Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behavior and Ecology of the Cuban "Chipojos Bobos" Chamaeleolis barbatus and C. porcus

Morphologically, the five recognized species of Chamaeleolis (C. agueroi, C. barbatus, C. chamaeleontides, C. guamuhaya, and C. porcus), all endemic to Cuba, are among the most bizarre West Indian lizards. Chamaeleolis is characterized by a prominent bony head casque, relatively large body size (snout-vent length [SVL] of up to 177 mm), proportionately short limbs, cryptic coloration, the ability to move its eyes independently, and lack of tail autotomy (Wilson, 1957; Garrido and Schwartz, 1968; Williams and Rand, 1969). Based on these features, Chamaeleolis traditionally has been considered to be an early offshoot of the anoline lizard radiation that diverged prior to the evolution of Anolis (Etheridge, 1960; Williams, 1969). However, recent molecular systematic studies indicate that Chamaeleolis evolved within Anolis (Hass et al., 1993; Jackman et al., 1999), suggesting that the unusual morphology of Chamaeleolis indicates relatively rapid evolution, rather than antiquity of the lineage (and also suggests that the generic name Chamaeleolis might be subsumed within Anolis [Hass et al., 1993; Jackman et al., 1999]). Few published reports exist on the ecology and behavior of Chamaeleolis. Wilson (1957, 1994) commented on the sluggish behavior of a captive C. porcus named Methuselah, noting that it would remain in the same spot for hours or even days without changing position. Gorman et al. (1969) mentioned that captive C. porcus actively moved between perches, jumped toward prey (crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms), and displayed to each other by extending their dewlaps, opening their mouths and protruding their tongues. Garrido (1982) suggested that the simple courtship display repertoire in C. barbatus, which consists only of head-bobs displays, supported the idea that Chamaeleolis diverged early in the anole radiation. All previous observations on Chamaeleolis have been conducted on captive animals. During the course of field work on the community ecology of Cuban anoles in 1997 and 1999, we had the opportunity to study the behavior and ecology of this lizard under natural conditions. Here we report data on the habitat use, locomotion, display, and foraging behavior of C. barbatus and C. porcus. Observations on C. barbatus were conducted at So-
Geranium dissectum : an Unreported Host of the Tobacco Budworm and Bollworm and Its Role in Their Seasonal and Long Term Population Dynamics in the Delta of Mississippi

Geranium dissectum L. , a previously unreported host of Heliothis spp. , was found infested with Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (F.) larvae in Washington Co., MS, in May 1965. Because of cultural practices, this adventive plant from Europe has spread from a limited distribution in 1965 to suitable niches throughout the Delta. Until 1969, H. zea was the predominant species on this host; since then, H. virescens has become predominant, and the long term (1965–77) population density of H. virescens has become progressively higher. The reversal in species predominance was probably due to H. virescens developing higher levels of resistance than H. zea to insecticides applied to cotton for control of Heliothis , but the long term increase in population density of H. virescens is probably due to increased abundance of G. dissectum . Calculated averages of 4208 H. zea and 12,735 H. virescens adults emerged per hectare of G. dissectum in Washington Co., MS, in 1978.
What causes body size variation in the Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea

The Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea is an Antarctic seabird that shows considerable geographic variation and sexual dimorphism in size, males being on average 10% larger than females. The origin and significance of body size variation in this species remain controversial. Two types "P. n. major" and "P. n. minor" are said to hybridize at a few localities (Jouventin and Viot 1985). Here, we examine body size variation, mating system, and possible hybridization between the two types of Snow Petrel using 470 individuals from two different breeding sites (Casey and Ad6lieland) where they are suspected to hybridize. We then use measurements of individuals from 12 different populations to test the hypothesis that sexual selection is the factor that has led to sexual dimorphism in that species. At Casey two different populations breed sympatrically, whereas only one population showing great variation in body size was found at Ad6lieland. Mating was assortative by type but hybridization between "P. n. major" and "P. n. minor" occurred at both sites. Hybridization appears to be more recent at Casey than at Ad6lieland, and results from Casey indicate that hybrids mostly result from pairs consisting of male "major" and female "minor". The considerable body size variation observed at Casey and Ad6lieland probably reflects hybridization of the two types. The amount of sexual dimorphism in size correlates with body size in the 12 Snow Petrel populations studied; sexual dimorphism was greater among populations of the larger type than among populations of the smaller type. These results support the sexual selection hypothesis and suggest that a variety of processes may contribute to the observed patterns of geographic variation in body size in the Snow Petrel. Other hypotheses that seek to explain the evolution of sexual dimorphism are considered and discussed for the Snow Petrel.
Seven New Species of The Genus Polypedilum (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Japan.

