Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Biology of the Fern Ceratopteris and Its Use as a Model System

Ceratopteris (Parkeriaceae) is a pantropical genus of annual ferns possessing several features that make it exceptionally useful as a model plant system. The uniqueness of the homosporous fern life cycle allows the study of various phenomena at both the developmentally simple haploid gametophyte stage and at the complex vascular sporophyte stage. Consequently, both cellular and whole plant studies can be carried out simultaneously in a genetically natural and stable system. In genetic approaches, the ability to screen large numbers of mutagenized spores, along with the simple haploid genetics possible with the gametophyte stage and the ability to generate complete homozygotes from a single selfing, provide a powerful means of rapidly isolating and studying mutations. Ceratopteris gametophytes are developmentally simple. However, because they are autotrophic and possess several types of differentiated cells, they offer a number of opportunities for study. Control of germination responses, pattern formation and meristem development, spermatozoid differentiation, apogamy and apospory, pheromonal controls of sexual differentiation, as well as a variety of biochemical/physiological traits can be studied using various approaches. At the same time, the sporophyte provides a typical vascular plant system for study of a variety of developmental, genetic or biochemical/physiological phenomena. Recent and ongoing improvements in culture techniques, along with increased use of molecular approaches, will substantially expand the use of Ceratopteris as a model plant system.
Long and short term effects of plasma treatment on meristematic plant cells

In this paper, we will present results of plasma treatments of meristematic cells of Daucus carota. Plasma needle was used as an atmospheric pressure/gas composition source of non-equilibrium plasma in all treatments. Activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase was measured immediately after plasma treatment and after two weeks following the treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased in samples immediately after the plasma treatment. On the other hand, catalase activity was much higher in treated samples when measured two weeks after plasma treatment. These results show that there is a direct proof of the triggering of signal transduction in the cells by two reactive oxygen species H2O2 and O2−, causing enzyme activity and short and long term effects even during the growth of calli, where the information is passed to newborn cells over the period of two weeks.
The importance of prior choice in model selection: a density dependence example

It is important to discern the magnitude of density dependence a species exhibits, as well as the time lag over which it operates. Knowledge of a species' likely response to natural as well as synthetic shocks will assist in effective species management. Statistically this is a challenging problem which does not usually admit closed‐form mathematical analysis. Consequently, many people have used Bayesian methods to fit state space models of density dependence to many different species, of which we take eleven species of North American duck as our motivating examples. A Bayesian analysis requires a choice of model and parameter prior. The latter is difficult to do without inducing bias in model selection, and we attempt to address this problem. Our priors will be obtained by considering which parameter values are representative of features we expect to see in the data, and which would produce unnatural behaviour. To fit the models, we use a novel sequential Monte Carlo method (particle learning) not previously applied to ecological data sets. We show that existing analyses on the duck data may have been susceptible to a common problem in Bayesian model selection (Lindley's paradox), and suggest methods for prior selection which mitigate this issue. We also discover that although it is possible to detect the existence of density dependence, it is unrealistic to expect to determine the time lag over which it operates without a great deal of data, even if said data are simulated from the model. We demonstrate that prior choices motivated by the above considerations can lead to substantially increased predictive accuracy over surprisingly long time scales whether model selection is of primary concern or not. We conclude from our analysis of real‐world data that there is little evidence of density dependence in many duck species, suggesting that such effects, if present, are likely to be small in magnitude.
Effects on the Stem of Winter Barley of Manipulating the Source and Sink during Grain-filling I. CHANGES IN ACCUMULATION AND LOSS OF MASS FROM INTERNODES

Source and sink activities of field-grown barley plants were manipulated by shading the whole plant or by de-earing at various times after anthesis. The changes in the masses of the internodes, ears, grains and leaves were followed until the grain matured. Shading reduced the mass of ears and grains and, in addition, shading to 45% of incident radiation from anthesis prevented mature internodes from increasing in mass. Severe shading (to 9% of incident radiation) from 11d after anthesis caused the normal decrease in mass of internodes to occur earlier than in unshaded plants
Genetic response to within-family selection using molecular markers in some radiata pine breeding schemes

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) provides an opportunity to increase the efficiency of within-family selection in forest tree breeding. Within-family MAS involves selection decisions first made on conventional breeding values and quantitative trait loci (QTL) information used for within-family selection. In this study genetic response obtained by using MAS was compared with conventional methods for three options: "full-sib family forestry," "clonal forestry," and "forward selection for deployment. " This comparison was undertaken using stochastic simulation for a locus that explained 10 or 20% of the genetic variance. In the full-sib family forestry scenario, markers were used to select genotypes (among juvenile individuals in a family) for vegetative propagation. Markers were used to preselect genotypes for clonal testing in clonal forestry option. In case of forward selection for deployment option, offspring that have favourable marker haplotype and a superior phenotype were selected from each family. The.
The Petunia tra1 gene controls cell elongation and plant development, and mediates responses to cytokinins

