The University of Kansas: Journals@KU
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New item in the diet of Blacksmith Treefrog (Boana faber) tadpoles in an urban area of southeastern Brazil
Full text linkStratigraphic and Regional Trends in Chemistry and Quality of Natural Gas in Central and Western Kansas, Midcontinent, USA
No full textNatural gas from many midcontinent geological formations can contain significant quantities of nitrogen and subsidiary amounts of helium. Argon and carbon dioxide also can be present, but they commonly compose less than 0.5% of the total gas. In as many as a third of the fields in Kansas, noncombustible component gases reduce heating values to less than 950 BTU/scf.
Natural gas analyses, when differentiated into histograms according to their heat content (i.e., BTU/scf), array as skewed bell-shaped distributions with a “tail” on the lower-BTU flank of the distribution. There are no separate populations of low-BTU and high-BTU gases. The definition of a low-BTU gas is therefore somewhat arbitrary and artificial and mostly defined by what quality of natural gas will be accepted by pipeline companies. A gas with less than 950 BTU/scf — usually the minimum quality of gas accepted by pipelines without price discounts — is nominally identified as a low-BTU gas. Occurrences of low-BTU gas are geographically extensive in Kansas. Much of this low-BTU gas has either been shut in behind pipe or simply abandoned after discovery if it could not be blended with any readily available higher-BTU gas.
Most gas production in Kansas is from Permian Chase Group strata in the giant Hugoton Gas Field in southwestern Kansas. Elsewhere in the state, other Permian and older strata producing gas are associated with petroleum that was generated in and then migrated out of the Anadarko basin of Oklahoma. Cretaceous gases are present in the northwestern corner of the state. The Cretaceous gases are biogenic in origin and are updip of thermogenic gas occurrences in the Denver-Julesburg basin of Colorado and Wyoming.
Percentages of higher-molecular-weight hydrocarbon component gases (i.e., ethane, propane, butane, pentane, etc.) and helium generally decrease with decreasing age of the reservoir. Helium content is commonly linked to nitrogen content in a relatively constant ratio that generally increases with decreasing age of the reservoir. The median nitrogen/helium ratio for Kansas Cretaceous gases is 45/1. Median ratios for other strata are 31/1 for Permian strata, 25/1 for Pennsylvanian (Virgilian) strata, and 21/1 for Pennsylvanian (Missourian) strata. Gas-bearing zones along the basal Pennsylvanian angular unconformity have a median nitrogen/helium ratio of 11/1.
Some low-BTU regions in the Hugoton Gas Field and along the basal Pennsylvanian unconformity are possibly caused by interaction of the gases with formation water. Formation water could either leach the component gases, such as various hydrocarbon gases, from a natural gas accumulation or it could contribute component gases such as nitrogen and helium to a gas accumulation. Alternately, mixing with a lower-BTU gas also could alter the original composition of a natural gas accumulation.
The natural gas in the Chase Group of the Hugoton Gas Field in southwestern Kansas displays some consistent changes in composition. The perimeter of the field is characterized by low-BTU gas, and the perimeter is particularly wide in the northeastern corner of the field. For reasons unknown, gas analyses in the western (updip) part of the field assay with greater hydrocarbon wetness (i.e., greater percentages of higher-molecular-weight gases relative to methane) than gases in the eastern part of the field.
Helium content in natural gas accumulations increases from south to north and peaks on the southern part of the Central Kansas uplift. Maps of helium percentages and nitrogen/helium ratios define several areas where helium can be extracted to augment the economics of natural gas production in Kansas
A study from the Ramnagar Area of Purba Medinipur District in West Bengal, evaluating the knowledge of undergraduate students regarding common myths and perception of snakes
Full text linkSnake myths have been prevalent in various cultures throughout history, and they continue to persist inmodern times. Among students, these myths often take on a variety of forms and are fueled by a range of factors thatinclude cultural beliefs, personal experiences, and media portrayals. I made an effort to evaluate the beliefs in snakemyths of 500 undergraduate students at Ramnagar College along with their attitudes toward snakes. Almost two-thirdsof students said they believed in at least some myths about snakes and cited twelve, of which revenge-taking by snakeswas mentioned most frequently (85%). Sixty percent of students hinted at killing encountered snakes if possible. Thesebeliefs in myth can lead to fear and misunderstanding, which can be detrimental to humans, snakes, and the naturalenvironment. Education and awareness can play a crucial role in dispelling these myths and promoting a more accurateand positive understanding of snakes.
