Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in microtubule arrays in symbiotic orchid protocorms during fungal colonization and senescence

SUMMARY Microtubule arrays were studied in Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames protocorms cultured in vitro either asymbiotically or symbiotically with the fungus Ceratobasidium cornigerum (Bourdot) Rogers by localizing β-tubulin in hand sections observed with laser scanning confocal microscopy. Cortical microtubules present in uncolonized cells disappeared when cells became colonized by the fungus. However, microtubules were observed between the hyphae forming hyphal coils (pelotons) in colonized cells. In these cells a close relationship between pelotons, microtubules and nuclei was often observed, and microtubules associated with hyphae formed a net-like structure through the pelotons. During senescence and condensation of the pelotons, microtubules were observed surrounding the pelotons, between collapsing hyphae and as circular profiles within the collapsed hyphal masses. In cells which contained completely collapsed hyphal masses and which were not recolonized, cortical microtubules reappeared and continued from the cell periphery through the hyphal remains to the collapsed hyphal masses. Microtubules associated with hyphae seemed to be involved in the condensation of hyphal masses in the host cells. Microtubules were also observed within hyphae, except in those which were collapsing or had collapsed.
Prospects in Salmonella Control: Competitive Exclusion, Probiotics, and Enhancement of Avian Intestinal Immunity

Abstract Salmonella infections are mainly asymptomatic in poultry but are associated with widespread human illness from this source. Therefore, there is continuing interest in finding ways of preventing flock infection and, hence, contamination of poultry products with salmonellas. This review considers aspects of Salmonella carriage in poultry and host interactions that may be exploitable in the future to improve existing control measures. These include factors involved in colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, the role of competitive exclusion and probiotic treatments, and enhancement of intestinal immunity.
Multi-Resource Allocation for Network Slicing

Among the novelties introduced by 5G networks, the formalization of the ‘network slice’ as a resource allocation unit is an important one. In legacy networks, resources such as link bandwidth, spectrum, computing capacity are allocated independently of each other. In 5G environments, a network slice is meant to directly serve end-to-end services, or verticals: behind a network slice demand, a tenant expresses the need to access a precise service type, under a fully qualified set of computing and network requirements. The resource allocation decision encompasses, therefore, a combination of different resources. In this paper, we address the problem of fairly sharing multiple resources between slices, in the critical situation in which the network does not have enough resources to fully satisfy slice demands. We model the problem as a multi-resource allocation problem, proposing a versatile optimization framework based on the Ordered Weighted Average (OWA) operator, that takes into account different fairness approaches. We show how, adapting the OWA utility function, our framework can generalize classical single-resource allocation methods, existing multi-resource allocation solutions at the state of the art, and implement novel multi-resource allocation solutions. We compare analytically and by extensive simulations the different methods in terms of fairness and system efficiency.
Root colonization vs. seedling growth, in two Azospirillum -inoculated wheat species

Data evaluating the growth promoting effects of Azospirillum on wheat seedlings according to the inoculum level/root colonization effectiveness (number of bacterial cells), is scarce. Uniform 1-cm size, 72-h old wheat seedlings grown in the dark at 22 °C were inoculated with: i) 10 3 , 10 5 , 10 7 and 10 8 A. brasilense cells per T. aestivum cv. ProINTA Federal seedling; ii) 10 2 , 10 5 and 10 8 A. brasilense cells per T. durum cv. Buck Topacio seedling; iii) 10 6 heat killed bacteria (HKB) cells per cultivar seedling; iv) phosphate buffer pH 6.8 (NI) as control seedlings for both cultivars. Afterwards, seedling growth proceeded in water in the dark at 22 °C for another 48 h. Alive or dead Azospirillum cells were suspended in phosphate buffer pH 6.8. Root and shoot growth were determined measuring the length and projected area of their digitalized images. When treated with inocula concentrations ranging from 10 2 to 10 5 cells per seedling, both Triticum species reached a maximum level of colonization har.
Duthieeae, a new tribe of grasses (Poaceae) identified among the early diverging lineages of subfamily Pooideae: molecular phylogenetics, morphological delineation, cytogenetics and biogeography

