Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Horizontal movements of simulated escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a western Norwegian fjord

The dispersal of simulated escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Hardangerfjord in western Norway was studied by telemetry. Tagged fish were released from fish farms on five different dates in the course of 1 year. Irrespective of the time of year, the fish dispersed rapidly, with a mean displacement from the release site of 5 – 7 km after 1 d, and 9– 12 km after 2 d. Individual rates of movement varied, but were much higher than the rate of displacement from the release site, as fish moved around in the fjord basin in all directions. As a result, the fish were spread over an area of more than 500 km 2 after 1 week. The number of released fish recorded in the fjord gradually declined after each release from � 40% remaining in the fjord after 3 weeks to few or none after 7 weeks. In all, 38% moved out of the fjord, and 36 and 2% were reported as captured inside and outside the fjord, respectively. Their rapid dispersal suggests that concentrating efforts to recapture escaped salmon in the proximity of an escape site will probably not be successful, at least from locations of this type. In fact, the recaptures demonstrate that it is both necessary and possible to expand the fishing effort to cover a large area and to sustain it for several weeks to attain high rates of recapture. The wide dispersal of escaped fish potentially acting as vectors within the fjord basin also has implications for the spread of disease and parasites.
Vertical Distribution of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Egg Masses on Sweet Corn

Abstract Within-plant height (leaf position) of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) egg masses were analyzed in four sweet corn hybrids planted across four planting dates from 1994 to 1996. From the five-leaf to 15-leaf vegetative stages, the mean leaf position of an egg mass was typically at the midpoint of available (nonsenescent) leaves. The mean leaf position of egg masses gradually increased from early to late leaf stages as new leaves were added, and continued to increase during the first reproductive stage (green tassel). The increase in vertical position during vegetative stages was modeled as y = −0.766 + 0.653(x), where y = nodal leaf position, and x = total leaves expanded (r2 = 0.94). However, when the mean egg mass position was expressed as the mean position within available (expanded and nonsenescent) leaves, no relationship was found. These data indicate that during vegetative stages the mean egg mass position increases relative to ground level, but remains near the midpoint of available (nonsenescent) leaves. Mean egg position during the next four reproductive stages (anthesis, green silk, brown silk, and postharvest) stabilized at ear height, or within the immediate two leaf positions above the ear. The distributions of egg masses among leaf positions during the vegetative and reproductive stages generally exhibited normal distributions: where sample sizes were sufficient, 80% (17/21) of the comparisons (having sufficient sample sizes) did not deviate from normality. This study represents the most detailed examination to date on vertical distribution of European corn borer egg masses in corn. Implications of the study in ovipositional ecology and pest management are discussed.
JANUS: multi-lingual translation of spontaneous speech in limited domain

Janus is a multi-lingual speech translation system currently operating in the domain of meeting scheduling. Translating spontaneous speech requires a high degree of robustness to overcome the disfluencies of spoken language as well as errors in speech recognition. In this system description, we focus on the robust speech translation components in Janus—the skipping GLR* parser, the segmentation of full utterances into semantic dialogue units (SDUs), and the late-stage disambiguation of utterances. We will also describe how the end-to-end translation performance of the system is evaluated and present our latest Spanish-to-English evaluation results.
Precision in the measurement of dairy feed fractions based on particle size.