Predation by a non-native Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) of a native Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) in Miami, Florida, USA
No full textMechanisms of Lymphatic Metastasis and Immune Microenvironment Regulation in Ovarian Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Precision Lympho-Immune Surgery
Full text linkOvarian cancer is a highly prevalent and lethal malignancy in women, with lymphatic metastasis representing one of the key determinants of patient prognosis. In recent years, advances in molecular biology and immunology have gradually unveiled the multifaceted mechanisms underlying lymphatic dissemination in ovarian cancer, including tumor cell invasiveness, lymphangiogenesis, and the dynamic regulation by immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The complex interplay among various immune cells not only influences metastatic potential but also provides potential therapeutic targets. Meanwhile, the rise of precision lympho-immune surgery has provided novel strategies for the accurate identification and resection of sentinel or metastasized lymph nodes, offering hope for improved clinical outcomes. This review systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer lymphatic metastasis and its association with the immune microenvironment, with a special focus on advances in precision lympho-immune surgical practice, aiming to provide theoretical and technical support for the development of individualized therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer
Contested Belonging: Druze Identity, Zionism, and the Struggle Over Historical Narrative: Book forum of Firro, Kais. 2019. Duruz fi Zaman “al-Ghafla" min al-Mih’rath al-Filastini \u27iila al-Bunduqiye al-\u27Iisrayiyliye [Druze in the Time of "Inattention": From the Palestinian Plow to the Israeli Gun]. Beirut: al-Mu’asseh La’laderasat al-Falastiniye
Full text linkيقدم هذا المنتدى خمسة تحليلات نقدية لعمل الدكتور قيس فرّو "الدروز في زمن الغفلة"، حيث يقدم كل منها منظورًا فريدًا حول الهوية الدرزية، والتأريخ الصهيوني، وسياسات التمثيل. يدرس المساهمون مناهج فرّو البحثيّة، وتصويره للمقاومة الدرزية، والآثار الأوسع للروايات التي ترعاها الدولة والتي تهدف إلى فصل الأقليات عن جذورها العربية والفلسطينية. من كشف التاريخ المكبوت إلى تحدي أساطير الاستيعاب، تستكشف المقالات كيف أثرت الاستراتيجيات الاستعمارية وما بعد الاستعمارية على تصوّرات الدروز كمتعاونين، أو متطرفين، أو فاعلين سلبيين. يتضمن المنتدى أيضًا انتقادات منهجيّة لعمل فرّو، متسائلة عن معالجته للقيادة الدرزية، وثغراته السياقية، واعتماده على التناقضات الثنائية. تُلقي هذه المساهمات مجتمعةً الضوء على تعقيد الفاعلية السياسية الدرزية، والتأثير المستمر للصور النمطية الطائفية، وأهمية البحث العلمي الدقيق والمستند إلى التاريخ. في ضوء أعمال العنف الأخيرة في السويداء والاتهامات المتجددة ضد المجتمعات الدرزية، يأتي هذا المنتدى في الوقت المناسب وعاجلًا، حيث يوفر منصة لإعادة التفكير في الهوية والمقاومة وأخلاقيات الكتابة التاريخية في سياقات فلسطين والعالم العربي الأوسع.This forum presents five critical analyses of Dr. Kais Firro’s influential work Druze in the Time of Inattention, each offering a unique perspective on Druze identity, Zionist historiography, and the politics of representation. The contributors examine Firro’s archival methods, his portrayal of Druze resistance, and the broader effects of state-sponsored narratives that aim to disconnect minority communities from their Arab and Palestinian roots. From uncovering suppressed histories to challenging myths of assimilation, the essays explore how colonial and postcolonial strategies have influenced perceptions of the Druze as collaborators, outliers, or passive subjects. The forum also includes internal critiques of Firro’s work, questioning its treatment of Druze leadership, its contextual gaps, and its reliance on binary oppositions. Collectively, these contributions shed light on the complexity of Druze political agency, the enduring influence of sectarian stereotypes, and the importance of nuanced, historically grounded scholarship. In light of recent violence in Sweida and renewed accusations against Druze communities, this forum is both timely and urgent, providing a platform to rethink identity, resistance, and the ethics of historical writing within the contexts of Palestine and the broader Arab world.