The phylogeny of Pooideae, one of the largest subfamilies of grasses, has been intensively studied during the past years. To investigate the early evolutionary splits in Pooideae we used a broad sample of genera with uncertain placement, some of which have not been studied in molecular phylogenetics before, complemented by representatives from other lineages of this subfamily. Morphological, cytogenetic and biogeographical analyses were added to the molecular sequence work on chloroplast matK–3’trnK and nuclear ITS. According to chloroplast DNA data, a new and well-supported lineage was identified among the early branches. It consisted of Phaenosperma and a larger group of genera encompassing Anisopogon, Danthoniastrum, Duthiea, Metcalfia, Pseudodanthonia (inclusion resting on ITS and morphology), Sinochasea and Stephanachne. Based on structural characters we suggest to keep Phaenosperma under the monotypic tribe Phaenospermateae and to accommodate the other genera under a new tribe Duthieeae, which is morphologically well-defined by synapomorphic spikelet features. Megalachne and Podophorus were not part of the early diverging Pooideae lineages but belong to the Aveneae/Poeae complex. Morphological characteristics of Duthieeae are discussed with respect especially to Stipeae and reveal consistent differences between both tribes. The genera of Duthieeae and the major lineages of Stipeae are keyed. A cytogenetic survey of exemplary taxa corroborates high chromosome base numbers as prevailing within the early diverging lineages of Pooideae, but chromosome sizes are more highly varied than previously reported. Ecogeographical analyses point to warm and humid conditions as the ancestral bioclimatic niche of Phaenosperma and Duthieeae, whereas adaptation to cold and drought occurred only in a part of Duthieeae but was obviously less successful than in the widespread and much more species-rich tribe Stipeae. The distribution of Duthieeae with species-poor or monotypic genera in mountains of the northern hemisphere and Anisopogon as an outlier in Australia suggests relict character.
Anatomy, development, and functions of the bovine omasum.

Summary Numbers of laminae and their arrangement varied significantly among omasums of different cattle and between the upper and lower portions of the omasums of 85 among 86 organs examined. Pedunculated shape of, and partial blockage by the first-order laminae at the reticulo-omasal orifice, and their extension generally across to the sulcus omasi, tend to allow mainly small feed particles to enter, and divert them between the laminae. From ingesta samples air-dried, some reduction in size of particles was found in the omasum to under 1mm in diameter. Digestion and solution of fine ingesta caused rapid removal of fine particles in the abomasum. Significant differences were found in numbers of laminae among animals and between upper and lower portions of the omasum (P Volume of the full omasum increased to 60 times between 10 and 150 days of age. Moisture contents of omasal contents decreased markedly from those of the rumen and reticulum, without respect to age in these calves.
Thoughts on Recolonization of Endorheic Cold Desert Spring-Streams

Possible routes for recolonization of cold desert spring-streams that experience severe winter spates are evaluated. Because the entire stream, including headwater areas, is affected, initial recolonization appears to be largely by survivors of the spates, including newly hatched larvae from surviving eggs. Drift, upstream migration, and oviposition are not important initially, but may play roles as the stream recovers or during periods of oviposition by immigrants later in the year. Taxonomic composition is unpredictable owing both to the disappearance of common species and the appearance of new species. The fauna is low in diversity. The spates appear to be largely stochastic events, and recolonization is related to both deterministic and stochastic processes.
Forest Stand Development Patterns in the Southern Appalachians

Abstract Composition of southern Appalachian forests are influenced by disturbance and topography. This study examined six stands in southwestern Virginia. Within each stand, a 0.3-ha plot was established, and all trees and saplings were measured and aged. Burned stands had lower densities of saplings and small trees, but appeared to have greater Quercus regeneration. Ice damage from the 1994 ice storm was most evident in Pinus strobus saplings. A stand on old coal-mine slag appeared to be experiencing a slower rate of succession than other sites. A variety of stand development patterns were observed, but one common pattern was that oak-hickory overstories had different species in their understory, which may indicate future changes in species composition.
Effect of crude extracts from Commiphora swynnertonii (Burtt) against selected microbes of animal health importance

