Biological science

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September...

The studies primary objective was to establish whether there was a difference in ciliary activity upon immersion in the aqueous smoke extracts from filtered and non-filtered cigarettes. The result was that there was indeed a difference in ciliary activity. The cilia’s BPM reduction was much more substantial within the specimen when immersed in aqueous extracts from a non-filtered cigarette than in comparison with the control of seawater as well as aqueous smoke extracts from the filtered cigarette. The BPM of the cilia immersed within the seawater was greater than that of the specimen immersed within the non-filtered cigarette aqueous extracts, however it is to no degree as detrimental as the non-filtered extract. This observation deduces the principle idea that smoking a cigarette without a filter has much more of a substantial effect on the ciliary activity, and likewise that there are similar, yet less substantial impediments of ciliary activity within the process of smoking cigarettes with filters opposed to not smoking at all. In over all aspects of the study, the results were very consistent with the predictions and proposed hypothesis of impeded ciliary activity which allow it remain highly complimentary in regards to studies conducted with similar parameters and goals such as those highlighted throughout this paper.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the utilization of the National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center (NSTIC) chemistry equipment and the performance of the high school chemistry teachers and students in Ormoc City division.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous,  radioprotective and
anti-microbial properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome are
well  recognized  worldwide.  Ginger  consumption  also  helps  in  the
management  of  inflammatory  damage  in  Alzheimer’s  and
Parkinson’s  disease.  Biological  properties  of  ginger  rhizome  are
attributed  to  its  active  compounds  including,  gingerols,  shogaols,
paradols  and  zingerone.  Zingerone  is  active  component  of  dried
ginger  rhizome  and  used  in  food  industry  as  flavouring  agent.
Various  observations  on  the  protective  role  of  zingerone  against
radiation  induced  oxidative  stress;  tissue  inflammatory  damage  and
drug  induced  toxicity  have  been  made  using  a  wide  range  of
experimental  models.  Mechanism  of  antioxidant  and  antiinflammatory  action  of  zingerone  has  been  linked  to potent  radical
scavenging  effect, causing  alteration in  gene/protein expression and
interference  with  intracellular  cell  signalling  pathways  of
inflammation.  Our  laboratory  for  the  first  time  revealed  antibiofilm
activity  of  zingerone  against  opportunistic  pathogen  Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. This study suggested that zingerone can be explored as a
safe  anti-infective  agent  against  P.  aeruginosa biofilm  associated
infections.  Hence,  comprehensive  information  showing  health
benefits of zingerone are urgently needed that may provide an update
on  its  therapeutic  potential.  We  conducted  a  detailed  search  of
literature  to  summarize  the  proven  health  benefits  and  biological
properties of zingerone. This review article summarizes in detail the
in vitroand in vivopharmacological benefits of zingerone.

New Zealand moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) are the only late Quaternary megafauna whose extinction was clearly caused by humans. New Zealand offers the best opportunity to estimate the number of people involved in a megafaunal extinction event because, uniquely, both the Polynesian settlement of New Zealand and moa extinction are recent enough to be dated with a high degree of precision. In addition, the founding human population can be estimated from genetic evidence. Here we show that the Polynesian population of New Zealand would not have exceeded 2,000 individuals before extinction of moa populations in the habitable areas of the eastern South Island. During a brief (o150 years) period and at population densities that never exceeded B0.01 km À 2 , Polynesians exterminated viable populations of moa by hunting and removal of habitat. High human population densities are not required in models of megafaunal extinction.

How can the ecological consequences of the increasing
use of airspace by humans be minimized?

Over the past century, humans have
increasingly used the airspace for
purposes such as transportation, energy
generation, and surveillance.
Conflict with wildlife may arise from
buildings, turbines, power lines, and
antennae that project into space and from
flying objects such as aircrafts, helicopters,
and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or
drones) (see the figure) ( 1– 3). The resulting
collision and disturbance risks profoundly
affect species ecology and conservation ( 1, 4,
5). Yet, aerial interactions between humans
and wildlife are often neglected when considering
the ecological consequences of human
activities.

Darwinism has become an encompassing theory, leaving the confines of science and accounting for all aspects of life. Such an outlook entails important consequences for the evaluation of life. In particular, organisms are considered mere means for species’ preservation and development, while reason is no special faculty, but rather an outgrowth of functions that are rudimentarily present in animals. Darwinism cannot, for that reason, be said to be ‘true’, but if Darwinism is the correct view, the implications for man are grave, no purpose or meaning of life being discernible. Darwinists are accordingly faced with the question why they continue their inquiries.