يقدم هذا المنتدى خمسة تحليلات نقدية لعمل الدكتور قيس فرّو "الدروز في زمن الغفلة"، حيث يقدم كل منها منظورًا فريدًا حول الهوية الدرزية، والتأريخ الصهيوني، وسياسات التمثيل. يدرس المساهمون مناهج فرّو البحثيّة، وتصويره للمقاومة الدرزية، والآثار الأوسع للروايات التي ترعاها الدولة والتي تهدف إلى فصل الأقليات عن جذورها العربية والفلسطينية. من كشف التاريخ المكبوت إلى تحدي أساطير الاستيعاب، تستكشف المقالات كيف أثرت الاستراتيجيات الاستعمارية وما بعد الاستعمارية على تصوّرات الدروز كمتعاونين، أو متطرفين، أو فاعلين سلبيين. يتضمن المنتدى أيضًا انتقادات منهجيّة لعمل فرّو، متسائلة عن معالجته للقيادة الدرزية، وثغراته السياقية، واعتماده على التناقضات الثنائية. تُلقي هذه المساهمات مجتمعةً الضوء على تعقيد الفاعلية السياسية الدرزية، والتأثير المستمر للصور النمطية الطائفية، وأهمية البحث العلمي الدقيق والمستند إلى التاريخ. في ضوء أعمال العنف الأخيرة في السويداء والاتهامات المتجددة ضد المجتمعات الدرزية، يأتي هذا المنتدى في الوقت المناسب وعاجلًا، حيث يوفر منصة لإعادة التفكير في الهوية والمقاومة وأخلاقيات الكتابة التاريخية في سياقات فلسطين والعالم العربي الأوسع
Downloading images from GBIF: Licenses, citation and link rot
Full text linkDownloading images of preserved specimens in bulk is becoming increasingly important for many research projects, especially those connected with machine learning and image analysis. A useful source of images is the standard biodiversity aggregator, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Here we identify four major issues connected to GBIF image downloads, distinct from those associated with text downloads. These are (1) license considerations, (2) citation issues, (3) restricting to specific providers for project reasons or cybersecurity concerns, and, finally, (4) attempting to use links that are no longer functioning (often referred to as “link rot” or “data rot”). We suggest an incremental approach to downloading and suggest techniques for improved image download. We provide an implementation of our suggestions in Python (gbifimage-downloader)
Post-translocation monitoring of an Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard, Uromastyx aegyptia (Forskål 1775), population displaced by a global giga-project
Full text linkInfrastructure development programs and giga-projects (massive development initiatives) on the ArabianPeninsula are implementing large-scale faunal translocation efforts to promote nature recovery. Consequently, manyspecies that have been locally extirpated are being restored. However, extant species also can be subject to translocationswhen populations are threatened by infrastructure development. Such is the case with the vulnerable Egyptian SpinytailedLizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) population in the boundary of the NEOM giga-project spanning 26,500 km2 inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Surveys were conducted to quantify Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard distributionand home range overlap within the infrastructure development footprint. Individual animals detected within thatfootprint were then captured and released in a reserve outside the path of construction. Post-release monitoring iscritical to promote establishment of populations of translocated animals. We herein present a novel method of activeburrow counts, measured over time, as a proxy for monitoring trends in population size of translocated lizards. Weconducted ground surveys of the translocation site during the hot season to achieve a complete count of lizard burrowswithin a 5.95 km2 fenced release area within NEOM’s Mneifa Wildlife Reserve (MWR). We found that 74% ofthe 244 burrows that we detected were active and made 31 direct observations of adult animals. Thus, we detectedstrong evidence of an established population one year after translocation. The active-burrow count system that wedeveloped is not unique to burrowing lizards and is suitable for all subterranean species of conservation concern. Noveltechniques such as this will be essential to quantifying the establishment of post-translocation populations of species ofconservation concern throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond
