Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some Possible Anthropogenic Threats to Breeding Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus)

It is important to understand possible threats species might suffer, especially for those species that are difficult to study and often endangered, such as large, long-lived raptors. Particularly for these species, it may be difficult to reverse or remove the effects of anthropogenic threats to populations. One very costly time during a raptor’s lifetime is the breeding season (Alcock 1998, Hanssen et al. 2005). For large, long-lived raptors, the loss of a year’s reproductive investment and the loss of breeding areas can be detrimental for the population (Newton 1979). The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is classified as ‘‘near threatened’’ globally and is included in CITES I, with some populations extirpated in part of its range in South America (BirdLife International 2004). Among the primary threat to condors is human-induced mortality, a result of the mistaken belief that condors will harm livestock. Farmers also poison and trap condors unintentionally when they try to kill pumas and foxes (see review in Lambertucci 2007). Andean Condors avoid feeding on roadkills (Speziale et al. 2008, Lambertucci et al. 2009a) and currently depend almost exclusively on exotic wild and domestic species managed by humans (Lambertucci et al. 2009b). However, human threats during the breeding season have not been studied. There are few data available on Andean Condor reproduction and nesting characteristics (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Lambertucci 2007), and only one published record of Andean Condors breeding in Argentina (Lambertucci and Mastrantuoni 2008). However, it is known that younger individuals have higher mortality rates than older individuals of this species (Temple and Wallace 1989). The few Andean Condor nests that have been described are generally situated on cliffs inaccessible to predators, with good winds in the immediate area (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). We here describe some characteristics of Andean Condor nest sites that might make this species vulnerable to human disturbance, particularly in areas of increasing human population.
A Hybrid Intelligent Controlled DC-DC Converter for Photovoltaic energy system application

A photovoltaic (PV) power generation system under partial shaded conditions (PSC) exhibits multiple power peaks in the power-voltage (P-V) characteristic curve and traditional optimization methods fail to detect the global maximum power point (GMPP). This paper proposes a hybrid intelligent algorithm by combining particle swarm optimization with chaos searching technique (CSTPSO) to improve the maximum power point (MPP) tracking capability for PV system under partial shading condition. The key advantage of the proposed technique is the elimination of PI control loops using direct duty cycle control method. Furthermore, since the CSTPSO is based on optimized search method, it overcomes the common drawback of the conventional MPPT. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method outperforms others method in terms of global peak (GP) tracking speed and accuracy under various partial shading conditions. Furthermore , it is tested using data of a tropical cloudy day, which includes rapid movement of the passing clouds and partial shading.
Research on the Detection of Network Intrusion Prevention With Svm Based Optimization Algorithm

Supp o rt vector machine ( SVM ) has a good application in intrusion detection, but its performance needs to be further improved. This study mainly analyzed the optimization algorithm of SVM . F irst ly, the principle of SVM was introduced , then SVM was improved using w hale o ptimization a lgorithm (WOA) , the WOA was improved , the intrusion detection method based on IW OA -SVM was analyzed , and experiments were carried out on KDD CUP99 to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm . The results show ed that the IWAO-SVM algorithm was more accurate in attack detection ; compared with SVM, PSO-SVM and ACO-SVM algorithms , the performance of the IWAO-SVM algorithm wa s better, the detection rate was 99.89%, the precision rat io wa s 99.92%, the accuracy rate wa s 99.86%, and the detection time wa s 192 s, showing that it had high precision in intrusion detection. The experimental results verify the reliability of the IWAO-SVM algorithm , and it can be promoted and applied in the detection of network intrusion prevention.
Physiological individual-based modelling of larval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) foraging and growth: insights on climate-driven life-history scheduling