Ethanolic extracts from resin, root bark, stem bark and leaves of Commiphora swynnertonii were tested against fungi and bacteria using agar well diffusion method. The fungi included Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger whereas the bacteria species included Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli . Antimicrobial activity was determined by measuring inhibition zone diameters around agar wells. Resin and root bark extracts showed significant activities against S. pyogenes, E. coli and B. subtilis compared to the other two extracts. Growth of E. coli was highly reduced by resin extract (minimum inhibition concentration = 1.9 µg/ml). The fungi, C. albicans , also showed similar sensitivity to resin and root bark extract. Growth of S. typhimurium was not reduced by all four extracts at all concentrations tested whereas that of P. aeruginosa was slightly reduced. Cytotoxicity studies using brine lethality test indicated that root bark, stem bark and resin extract had effect to brine shrimps with LC 50 of 3.5, 13.0 and 15.8 µg/ml, respectively. The current results indicate that resin and root bark extracts of C. swynnertonii have strong antimicrobial activity against most of the tested microbes and support the traditional use of the plant in treating various infectious diseases. Further studies are suggested to validate the use of this plant against the diseases caused by the tested microbes.
Chromosome counts for the Australian weed known as Senecio madagascariensis (Asteraceae).

Chromosome counts of 2n = 20 for specimens of Senecio madagascariensis from Australia and from Madagascar are reported. By contrast, counts of 2n = 40 for a diversity of specimens of the S. lautus sensu lato complex are reported. These results support previous separation of these taxa on morphological grounds.
Evaluation of Putrescine, cadaverine, and indole as chemical indicators of decomposition in Penaeid shrimp

ABSTRACT: Putrescine, cadaverine, and indole were evaluated as chemical indicators of decomposition for wild and aquacultured Penaeid shrimp decomposed under controlled conditions at 0, 12, 24, and 36 °C and for commercial shrimp samples collected and evaluated by Food and Drug Administration experts. Putrescine, cadaverine, and indole levels increased with time as the temperatures of decomposition increased. Putrescine, at a reject level of 3 ppm, confirmed sensory evidence of decomposition more frequently than did cadaverine or indole at reject levels of 3 ppm or 25 μg/100 g, respectively. Based on this research, putrescine appears to be the most comprehensive chemical indicator for decomposition in fresh or frozen Penaeid shrimp studied to date.
New Records of Squamates from the Upper Miocene of South America

Abstract The Cerro Azul Formation of Argentina has yielded one of the highest diversities of squamate reptiles for the upper Miocene of South America including tupinambine teiids (Tupinambis sp.), “colubrids,” and viperids. Here, we describe new remains of Tupinambis sp. and “Colubridae” from this Formation as well as the first records of teiine teiids and boid snakes. The teiine represents the oldest record of this subfamily in South America. The squamate assemblage of the Cerro Azul Formation is consistent with the mammalian fauna in supporting the interpretation of a Chacoan-type palaeoenvironment for the upper Miocene of Central Argentina.
Can Pair Learning Improve Students’ Troubleshooting Performance in Robotics Education?

In Robotics Education (RE), the hands-on experience with troubleshooting problems is seen as a good catalyst to enhance the participants’ problem-solving skills. Based on the pedagogical technique of collaborative learning and pair programming, pair learning is an emerging and potential method in RE, which means that students collaborate in pairs to construct, build, and program a robot under scripted but switchable roles. As a special collaborative learning, can pair learning also improve students’ troubleshooting performance in RE? Therefore, we conducted a comparison experiment (pair learning versus individual learning) in two classes at a Robot Summer Camp for high school students. The results indicated that (a) in the process of learning making robot artifacts, students in pair learning group (PLG) had a higher success rate in troubleshooting than that of individual learning group (ILG), but failed in other indicators and (b) in the summative test, the troubleshooting performance of students in PLG was similar with that of ILG. The findings showed that, in terms of troubleshooting, collaborative (pair) learning does not always has the superiority over individual learning in RE, which implicates other factors to be explored in future research. Implications for teaching are also discussed in this exploratory study.
Guilds or functional groups: does it matter?