Summary The molecular control of cell elongation, one of the basic processes of plant morphogenesis, is still largely not understood. This paper describes a Petunia hybrida mutant of dumpy phenotype, trapu, which identifies tra1, a gene required for cell elongation and mediating responses to applied cytokinin. This mutant displayed an extreme reduction in length, due to a single recessive mutation which was expressed in every part of the plant and during the entire life of the plant, including the mature embryo. The mutant was unable to flower. The mutant roots, as well as the leafy organs, were short and thick, and the root elongation zone, hypocotyl and petioles were absent. The mutant plantlets responded neither to applied auxin nor to gibberellin, indicating that this phenotype was not caused by a deprivation of these phytohormones. However, unlike the wildtype, the mutant growth was stimulated by applied cytokinin, even though its morphology remained abnormal. A histological study revealed the presence of all tissue types in normal positions, including root hairs and vascular bundles. The mutant's cells were rounder in every tissue. Both shoot and root meristems were disorganized, without consistent cell shape and size. The regular cell files, which are typical of a normal root apex organization, were totally absent in the mutant root apex. Indirect immunofluorescence of α-tubulin on root apices showed the cortical microtubules in the mutant cells to be unable to form the parallel arrays in elongating cells and the preprophase band in dividing cells. This default resulted in the prevention of unidirectional cell elongation and formation of regular cell files, thus causing the trapu phenotype. This paper discusses the similarities and differences of trapu to the Arabidopsis mutants, fass and ton, trapu confirming that the establishment of plant body pattern and differentiation can be dissociated from cell elongation.
Estimating Migration Rates for Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasi) Using Tag-Recovery Data

Tag-recovery data can be used to estimate migration rates among a set of strata provided that both tagging and recoveries occur on all the strata over a number of years. The model formulation described here is a simple matrix extension of a tag-recovery experiment where individual recaptures are replaced by a matrix of recoveries representing movement between release and recovery sites. Derived parameters of emigration, immigration, and overall net survival can also be estimated. The models are applied to estimate the migration of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) between spawning grounds in the Prince Rupert District and Central District of British Columbia. Effects of the violation of assumptions and aspects of the planning of capture–recapture experiments are also presented.
The Efficacy of Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is characterized by reversible digital vasospasm triggered by exposure to cold or emotional stress. It manifests with unique ‘triphasic’ (pallor, cyanosis, erythema) or ‘biphasic’ (white, blue) color change. Clinically, RP is classified as primary RP, which does not have an underlying associated cause with a relatively benign course, and secondary RP, which predates various cause such as systemic connective tissue disease (CTD). Therefore, RP must be differentiated for detection of emerging CTD such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus, and mixed conective tissue disease, ect. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a non-invasive morphological study used routinely with antinuclear antibodies for parallel of secondary RP. A recent study showed NFC to be the best predictor of transition from a primary RP to secondary RP. The well-established role of NFC for early diagnosis of SSc, and potential for monitoring disease progression and predictive clinical complication makes NFC an important tool in research and clinical practice. In this paper, I present a recent update with emphasis on its possible role as a reliable diagnostic tool and biomarker in secondary RP. (J Rheum Dis 2015;22:69-75)
Effects of drought on leaf area development, biomass production and nitrogen uptake of durum wheat grown in a Mediterranean environment

A field experiment was carried out in Sardinia (Italy) on durum wheat to analyse the effects of different moisture treatments, irrigated (I), rainfed (R) and stressed (S), on leaf area index (LAI), radiation intercepted (Q) and water use (WU), efficiency of conversion of radiation and water into dry matter (RUE and WUE), nitrogen uptake and carbon and nitrogen partitioning in the above-ground part of the plant. In the period between beginning of stem elongation and heading, drought affected the maximum LA1 in the most stressed treatment (4.7 in S v. about 6.9 in R and I), but not Q and WU. RUE was also lowered by drought in this period (0.68 in S v. about 0.95 g MJ-1 in R and I) as a reduced biomass was recorded in S at heading (528gm-2 in S v. 777 g m-2 on average in R and I). In contrast with the previous period, the reduction in LA1 between heading and maximum ear weight (MEW) determined a significant reduction in Q and WU, WUE and RUE, resulting, ultimately, in notable differences in the total biomass produced until MEW (1203, 930 and 546 gm-2 in I, R and S respectively). The amount of stem reserves relocated to the grain decreased as the level of stress increased, going from 223gm-2 in I to 9gm-2 in S and was accumulated almost entirely (from 76% of the total in I to 100% in S), in the post-heading period. Nitrogen percentage was not affected by the treatments applied apart from the higher values in stem and flag leaf in S later in the growing season due to an inhibition of nitrogen translocation in S. The total nitrogen uptake was lower in S (12.3gm-2) than in I (16.6gm-2) only as a consequence of the different dry matter accumulation patterns. The importance of WUE in this type of Mediterranean environment is discussed, with particular concern to the key role of modulation of leaf area development through the growing season.
Additives to reduce phosphorus excretion and phosphorus solubility in poultry and swine manure

In the past 20 years, scientists have realised that environmental contamination by non-point source nutrients is a significant problem and its control is not easily managed. Manure phosphorus was found to be a primary pollutant of surface water, so methods to reduce manure phosphorus runoff have been a research focus. This review concentrates on approaches developed to reduce the excretion of manure phosphorus and to reduce the soluble phosphorus content of manure by poultry and swine. Addition of phytase to poultry and swine diets reduces phosphorus excretion dramatically. For example, phytase addition lowered broiler manure phosphorus by 10–56%, hen manure phosphorus by 41%, growing–finishing pig manure phosphorus by 21–51% and weaning–growing pig manure phosphorus by 20–25%. Phytase also improves the availability of other nutrients. Addition of vitamin D and its metabolites increases phosphorus retention by 31–79%, while use of this vitamin and its metabolites with phytase improved phosphorus retention by 79%. Further research is needed in the use of organic acids, probiotics and starch and their impact on manure phosphorus reduction. Ratios of dietary calcium:total phosphorus in the range of 1.1:1 to 1.4:1 appear to provide the best efficiency of supplemental phytase and D3 in broilers. Determination of dietary phosphorus requirements for each growth phase is vital, as is accurate and quick measurement of phosphorus contents in feeds. Certain chemical reagents containing aluminium, calcium or iron have been found effective in reducing the solubility of phosphorus, when added to manure or litter. Research reports have shown that reagents containing aluminium reduced phosphorus solubility in manure by 39–100%. Compounds containing iron decreased phosphorus solubility by 48–95%, while calcium compounds reduced soluble phosphorus by 65%. Fly ash containing aluminium, iron and calcium may also be used to lower soluble phosphorus content in manures.
Innovation systems and policy design: The European experience

There is a growing interest in a better understanding of the logic and design of innovation policies. Although many different innovation base theories have tried to explain the innovation phenomena, the systemic innovation approach constitutes a reference point for scholars and policy makers. However, this perspective also finds difficulties in its application, mainly concerning the formulation and design of innovation policies. To overcome these inconveniences, we have reviewed the market failure theories, the functional and the activities approach in an attempt to provide a framework of reference for the implementation of innovation policies. Finally, we have introduced the case of the EU as a paradigmatic example of the formulation and implementation of innovation policies in a unique scenario with multiple National Members States, regional bodies and a common coordinating mechanism of policymaking.
Environmental disclosure in annual reports: A legitimacy theory perspective

In recent years, corporations have increasingly used their annual reports to voluntarily disclose information relating to their social actions, particularly those concerning the natural environment. The conventional accounting framework, with its emphasis on decision-usefulness, has largely proved unsatisfactory in explaining this practice, as have various economic theories. This paper uses a legitimacy theory framework to explain why companies engage in this type of voluntary reporting. This research contributes to the accounting literature by advancing legitimacy theory as a framework for examining environmental reporting and applying this in an effort to understand the environmental disclosure practices of two Canadian pulp and paper companies.
Field use by farmland birds in winter: an analysis of field type preferences using resampling methods

This study examined the habitat preferences of 26 field-feeding bird species wintering on mixed, lowland farmland. Resampling methods were used to determine for each species whether the total number of birds recorded on each field type over the winter differed from that expected if birds were distributed randomly. Grazed grass fields were generally preferred by invertebrate-feeding species and avoided by seed-eaters. Ungrazed grass fields were used relatively more by seed-eating species, and less by invertebrate-feeders than grazed fields. Cereal and oilseed stubbles were strongly preferred by seed-eating species, in some cases to the virtual exclusion of other field types. Winter cereals were almost universally avoided, although there was some evidence that a few species made more use of organic cereal fields than those under conventional management. These results are consistent with likely variations in invertebrate and seed food availability between field types, and suggest that a mixed farming landsca.
Benthic disturbance by fishing gear in the Irish Sea: a comparison of beam trawling and scallop dredging