Hufnagl, M. , and Peck, M. A. 2011. Physiological individual-based modelling of larval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) foraging and growth: insights on climate-driven life-history scheduling. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1170–1188.A physiological individual-based model for the foraging and growth of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae was constructed, validated using laboratory and field data, tested for parameter sensitivity, and used to examine climate-driven constraints on life-history scheduling. Model scenarios examined how natural (phenological and magnitude) changes in key environmental factors (temperature, prey, and photoperiod/daylength) affected the estimates of survival and growth of spring- and autumn-spawned larvae. The most suitable hatching seasons agreed well with the periods of larval abundance in Northeast Atlantic waters. Modelled survival is unlikely in June, July, and November. Mean annual temperature, prey concentration, and composition significantly influenced larval growth of both autumn and spring spawners. The model suggested that climate-driven changes in bottom-up factors will affect spring- and autumn-spawned larvae in different ways. It is unlikely that autumn-spawning herring will be able to avoid unfavourable conditions by delaying their spawning time or by utilizing more northern spawning grounds because of limitations in daylength to larval growth and survival. Conversely, earlier spawning in spring, or later, midsummer spawning will be tightly constrained by match–mismatch dynamics between larvae and zooplankton production.
Reference interval and the role of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) in subclinical cardiac dysfunction at health checkups

Soluble ST2 (sST2) is known to predict adverse outcomes and death in individuals with established heart failure. However, the role of sST2 testing in the general population has not been established. The aims of this study were to determine the reference interval (RI) and the clinical utility of sST2 in subclinical cardiac dysfunction in general population.
Determination of in vitro antioxidant activities of different extracts of Marrubium parviflorum Fish et Mey. and Lamium amplexicaule L. from South east of Turkey.

This study was designed to determine the in vitro antioxidant activities of methanol and hexane extracts of Marrubium parviflorum Fish et Mey. and Lamium amplexicaule L. from Lamiaceae and their total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and phenolic acid content. The extracts were screened for their possible antioxidant potentials by β-carotene/linoleic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and ABTS, power reducing, metal chelating and DNA nicking assays. The methanol extracts of these plants exhibited significant antioxidant activities determined by different these assays and contained significant levels of phenolics. Total phenolic content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Phenolic contents of the methanol extracts were found 332.93 ± 26.90 and 183.36 ± 14.78 mg GAE/g dry weight, respectively. The amounts of phenolic acids in the extracts were characterized by a reverse-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) method that used in the gradient elution employing diode array detection. The most abundant phenolic acid detected by HPLC-DAD in the methanol extracts was rosmarinic acid in M. parviflorum whereas valinic acid was observed in the methanol extract of L. amplexicaule. This study shows that methanol extracts of the plants have higher activities than their hexane extract, except DNA protecting activity (p < 0.05). Key words: Marrubium parviflorum, Lamium amplexicaule, antioxidant activity, phenolics, high performance liquid chromatography.
Cardiac chronotropic and inotropic responses evoked from right or left sides of dorsomedial hypothalamus

We previously reported a functional asymmetry in the descending cardiovascular pathways from dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). Right DMH is critical for expressing full tachycardic responses to stress, and its activation evokes more pronounced tachycardia compared to left DMH. We next evaluated the cardiac chronotropic and inotropic responses evoked by right (R) or left (L) sides of DMH. In anesthetized adult male Wistar rats (n=7) we compared changes in LVP, LVdP/dt, ECG, and AP evoked by a microinjection of a GABAA antagonist bicuculline (40pmol/100nl) into L‐ or R‐DMH. R‐DMH activation evoked greater increases in HR (Δ: R 108±12 vs. L 63±9bpm), LVP (Δ: R 43±10 vs. L 22±5mmHg) and LVdP/dtpeak (Δ: R 106±17 vs. L 77±15%) compared to the L‐DMH activation (P<0.05 for all), whereas pressor responses were similar for both sides. R‐DMH activation provoked greater number of ectopic beats (Δ: R 16±10 vs. L 7±3 ectopic beats/10min, P<0.05). No differences were found in ECG intervals after L‐ or R‐DMH activation. Atenolol (2mg/kg i.v.) blocked cardiac chronotropic and inotropic responses evoked by unilateral L‐ or R‐DMH activation. We conclude that right DMH has dominant effects on cardiac inotropic and chronotropic changes, and that it may be involved in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias. Support: FAPEMIG‐PPM and CNPq.
How do organisms change size with changing temperature? The importance of reproductive method and ontogenetic timing