Abstract The aim of this research note is to evaluate the variability of the physical measurements obtained by a separator of feeds for dairy cows based on particle size. Fresh samples of total mixed ration (TMR) and corn silage were collected from four dairy units and were immediately fractionated using a particle separator (NASCO®, Pennsylvania State University) composed of two sieves (diameters of 19 and 8 mm) and a collector on the bottom. Repeatability expressed as standard deviation was similar between fractions (>19, 8-19 and <8 mm fractions: +1.9, +1.4 and +2.2% for TMR samples; +2.0, +1.7 and +1.5% for corn silages), but when expressed as coefficient of variation there were, for both samples, large differences between the values for fraction exceeding 19 mm (44.7 and 35.1 %, respectively for TMR and corn silages) and the middle (3.9 and 2.5 %, respectively for TMR and corn silages) and bottom fractions (3.7 and 5.6 %, respectively for TMR and corn silages). The between operator reproducibility was very close to repeatability and this indicates that the operator’s contribution to the overall variability is marginal in comparison with residual variability. In conclusion, different operators properly trained in the use of the NASCO® separator can produce satisfactory repeatable and reproducible values for the middle and the bottom fractions.
Evidence of selective mortality in favour of the Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk phenotype in British mussel populations

Samples of mussels (Mytilus) were collected from 17 localities within hybrid zones of Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis in south-west and north-east England. The study of two polymorphic allozyme loci (esterase-D and octopine dehydrogenase), which are partially diagnostic for the two forms of mussel, reveal the existence of widespread length-dependent allele frequency variation. Larger mussels tend to have a higher frequency of alleles characteristically at high frequency in Mytilus galloprovincialis. Also at a given shell length galloprovincialis alleles have a higher frequency higher up the shore. Computer simulation is used to demonstrate that length-dependent variation may be generated not only by differential mortality but also by differential growth and in models including or excluding immigration. Evidence supports the hypothesis that selective mortality acting in favour of the galloprovincialis phenotype within hybrid populations in Britain is balanced by immigration of the more abundant Mytilus edulis.
The evolution of worker sterility in honeybees: the genetic basis of failure of worker policing

Worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) usually only lay eggs when their colony is queenless. However, an extremely rare ‘anarchistic’ phenotype occurs, in which workers develop functional ovaries and lay large numbers of haploid eggs which develop into adult drones despite the presence of the queen. Studies of such colonies can give important insights into the mechanisms by which worker sterility is maintained in normal colonies. Here we report on the results of a breeding programme which enhanced the frequency of the anarchistic phenotype. Colonies derived from queens inseminated only by worker–laid males showed up to 9% of workers with highly developed ovaries. In these colonies a large proportion of males arose from worker–laid eggs. Colonies headed by queens inseminated with 50% worker–laid drones and 50% queen–laid drones showed variable phenotypes. In most such colonies there was no worker reproduction. In some, many workers had highly developed ovaries, but no worker–laid eggs were reared. In one colony, many worker–laid eggs were reared to maturity. The results suggest that the anarchy phenotype results from a complex interaction of queen genotype, the worker genotype of subfamilies that successfully reproduce and of those that do not, and the external environment.
Antioxidants Supplementation on Acid Base Balance during Heat Stress in Goats

The effects of vitamin C and vitamin E with selenium on acid-base balance and some stress hormones were evaluated during heat stress in goats. Goats, 1.5 years of age, were divided into control, heat stress and antioxidant treatment groups 1, 2 and 3. Except for the control, all groups were exposed to a temperature of 40±2°C with a relative humidity of 30% for 5 h/d for 21 days in a psychrometric chamber. Rectal temperature and respiratory rates were recorded daily post exposure. Blood samples were collected on every 3rd day for estimation of plasma vitamins C and E, total antioxidant activity and hormones, and separate blood samples were taken to estimate acid-base status. The rectal temperature and respiratory rates were increased (p<0.05) in the heat stress group only. Except for pH and pO 2 , which were increased significantly (p<0.05) other parameters of acid-base balance such as pCO 2 , HCO 3 - , TCO 2 , BEb, BEcef, PCV and Hb were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the heat stress group. An improvement in acid-base status was noted in the antioxidant supplemented groups. Prolactin and cortisol levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher and free T3 and T4 levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the heat stress group. Levels of prolactin and cortisol were decreased and free T3 and T4 were increased in antioxidant treatment groups. Different levels of antioxidant supplementation resulted in similar protection against heat stress.
Still a Traditional Political Class? Patterns of Parliamentary Recruitment in Brazil (1946–2002)

Abstract This article aims at identifying patterns of parliamentary recruitment in Brazil. Fifteen legislatures elected between 1946 and 2002 to the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies are investigated. Data on the path and political experience of every Brazilian federal representative are examined, including the representative's point of entry into politics, offices held, and length of career before achieving a parliamentary seat. Results show that parliamentary recruitment in Brazil demonstrates a pattern of lateral entry into a legislative career. A high and continuous parliamentary renewal rate is the most prominent feature and is a phenomenon common to different regions, states, and parties. The marked turnover does not take place only in caucuses of urban and electorally competitive states. Neither is it a phenomenon unknown among more conservative party caucuses. Even traditional, conservative parties, over this time period, have experienced significant levels of turnover inside their caucuses in the legislature.
Pine seedling inoculation with different fungi and visual identification of ectomycorrhizae

From the urgent need for reforestation of large areas of our country and to find out microorganisms able to stimulate the growth of pines, this study was conducted using a practical inoculation method to allow an easy recognition of ectomycorrhizal colonization by nursery workers. Pinus devoniana and P. pseudostrobus were the tree species used in this experiment. The ectmycorrhizal fungi were Pisolithus tinctorius 202 (a Spanish isolate), P. tinctorius (PHC) and Scleroderma texense (native fungus). Identification of fungi based on form and color was easy. Six months after the inoculation the three fungi showed good root colonization; they formed visible external mycelium in both pine species tested. Under the assayed conditions Scleroderma texense appeared as a good root colonizer. At this early stage of growth the dry weight of both P. devoniana and P. pseudostrobus treated with S. texense was significantly different compared to control plants (p< 0.05); with no statistical differences on volume. After 18 months of inoculation, statistical analysis indicated that the volume of Pinus devoniana inoculated with P. tinctorius 2002 was significantly higher compared to other treatments; plants treated with P. tinctorius 202 and with S. texense were different to P tinctorius (commercial strain) in terms of dry matter of the plant. In this stage of seedling growth, root colonization was no longer dominated by S.texense; roots were also colonized by other fungi occurring in the nursery soil.
Imagerie fonctionnelle cérébrale des saccades volontaires

L’exploration du monde visuel se fait par les saccades oculaires, successions de brefs mouvements des yeux. Ces mouvements volontaires necessitent une decision complexe qui depend du contexte perceptif et des intentions du sujet. Ils impliquent des voies d’execution sous-corticales qui sont sous le controle du cortex cerebral. Le developpement des techniques d’imagerie cerebrale fonctionnelle a permis d’obtenir une image anatomofonctionnelle precise de ces reseaux corticaux intervenant dans le controle des differents types de saccades volontaires. La mise en oeuvre de paradigmes complexes, comme l’apprentissage de sequences de saccades, a revele l’implication non seulement des regions frontales et parietales deja decrites, mais aussi de regions prefrontales et mediotemporales. Cette connaissance approfondie de l’activite corticale normale associee aux diverses composantes des mouvements oculaires peut etre mise a profit pour mieux comprendre, tester et eventuellement depister certaines maladies.
Effect of age on digestibility of fatty acids in chickens

Effect of age on apparent digestibility of fatty acids was investigated from the 2nd to the 42nd day of age using Ross chickens receiving a commercial feed mixture ad libitum. Digestibility of all fatty acids rapidly decreased from Day 2 to Day 4. is drop was followed by an increase till Day 8. e observed changes can be explained on the basis of excretion of endogenous nutrients originating primarily from the yolk sac. In the period of Days 9 to 42, coefficients of all saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (with the exception of C20 : 1 n-9) significantly ( P 0.05). Digestibility of eicosapentaenoic acid increased highly significantly; the daily increase was 1.09 per cent. Mean values of polyunsaturated fatty acid digestibility were higher (P < 0.001) than those of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
Post-breeding migrations of newts (Triturus cristatus and T. marmoratus) with contrasting ecological requirements