This research was funded by, and implemented within, a UK national research organisation, while the author was the KE and Impact Evaluation Manager responsible for assessing impact on a £15m UK government-funded research programme.

This work was also submitted as the authors MBA dissertation which was accepted and awarded in 2009.

ABSTRACT: A methodology and methods ‘toolbox’ is proposed for conducting impact research and assessment from within research programmes. The emphasis is upon how to clarify and assess the wider impacts from the early stages onwards.

The approach explicitly acknowledges, and attempts to address, the known issues and challenges of impact assessment while drawing upon the resources and opportunities available to research managers and researchers within such programmes.

The study has two triangulating foundations. Firstly, it examines the academic literature to help identify and design the pilot methodology and methods. Secondly it trials these in a real programme to both test and improve them.

The study was conducted over one year within one leading UK research organisation, where two research programmes (and around 60 research projects of £15m total value) were being assessed for their impacts. The study draws upon actual impact management experience and reflection, prospective (ex ante) and retrospective (ex post) assessments, participatory contributions from leading researchers undergoing assessment, and consultation with external users. The findings of this study outline the pilot and its first iteration. Recommendations are made for improvement to the methodology and methods.

A subsequent follow-on bid to UK government incorporating the impacts identified from implementing this methodology, successfully led to a further £15m of government funding.

It is expected the pilot methodology and methods will be applicable to other organisations, conducting and funding such research programmes, required to research and assess the wider research impacts.

Although primary focus of implemetation trials was upon research in physical sciences, technology, high-tech engineering, computing/IT, and environment, the wider literature study, the methodology design and justification, the methods proposed and used, and the resulting general recommendations and lessons are expected to apply more broadly to many other research areas, where the impact is to be found more widely in the society, economy, government or public sector or within organizations, policies, professions or the public.

Interest in this work is expected from research programme managers, impact managers and assessors, management consultants advising in this area, and government funding managers, all seeking to embed a developing approach to understand, capture, and enhance wider impact.

During the 20th century, the term “naturalistic” within the language’s sciences corresponded with a physicalist tendency, directing the so-called “linguistic turn” to a clearly synchronic, analytic-deductive and logical-formal paradigma. In the first period of cognitive science this tendency took the form of a theoretical approach to language in which the dualism between the mechanical-morphological components and the psychic ones fully arose. Within the computational hypotheses this theoretical solution has proved to fit completely to the distinction between hardware and software. As is well-known, these models revealed even the simplest semantic uses of language as unsuitable to explain. One of the most negative aspects of this real epistemological defeat of the most ambitious linguistic philosophy of the 20th century is that it entailed the progressive theoretical decrease of human language role within the new dominant paradigm of cognitive science. In this paper we support a different theoretical position that can place language contribution at the core of the scientific debate, while remaining within the boundaries of cognitive science’s epistemology. This can be possible if we use a different naturalistic philosophy of language, based entirely on evolutionary-developmental biology and on the fundamental concept of morphological constraints, rather than centered on physicalist stances. Moreover, we believe that our position can open to cognitive science further possibilities of application that are currently clouded by the neuroscience’s primacy and the totalizing approach of experimental methodologies.

Using a dual neurocognitive systems framework, Piaget’s ideas are elaborated to allow for executive processes and post formal thinking. Developing imagination, emotional expression, and creativity through the ‘arts’ should not be seen as educational luxuries that are to be argued for in terms of philosophical ideals, rather, they should be seen as important for mental health, and essential aspects of nurturing the psyche in accordance with its evolving biological nature.

Schizophrenia, a problem in how brains function, is characterized by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganized speech or behavior, and decreased participation in daily activities and difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present. In a research paper, David Icke discusses the monoatomic gold by ancient pharaohs in order to increase the processing capacity of their brains.

'Germination' is the emergence of radical and plumule of seed embryo, resulting in the formation of seedling. A fully developed seed contains an embryo along with food reserves wrapped in a seed coat. Various aspects like water, air, temperature and light or darkness plays a control, key factor necessary for seed germination process. These essential key factors can be explored as natural parameter for seed germination study and a specific parameter utilized can prove to be efficient to break seed dormancy. The present research is focused on consideration of natural parameter of light and dark condition along with a treatment of hot water and Normal unheated water on seeds of Trigonella foenum (Fenugreek) and Beta vulgaris (Palak). Seed germination study under these parameters within the sample and in-between the sample carried by research statistical analysis gives varied results. The efficiency of parameters and treatment; provides apparent potency in breaking seed dormancy without a necessity of seed boosters application in farming practices. The experiment carried develops a useful guide for agricultural practitioner involved in cultivation and production of leafy vegetables.

