Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological ecology of desert tortoises in southern Nevada

Seasonal changes in water balance, energetics, food consumption, daily behavior, diet, osmoregulation and body mass were measured using doubly labeled water, radiotelemeters, and field behavior observations of tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) through a year (1976-1977) in Rock Valley, Nevada. Aboveground activity extended over the warm seasons (between March and November), and tortoises hibernated in burrows through winter. In spring, tortoises were active for about 3 h every fourth day. Some drank rainwater and they all gained weight while eating succulent annual plants, which provided excess water and potassium that were stored in the urinary bladder, but energy intake was less than required to meet energy expenses via respiration, and body solids declined. As food plants dried in late spring, tortoises eventually achieved positive energy balance while eating grasses, but body masses declined due to negative water balance. Bladder urine became isosmotic with blood plasma, and both became more concentrated. As the summer drought continued, feeding diminished and tortoises spent progressively more time estivating in burrows. Thundershowers in July triggered emergence from estivation, and tortoises drank much rainwater, voided concentrated urine, accumulated dilute urine, restored normal plasma osmotic concentration, resumed feeding on the still-dry grasses and forbs, and accumulated much surplus energy. However, body masses declined during this time due to negative water balance, and osmotic concentrations in bladder urine increased. More rain in September again relieved this osmotic stress as tortoises drank, urinated, and stored dilute urine. Energy balance remained strongly positive until tortoises began feeding on the succulent new sprouts of annual plants that germinated in late September, and the tortoises returned to a spring-like physiological situation through mid-November when hibernation began. Tortoises apparently relinquish maintenance of internal homeostasis on a daily basis during most of the year, while tolerating large imbalances in their water, energy and salt budgets. This ability enables them to exploit resources that are only available periodically, while balancing their water and salt budgets on an annual basis and showing an energetic profit. The environmental properties of rainfall (beneficial to tortoises) and dietary potassium content (deleterious) appear to have major effects on the health of these impressive reptiles.
Ecological Speciation in Postglacial Fishes

A venerable view of speciation is that reproductive isolation ultimately evolves from contrasting selection pressures between populations exploiting different resource environments. Yet, this ‘ecological’ mode of species origins has been tested rarely in nature. Here I describe emerging evidence of divergent selection and speciation in fishes of postglacial lakes. Examples of very closely related species pairs within such lakes are known from over a dozen independent fish lineages. These pairs display four remarkable attributes which together raise the possibility of ecological speciation: rapid evolution of assortative mating in sympatry and/or allopatry; persistence in sympatry despite a history of gene flow; a high degree of niche differentiation (usually one species is planktivorous and the other is benthic) accompanied by differences in body size and shape; and high intrinsic viability and fertility of interspecific hybrids. More direct evidence for ecological speciation comes from preliminary confirmation of three predictions: selection against hybrids has an ecological basis (morphologically intermediate hybrid sticklebacks have a reduced ability to exploit the main resources on which the parent species are specialized); premating isolation is linked to the morphological traits that have diverged between species (hybridization in sticklebacks occurs only between the morphologically most similar individuals of the two parent species); premating isolation mechanisms evolve in parallel in similar environments (interspecific mate preferences appear to have diverged in parallel in stickleback species pairs that evolved independently). These findings argue that knowledge of ecological environments is essential to understanding the origin of species in adaptive radiation, and perhaps more generally. Field studies of selection on traits determining reproductive isolation are sorely needed, and would complement (and perhaps transform) traditional genetic approaches to speciation.
Virtualized security at the network edge: a user-centric approach

The current device-centric protection model against security threats has serious limitations. On one hand, the proliferation of user terminals such as smartphones, tablets, notebooks, smart TVs, game consoles, and desktop computers makes it extremely difficult to achieve the same level of protection regardless of the device used. On the other hand, when various users share devices (e.g., parents and kids using the same devices at home), the setup of distinct security profiles, policies, and protection rules for the different users of a terminal is far from trivial. In light of this, this article advocates for a paradigm shift in user protection. In our model, protection is decoupled from users' terminals, and it is provided by the access network through a trusted virtual domain. Each trusted virtual domain provides unified and homogeneous security for a single user irrespective of the terminal employed. We describe a user-centric model where nontechnically savvy users can define their own profiles and protection rules in an intuitive way. We show that our model can harness the virtualization power offered by next-generation access networks, especially from network functions virtualization in the points of presence at the edge of telecom operators. We also analyze the distinctive features of our model, and the challenges faced based on the experience gained in the development of a proof of concept.
The colonization of Scottish islands by the common shrew, Sorex araneus (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