Seven new chironomid species belonging to three subgenera of the genus Polypedilum were described on the basis of adult male morphology. Among these, five species, P. akisplendens, P. albiventris, P. crassistyla, P. fuscovittatum and P. paranigrum were members of the subgenus Polypedilum. P. pseudomasudai and P. bingoparadoxum were members of the subgenera Tripodula and Uresipedilum.
Involvement of Phosphorus in Nitrogen Fixation by Subterranean Clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

Effects of phosphorus supply on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in subterranean clover paralleled those on growth and occurred only after, or at the same time as, growth responses. However, correcting phosphorus deficiency increased nitrogen concentrations in tops as well as weight of tops. Effects of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizas on growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation operated through effects on phosphorus nutrition of the host. Inoculation with a VA mycorrhizal fungus only stimulated nodulation and nitrogen fixation when insufficient phosphorus was applied for maximum growth of the non-mycorrhizal plant. Phosphorus concentrations in nodules greatly exceeded those in either tops or roots in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants and with phosphorus levels ranging from severely deficient to luxury supply for plant growth. Nitrogen applied after nitrogen fixation had commenced increased fresh weight of tops to a greater extent where phosphorus was non-limiting to growth. This positive interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of nodulated nitrogen-fixing subterranean clover suggests that phosphorus deficiency does not limit growth in legumes by decreasing nitrogen fixation. It is concluded that increasing phosphorus supply increases nitrogen fixation in subterranean clover by stimulating host plant growth rather than by effects on either rhizobial growth and survival or on nodule formation and function.
Population Structure of the Pacific Angel Shark, Squatina californica (Squatiniformes: Squatinidae), around the California Channel Islands

Starch gel electrophoresis was employed to examine genetic variability in three samples of the Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, around the California Channel Islands. Gene products of 25 enzyme systems encoded by 29 presumptive loci were examined. Seven loci were polymorphic, with a mean sample heterozygosity of 0.056. F-statistics and contingency chi-square analysis revealed significant genetic divergence between northern samples (Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands) and a southern sample (San Clemente Island). This apparent barrier to gene flow may result from a combination of behavioral characteristics and topography of the sea floor around the California Channel Islands. Significant allele-frequency differences in an elasmobranch species have not been detected previously over such short geographical distances.
EFFECT OF HERBAL HYPOGLYCEMIC AGENTS ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES AND METAL IONS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Background: up to know many herbal medicines with different oral formulations have been recommended for diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 4 herbal hypoglycemic agents include garlic (Allium sativum) neem (Azadirachta indica), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) on blood glucose, antioxidant enzymes and metal ions in diabetics Methods : Crude extracts of herbal agents was prepared and each one was given to one group of diabetic rats. Two group of diabetic rats received insulin and glibenclamide. As controls, two groups of healthy and diabetic rats received saline. Body weight, fasting blood glucose, antioxidant enzymes and metal ions were measured before and after the study. Results : All agents including herbal preparations, insulin and glibenclamide reduced the levels of blood sugar and lipid peroxide when compared with diabetic control. These agents also increased levels of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats. Antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly in diabetic controls. Metal ions increased in diabetic rats treated with herbal agents, insulin and glibenclamide but decreased in diabetic controls. Conclusion : Above mentioned herbal plants may be useful in the treatment of diabetes as they not only have hypoglycemic effect but they also protect rats from free radical mediated cellular injury by improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes. They also improve the levels of metal ions which are associated with antioxidant enzymes.
Voltage‐Gated Calcium Channels as Targets for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