In this study, we evaluated the potential impact of climate change on the distributions of Turkey's songbirds in the 21st century by modelling future distributions of 20 resident and nine migratory species under two global climate change scenarios. We combined verified data from an ornithological citizen science initiative (www.kusbank.org) with maximum entropy modeling and eight bioclimatic variables to estimate species distributions and projections for future time periods. Model predictions for resident and migratory species showed high variability, with some species projected to lose and others projected to gain suitable habitat. Our study helps improve the understanding of the current and potential future distributions of Turkey's songbirds and their responses to climate change, highlights effective strategies to maximize avian conservation efforts in the study region, and provides a model for using citizen science data for biodiversity research in a large developing country with few professional field biologists. Our results demonstrate that climate change will not affect every species equally in Turkey. Expected range reductions in some breeding species will increase the risk of local extinction, whereas others are likely to expand their ranges.

Following increases in numbers during the second half of the 20th century, several Arcticbreeding migrant bird species are now undergoing sustained population declines. These include the northwest European population of Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii, which declined from c. 29 000 birds on the wintering grounds in 1995 to 18 000 in 2010. It is unclear whether this decrease reflects reduced survival, emigration to a different area, or a combination of both. Furthermore, the environmental drivers of any demographic changes are also unknown. We therefore used an information-theoretic approach in RMark to analyse a data set of 3929 individually marked and resighted Bewick's Swans to assess temporal trends and drivers of survival between winters 1970/71 and 2014/2015, while accounting for effects of age, sex and different marker types. The temporal trend in apparent survival rates over our study period was best explained by different survival rates for each decade, with geometric mean survival rates highest in the 1980s (leg ring marked birds = 0.853, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.830-0.873) and lowest in the 2010s (leg ring = 0.773, CI = 0.738-0.805; neck-collar = 0.725, CI = 0.681-0.764). Mean (± 95% CI) resighting probabilities over the study period were higher for birds marked with neck-collars (0.91 ± 0.01) than for those marked with leg-rings (0.70 ± 0.02). Weather conditions in different areas across the flyway, Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. food resources on the winter grounds, density-dependence and the growth of numbers at a relatively new wintering site (the Evros Delta in Greece) all performed poorly as explanatory variables of apparent survival. None of our 18 covariates accounted for more than 7.2% of the deviance associated with our survival models, with a mean of only 2.2% of deviance explained. Our results provide long-term demographic information needed to help conservationists understand the population dynamics of Bewick's Swans in northwest Europe.

Experiments in tropical rocky intertidal habitats across the globe have identified various effects of biological and physical factors on algal assemblage. High- and mid-intertidal rocky shores in tropical areas are exposed, with varying degrees, to the same physical factors such as temperature, heat, desiccation, shore height, supply of sediment and nutrients that affects temperate rocky shores. The degree of exposure to physical extremes however determines the structure of assemblage in most tropical rocky shores. The low shore is often controlled by biological factors, i.e., grazing and predation by mollusks, fishes, amphipods, crabs, and iguanas, while the high shore is mainly controlled by physical factors. It appears that the keystone species concept may not apply to tropical rocky shore communities. Reasons for this include indirect effects, overlapping food requirements and a diffuse predation due to a diverse set of assemblage that may mask the effect of one species. Present paper compare the several studies carried out in Hong Kong and Panama on tropical rocky shore consumer interactions. Studies on the effects of physical disturbances in coastal areas such as storms or typhoons are rare and there were little studies dealing with interactions of the sub tidal coralline algae and the low shore algae in tropical areas. More experimental work across a variety of spatial and temporal scales are therefore needed to determine significant biological and physical processes affecting the structure of algal assemblage across broad areas in the tropics.

We demonstrate that equipping the neurons of Fukushima's Neocognitron with the phenomenon that a neuron decreases its activity when repeatedly stimulated (adaptation) markedly improves the pattern discriminatory power of the network. By means of adaptation, circuits for extracting discriminating features develop preferentially. In the original neocognitron, in contrast, features shared by different patterns are preferentially learned, as connections required for extracting them are more frequently reinforced.

Rae & Koppe (2014) on paranasal sinuses (PNSs) use comparative data to test the so-called Aquatic Ape Theory (AAT), concluding that it is not compatible. However, their (excellent) data on PNSs – as opposed to their interpretations of those data – are in full agreement to the coastal dispersal view of human evolution.  We, very briefly, first give a summary of the Pleistocene coastal dispersal or littoral hypothesis, then provide some comparative data on PNSs, and finally discuss whether PNS anatomy confirms or disproves these views.

The idea that people went through an aquatic phase at some time in their evolutionary past is currently undergoing a popular resurgence (see Foley & Lahr). This idea has even started to gain some traction in more learned circles; the late paleoanthropologist Phillip Tobias wrote in support of aspects of it in an edited e-book and a conference on the topic held recently in London was endorsed by celebrities such as the television presenter Sir David Attenborough. Despite (or perhaps because of) the lack of interest within the academic community, advocates of the concept continue to fill the media (and blogosphere) with challenges to the "savannah hypothesis" of the origins of people and to bemoan the fact that their views are not taken seriously by mainstream academia.

The goal of this project is to develop and utilize a microfluidic device to isolate and enrich tumor cells circulating in peripheral blood. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been used as biomarkers for cancer diagnostics and prognosis. However, the rarity of these cells (roughly 1 in a billion) poses a technological challenge to sort and concentrate them. CTCs hold potential sources for early detection, characterization, monitoring of cancers, and development of personalized treatment. The project is currently funded by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September...

This study were conducted in order to get an idea about the distribution and habitat preferred by the vulnerable species of Marbled Teal, it is considered the first effort of its kind in Iraq towards studying the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris that was carried on in Hor Al-Dalmaj, southern Iraq. The findings of this effort illustrate its importance as it paves the way for further study and observation for the bird and this important wetland itself. This study tackles the all possible aspects of the habitat statuses of Marbled Teal (Threatened – Vulnerable bird species – IUCN Redlist) by means of field surveys and systematic monitoring that were conducted along the four seasons over the years 2015-2016 in one of the ecologically important and prominent and poorly-known wetlands in the Middle Euphrates, that is Hor Al-Dalmaj, as a highly important wetland on the national, regional and global levels that holds Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA), Important Bird Areas (IBA), and Impo...

Height preference of blow flies is an important aspect when surveying an area for a forensic investigation or surveying flies within a general context. Blow flies have been proven to have particular preferences when landing around the carrion in which they are attracted to. This study implemented a 3 day long, choice vs. no-choice system using 3 separate sites, each trap site varying within the context of height, with 4 separate sticky traps at each in attempts to recognize and observe the trending patterns for height preference. Utilizing the 3 sites to expose a sufficient control allows a fully applicable testing method for the hypothesis, which was proven to be true. The studies emphasis remains in the fact that there is clearly a height preference for the blow flies, and any time there is a high trap/high area of foliage present and not a low trap/low foliage area, there will likely be little to no blow flies around, regardless of carrion being within the immediate vicinity.

Plants a wealth of secondary metabolites have been used for thousands of years to treat different ailments. A number of these natural products have shown biological and pharmacological activities and serve as the starting point in the development of modern medicines. Screening of crude plant extracts open the door for the way for discovery of novel bioactive compounds and elucidation of their structures leads towards new synthetic preparations, which can be administered in reproducible, accurate doses for particular therapeutic purposes. There is less known information about Samanea saman Merr., and Prosopis cineraria Druce. However, authors in this book present comprehensive information about traditional uses, biological and phytochemical investigation of Samanea saman Merr., and Prosopis cineraria Druce.

The populace are concern about how their environment is impacted by spend or used engine oil. The spills from spend engine oil posed serious problems to the land and aquatic habitats. Efficient methods but low-cost technique for remediating spends engine oil contaminated soil and restorations of soil fertility are being explored. In response to used engine oil pollution to the soil, the present investigation examined the comparative biodegradation level of spend engine oil contaminated soil using fermented chicken droppings. The soil sample was collected from the uncontaminated site 10 cm below ground level. The sandy/loam soil was sieved with 2.5 mm mesh. A 4 kg of the soil was weighed into each bucket and contaminated with spend engine oil, the soil was contaminated with 150 ml of the spend engine oil at a ratio of 1:27. A 27 kg of chicken droppings was mixed with 27 liters of water in a ratio of 1 kg: 1L. The mixture was left for 7days to ferment and increase the microbial load. ...

The fraction with molecular size >100 kDa corresponds to 56% of the organic load. Molecular size of pollutants is a major constraint to biodegradability. Ozone efficiency for improving biodegradability increases with molecular size. To raise biodegradability by ozonation the best outcome was with compounds >20 kDa.

International Journal of Wireless Networks Systems (IJWNS)is a bi monthly open access peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles which contribute new results in all areas of Wireless & Mobile Networks. The journal focuses on all technical and practical aspects of Wireless Networks Systems .

Cations of Al and rare earth elements (REEs) are phyto-toxic.  The toxicity of such cations has been summarized as followings: (1) metal cations induce the production of superoxide (O2-) in plant cells; (2) the metal cations with higher valence induce greater oxidative burst (OXB); (3) with higher ion valence, the concentration required for maximal response is minimized; (4) the induced OXB is sensitive to inhibitors of NADPH oxidase.  To date, non-redox metal cations such as those of Al, La, Ce, and Gd, have been shown to induce OXB. It has been shown that Zn2+ inhibits the REE-induced OXB. Zn is normally present in plants at high level, and its deficiency is one of the most widespread micro-nutrient deficiencies in plants, causing severe reductions in crop production.  Increasing studies indicate that oxidative damage to plants caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) results from a deficiency of Zn. A hypothetical model explains that the O2- generating activity of NADPH oxidase is sensitive to Zn2+ , thus the REE-dependent stimulation could be inhibited or retarded by Zn2+. In this study, we tested the effect of Zn2+ supplementation on REE-induced OXB in tobacco cell culture, measured with the O2- specific chemiluminescence (CL) of a Cypridina luciferin analog (CLA). CLA-CL specifically indicates the generation of O2- and singlet oxygen (1O2) with a lesser extent, but not that of other ROS. Here, the mode of Zn action against the REE-induced OXB was assessed with Lineweaver-Burk kinetics and possible eco-physiological roles for Zn in interaction with other metal cations in plants are discussed.

The fraction with molecular size >100 kDa corresponds to 56% of the organic load. Molecular size of pollutants is a major constraint to biodegradability. Ozone efficiency for improving biodegradability increases with molecular size. To raise biodegradability by ozonation the best outcome was with compounds >20 kDa.

'Germination' is the emergence of radical and plumule of seed embryo, resulting in the formation of seedling. A fully developed seed contains an embryo along with food reserves wrapped in a seed coat. Various aspects like water, air, temperature and light or darkness plays a control, key factor necessary for seed germination process. These essential key factors can be explored as natural parameter for seed germination study and a specific parameter utilized can prove to be efficient to break seed dormancy. The present research is focused on consideration of natural parameter of light and dark condition along with a treatment of hot water and Normal unheated water on seeds of Trigonella foenum (Fenugreek) and Beta vulgaris (Palak). Seed germination study under these parameters within the sample and in-between the sample carried by research statistical analysis gives varied results. The efficiency of parameters and treatment; provides apparent potency in breaking seed dormancy without a necessity of seed boosters application in farming practices. The experiment carried develops a useful guide for agricultural practitioner involved in cultivation and production of leafy vegetables.

Cvetanovska, E., T. Ricciardi, A.P. Hendry, and D.B. Conn. 2015. Left out in the cold? Variation in low-temperature tolerance among invasive populations of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea. Proceedings of the 2015 Aquatic Sciences Meeting of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology & Oceanography.  2015 Aquatic Sciences: Global And Regional Perspectives — North Meets South, 22-27 February 2015, Granada, Spain.

Contending with Human Bones. Volume editor by Mary Baxter, General editors David Barrowclough and Susanne Hakenbeck.

Papers by:
M. Baxter: Contending with Human Bones
C. Roberts: Bees in My Bonnet
T. Molleson: The Archaeology of Family Planning and the Role of Infanticide
M. Baxter: Corporeal Realities, or Flesh and Blood as well as Bone
F. Hutton: Skeletons in the Prehistoric Closet
C. Catuna: Exquisite Corpses
D. Gheorghia: Invisible Presences and Clay Ancestors

This study were conducted in order to get an idea about the distribution and habitat preferred by the vulnerable species of Marbled Teal, it is considered the first effort of its kind in Iraq towards studying the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris that was carried on in Hor Al-Dalmaj, southern Iraq.

Abstract Lectins are the glycoproteins known to bind specifically to carbohydrates on the cell surface. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses produce lectins that in turn provide the microbes with several advantages such as adhesion, infection, and inhibition of other microbes. Microbial lectins are unique in properties, which make them a valuable tool in various fields of biology such as immunology, oncology, and biochemistry. Microbial lectins are also responsible for several important bioprocesses such as bioremediation and bioflocculation. Lectin-mediated aggregation in microorganisms is responsible for bioflocculation of activated sludge as well as bioremediation of heavy metals. This chapter focuses on lectins from different microorganisms and the roles they exhibit, along with the mechanism of action. Different applications of microbial lectins exploited in diverse areas of biology have also been covered, with highlights of some practical approaches and research pertaining to microbial lectins.