Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Out of the woods and into the lab: exploring the strange marriage of American woodcraft and Soviet ecology in Czech environmentalism

It is widely assumed that modern environmentalist thinking was imported into post-communist states such as the Czech Republic post 1989. This paper shows these countries had environmental traditions of their own. From its inception in the late 1950s Czech environmentalism was concerned with nature conservation and youth education. At the core of its pedagogy was a concern to educate about and in nature, following the woodcraft and scouting tradition. But formal educational experiences were also significant. Environmental problems were framed as exclusively scientific issues by communist higher education systems. Thus, Czech environmentalism was a blend of the officially sanctioned rational and scientific perception of environmental issues and a more independent romanticising undercurrent. We show how Czech post-war environmental politics blended Soviet ecology with covert references to the mythology of American West, the virtues of pristine nature and of individual freedom. This heritage allowed Czech environmentalism to adapt to both communist and capitalist systems. However, it also meant it was not equipped to deliver a strategic or systematic critique of either. Our research helps to explain the surprisingly muted role of environmentalism in post-communist politics, and confirms the importance of nuanced and culturally specific analyses of the history of environmental politics.
Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense enhances the quality of mesquite Prosopis juliflora seedlings

Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria in plants can improve their growth and physiological status, which could be particularly important for agricultural and forestry plants used for the revegetation of arid areas. Prosopis juliflora is a forest pioneer species that is drought resistant and has multiple uses (fodder, shade and shelter for livestock; timber and firewood, live fences and windbreaks in agroforestry systems). Azospirillum brasilense is a rhizobacterium that improves the growth of many agricultural crops. The hypothesis of this study was that P. juliflora seedlings produced in the nursery can respond positively to inoculation with A. brasilense CECT 590. Five months after inoculation, we examined the growth, water relations (osmotic potential at full turgor, osmotic potential at zero turgor, and the modulus of elasticity at full turgor), and concentration and content of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in the seedlings. Subsequently, a trial was conducted to analyse root growth potential. A. brasilense CECT 590 inoculation caused an osmotic adjustment in P. juliflora seedlings but decreased the elasticity of the cell walls. Inoculation with A. brasilense CECT 590 significantly improved plant growth due in part to an increase of N concentration in the seedlings. A. brasilense CECT 590 inoculation also caused an increase in the root growth potential. The increased growth of P. juliflora seedlings inoculated with A. brasilense was probably caused by more than one mechanism. Inoculation with A. brasilense at the nursery may be a suitable technique for producing improved seedling material for restoration purposes.
Oral Water-Soluble Contrast Agent as the Definitive Treatment of Uncomplicated Adhesive Bowel Obstruction in Infants and Neonates

Aim: To assess feasibility, safety and long-term outcome of a water-soluble contrast agent (GastrografinTM) in surgical neonates/infants who present with ABSO. Method: 18 Neonates, who continued to exhibits signs of intestinal obstruction after one week post surgery, were given 1-2 mls/kg of oral Gastrografin for 5-8 days. Result: All but one patient could be fed within 12 hours and discharged home soon afterwards. A single patient retuned 6 months later with ABSO and was similarly treated again. There was no mobility or mortality due to this technique. Main Conclusion: Gastrografin contrast give orally can result in relief of ABSO, as similarly described in adult and older children.
Trapping interactions of crabs and American lobster in laboratory tanks

The relationship between trap catches of decapods and their abundance is not well established. Because it is difficult to manipulate density in the field, laboratory tanks were used to examine 10 hypotheses about the intra- and interspecific interactions of rock crab (Cancer irroratus), green crab (Carcinus maenas), and American lobster (Homarus americanus). The proportion of rock crabs captured did not differ among high, medium, and low densities, but the proportion captured was reduced at high densities for both green crabs and lobsters. Additional experiments demonstrated that large green and rock crabs in the tanks reduced the catch of small green and rock crabs and that the presence of lobsters reduced the catch of both crab species considerably. However, small rock crabs did not reduce the catch of large rock crabs, and neither green nor rock crabs reduced the catch of each other. Reductions in the catch of a target species caused by interactions in the field can perhaps be lessened by removing the .
Eosinophil Chemotactic Factor

An eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) can be released from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by arachidonic acid (AA), its methyl ester, but not by other derivatives such as AA ethyl ester and arachidonyl acetate. The ECF is highly specific for eosinophils and does not attract polymorphonuclear neutrophils. A dose-dependent non-cytotoxic ECF release induced by AA can be obtained from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils from a lymphocyte-monocyte-basophil suspension, from rat basophil leukemia cells, but not from human lymphocytes. Kinetic studies demonstrate that ECF release occurs rapidly with an early rise and steep fall-off at later times of secretion. The amount of ECF release is dependent on pH, temperature and medium which is used for stimulation. Gel filtration analysis as well as subcellular fractionation studies suggest that the AA-induced ECF is a biological activity either distinct from AA and its split products or representing a known or unknown conversion product of AA with potent effects on eosinophils at minimal concentrations. AA may therefore represent an important mechanism of cell activation.
A cluster of male pseudohermaphrodites with 5α‐reductase deficiency in Papua New Guinea

We report a cluster of male pseudohermaphrodites from the Simbari Anga linguistic group in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. These subjects are born with a rudimentary clitoral‐like penis and pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias. At puberty, the penis enlarges with concurrent growth of pubic and axillary hair and significant muscular development. There is significant facial hair, but it is less than that of their normal male siblings or other male relatives. Plasma collected from four adult subjects revealed elevated plasma testosterone levels, low to low normal dihydrotestosterone levels, and elevated testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratios. All subjects had high urinary aetiocholanolone/androsterone ratios, and C12 and C21 5β/5α metabolite ratios. Decreased 5ot‐reductase activity was demonstrated in fibroblasts cultured from genital skin. The data indicate a phenotypic and biochemical profile similar to patients studied in the Dominican Republic, except tor a greater abundance of facial and body hair. The phenotypic variability, as pertains to facial and body hair, may be related to differences in familial expression, as well as the degree of enzyme deficiency. Infants, thought to be females at birth, were reared as girls until puberty in a society practising one of the strictest gender segregations known. At puberty, these ‘girls’ were discovered to be boys, and a switch of gender roles was instituted. Recently, however, some Muniri, Dunkwi and northern Simbari hamlets recognize these individuals as male in infancy and rear them as boys, calling them ‘kwalatmala’ to distinguish them from normal males, accepting them as an intersex destined to occupy male adult roles.
Inheritance of Yield-Related Traits in Climbing Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a traditional crop that has high productivity compared to bush beans. Very little research has been done on climbing beans in comparison to bush beans, and the genetics of its high yield potential are not well understood. The objectives of this work were (i) to evaluate genetic correlations between growth cycle and yield, (ii) to determine the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling these phenological and productivity traits, (iii) to compare QTL for seed yield and yield components with QTL for climbing ability in a recombinant inbred line population derived from crossing the climbing bean G2333 by the bush bean G19839, and (iv) to determine heritability for each variable. The experiment was grown on trellises and repeated across four environments, two of which were contrasting for phosphorus fertilization. The results show that inheritance of yield components is simpler and of higher heritability than seed yield itself. Some yield-related QTL were overlapping across environments while others were independent. A total of four QTL were found for yield, while a total of 12 QTL were found for yield component traits. The higher heritability of seed weight allowed the detection of nine QTL for this trait. Meanwhile, a total of six QTL were found for phenological traits, with the majority being for time to maturity rather than time to flowering since the former trait had higher heritability. We discuss the implications of these results for breeding of climbing beans.
Taming nuclear complexity with a committee of deep neural networks