Two newt species with contrasting ecological requirements (Triturus cristatus and T. marmoratus) were radio-tracked after leaving a shared breeding pond in western France. Movements of 30 individuals were recorded over 491 days. During the first terrestrial night, the newts migrated with high directionality up to 137 m to their refuges. Burrows of small mammals were among the favourite refuges. Movements after the first night were mostly underground and over shorter distances (< 6.8 m). Sixty-four per cent of all tracked newts stayed within 20 m of the pond edge, and migrations were recorded up to 146 m away from the pond. Both species preferred areas with bushes, hedgerows and trees, and avoided pastures and open areas. Migration in the direction of a habitat type characterized by trees and underground shelters was favoured over migrations in other directions. A clear terrestrial niche separation between the two newt species was not observed. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings that T. cristatus supersedes T. marmoratus as a consequence of anthropogenic change to the terrestrial environment, affecting the species differentially.
Was Darwin Right in Adopting the Motto “Natura Non Facit Saltus”?

Akad. Prof. R. Tsanev and Akad. Bl. Sendov are pioneers in suggesting the idea of a histone code playing the role of an epigenetic information for the control of gene activity. They also used the law of mass action and showed the existence of nonlinear relations in the genome, which can naturally explain the various aspects of the evolution of species on Earth. Prof. R. Tsanev is a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), a founder and for many years a leader of the Institute of Molecular Biology at BAS, and also established the school of Molecular Biology in Bulgaria. He is a member of Academia Europaea (London) and of many other international scientifi c organizations. His scientifi c contributions concern the structure and function of chromatin (the genetic apparatus) and the molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation and differentiation. He has published more than 200 papers mostly in international journals. He grew up in a family of literary men and from an early age he was also interested in literature. He published two humoristic poems for children (1947 and 1956), translated poems of Majakovsky and the Goethe’s tragedy “Faust” part I and part II (2005). He published two volumes of poetry, “Universe”, (1999) and ”Life”, (2003). The theme of ”Life” continues the theme of the fi rst volume, which excites him as a scientist all his life. For Akad. Tsanev the responsibility for each word said and written is the most important thing leading him as a scholar and a philosopher.
Carbon Isotope Dynamics During Grass Decomposition and Soil Organic Matter Formation

We analyzed changes in the stable C isotope composition (s3'C) of bulk tissues and lignin fractions during a 2-yr decomposition study in east-central Minnesota (USA) of aboveground and belowground litter from four perennial grass species: Schiza- chyrium scoparium (C4), Agropyron repens (C3), Poa pratensis (C3), and Agrostis scabra (C3). Although lignin concentrations increased for all litter types during decomposition and lignin fractions were consistently depleted in '3C compared to bulk tissues (3.6%o more negative on average), we found neither convergence of bulk tissue sl3C values towards lignin s13C values, nor greater stability of sl3C values for lignin fractions. Furthermore, s'3C values of C3 and C4 species shifted in opposite directions during decomposition. Thus, our data do not support the hypothesis that s'3C values decrease during decomposition because of the selective preservation of lignin and we instead suggest that isotopic shifts are caused by the incorporation of new C from soil organic matter into litter by microbial decomposers. We estimate that this new C comprised 12-19% of the total litter C, depending on species, at the point of 70% mass loss. In monocultures of these four species plus another C4 grass (Andropogon gerardi) growing on initially homogeneous soils with a predominantly C3 isotopic signature, soil s'3C values increased 1.6-2.2%o for the C4 species and remained relatively unchanged for the C3 species after 4 yr. Averaging across the C4 species and the experimental soil organic matter gradient, 14% of the total soil C in these plots must be new C4 C to account for this isotopic shift. We estimate that this amount of new soil C equals 30% of NPP summed over 4 yr in these plots.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ONTOGENY