Summary 1. The ‘temperature-size rule’ (TSR) is a widely observed phenomenon within ectothermic species: individuals reared at lower temperatures grow more slowly, but are larger as adults than individuals reared at warmer temperatures. Although the TSR is common and of widespread ecological importance, it is not known whether there is a general physiological mechanism causing the TSR or even if species share a similar pattern of thermal response across ontogeny. 2. We constructed a conceptual model to show that binary division forces growth (g) and development (D) rates to return to a fixed ratio in unicellular organisms exposed to a change in temperature. After a period of decoupling during thermal acclimation, these rates must be restored to maintain a fixed ratio of adult:progeny size. However, the relationship between adult and progeny size need not be fixed in multicellular organisms at different temperatures, and hence growth and development rates need not have a fixed ratio either. 3. We conducted a meta-analysis on data of metazoan ontogenetic responses to temperature which demonstrates that adult size shows a much stronger temperature–size response than progeny size, and reveals variation in size response among other life cycle phases. 4. This study shows fundamental differences in the operation of the TSR in unicellular and multicellular organisms, suggesting that a general physiological mechanism causing the TSR is unlikely. Our findings also reveal the value of analysing shifts in size through the life cycle and across generations: these will yield a more complete quantitative description of how, and potentially provide clues to why, body size responds to temperature.
The significance of multigerm seedballs in the genus Beta

The presence of multigcrm seed balls in the genus Belli (Chcnopodiaceae) is noted. The distribution of such a multigerm seedball could effectively overcome problems caused by long-distance dispersal and subsequent isolation of such obligately outbrceding species. This hypothesis was tested by assessing the extent of intra­ seedball hybridization and successful seed production. which demonstrated that such sccdball progenies arc interfertile and so can colonize new areas in isolation from the parent populations.
Qualitative and Quantitative Engineering Criteria of Restaurant Wine Lists

Abstract Globalisation has increased competition in the wine market. In this context, wine salespeople may find it useful to understand how restaurant owners design their wine lists, as this might give them ideas about which wines would suit their current wine lists. Our research aims at analysing experts' opinions about wine list structure and content as well as restaurant menu engineering criteria. Using both a qualitative and a quantitative analysis, we examine a sample of upscale restaurants. Results shows that the wine list is mainly a very personal instrument as a result of a combination of wine love, innovation and risk, used by the restaurant owner for projecting the restaurant image.
SEQUENTIAL CHROMOSOMAL ALTERATIONS IN RAT LIVER EPITHELIAL CELLS DURING AFLATOXIN-INDUCED NEOPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION IN VITRO

AbstractChromosomal changes in liver epithelial cells undergoing AFB1* induced transformation were studied in two well-characterized epithelial cell cultures derived from rat liver. Diploid liver cells, which did not possess any in vitro transformation marker or the ability to induce tumors in vivo, were treated with the hepatocarcinogen AFB1 and the karyotypes were analyzed sequentially at regular intervals. Although a high percentage of aneuploid cells was seen after AFB1 treatment, no “stem-line” was formed during the period studied. Marker chromosomes appeared prior to the acquisition of malignant potential in liver cells treated repeatedly with AFB1. Chromosomes #1 and #2, were found to be preferentially involved in the formation of marker chromosomes induced by AFB1. Neither marker chromosomes nor malignant potential were noted for 22 weeks after a single treatment with AFB1, to an asynchronous population of rat liver cells. However, when a semi-synchronous population of liver cells were treated onc.
Stem-water Potential as a Sensitive Indicator of Water Stress in Prune Trees (Prunus domestica L. cv. French)

