Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical Analysis and Stochastic Modelling of Foraging Bumblebees.

In the analysis of movement patterns of animals, stochastic processes play an important role, providing us with a variety of tools to examine, model and simulate their behaviour. In this thesis we focus on the foraging of specific animals bumblebees and analyse experimental data to understand the influence of changes in the bumblebees’ environment on their search flights. Starting with a discussion of main classes of stochastic models useful for the description of foraging animals, we then look at a multitude of environmental factors influencing the dynamics of animals in their search for food. With this background we examine flight data of foraging bumblebees obtained from a laboratory experiment by stochastic analyses. The main point of interest of this analysis is the description, modelling and understanding of the data with respect to the influence of predatory threats on the bumblebee’s foraging search flights. After this detail-oriented view on interactions of bumblebees with food sources and predators in the experimental data, we develop a generalized reorientation model. By extracting the necessary information from the data, we arrive at a generalized correlated random walk foraging model for bumblebee flights, which we discuss and compare to the experimental data via simulations. We finish with a discussion of anomalous fluctuation relations and some results on spectral densities of autocorrelation functions. While this part is not directly related to the analysis of foraging, it concerns a closely related class of stochastic processes described by Langevin equations with nontrivial autocorrelation functions.
The hidden cost of reproduction : reduced food intake caused by spatial constraints in the body cavity

Investment in reproduction is thought to draw energetic resources away from other investments, namely growth and energy storage. Those interested in documenting this negative relationship often assume that a fixed pool of resources in excess of those needed for maintenance are divided up among growth, storage and reproduction, and thus increased investment in one of these "surplus" compartments reduces the potential for investment in the other two compartments. However, in a series of experiments I document a negative relationship between investment in reproduction and the amount of food consumed caused by a volumetric constraint of the body cavity. This negative relationship indicates that reproductive investment actually reduces the total pool of resources available to reproductive individuals. Considering this volumetric constraint may prove important to those interested in documenting trade-offs in life history traits, in that negative correlations between reproduction and growth or fat storage can be the indirect result of reduced overall energy budgets rather than the direct result of partitioning a fixed energy pool.
Reply

To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Webber et al (1) in which they addressed an important issue, i.e., exposure to environmental agents playing a potential role in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases. Exposure to aerosolized “World Trade Center dust,” which, as the authors stated, contains an amalgam of pulverized cement, glass fibers, silica, asbestos, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polychlorinated furans and dioxins, resulted in a high and time-dependent percentage of systemic autoimmune diseases, taking into account the results of the reported nested case–control study. Among the 59 patients with systemic autoimmune disease described by the authors, inflammatory myopathies were diagnosed in 8 (6 patients with polymyositis and 2 with dermatomyositis). Given that occupational exposure seems to play a role in patients with myositis and antisynthetase antibodies (2,3) (the so-called antisynthetsase syndrome), it would be of interest to know how many of those 8 patients with myositis were positive for any of the most frequent antisynthetase antibodies (anti–Jo-1, anti–PL-7, or anti– PL-12). If this was the case, these data will undoubtedly reinforce the notion that exposure to inhaled antigens could act as a precipitating event in these patients.
Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts

Phosphorus (P), an essential structural and functional component of all living organisms, is considered to be the ultimate limiting nutrient in marine ecosystems. To optimize its acquisition, marine species such as protozoa, sponges, foraminifera, clams, and reef corals, among others, have entered symbiotic relationships with algae, which recycle waste products of the animal host and transform dissolved inorganic nutrients into organic molecules, making them bioavailable to their host. Such associations provide a competitive edge in an environment where ambient nutrient availability is low. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the P sources available to reef organisms with algal symbionts, to discuss the means by which P is taken up and stored within the symbiosis, and to assess the effects of eutrophication-induced phosphate enrichment on the algal and host physiology. Finally, we give an overview of knowledge gaps and open questions that should be addressed to better understand the role of phosphorus in reef symbioses functioning.
Isolation and bioassay screening of fungal endophytes from North Atlantic marine macroalgae

Abstract Endophytic fungi of marine macroalgae and the bioactive chemicals they produce have not been widely explored or documented. In this study, fungal endophytes were isolated from four species of brown, three species of red, and two species of green marine algae collected from the Shetland Islands, UK. Sixty-four distinct endophytes were isolated, 36 of which were identified to the genus or species level, with the highest diversity of isolable fungi being obtained from the green algae. Extracts of fungal tissue and spent nutrient broth were prepared from each isolate and screened for bioactivity. Antimicrobial and larvicidal assays revealed that the extracts from 24 endophytes showed antifungal activity, 25 displayed activity against Gram-positive bacteria, 20 showed activity against Gram-negative bacteria, and 11 showed larvicidal activity.
Heralding a new future - Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is being heralded as the next enabling technology that will redesign the future of several technologies, products and markets. Nations are focusing on this emerging technology in particular and serious research as well as industry efforts are being made. Recent developments, current trends and industry progress in this field are discussed here. This paper also examines research efforts in this field and whether this technology could have serious implications for a nation like India.
Notes on the Bird Life of Northwestern Washington (Concluded)