1. The distribution of effort for the most frequently used mobile demersal gears in the Irish Sea was examined and their potential to disturb different benthic communities calculated. Fishing effort data, expressed as the number of days fished, was collated for all fleets operating in the Irish Sea in 1994. For each gear, the percentage of the seabed swept by those parts of the gear that penetrate the seabed was calculated. 2. For all gears, the majority of fishing effort was concentrated in the northern Irish Sea. Effort was concentrated in three main locations: on the muddy sediments between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (otter and Nephrops trawling); off the north Wales, Lancashire and Cumbrian coast (beam trawling); the area surrounding the Isle of Man (scallop dredging). 3. In some areas, e.g. between Anglesey and the Isle of Man, the use of scallop dredges and beam trawls was coincident. A comparative experimental study revealed that scallop dredges caught much less by-catch than beam trawls. Multivariate analysis revealed that both gears modified the benthic community in a similar manner, causing a reduction in the abundance of most epifaunal species. 4. Although beam trawling disturbed the greatest area of seabed in 1994, the majority of effort occurred on grounds which supported communities that are exposed to high levels of natural disturbance. Scallop dredging, Nephrops and otter trawling were concentrated in areas that either have long-lived or poorly studied communities. The latter highlights the need for more detailed knowledge of the distribution of sublittoral communities that are vulnerable to fishing disturbance. ©British Crown Copyright 1996.
Flight of green vegetable bugs Nezara viridula (L.) in relation to environmental variables

Flight duration of green vegetable bugs [Nezara viridula (L.)] was studied using tethered insects. The flight duration of the bugs, which was measured as a function of post‐ecdysis age, peaked on the eighth day and thereafter declined significantly with age. There was no difference in flight capacity between males and females, but flight durations were significantly different between virgin and mated bugs at ages from six to 12 days after ecdysis, with more virgin bugs than mated ones flying for extended periods. In another experiment, food deprivation and withholding of a mate increased the flight durations of males and females. Increasing temperature (20 to 30 °C), however, retarded the flight ability in both diapausing and non‐diapausing bugs, and none of the individuals tested flew for 30 min or longer at a temperature of 30 °C. Preliminary field observations suggest that the bugs may make massed migratory flights before they diapause, and it seems that females may do so as virgins. The results are discussed in relation to the host plant requirements and the population dynamics of N. viridula.
Diel vertical migration of sea scallop larvae Placopecten magellanicus in a shallow embayment

Vertical distribution of sea scallop larvae was studied while anchored for 50 h at a shallow location (< 25 m) off Grand Manan Island in the outer Bay of Fundy. Changes in the depth-averaged concentration of larvae (no. m-3) were unrelated to changes in the centre of mass (ZCM) of larvae, and appear to reflect the movement of a patch (or patches) 01 larvae back and forth past the anchor station. A small-amplitude diel vertical migration, comparable to observations under controlled conditions, was indicated by changes in the ZCM. During the day the ZCM ranged from 5.2 to 11.5 m, while at night the ZCM was shallower and less variable (4.1 to 6.8 m). The concentration of all size groups was greatly reduced within 1 to 8 m of the bottom, and evidence for vertical stratification by size was lacking. Sea scallop larvae appear to be unable to form aggregations below a critical level of water column stratification.
The Bigger The Fewer: Size, Taxonomic Diversity and The Range of Chlorophyll(Ide) Pigments in Oxygen-Evolving Marine Photolithotrophs

There is a greater diversity of spectrally distinct chlorophyll(ide) pigments in individuals of many of the large number of higher taxa of marine oxygen-evolvers which contain only small organisms than in those few higher taxa which also (or only) have large-sized organisms. The occurrence of more types of pigment in smaller organisms can be mechanistically related to the lesser degree of self-shading in smaller organisms, thus allowing spectral diversity to be reflected in enhanced photon absorption from a given light field as a result of multiple spectral forms of chlorophyll(ide)s. This provides a mechanistic basis with ecological significance for the greater chlorophyll(ide) diversity in small marine O2-evolvers which show greater biodiversity at the level of higher taxa than do classes or divisions which are comprised only, or predominantly, of macrophytes (Ulvophyceae, Rhodophyta, Phaetophyta, seagrasses).
Book Reviews

An essay review of The Failed Promise of the American High School 1890–1995 by David L. Angus and Jeffrey E. Mirel, New York: Teachers College Press, 1999, Moral Education in America: Schools and the Shaping of Character from Colonial Times to the Present by B. Edward McClellan, New York: Teachers College Press, 1999, and Schooled to Work: Vocationalism and the American Curriculum, 1876–1946 by Herbert M. Kliebard, New York: Teachers College Press, 1999.
Guest Editorial

The approach we took was to develop some preliminary propositions addressing what Graham Martin has described in the editorial of this e-Journal, issue 1, 2002, as a 'foggy conceptual area'. We hypothesised that the promotion of mental health should not only result in decreasing levels of some mental illnesses, but also in improving physical health. It should also result in increasing educational performance of children in school, increasing productivity of workers in business and industry, and improving relationships within families and reducing crime.