Additional index words. evapotranspiration, leaf-water potential, soil water, stomatal conductance Abstract. The relative sensitivity of plant- and soil-based measures of water availability were compared for prune trees subjected to a range of irrigation regimes under field conditions. Over the growing season, leaf- and stem-water potentials (ψ) measured at midday exhibited clear differences between frequently irrigated trees and unirrigated trees that were growing on stored soil moisture. Stem ψ was less variable than leaf ψ, ψ, and the daily variability in stem ψ ψ was closely related to daily variability in evaporative demands, as measured by vapor pressure deficit (VPD). As a result of lower variability, stem ψ reflected the small stress effect of a moderate, 50% soil moisture depletion irrigation interval, whereas leaf ψ did not. The relation between soil water content and estimated orchard evapo- transpiration (ET) was influenced by local differences in soil texture within the experimental plot. The relation between stem ψ and ET, however, was not influenced by soil texture and, in addition, was very similar to the relation between stem ψ and leaf stomatal conductance. Both relationships indicated that a 50% reduction in leaf and canopy level water loss characteristics was associated with relatively small reductions (0.5 to 0.6 MPa) in stem ψ. ψ. Stem ψ appears to be a sensitive and reliable plant-based measure of water stress in prune and maybe a useful tool for experimental work and irrigation scheduling. Plant water stress under dry soil conditions is associated with various physiological responses, such as growth reductions and stomatal closure, which can reduce plant water use and can also limit overall plant productivity (Bradford and Hsiao, 1982). Ir- rigation to avoid plant water stress is a common practice, and the need for irrigation is often based on a soil-water balance approach, using estimates of environmental water demand (e.g., reference crop evapotranspiration (ET 0), Burman. 1980) and/or measures of soil-water status (Campbell and Campbell, 1982). The value of both of these measures, however, is limited, be- cause they are not directly related to the occurrence of plant water stress and hence may not be directly related to the symp- toms that ultimately reduce plant productivity. For instance, Denmead and Shaw (1962) found that under high ET0 conditions (6 to 7 mm·day -1 ), a relatively wet soil (soil matric potential greater than - 0.03 MPa) was required to support maximum plant transpiration. Under lower ET0 conditions, however (1.4
Do the polyunsaturated aldehydes produced by Phaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot) Lagerheim influence diatom growth during the spring bloom in Northern Norway

The marine bloom-forming phytoplankter Phaeocystis pouchetii (Prymnesiophyceae) is known to produce and release the cytotoxic α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated aldehyde 2-trans-4-trans-decadie-nal (DD), known to inhibit mitotic cell divisions in several different cell types. The possible allelo-pathic effects of DD on monocultures of three common diatoms from the coastal waters of northern Norway were assessed. The results showed that division rates for all three diatom species (Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros socialis and Thalassiosira antarctica) decreased as concentration of DD increased. Furthermore field data from the spring bloom in Vestfjorden (2000 and 2001) were analysed to examine whether the presence of P pouchetii influences other species adversely. Our data revealed no significant adverse effect of P. pouchetii on diatom presence since diatom diversity generally was positively correlated to P. pouchetii biomass. The year with the lowest amounts of P. pouchetii had the lowest diversities, and the diatom species composition and abundance was comparable to situations where P. pouchetii was either absent or present in minute amounts. At some instances low diversity co-occurred with large fractions of P. pouchetii, but since this were at the strongest vertical mixing we believe this to be a result of physical control. P. pouchetii and S. costatum were the most frequently co-occurring species, and since they are both known producers of polyunsaturated aldehydes we cannot exclude the possibility that the presence of DD released from P. pouchetii induced by heavy grazing might influence the growth of other phytoplankton species.
Natural Selection on a Major Armor Gene in Threespine Stickleback

Experimental estimates of the effects of selection on genes determining adaptive traits add to our understanding of the mechanisms of evolution. We measured selection on genotypes of the Ectodysplasin locus, which underlie differences in lateral plates in threespine stickleback fish. A derived allele (low) causing reduced plate number has been fixed repeatedly after marine stickleback colonized freshwater from the sea, where the ancestral allele (complete) predominates. We transplanted marine sticklebacks carrying both alleles to freshwater ponds and tracked genotype frequencies over a generation. The low allele increased in frequency once lateral plates developed, most likely via a growth advantage. Opposing selection at the larval stage and changing dominance for fitness throughout life suggest either that the gene affects additional traits undergoing selection or that linked loci also are affecting fitness.
Applying spermidine for differential responses of antioxidant enzymes in cucumber subjected to short-term salinity.