FROM the latter part of September, 1919, until the end of June, 1920, I was in Seattle, Washington, and these notes cover my experiences with the bird life of that part of the state during that time. The larger part of each week was spent in and about Seattle itself, but the week ends, especially from the latter part of the winter on, were spent at Tacoma, some forty odd miles south. For several days, however, during the latter part of March I was at Westport, in Grays Harbor County, and directly on the ocean, while short trips of a day or so were made to the Snoqualmie River, at the edge of the Cascades, and to Hoods Canal, well down the Sound. Unfamiliarity with this region would have handicapped me considerably but I was very fortunate in early making the acquaintance of D. E. Brown, one of Seattle's veteran ornithologists, and through his cordial interest and cooperation I succeeded in soon acquiring a reasonable knowledge of the country about the city. Through him I learned of stretches of woods along the shore of Lake Washington favored by certain species uncommon elsewhere, of the wooded ridge at Kirkland, a small town on the far side of the lake, where the Band-tailed Pigeon and Oregon Jay nested, of Ravenna Park, a wooded ravine well within the city limits, where the Western Winter Wren and Varied Thrush could be found during the summer months, and of the stretch of alders and willows at Renton, a point on the lake a short distance from the city, where such species as the California Yellow Warbler, Oregon Chickadee and Gairdner's Woodpecker nested in more or less abundance. As opportunity offered I devoted my time to other spots in and about the city, lying in King County, but not with the thoroughness that perhaps they may have deserved. It was through the hospitality of E. A. Kitchin th'at I found it possible to spend many week ends at Tacoma, in Pierce County. Here I had the plesaure of frequent days in the field both with him and with J. Hooper Bowles, and as might be expected I profited
Impact of Deltamethrin on Environment, use as an Insecticide and its Bacterial degradation - A preliminary study

Deltamethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide that kills insects through dermal contact and digestion. It is applied for a range of commercial crops and recreational uses, and by extension controls a variety of pests. The cytological effects of deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid used as an insecticide, have been studied using root meristems of Allium cepa. Deltamethrin treatment resulted in a dose-related reduction in mitotic index. Both chromosomal and mitotic abnormalities were encountered at all concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 2 ppm. Most of the chromosomal and mitotic abnormalities were apparently due to disturbance in the mitotic spindle. Induction of chromosome and chromatid breaks with higher concentrations (0.5 to 2.0 ppm) suggested clastogenic action of this compound but Deltamethrin is not mobile in the environment because of its strong adsorption on particles, its insolubility in water, and very low rates of application; however, it still presents risks to the ecosystem in which it is applied. The level of deltamethrin biodegradation in mixed cultures of benthic and planktonic bacteria after 5, 10, and 15 days of incubation was higher than that in homogenous cultures. It was demonstrated that microorganisms from the Sphingomonas paucimobilis species and the Moraxella genus, among planktonic bacteria, as well as Burkholderia cepacia and Bacillus mycoides species, among benthic bacteria, were the most effective in reducing the concentration of this insecticide
Evolution of the PEBP gene family and selective signature on FT‐like clade

The PEBP family of proteins, which encode a phosphatidyl ethanolamine‐binding protein (PEBP) domain, serve as a hub in the network of integrating environmental and developmental signals to regulate flowering in all angiosperms. To understand how PEBP duplication genes arose and evolved during plant evolution, we identified 259 genes involved in the PEBP domain from 25 species, including angiosperms, gymnosperms, and embryophytes. We found that plant PEBP genes could be divided into three monophyletic groups, including FT‐like, TFL‐like and MFT‐like subgroups. Based on the phylogeny, FT‐like and TFL‐like subgroups split before the angiosperm divergence. The likelihood ratio test indicates that the FT‐like clade is significantly different in Ka/Ks with TFL‐like and MFT‐like clades. We found this shift in mutation might be attributed to the positive selection imposed on the fourth exon of recent FT duplications. Divergent expression patterns of FT paralogs indicated that they had undergone subfunctionalization after duplication. In addition, some of the FT‐like genes have been targets of selection during domestication in rice and maize, for which the flowering time is an important agronomic trait. These results imply potential recent positive selection on FT‐like genes with potential to increase the prevalence of novel functional alleles leading to extensive plant flowering time diversity and adaptation to environmental changes.
Reply