This review focuses on the importance of voltage-gated calcium channels in modulating and controlling the function of peripheral and central neurons involved in nociceptive processing. We describe the different families of voltage-gated calcium channels that are expressed in pain pathway neurons, how the expression levels of calcium channel currents change in chronic pain conditions, and the validation of N-type, T-type, and P-type calcium channels as targets for the treatment of pain. The molecular mechanism of action is reviewed for the most prominent calcium channel-targeted drugs including gabapentin and ziconotide as well as antiepileptics administered off-label for the treatment of pain. We discuss how the major genetic, functional, and pharmacological differences between subtypes of neuronal calcium channels can be leveraged to identify new molecular targets and to discover and develop new therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.
074 Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms Influence Growth and Immune Function of Dairy Heifers Grazing Stockpiled Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue.

Bovine cytochrome p450 (CYP) is an enzyme that can metabolize ergot alkaloids which are associated with fescue toxicosis. The coding sequence SNP (C994G) in CYP3A28 has been associated with cattle productivity. Our objectives were to determine the relationships between CYP3A28 genotypes of crossbred (Holstein × Jersey) dairy heifers (n = 31) and productivity traits while grazing stockpiled tall fescue pastures (n = 8; 1.62 ha each). Heifers were stratified by weight and randomly allotted to two cultivars of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum [Schreb.] S. J. Darbyshire): Kentucky 31 (KY31; wild-type endophyte-infected; 4 pastures), and HiMag 4 (HiMag; non-toxic endophyte-infected; 4 pastures). Dependent variables were growth traits (body weights and average daily gain), and immune function as assessed by blood cell profiles. Blood and animal weights were collected on days 0, 28, 56, and 84. Genomic DNA was purified from buffy coat samples and genotyped at C994G. Genotypes (CC, CG and GG) were determined by using the Sequenom technology (GeneSeek, Lincoln, NE). Data were analyzed using mixed model ANOVA with pasture as experimental unit, heifer weights and blood cell distributions as repeated measures, and pasture within cultivar as a random effect. Heifers homozygous for the minor allele (GG) and grazing KY31 had the slowest (P < 0.01) ADG (0.43 ± 0.07 kg/d) throughout the 84-d trial when compared with other heifer groups (ADG range of 0.82 to 1.02 kg/d); consequently, GG heifers grazing KY31 also had the lowest P < 0.01) body weights (219 ± 9.2 kg vs. 242 269 kg in other heifer groups). Most of the blood characteristics were not affected (P > 0.10) by C994G genotype; however, heifers grazing KY31 had a higher (P < 0.05) concentration of hemoglobin (13.4 ± 0.40 g/dL vs. 11.3 12.5 g/dL) and hematocrit (38.2 ± 1.42% vs. 31.3 35.7%; P < 0.01). Results of this study indicate that management tools such as stockpiled tall fescue and CYP genotyping may be used to develop more productive dairy heifers.
Optimization of shoot cultures and bioactive compound accumulation in Rosa rugosa during acclimatization

Rosa rugosa is a medicinal, ornamental, and edible plant native to Eastern Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, and China. The aim of this study was to establish a system for biomass production and secondary metabolite accumulation during in vitro culture and acclimatization of Rosa rugosa. The highest rate of multiple shoot proliferation was achieved with benzyladenine (BA) (83.3%). However, the number of shoots (14.4 per explant) at BA was higher than that at BA. Compared to BA, a combination of thidiazuron (TDZ) and indole butyric acid (IBA) exhibited significantly lower shoot induction, with only 50.0~79.2% and 4.2~16.7% relative shoot formation, respectively. During acclimatization, shoots were sampled every week and their total phenolic contents were analyzed. Among various growth factors, fresh weight showed the most dramatic increase from the 3rd week (88.0 mg/plant) to 4th week (132.7 mg/plant). Total phenolics and flavonoids contents were the highest at week of acclimatization. Depending on developmental stages, total phenolics and flavonoids contents were higher in 1-yr-old shoots grown ex vitro than in those of older field-grown or in vitro-grown plants. Amongst different ages of field grown plants, 6-year-old plants, the oldest in this study, showed the lowest content in total phenolics.
In Situ Long‐Term Chloride Transport through a Layered, Nonsaturated Subsoil. 2. Effect of Layering on Solute Transport Processes