Although most researchers use the terms “guild” and “functional group” more or less synonymously, these two concepts bear different meanings. The guild concept refers primarily to the mechanisms of resource sharing by species in a competitive context whereas the functional groups concept is concerned with how a resource or any other ecological component is processed by different species to provide a specific ecosystem service or function. In many cases but not necessarily all, the two concepts are the two “faces” or “sides” of the same coin: the sharing by species of a similar resource is the guild facet (structural), while the ecosystem processes these species eventually perform through resource exploitation is the functional group facet. The two concepts differ in that competitive relationships within groups of species are not the focus of the functional group approach, exactly as processes or functions are not the focus of the guild approach. A group of species can be considered either as a guild or a functional group depending on the question addressed. Guild and functional group membership is independent of phylogenetic relationships but because species tend to share similar life history traits and adaptations through common evolutionary history, guild and functional group associates are often closely related. The concept of guild has had broader application in animal studies than in plant studies, whereas the reverse is true for the concept of functional group. Recent methodological advances to objectively partition species into guilds and functional groups, taking into consideration the most relevant characters or traits for delineating them, provide the means to construct an operational framework for making in situ and ex situ experiments that are urgently needed for a better understanding of the role of species in ecosystem functioning, especially in relation to global change concerns.
Protocol for DNA Extraction from Watermelon Leaves for SSR Marker Studies

Levi and Thomas developed an improved procedure for the extraction of high-quality DNA from a large sample of watermelon leaves (2). This technique is suitable for isolating high quality DNA used in RFLP and AFLP marker analysis employing restriction enzymes. However, RAPD and SSR marker analysis do not require high quality genomic DNA, so a modified DNA extraction procedure suitable for isolating genomic DNA from a large number of small leaf samples might be sufficient for SSR marker analysis. In this study, we report an alternative DNA extraction procedure from a large number (24 samples per run) of small watermelon leaf samples ( 500 mg) in 1.5 ml micro-centrifuge tubes.
Designing Coalition-Proof Mechanisms for Auctions over Continuous Goods

This paper investigates reverse auctions that involve continuous values of different types of goods, general nonconvex constraints, and second stage costs. Our analysis seeks to design the payment rules and conditions under which coalitions of participants cannot influence the auction outcome in order to obtain higher collective utility. Under incentive-compatible bidding in the Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism, coalition-proof outcomes are achieved if the submitted bids are convex and the constraint sets are of polymatroid-type. Unfortunately, these conditions do not capture the complexity of the general class of reverse auctions under consideration. By relaxing the property of incentive-compatibility, we investigate further payment rules that are coalition-proof, but without any extra conditions. Among coalition-proof mechanisms, we select the mechanism that minimizes the participants' abilities to benefit from strategic manipulations, in order to incentivize truthful bidding from the participants. Since calculating the payments directly for these mechanisms is computationally difficult for auctions involving many participants, we present two computationally efficient methods. Our results are verified with several case studies based on electricity market data.
Spatial segregation of periphyton communities in a desert stream: causes and consequences for N cycling