In this paper we apply molecular methods to study the colonization of islands off the west coast of Scotland by the common shrew (Sorex araneus L.), and current gene flow. We collected 497 individuals from 13 islands of the Inner Hebrides and Clyde Island groups and six mainland regions. Individuals were genotyped at eight microsatellite loci, and the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence (1140 base pairs) was obtained for five individuals from each island/mainland region. Based on these molecular data, island colonization apparently proceeded directly from the mainland, except for Islay, for which Jura was the most likely source population. Raasay may also have been colonized by island hopping. Most island populations are genetically very distinct from the mainland populations, suggesting long periods of isolation. Two exceptions to this are the islands of Skye and Seil, which are geographically and genetically close to the mainland, suggesting in each case that there has been long-term gene flow between these islands and the mainland. We consider possible methods of island colonization, including human-mediated movement, swimming, and land and ice bridges.
L’export nucléaire des ARN messagers rétroviraux

Le noyau de la cellule est un lieu de passage essentiel de nombreuses proteines et d’acides nucleiques cellulaires et viraux. L’import et l’export nucleaires constituent par consequent des etapes hautement regulees. Dans le cas des retrovirus qui presentent une etape nucleaire au cours de leur cycle replicatif, l’export nucleaire des ARN viraux assure l’expression des proteines et la localisation cytoplasmique de l’ARN genomique, deux etapes indispensables pour un assemblage correct des particules virales. Deux principaux mecanismes d’export nucleaire des ARN retroviraux sont connus, l’un essentiellement fonde sur des acteurs proteiques cellulaires alors que le second implique des protagonistes cellulaires et viraux. L’etude des mecanismes d’export nucleaire retroviraux nous permet, d’une part, de mieux comprendre les etapes du cycle retroviral et ainsi de pouvoir mieux les cibler en vue d’elaborer une therapie antivirale et d’autre part, de decouvrir de nouveaux mecanismes et facteurs cellulaires impliques dans l’export nucleaire cellulaire.
A Stable Isotope Study on Seasonal Food Web Dynamics in a Eutrophic Lake

Phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and pond smelt were collected in a eutrophic lake (Lake Suwa, Japan) from spring to autumn in 1986 and 1987. Their stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed together with conventional examination of the gut contents of pond smelt. Temporal variations in isotope rations were similar among the organisms other than benthic animals. The @d15N values of diet for several animals in the pelagic food web were estimated, assuming a stepwise enrichment in 15N with increasing trophic level. A calanoid copepod, Eodiaptomus japonicus, seemed to feed on the predominant phytoplankton, including Microcystis spp. , while Microcystis did not seem to be important as an organic source for other zooplankton and pond smelt. The temporal variation of the isotope ratios of pond smelt was well explained by visual gut content analysis. It is suggested that intensive measurements of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of each species serve to effectively assess the yearly dynamics of the food web structure in eutrophic lakes when productivity and species composition of plankton change seasonally.
Dynamic Topography Revisited

Dynamic topography is usually considered to be one of the trinity of contributing causes to the Earth’s non-hydrostatic topography along with the long-term elastic strength of the lithosphere and isostatic responses to density anomalies within the lithosphere. Dynamic topography, thought of this way, is what is left over when other sources of support have been eliminated. An alternate and explicit definition of dynamic topography is that deflection of the surface which is attributable to creeping viscous flow.
ANTENNULAR CHEMOSENSITIVITY IN THE SPINY LOBSTER, PANULIRUS ARGUS: STUDIES OF TAURINE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS

1. Taurine sensitive receptors in the antennules of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, were identified electrophysiologically.2. Recordings from single receptors revealed a narrow and consistent specificity when tested with taurine, taurine analogs and derivatives, and structurally related compounds.3. Taurine was the most stimulatory compound tested. Threshold concentrations for 36 individual receptors ranged from 10-8 to 10-10 M.4. The taurine analogs, hypotaurine and β-alanine, were also very effective but the phosphonic acid analog of taurine was ineffective.5. Regarding receptor specificity, receptor stimulation was greatest with compounds having single terminal basic (amine) and acidic groups separated by two carbon atoms. Compounds having terminal basic and acidic groups separated by three to five carbon atoms were also active. However, activity decreased with the distance of separation of charged groups.6. Alpha-amino acids and compounds with terminal basic and acidic groups separated by only one.
HARMINIUS FAIRMAIRE, A EUCNEMID OR AN ELATERID? (COLEOPTERA)

Abstract Harminius castaneus Fairmaire was described as a Eucnemidae, but all subsequent authors placed it among the Elateridae, usually as a valid genus and species near Athous. Neither the original description nor the illustration bear any resemblance to the species currently called castaneus. No original material could be found, therefore it is questionable as to what species Fairmaire described. To conserve nomenclatorial stability, application is being made to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to set aside any previous type-species designation and to designate spiniger Candèze as the type-species of Harminius and Pseudocorymbites. Consequently, castaneus is considered as a species incertae dubia. An attempt is made to straighten out the usage of the names castaneus auct. , spiniger Candèze, and florentinus Desbrochers. Previously castaneus auct has referred either to spiniger or florentinus (mostly to spiniger), whereas both are now recognized as valid species in the subgenus Harminius; gigas Reitter also belongs in the same subgenus. Pseudocorymbites Fiori is isogenotypic with Harminius and the subgenera Diacanthous Reitter and Megathous Reitter remain valid under Harminius, as in most catalogues.
Morphological and developmental investigations of the underground system of Erythroxylum species from Brazilian cerrado

Brazilian cerrado, a neotropical savanna, is characterised by a strongly seasonal climate with distinctive wet and dry seasons, and deep and well drained soils that are acidic and with high aluminium content. Recurrent fires in the dry season place additional stress on the survival of plants, which exhibit an array of strategies of survival. The purpose of this work was to study the underground system of Erythroxylum nanum A.St-Hil. and E. campestre A.St-Hil. , two sub-shrubby species, and E. tortuosum Mart. , a shrubby species, verifying the possible relationship between the morphology of the underground organs and the resprouting ability of these plants. Anatomical analyses followed the usual techniques of plant anatomy. The cotyledons of the three species were green, foliaceous and photosynthesising. The two sub-shrubby species (Erythroxylum nanum and E. campestre) showed slow development of the aerial shoot system and extensive growth of the primary root in the initial stage of development. E. tortuosum presented the most pronounced development of the aerial system and a poorly developed primary root compared with the sub-shrubby species. The sub-shrubby species occurred in clumps and had underground systems interlinked, consisting of a deep axial primary root system besides soboles in E. nanum and xylopodium in E. campestre. Plants of the E. tortuosum were isolated, highly branched and their underground system consisted of a superficial primary root system. Abundance of reserves and the bud-forming potential of the soboles, xylopodium and roots resulted in production of vigorous branches that are highly valuable in the regeneration of the aerial biomass following fire or seasonal dry in cerrado.
Spatial variation in coral recruitment around Lizard Island, Australia

Spatial variation in recruitment is characteristic of marine organisms with planktonic larvae and is generally apparent at all spatial scales. In this study spatial variation in the abundance and taxonomic composition of coral recruits was examined, using settlement panels, at a number of scales between depth zones on the fringing reef surrounding Lizard Island. Within the reef crest, variations in abundance between sites were small compared to within site variation. In all taxa the scale of patchiness in recruitment was finer than the site. However, the pattern was strikingly different for recruits from the families Acroporidae and Pocilloporidae, which suggests that different processes operating at different scales are influencing recruitment in these taxa. The abundance of recruits varied significantly between depth zones, with a pronounced reduction in recruitment of all taxa on the reef slope (4m). The abundance of recruits on more exposed surfaces of the settlement panels did not increase with depth. Depth zonation of the recruit assemblage suggests that coral larvae have either the ability to regulate their position within the water column or recognise depth specific substratum characteristics. In contrast, the taxonomic composition of the recruits did not vary between sites within the reef crest despite marked differences in the adult assemblages. These patterns suggest that patterns established at the time of settlement contribute to the depth zonation of adult assemblages and that the importance of post-settlement processes varies between zones.
Magnetotactic Bacteria: Performances and Challenges

Magnetotactic Bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous in distribution and posses magnetosome. Magnetosomes are intracellular crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) enveloped by an organic membrane and have magnetic properties. These magnetosomes are the organelles responsible for MTB's magnetotactic lifestyle. Magnetosomes confer high and even dispersion in aqueous solutions compared with artificial magnetites, making them ideal biotechnological materials. MTB and magnetosomes offer high technological potential in modern science, technology and medicines. Although the potentials of MTB have been well demonstrated, yet these are not applicable on commercial scale because of the problems related to mass cultivation of MTB, less number of magnetosomes, and biocompatibility of MTB. This review is an attempt in same line with an objective to attract scientists about MTB's capabilities and some of their limitations that need attention for practical applications of these bacteria.
Using local seeds in prairie restoration--data support the paradigm

Choice among local, non-local, and cultivar seeds for restoring native ecosystems is not purely an academic question—it also has practical consequences. In this article we summarize a series of genetic and competition studies of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman. [Poaceae]), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. [Poaceae]), and purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent. [Fabaceae]) from remnant and restored Illinois (local) prairies, non-local remnant prairies, and 6 grass cultivars. We found genetic differences between local and non-local seed sources, that large populations do not necessarily have higher genetic diversity relative to small populations, and differences in plant performance could be related to seed source. Although obtaining large quantities of non-local and cultivar grass seeds may be affordable, available, and desirable given the amount of seeds required for prairie restoration, our research indicates genetic and plant performance differences between local and non-local seed sources in all 3 species. Such differences can affect both the short- and long-term success of restoration activities.
Historical processes, evolutionary explanations, and problems with teleology