We analyze observed Cl− transport during a large‐scale in situ unsaturated infiltration experiment in terms of the observation scale of the transport process and the physical stratification of the Tertiary sedimentary flow domain. By comparing piston flow and local velocity profiles, we show that velocity variations cannot be explained by water content changes alone. We also demonstrate that by comparing a layered convection–dispersion (CD) model with the observations, the dispersivity profile cannot be explained with the model, which produced unrealistic local dispersivity values. These discrepancies were partially explained by nonrepresentative sampling using porous cup solution samplers (PCS). We hypothesize that fingering flow or convergence phenomena below sand–clay interfaces leads to nonrepresentative artificially high dispersivity values. Velocity and dispersivity values immediately above the clay layers, however, seem more reliable due to convergence and more lateral mixing induced by a larger water content. Following the criteria derived from the Chuoke equation, we show that the subsoil can be subjected to fingering flow. We found that this process likely persisted for some 17 yr. Therefore, we conclude that the fine‐textured clayey layers regulated the flow rate through time, approaching a quasi‐steady‐state flow condition. Overall, solute transport processes in the unsaturated layered subsoil appeared to be very strongly influenced by stratification of the flow domain. An apparent highly variable flow field was induced by the clay layers interbedded in a sandy deposit, while the local PCS sampling devices were likely too small to properly assess the mixing regime at this large scale.
Proposal for extending the upc memory copy library functions and supporting extensions to gasnet

This document outlines a proposal for extending UPC's point-to-point memcpy library with support for explicitly non-blocking transfers, and non-contiguous (indexed and strided) transfers. Various portions of this proposal could stand alone as independent extensions to the UPC library. The designs presented here are heavily influenced by analogous functionality which exists in other parallel communication systems, such as MPI, ARMCI, Titanium, and network hardware API's such as Quadricselan, Infiniband vapi, IBM LAPI and Cray X-1. Each section contains proposed extensions to the libraries in the UPC Language Specification (section 7) and corresponding extensions to the GASNet communication system API.
Recognition of odour-induced bias in the live-trapping of Apodemus sylvaticus

A population of woodmice Apodemus sylvaticus L. inhabiting a grassy meadow and its surrounding hedgerows was live-trapped with Longworth traps for 21 months. Traps were treated either with conspecific or heterospecific odour, or were left odourless, and a particular choice regime was maintained over the whole trapping grid for four-night trapping periods. All mice selectively chose to enter traps scented with conspecific odour when this was alongside odourless traps; only females showed a selection for familiar odour. Neither sex made any discrimination between heterospecifically scented and odourless traps. In the hedgerow, however, male mice selectively chose to enter the heterospecifically scented traps. There is no evidence that males are drawn to female scented traps, or vice versa.
Sharp optimality for density deconvolution with dominating bias

We consider estimation of the common probability density $f$ of i.i. d. random variables $X_i$ that are observed with an additive i.i. d. noise. We assume that the unknown density $f$ belongs to a class $\mathcal{A}$ of densities whose characteristic function is described by the exponent $\exp(-\alpha |u|^r)$ as $|u|\to \infty$, where $\alpha >0$, $r>0$. The noise density is supposed to be known and such that its characteristic function decays as $\exp(-\beta |u|^s)$, as $|u| \to \infty$, where $\beta >0$, $s>0$. Assuming that $r<s$, we suggest a kernel type estimator that is optimal in sharp asymptotical minimax sense on $\mathcal{A}$ simultaneously under the pointwise and the $\mathbb{L}_2$-risks. The variance of the estimators turns out to be asymptotically negligible w.r. t. its squared bias. For $r<s/2$ we construct a sharp adaptive estimator of $f$. We discuss some effects of dominating bias, such as superefficiency of minimax estimators.
Effect of silicon nutrition on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant response of cucumber plants exposed to salinity stress