The goal of this research was to understand the underlying causes of patterns of distribution and abundance of N-fixing periphyton and non N-fixing periphyton in a desert stream, and to evaluate potential consequences of these patterns for stream N cycling. Sampling of periphyton communities at sandbar edges in Sycamore Creek, Arizona, revealed community differences related to direction of hydrologic exchange with the subsurface. N-fixing cyanobacteria were abundant at sandbar inwelling edges. Non N-fixing taxa predominated at outwelling edges. We evaluated several predictions of the hypothesis that this difference was attributable to differences in N availability at sandbar edges. NO3-N at outwelling edges was 3.5 times higher than at inwelling edges, consistent with past work showing microbial nitrification to characterize sandbars. Non N-fixing and N-fixing periphyton biovolume were related to NO3-N concentration at edges. Reciprocal transplants of periphyton from original edges to edges with the opposite direction of hydrologic exchange revealed significant declines in periphyton relative to controls. Experiments using NO3-N diffusing substrates revealed non N-fixing taxa to be more abundant where NO3-N was elevated. N-fixing periphyton was, in contrast, more abundant at naturally low NO3-N or unenriched sites. These results support the hypothesis that differences in N availability between inwelling and outwelling edges caused the observed pattern of periphyton distribution at sandbar edges. Last, 80% of outwelling NO3-N was removed from outflowing water by periphyton at sandbar edges. This temporary retention of available N results in a surface stream depleted of inorganic N and accentuates spatial heterogeneity of periphyton communities in this ecosystem.
CONTRASTING TROPHIC CASCADES GENERATED BY A COMMUNITY OF GENERALIST PREDATORS

We examined whether intraguild predation (IGP) weakens the ability of two taxa of generalist predators, carabid beetles and lycosid spiders, to control herbivore densities in gardens of cucumber and squash. We also measured fruit production to determine whether IGP weakens the ability of the predators to impact plants indirectly through trophic cascades. These predators did impact herbivore densities, but their impact on different herbivores varied dramatically. As the herbivore community changed through the season, so too did the predators' indirect effect on fruit production. In spring cucumber gardens, lycosids caused fruit production to increase by reducing densities of striped cucumber beetles, which are important early-season herbivores. Carabids also weakly reduced cucumber beetle densities, and the entire carabid–lycosid guild enhanced cucumber yield. However, the carabid–lycosid guild's impact changed dramatically later in the season. In summer squash gardens, carabids increased fruit production .
HEAVY METALS STRUCTURE BENTHIC COMMUNITIES IN COLORADO MOUNTAIN STREAMS

The development of field sampling designs that employ multiple reference and polluted sites has been proposed as an alternative to the traditional upstream vs. down- stream approach used in most biomonitoring studies. Spatially extensive monitoring pro- grams can characterize ecological conditions within an ecoregion and provide the necessary background information to evaluate future changes in water quality. We measured physi- cochemical characteristics, heavy-metal concentrations, and benthic macroinvertebrate com- munity structure at 95 sites in the Southern Rocky Mountain ecoregion in Colorado, USA. Most sites (82%) were selected using a systematic, randomized sampling design. Each site was placed into one of four metal categories (background, low, medium, and high metals), based on the cumulative criterion unit (CCU), which we defined as the ratio of the instream metal concentration to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion concentration, summed for all metals measured. A CCU of 1.0 represents a conservative estimate of the total metal concentration that, when exceeded, is likely to cause harm to aquatic organisms. Although the CCU was less than 2.0 at most (66.3%) of the sites, values exceeded 10.0 at 13 highly polluted stations. Differences among metal categories were highly significant for most measures of macroinvertebrate abundance and all measures of species richness. We observed the greatest effects on several species of heptageniid mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae), which were highly sensitive to heavy metals and were reduced by . 75% at moderately polluted stations. The influence of taxonomic aggregation on responses to metals was also greatest for mayflies. In general, total abundance of mayflies and abundance of heptageniids were better indicators of metal pollution than abundance of dominant mayfly taxa. We used stepwise multiple-regression analyses to investigate the relationship between benthic community measures and physicochemical characteristics at the 78 randomly se- lected sites. Heavy-metal concentration was the most important predictor of benthic com- munity structure at these sites. Because of the ubiquitous distribution of heavy-metal pol- lution in the Southern Rocky Mountain ecoregion, we conclude that potential effects of