We demonstrate that a committee of deep neural networks is capable of predicting the ground-state and excited energies of more than 1800 atomic nuclei with an accuracy akin to the one achieved by state-of-the-art nuclear energy density functionals (EDFs) and a major speed-up. An active learning strategy is proposed to train this algorithm with a minimal set of 210 nuclei. This approach enables future fast studies of the influence of EDFs parametrizations on structure properties over the whole nuclear chart and suggests that for the first time an artificial intelligence successfully encoded the laws of nuclear deformation.
Phenotypic Plasticity in Common Crackles (Quiscalus quiscula) in Response to Repeated Brood Parasitism

ABSTRACT. Many North American bird species either accept or reject all Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) eggs, but the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is unusual in that it rejects a small proportion of experimentally introduced cowbird eggs. We tested whether individual Common Grackles and eight typical rejecter species were consistent in their responses by parasitizing nests a second time after initial cowbird eggs were ejected. We also assessed intraclutch variation in egg appearance in Common Grackles to determine whether it may influence phenotypic plasticity in rejection frequency. Rejections were recorded at 11.9% of 337 experimentally parasitized Common Grackle nests. Only 6 (33.3%) of 18 Common Grackles that ejected initial cowbird eggs also ejected a second experimentally added cowbird egg, however, which suggests that individuals that possess rejection behavior express it only 33.3% of the time. By contrast, the other eight rejecter species rejected between 91% and 100% of initial cowbird eggs (n = 302) and rejected 100% of second cowbird eggs (n = 125). Common Grackles are unique in three ways: they reject eggs at a low frequency, they have a high rate of intraclutch variation in egg appearance, and they exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to repeated parasitism. It is difficult to ascertain the significance of these attributes, but combined with the fact that Common Grackles are rarely parasitized by cowbirds but may have been parasitized more frequently in the past, they suggest that egg rejection has no current adaptive value and may incur a cost such that Common Grackles may be losing rejection via drift or direct selection.
Ecology and Evolution of Physiological Time in Insects

The fact that development rate of insects changes with temperature implies that the rate at which time passes for a developing insect depends upon the temperature regime it experiences. Understanding this so-called physiological time is of the utmost importance in explaining adaptations of insect life histories to resources that vary seasonally. This paper summarizes data on development rate for 54 species of insects and data on annual temperature regimes on an elevational and a latitudinal gradient. It then treats the curve representing temperature-dependent development as a filter of the temperature regimes during various seasons. The analysis points out several new evolutionary consequences of the position and shape of the development rate curve in relation to season and location. (1) If the criterion for maximizing fitness is fastest development accumulation, the optimal development curve can be specified. (2) In locations with high midsummer temperatures selection could favor different development curves in spring and summer and lead to polymorphism or species replacement in these seasons. (3) If the criterion is appropriate timing, some interesting possibilities emerge. (a) The importance of host-plant choice by a phytophageous insect may depend on season in locations with hot summers. (b) Development rate curves that appear to give equivalent timing at one season may actually lead to opposite responses to year-to-year changes in the temperature regime and to very different timings in different seasons. (c) Interactions between species which have temperature-dependent development rates may lead to coevolutionary changes in their respective development curves. (4) Selection along elevational and latitudinal gradients may lead to clinal variation in the development rate curve or to species replacement.
Search for dark matter induced de-excitation of $^{180}$Ta$\rm ^m$

Weak-scale dark matter particles, in collisions with nuclei, can mediate transitions between different nuclear energy levels. In particular, owing to sizeable momentum exchange, dark matter particles can enable de-excitation of nuclear isomers that are extremely long lived with respect to regular radioactive decays. In this paper, we utilize data from a past experiment with $^{180}$Ta$\rm ^m$ to search for $\gamma$-lines that would accompany dark matter induced de-excitation of this isomer. Non-observation of such transitions above background yields the first direct constraint on the lifetime of $^{180}$Ta$\rm ^m$ against DM-initiated transitions: $T_{1/2}>1.3\times 10^{14}$~a at 90\% C.I. Using this result, we derive novel constraints on dark matter models with strongly interacting relics, and on models with inelastic dark matter particles. Existing constraints are strengthened by this independent new method. The obtained limits are also valid for the Standard Model $\gamma$-decay of $^{180}$Ta$\rm ^m$.
The Quantitative Incidence Function Model and Persistence of an Endangered Butterfly Metapopulation

The incidence function model is derived from a linear first-order Markov chain of the presence or absence of a species in a habitat patch. The model can be parameterized with “snapshot” presence/absence data from a patch network. Using the estimated parameter values the Markov chain can be iterated in the same or in some other patch network to generate quantitative predictions about transient metapopulation dynamics and the stochastic steady state. We tested the ability of the incidence function model to predict patch occupancy using extensive data on an endangered butterfly, the Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) Parameter values were estimated with data collected from a 50-patch network in 1991. In 1993 we surveyed the entire geographic range of the species in Finland, within an area of 50 × 70 km2, with 1502 habitat patches (dry meadows) of which 536 were occupied. Model predictions were generated for the 1502 patches and were compared with the observed pattern of occupancy in 1993. The model predicted patch occupancy well in more than half of the study area, but prediction was poor for one quarter of the area, probably because of regional variation in habitat quality and because metapopulations may have been perturbed away from the steady state. The incidence function model provides a practical tool for making quantitative predictions about metapopulation dynamics of species living in fragmented landscapes.
Sparking Manufacturing Innovation: How Temporary Interplant Assignments Increase Employee Idea Values

Shop-floor employees play a key role in manufacturing innovation. In some companies, up to 75% of all productivity gains are the result of bottom-up employee ideas. In this paper, we examine how employee interplant assignments—short problem-solving jobs at other manufacturing plants within the same firm—influence employee-driven manufacturing innovation. Using unique idea-level data from a large European car parts manufacturer, we show that interplant assignments significantly increase the value of employees’ improvement ideas due to the short-term transfer of production knowledge and long-term employee learning. Both effects are amplified by assignments to plants that have high functional overlap (i.e., plants producing similar products using similar processes and machinery). One implication is that, for the purpose of employee-driven manufacturing innovation, assignments between peripheral plants with high functional overlap can be more effective than assignments to and from central plants. These findings are robust to several econometric tests. Our study provides novel and detailed empirical evidence of manufacturing innovation, and goes beyond previous research on the learning curve (learning by doing) by investigating how interplant assignments affect the value of employees’ improvement ideas (learning by moving). This paper was accepted by Charles J. Corbett, operations management.
Population dynamics of leaf-cutting ant nests in a Paraguayan pasture

An area of approximately 150 ha was surveyed for the occurrence of nests. A sub-area of 39 ha was delimitated in which certain distribution characteristics of the nests were assessed. An attempt was made to determine the pass-by time of the dead nests (this is the timespan which elapsed since the death of the inhabiting colonies) by estimating the age of the trees which had developed on top of the dead ant nests. Tree ages were estimated by ring counts of three pioneer species which most frequently invaded the originally bare nests and by extrapolation from tree circumference measurements. Nests were devided into (pass-by time) age classes accordingly. The ant nests of each age class are randomly distributed with respect to 1 ha squares within the delimitated area studied. The average age of the adult living nests (older than 2 1/2 years) within the delimitated area was estimated at 7.4 years. By comparing aerial photographs of the study area of different years (1944 and 1973) it was estimated that the number of living and dead nests increased from 1944 to 1973 from 12 to 45 and 9 to 131 respectively. Based on these estimates an attempt was made to calculate the additional average life expectancy of colonies which reached an age of 3 years. This additional life expectancy was estimated at 7.13 years. The apparent relatively abrupt increase in the number of nests in the study area suggests that certain changes occurred in the area. The contribution of increasing land use activities in the area as a possible cause of the increasing ant nest density is discussed. Zusammenfassung Zur Populationsdynamik von Blattschneiderameisen-Nestern in einem paraguayischen Weideland Es wurde ein Gebiet von 150 ha auf das Vorkommen von Ameisennestern hin untersucht. Ein Teilgebiet von 39 ha wurde ausgewahlt, in welchem bestimmte Verbreitungsmerkmale der Nester registriert wurden. Dabei wurde die seit dem Absterben des Nestes vergangene Zeit aus der Berechnung des Alters der sich auf den Nestern entwickelnden Baume (Jaherringzahlung, Extrapolation von Baumumfangmessungen) bestimmt. Die Ameisennester jeder Altersklasse waren zufallig uber 1 ha-Quadrate innerhalb des Untersuchungsgebietes verteilt. Das mittlere Alter von Nestern mit lebenden erwachsenen Ameisen (Mindestalter 2 1/2 Jahre) wurde auf 7,4 Jahre bestimmt. Beim Vergleich von Luftfotos des Gebietes aus verschiedenen Jahren (1944 und 1973) wurde festgestellt, das in diesen 29 Jahren die Zahl der lebenden Nester von 12 auf 45, die der toten von 9 auf 131 gestiegen war. Auf der Grundlage dieser Ermittlung wurde versucht, die zusatzliche mittlere Lebenserwartung der Kolonien, die ein Alter von 3 Jahren erreicht hatten, zu kalkulieren. Es ergab sich eine Lebenserwartung von 7,13 Jahren. Die sichtbare, relativ plotzliche Zunahme der Zahl der Nester im Untersuchungsgebiet deutet auf die Wirkung bestimmter Umweltfaktoren hin. Die zunehmende Landnutzung als ein moglicher Faktor fur das Ansteigen der Nestdichte wird naher betrachtet.
Expression and distribution of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factors in the rat kidney1

Expression and distribution of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factors in the rat kidney. Background Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are small guanosine triphosphatases involved in membrane traffic regulation. Aiming to explore the possible involvement of ARF1 and ARF6 in the reabsorptive properties of the nephron, we evaluated their distribution along the different renal epithelial segments. Methods ARFs were detected by immunofluorescence and immunogold cytochemistry on renal sections, using specific anti-ARF antibodies. Results ARF1 was detected in proximal and distal tubules, thick ascending limbs of Henle's loops, and cortical and medullary collecting ducts. By immunofluorescence, labeling was mostly localized to the cell cytoplasm, particularly in Golgi areas. By electron microscopy, the Golgi apparatus and the endosomal compartment of proximal and distal tubular cells were labeled. ARF6 immunofluorescence was observed in brush border membranes and the cytoplasm of proximal convoluted tubular cells, whereas it was restricted to the apical border of proximal straight tubules. ARF6 immunogold labeling was detected over microvilli and endocytic compartments of proximal tubular cells. Conclusions This study demonstrates the following: ( a ) the heterogeneous distributions of ARF1 and ARF6 along the nephron, ( b ) the existence of cytosolic and membrane-bound forms for both ARFs, and ( c ) their association with microvilli and endocytic compartments, suggesting an active participation in renal reabsorption.
FARMER PARTICIPATION IN COMMON BEAN GENOTYPE EVALUATION: THE CASE OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Advanced genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were tested on-station and on-farm to evaluate their performance and acceptability under farmers' circumstances. Farmers were given seed of the genotypes to plant a minimum area of 100 m2 to be grown as a sole crop or intercropped with sorghum according to their preference. Yield, seed colour, taste, maturity time, disease reaction, growth habit and many other bean characteristics were assessed by farmers. The promising genotypes were higher yielding than the farmers' genotypes in most testing sites. Pairwise ranking of the genotypes showed that in export-oriented western Hararghe, white pea bean (navy bean) type Awash-1 and food bean G-2816 were preferred. In eastern Hararghe GLP ×92 and G-2816 were highly preferred but white pea beans were not preferred. Genotypes in advanced observation nurseries were also evaluated by the farmers and some of the genotypes have been promoted for further testing in yield trials. Selection criteria have been proposed by the farmers in each region. Future breeding and selection of genotypes will incorporate the proposed selection criteria and priorities of the two regions.