Inheritance of a twisted pod characteristic, in which bean pods develop with a twist that sometimes exceeds 360°, was studied in crosses between round-podded green bean cultivars. In crosses between 'Oregon 91G' (normal) or 'Oregon 54' (normal) and OSU 5256-1 (twisted), the F1 was normal. Segregation in F2 populations, tested over a 4-year period and including 4,995 plants, clearly fit a 3 normal : 1 twisted ratio. All plants of backcrosses of the F, to the normal parent were normal and backcrosses of the F1 to the twisted parent segregated 1 normal : 1 twisted. The ratios observed indicated that twisted pods are conditioned by a single recessive gene for which the symbol tw is proposed. The twisted pod condition described here was found in a green bean breeding line of Blue Lake bush type, OSU 5256-1 in 1990. It has never been observed in the mother line or sister lines of OSU 5256-l. The character was uniformly present in OSU 5256-l (5256) when it was found and has been stable in the line since that time. The twisted pod character (Fig. 1) consists of rotation of the pod from slight to at least 360". It is variable in the extent of twisting and the number of pods affected on each plant. It is possible that plants carrying this gene occasionally fail to produce a single twisted pod, but 5256 has always produced several to many per plant in hundreds of plants examined. Twisted pods have been noted by other bean breeders, but we have not found reports of its occurrence in the literature. In addition to being a genetic oddity, this character can be considered to be a defect in green beans. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of the twisted pod character.
EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF Geranium pyrenaicum L.

In this study, the ethanolic extracts were prepared from the roots and aerial parts of Geranium pyrenaicum growing in Turkey, their antibacterial and antifungal effects were tested using microdilution method in vitro and compared with the herbal drug that contains Pelargonium sidoides and P. reniforme root extract. In our study, G. pyreniacum has been found to have antibacterial and antifungal activities, which are similar to those of the herbal drug that contains P. sidoides and P. reniforme root extract.