With respect to safety of drugs in pregnancy, I agree with some of Dr. Sanchez-Pernaute's comments; where lack of toxicity in registries/databases does not imply full safety (1), when discussing the editorial and paper about certolizumab pegol and safety in pregnancy (2,3). In fact, one cannot easily prove a cause and effect relationship when it comes to drugs or rheumatic diseases causing harm to the fetus or during later development. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Insecticidal Properties of Zingiber officinale and Piper cubeba Essential Oils Against Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract The essential oils from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) and berries of Piper cubeba (Piperaceae) were isolated by hydrodistillation and its repellent, toxic and developmental inhibitory activities were determined against wheat flour insect pest Tribolium castaneum. In the filter paper repellency assay, Z. officinale and P. cubeba essential oils repelled the adults of T. castaneum significantly even at 0.00625% and 0.003215% concentrations (v/v) respectively. Fumigation of larvae and adults of T. castaneum with these two essential oils caused mortality. Median lethal concentrations (LC50) of Z. officinale and P. cubeba essential oils against larvae were 2.29 and 3. 15µl/cm3 and against adults were 1.23 and 0. 97µl/cm3 respectively. Fumigation with sublethal concentrations viz. 40 and 80% of 24-h LC50 of these essential oils significantly reduced the oviposition potential of the adults and inhibited development of larvae to pupae and the pupae to adults. All the responses were found concentration-dependent.
An ecohydrological approach to managing dryland forests: integration of leaf area metrics into assessment and management

Author(s): Osem, Y; O'Hara, K | Abstract: © 2016 Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2016. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. We review the use of leaf area metrics (LAM) for assessing and managing dryland forests. We propose a framework integrating individual tree to whole-ecosystem metrics representing a variety of forest features and review theory, empirical evidence and knowledge gaps. Four basic concepts underlie the LAM framework: (1) Max-LAI - an ecosystem can be characterized by an upper potential leaf area index (LAI) dictated mainly by water availability, (2) Leaf area distribution - the distribution of leaf area is proportional to the distribution of resources among vegetation components, (3) Safe-LAI - maintaining Ecosystem-LAI below Max-LAI is a way to reduce drought stress and (4) tree leaf area (TLA) - the leaf area of an individual tree as a proportion of its potential TLA, represents its vigour. Implementation of the LAM strategy requires the following: (1) better understanding how edaphic conditions and vegetation characteristics interact with climate in determining Max-LAI, (2) better understanding how leaf area is related to water use across species, vegetation strata and light regimes, (3) better understanding the interaction between LAI development and stand dynamics, (4) better capability of measuring or estimating individual tree leaf area and (5) development of species-specific references for tree vigour based on leaf area. The LAM strategy is promising for managing dryland forests under increasing drought stress.
Early Light-Response of psaD, psaE and psaH Gene Families of Photosystem I in Nicotiana sylvestris: PSI-D has an Isoform of Very Quick Response

Light response of the psaD, psaE and psaH gene families of photosystem I was studied in etiolated seedlings and dark-adapted mature leaves of Nicotiana sylvestris using RNase protection assays and immunoblot analysis. The results suggest that the initial light-response consists of at least two types; a very quick response found only in the psaDb gene, and a slower response common to all the examined genes.
Determination of the Proportion of Cu, Fe, Zn and Ca Elements in Thunbery Fritillary Bulb and Tendrilleaf Fritillary Bulb

Four kinds of elements Cu,Fe,Zn,Ca in thunbery fritillary bulb and tendrilhaf fritillary bulb had been determinated and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry in this article.The recovery efficiency of calcium obtained by standard addition method was from 101% to 113%,whose RSD＜2.72%;the recovery efficiency of iron was from 90% to108%,whose RSD＜0.78%;the recovery efficiency of zinc was from 98% to 111%,whose RSD＜5.03%;the recovery efficiency of copper was from 99% to 113%,whose RSD＜3.89%.
Response of Rana pipiens to graded doses of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The responses of lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues of Rana pipiens to a reportedly virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC#27853) were assessed by intraperitoneal injections of graded doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 7 -10 8 /ml). Frogs kept for 10-14 days at 22 and 29 C were examined with respect to spleen weight, spleen cell density, and presence of viable P. aeruginosa within the spleen. Inoculation of very high doses of P. aeruginosa had no significant effect on mortality at the lower treatment temperatures, but was a significant cause of mortality at higher temperatures under high stress conditions
Effects of Early Experience on Cue Preferences of Peromyscus leucopus