To examine whether spermidine (SPD) modifies plant antioxidant enzyme expression in response to short- term salt stress, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings were treated with NaCl in the presence or absence of SPD for 3 days. Compared with untreated control plants, free radical production and malondialdehyde content in leaves and roots increased significantly and plant growth was suppressed under 50 mM NaCl stress. Exogenous SPD sprayed on leaves at a concentration of 1 mM alleviated salinity-mediated growth reduction. Salt stress caused a consistent increase in soluble protein content, as well as peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in cucumber seedlings. By native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, five POD isozymes were detected in cucumber seedling leaves, and seven in roots. We detected five SOD isozymes in leaves and four in roots, and two catalase (CAT) isozymes in leaves and two in roots. Our results indicate that salt stress induced the expression of POD and SOD isozymes in cucumber seedlings, but inhibited the expression of CAT isozymes in roots. Application of exogenous SPD further increased POD and SOD expression and activity, and led to the differential regulation of CAT in leaves and roots. These data show that antioxidant enzymes, especially POD and SOD, appear to protect cucumber seedlings against stress-related damage, and they appear to function as the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of cucumber seedlings to salinity. Moreover, SPD has potential to scavenge directly free radical and to alleviate growth inhibition and promote the activity and expression of antioxidant system enzymes in cucumber seedlings under short- term salt stress.
Antisecretory and antiulcerogenic activities of the stem bark extract of Melaleuca bracteata and isolation of principles

In the present study, we have examined the effects of an ethyl acetate extract ofMelaleuca bracteata on gastric acid secretion and indomethacin-induced ulceration. The plant is popularly known for its ornamental use in South Africa. Gastric acid secretion was studied using modified method of continuous acid secretion while gastric ulcers were produced in albino rats by oral administration of indomethacin. Results showed that, the extract significantly reduced gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05). Similarly, in the animals pre-treated with extract and misoprostol, the mean ulcer scores of 4.90 ± 0.98 and 6.90 ± 0.60 respectively were significantly lower as compared to 13.42 ± 1.69 of the control (P < 0.05). This study also reports the isolation of 3-hydroxyl-lup-20 (30)-ene-28-oic (betulinic acid, BA), 3-hydroxylolean-12-ene-28-oic (oleanolic acid, OA) and its acetate from M. bracteata extract. The presence of BA and OA in the extract may account for its anti-ulcer effect. Key words: Melaleuca bracteata, myrtaceae, gastroprotection, betulinic and Oleanolic acids.
Phylogenetic Analysisof Cestrum Section Habrothamnus (Solanaceae) Based on Plastid and Nuclear DNA Sequences

Abstract Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from chloroplast regions and nuclear ribosomal ITS was conducted to test the monophyly of Cestrum sect. Habrothamnus and investigate its relationships with other sections of Cestrum. Molecular divergence was very low among the sampled species, suggesting a rapid diversification in Cestrum. Individual and combined analyses of these molecular data sets using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference reject the monophyly of the traditionally recognized sections of Cestrum, including sect. Habrothamnus. Infrageneric classifications will require significant revision. Nevertheless, the resolved monophyletic clades in this molecular analysis are geographically structured.
Food of giants - field observations on the diet of Syrinx aruanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Turbinellidae) the largest living gastropod

Field observations and analysis of faeces from Syrinx aruanus, the largest living gastropod, show that it feeds on large polychaete worms including species of Polyodontes (Acoetidae), Loimia (Terebellidae) and Diopatra (Onuphidae). This is consistent with the known food of other species of Turbinellidae which regularly include polychaetes in their diet.