Organisms are subject first to general, physical causes and then to restricted, biological causes. This internesting contains evolutionary causes that were once contingent but have since been incorporated into the inherited historical causality of descendants. These historical causes should be used as null hypotheses in evolutionary explanations. This is the approach of historical structuralism, which considers function to be an effect of structure and evolution to be structural change that may or may not involve functional change. Conversely, historical functionalism looks to function for evolutionary explanations. This produces an unacceptable appeal to teleological causation. Biological teleology is acceptable only as an explanatory analogy in nonhistorical studies, which do not address organisms' etiology. These treat organisms as machines but do not consider the implied teleology to be real. Neo-Darwinian explanations encounter the unacceptable teleology of historical functionalism when they cite ada.
How does integrating alternative conceptions into lessons influence pupils’ situational emotions and learning achievement?

We examined selected situational emotions (interest, well-being and anxiety) experienced by 291 secondary school tenth graders during a hands-on gene technology lesson. Two different instruction groups (I-1, I-2) participated in the same teaching unit, in which four basic gene technology experiments were performed. Using a modified ‘constructivist teaching sequence’, a teacher confronted group I-2 with the alternative conceptions of their peers regarding central issues and processes of gene technology in addition to providing the scientific concepts. The pupils within the I-2 group scored higher in the positive emotions of interest and well-being. The negative emotion anxiety was almost absent in both instruction groups. Furthermore, our results indicate a potential influence of interest and well-being upon learning success. Pupils who felt fine and worked with interest in the experimental lessons scored significantly higher on the cognitive achievement test. Eliciting pupils’ alternative conceptions and using them in a wide variety of teaching contents is therefore advisable. By doing so, teachers could help create a classroom environment where pupils feel safe and confident. Also, a pupil’s interest regarding the choice of material needs to be taken into account if positive emotions need strengthening and the learning achievement needs improvement.
Better Lighting to Reduce Falls and Fracture?

We appreciate the effort Kooijman and Cornelissen have made to explain our finding that contrast sensitivity is an independent risk factor for multiple falls. In their letter, they propose an explanation why contrast sensitivity was related to multiple falls, whereas the ability to recognize small details was not. An intriguing question, because several studies have found associations between visual acuity and falling and others have found an association between contrast sensitivity and falling. We did not go into this in detail in our paper. On the basis of a paper Kooijman and Cornelissen wroteabout the relation between object detection and recognition and several aspects of vision, they concluded that object detection and recognition from a distance of 3 m was primarily related to contrast sensitivity and not so much to visual acuity. In addition, they reason that the decreased ability to detect and recognize objects might in turn lead to an increased chance of bumping into objects. In their final line of reasoning, they propose that the increased risk of bumping into obstacles increases the risk of falling. With this statement, however, they ignored the findings from several studies on the mechanisms of falling. These studies have shown that falling in visually impaired (or deprived) persons is most likely not so much caused by bumping into objects, but much more by disturbed postural stability and gait. In our paper, we addressed this mechanism by showing that physical performance and functional limitations could have mediated the relation between impaired contrast sensitivity and falling. Nonetheless, we agree with the recommendation of Kooijman and Cornelissen to improve contrast sensitivity by increasing the indoor and outdoor light levels. In the end, the exact mechanism by which visually impaired older men and women fall might not be so important as long as their primary impairment (decreased contrast sensitivity) can be counterbalanced. Finally, Kooijman and Cornelissen correctly noticed that we did not correct a typing error in the formula for calculating the integrated contrast sensitivity (ICS) in our paper. We did use the correct formula in the computation for the ICS in our analyses.
Tolerance and Avoidance Behavior towards Gas Supersaturation in Rock Carp Procypris rabaudi with a History of Previous Exposure

AbstractTotal dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation on the upper Yangtze River basin is becoming increasingly serious because of the intense construction of high dams, posing a threat to resident fish. The tolerance and behavior characteristics of Rock Carp Procypris rabaudi preexposed to TDG-supersaturated water were evaluated by placing juveniles (weight 6.4 ± 1.67 g, fork length 7.2 ± 0.7 cm; mean ± SD) in 35-cm-deep tanks at 130% supersaturation for 2.33 h as preexposure. Surviving fish were allowed 5 d of recovery in saturated-equilibrium (100% TDG) water and then examined in an acute lethality experiment at TDG supersaturation values of 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, and 145%. The resulting median lethal times were 10.4, 4.6, 3.2, 2.1, 1.4, and 1.4 h, respectively. The preexposed fish showed a poorer tolerance to TDG-supersaturated water than did a control group that were not preexposed for TDG above 120% supersaturation (P < 0.05 in cases where there was a significant difference between individual groups).