1. The previous findings that the rate of metabolism per gm. of body weight decreased with age, and that during the incubation period catabolism was mostly at the expense of fat, have been confirmed. 2. These determinations of the rate of oxygen uptake have afforded more precise values for the catabolic rate and thus permit estimations of the changes with age in the rate of absorption.
A case report of visceral leishmaniasis in red fox ( Vulpes vulpes )

A survey of 52 red foxes, a single two year old male weighing about 6 kg showed clinical signs including hair loss, impotence, local or general lymphadenopathy, keratitis, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hair shedding, dermal lesions, onychogriposis and cachexia. The studied fox IFA titer was larger or equal to 1:1280 and light absorption in enzyme liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was equal to 2.127. In the slides prepared from impression smear of the liver and spleen, Leishman body was observed. The culture results were positive. Parasites isolated from seropositive fox with specific primers K-DNA and ITS-18sRNA was tested and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of parasites isolated from seropositive fox were 99% homologous with Donovani complex (Leishmania infantum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania chagasi ).
NEW EMBO MEMBER'S REVIEW Intracellular transport of GPI-anchored proteins

In eukaryotic cells, a subset of proteins are attached to the external leaflet of the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. There is substantial evidence suggesting that these GPIanchored proteins are clustered in sphingolipid‐sterol microdomains or rafts. Since the precursors of these microdomain components are synthesized mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum, it is possible that microdomain assembly occurs during transport along the exocytic route. A sorting mechanism for GPI-anchored proteins using sphingolipid microdomains as selective platforms for vesicle budding has been proposed to operate at different steps in the secretory pathway. Here, we discuss this sorting model in the context of the data obtained from different biological and artificial systems, in addition to other particularities of the intracellular transport of the GPI-anchored proteins.
The Role of Seed Banks in the Vegetation Dynamics of Prairie Glacial Marshes

The presence of viable seed in 24 substrate samples from Eagle Lake, a marsh in north- central Iowa, was tested by placing subsamples of each sample under 2 environmental conditions. One set of subsamples was placed underwater (submersed treatment). Seeds of 20 species germinated and grew in this treatment. On the average, there were 8.3 species/sample. The 2nd set of subsamples was kept moist, simulating conditions on an exposed mud flat (drawdown treatment). In the drawdown treatment, on the average, seeds of 12.9 species germinated/sample. Altogether seeds of 40 species germinated in this treatment of which only 24% were also found in the submersed treatment. By combining the results from the 2 treatments, the seed banks in the 6 vegetation types studied were estimated to range from 21,445 to 42,615 seeds/m2 on the average in the upper 5 cm of soil. Field studies at Eagle Lake (1974) and Goose Lake (1976), when these marshes had no standing water, revealed that the most abundant species whose seeds germinated on exposed mud flats were the same as the most abundant species in the experimental drawdown samples from Eagle Lake. In 1975, when Eagle Lake had standing water again, the submersed and floating species that were found were the same as those found in the experimental submersed samples from Eagle Lake. The seed-bank results and vegetation sampling reveal that there are 3 types of species present in prairie marsh seed banks: emergent species (Typha, Scirpus, Sparganium, Sagittaria) germinate on exposed mud flats or in very shallow water; submersed and free-floating species (Lemna, Spirodela, Ceratophyllum, Naias, Potamogeton) whose dormant seeds or turions can survive on exposed mud flats for a year and which germinate when there is standing water; and mud-flat species (Bidens, Cyperus, Polygonum and Rumex) which are ephemerals whose seeds can only germinate on exposed mud flats during periods when no standing water exists in the marsh because of drought or water level manipulation. When the marsh refloods, these species are eliminated from the visible marsh flora. Primarily because of fluctuating water levels and muskrat damage, prairie marshes have cyclical changes in their vegetation during which mud-flat, emergent, or submersed and free-floating species replace each other as the dominant type of species in a marsh.