Wild-reared and first-generation laboratory-reared white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) were studied to assess the effects of early experience on cue preferences. Mice were given a choice of two opposing test chambers differing by a single cue, or by degree of a single cue, for a variety of test situations. For the majority of tests, responses of laboratory-reared and wild-reared mice did not differ significantly. However, wild-reared mice preferred a high nocturnal illuminance of 0.020 ft-c to illuminance 0.1 of that while laboratory-reared mice showed no preference. Wildreared mice preferred a visual cue oriented horizontally to an otherwise identical vertical one at high nocturnal illuminance; laboratory-reared mice showed no preference. Laboratory-reared mice chose the odor of grass to that of leaf litter, and wild-reared mice showed no preference. Presuming similar gene pools for these two closely related groups of mice, a role for early experience in certain sensory cue preferences of P. leucopus is suggested.
Carbohydrate Metabolism of Sugar beets II. Catabolic Pathways for Acetate, Glyoxylate, Pyruvate, Glucose and Gluconate

Introduction III a the lltili/a/ion ()f 'iUUOse, fructose. mannosc. ribose. f,';lucllronatc and glll('onal(, in Ihe functions of sugar heels wa~ demonstrated by a series ric experilllenb. However. ·1 natnre of the cataholism of to he eluci· acetate. late, . f,';Jllcose and glu('ol1ate were llsed :IS suh· strates to idelltify and estimate majo! ' catabolic 111 sugar heets. \Iatel'iaIs and Methods beet roots or t he I' S \\'ere used t'xcl ami they were selected on the
THE PLACE OF CHANCE IN POPULATION PROCESSES

trolled by either obscure causes or biological processes capable of being analyzed. The obscure-causes concept was ruled out by MacLulich (1937). The theory of random population cycles was worked out in greater detail by Cole (1951, 1954). The present paper is confined to (1) a refutation of the recent overemphasis on the supposedly dominant importance of random numbers and (2) a summary of most of the different ways in which chance does enter into population processes. Chance alterations to the course of population occur in at least four different ways, as follows:
Nutritional Crossbreed Technology of Honeybee and Its Application on Genetics and Breeding

There exists productive isolation between Apis cerana and Apis mellifera, so common cross-breeding is very difficult. By technology of nutritional crossbreed, feeding A Bee larva in B bee population, The result shows that there are dramatic differences between A’s worker generation and its parent worker on biological characters. This paper concludes the definition, methods, conditioning factors of nutritional crossbreed of honeybee, and its effects on morphological and molecular characters of worker generation. The application status on nutritional crossbreed between Apis cerana and Apis mellifera is summarized. This paper also puts forward the study tendency of nutritional crossbreed of honeybee.
EFFECTS OF SNAIL BELLAMYA AERUGINOSA BIOTURBATION ON MICROBIAL COMMUNITY IN THE SEDIMENT OF ALGAL BLOOM WATER

Phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs) were applied to determine changes in microbial community structures affected by the bioturbation of Bellamya aeruginosa.The results showed that the total biomass of PLFAs had a distinguished increase in treatments contained snails comparing with the control group.Furthermore,it was highly related to the content of TOC,r = 0.541(P0.05). The ratio of bacteria/fungus changed remarkably during the experiment,the ratio of bacteria/fungus in mid-density treatment is significantly higher than the other treatments(P0.05),indicating that bacteria grew more quickly than fungus and the bacteria biomass increased significantly in Mid-density condition.Principle components analysis(PCA) of PLFAs profiles demonstrated that the microbial community structures were similar in low and high density treatments and the control,and no obvious changes were observed;while in Mid-density treatments(196ind/m 2),microbial community structures had varied apparently.
Selenium - what are the issues? A review of requirements relating to different clinical settings

Introduction Selenium is an essential trace element. It is required for production of 25 selenoproteins. Their functions range from thyroid homeostasis, promoting fertility, optimising immune/antioxidant function and cancer-risk reduction. Mild to moderate selenium deficiency occurs in several parts of the world including Europe and New Zealand, with implications for health status. Some areas of China are seriously deficient.
'Phase' dimorphism observed in the laboratory population of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus quadrimaculatus.

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus quadrimaculatus, has two distinctly different forms in the adult stage, fly and non-fly forms, which are induced by the effect of population in the larval stage. These two forms are very like to the "phase" dimorphism observed in the locust and army worm. In the present paper, different densities of comparisons were made between these two phases in their body weight and the chemical constituents of their body.The body weight of adult weevil decreases with the lapse of adult life, but this decreasing tendency is different between these two phases and sexes. (ref. Fig. 1, fly female _? _, fly male _? _, non-fly female _? _, non-fly male _? _). The water content of the body takes an almost constant value throughout the life, but takes a different value in each phase (ref. Fig. 2. similar sign as in Fig. 1). Crude fat content shows a definite difference between these two phases. That of the fly phase is higher in both sexes. A clear difference can be found in the acid value and iodine value of the crude fat, while there is no definite difference in saponification value. From these data, we can imagine that the fly phase has a kind of diapause in the initial stage of adult life.