The effect of silicon (Si) on salinity-induced oxidative damages of cucumber was investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Two cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus L. cvs. Negin and Super Dominus) were exposed to two salinity levels (0 and 50 mM NaCl) and two Si levels (0 and 1 µM). Silicon stimulated shoot growth of cucumber particularly under saline conditions. Leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased in ‘Super Dominus’ while it remained unchanged in ‘Negin’ by salt stress. MDA content in cucumber leaves was reduced by Si. The effect of salinity on activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was dependent on enzyme type and cultivar. Silicon increased activity of CAT, APX, and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in the leaves. Silicon nutrition could alleviate salt-oxidative stress on cucumber plants by increasing activity of antioxidant enzymes. Higher activity of CAT, APX, and GPX in ‘Negin’ might be associated with its greater tolerance to salinity.
The role of autocatalysis on the chemical diversity of the prebiotic ocean of early Earth

Abstract The spontaneous formation of catalytic polypeptides of various lengths in a primordial ocean endowed with a source of amino acids from micrometeorites was investigated and found to be sufficient to induce the transformation of potential substrates under the assumption of a high propensity of the environment to catalyse the formation of the peptide bond. This work aims to include in this picture the effect of autocatalysis, i.e. the ability of a polypeptide with a specific length to promote the formation of the peptide bond. Once the formation of an autocatalytic species is attained, the concentrations of the polypeptides, substrates and products of reaction exhibit a time-dependent rate of formation and undergo a catastrophic change. While in the absence of autocatalysis the concentrations of polypeptides are stationary and the formation of reaction products is limited by the proper frequency λ, autocatalysis induces a steady growth of the concentrations of polypeptides and a 100 − 105-fold increase of reaction products at t = ω−1<0.46 Gyr, with a subsequent linear growth in time according to the law u/z 0 = 1+s(ω−1+t)/z 0, provided the autocatalytic species be active with length fewer than 70 amino acid units. A relationship was found between the catalytic ability of the environment (expressed by the ratio η/ηh of the rate coefficient for peptide bond formation to the corresponding rate coefficient for hydrolysis) and the time of the sharp increase of the concentration of both the polypeptides and their products of transformation. Although the formation of autocatalytic polypeptides is able to rapidly induce a sharp increase in the concentration of both polypeptides and their products of transformation, the crucial formation of the first autocatalytic polypeptides relies on the ability of the environment to promote the formation of the peptide bond. The value of the ratio η/ηh, constrained by the available time for chemical evolution to values bordering the catalytic activity of present-day enzymes, suggests that the correlation between the presence of water and the formation of a complex chemistry should be taken with caution.
Passivation of silicon surface by ultrathin dielectric film in M/Si/nematic/ITO structures

In this work, the experimental observation of passivation of silicon surface by ultrathin dielectric film in Al/Si/nematic/Indium Tin Oxide(ITO) structure performed on the base of low resistive (~ several Ω×cm) n-type conductivity silicon sample is presented. It is shown that when the DC voltage with polarity +U on silicon is applied to the structure a passivation effect of silicon surface takes place. It is found that a silicon surface passivated by dielectric film changes an initial alignment of liquid crystal 5CB. In the structure with passivating silicon surface, a frequency range of structure photosensitivity extends due to limitation of current leakage through Si/liquid crystal interface.
Retinal Pigment Distribution in Relation to a Diurnal Rhythm in the Compound Eye of Dytiscus.∗

Conclusions 1. The distribution of retinal pigment is similar in the dark-adapted day-phase and dark-adapted night-phase eyes. 2. The distribution of retinal pigment is similar in the light-adapted day-phase and light-adapted night-phase eyes, as well as in the illuminated and non-illuminated eyes of the same animal. 3. The diurnal variations in visual function, described elsewhere, are, therefore, independent of retinal pigment migration and originate in the physiological mechanism of the visual process.