Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling Canopy Production. II. From Single-Leaf Photosynthesis Parameters to Daily Canopy Photosynthesis

This paper presents a simple algorithm for calculating daily canopy photosynthesis given parameters of the single-leaf light response, the canopy extinction coefficient, canopy leaf area index, daylength, daily solar irradiance and daily maximum and minimum temperatures. Analytical expressions are derived for total daily production by a canopy of leaves whose light response is either a rectangular hyperbola or a Blackman response. An expression which gives an excellent approximation to canopy photosynthesis for an arbitrary hyperbolic light response is then derived. These expressions assume photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) within the canopy follows Beer's law, light-saturated photosynthetic rate at any point in the canopy is proportional to the ratio of local PAR to full-sun PAR, diurnal variation of PAR is sinusoidal, and parameters of the single-leaf photosynthetic light response do not vary diurnally. It is shown how these expressions can be used to accommodate diurnal temperature variation of photosynthesis in a simple manner. The accuracy of the approximation to the basic integral of leaf photosynthesis over the canopy and over time is illustrated by applying the algorithm to compute the seasonal variation of daily canopy photosynthesis and comparing these data with corresponding values obtained by numerical integration.
Distribution of Gopherus polyphemus and Its Vertebrate Symbionts in Three Burrow Categories

-We classified burrows of a population of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) as active, inactive or abandoned according to the physical characteristics of the entrances. We excavated 1019 burrows (454 active, 449 inactive and 116 abandoned) to determine if either tortoises (males, females and juveniles) or symbionts differentially used these three burrow categories. We captured 400 tortoises in burrows. We classified all burrows immediately prior to excavation. Tortoises were captured significantly more often in active than in either inactive or abandoned burrows. Juveniles were captured significantly more often than adults in inactive burrows only. Numerically, 53% of the symbiont individuals were reptiles, 36% were amphibians and 11% were mammals. The number of reptilian species was greater than that of both amphibians and mammals. Mammalian individuals were significantly under-represented in our sample relative to reptiles and amphibians. When all vertebrate symbionts were combined, we could detect no difference in use of the three burrow categories. Reptiles, however, were found significantly more often in active burrows. When snakes and lizards were analyzed separately, only lizards were found significantly more often in active burrows; snakes were randomly distributed in burrow categories. We present several hypotheses to account for these observed distributions.
Stigmatochroma microspora (Physciaceae), a new species from India

Stigmatochroma microspora is described as new species which is close to S. adaucta. However, S. microspora has UV+ thallus, apothecial disc pruinose, UV-, 16-ascospores per ascus, smaller (4.5–7.0×1.5–2.3 µm) in size, atranorin, norstictic acid and lichexanthone in chemistry.
Protein concentration and amino acid composition in grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) as affected by sowing date and nitrogen fertilization

A four-year field experiment was used to evaluate the effects of sowing date and nitrogen fertilization on protein content and amino acid composition of grain of amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). Seeds of A. cruentus cv. 'G6' were sown at two sowing dates (May and June) and fertilized at rates to obtain three target levels of available soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) set to 140, 200 and 260 kg N ha-1. Grain protein content and the sum of essential amino acids (EAA) were affected by growing season and date of sowing. There was a higher protein content (165 g kg-1) and lower EAA in protein (39.3 g kg-1) in grain of plants sown in June. Nitrogen application up to an Nmin target value of 140 kg N ha-1 raised protein concentration in grain, and maintained the content of EAA in protein. EAA in grain fertilized to the target value 140 kg N ha-1 was higher (397 g kg-1) than the standard requirement for preschool children (339 g kg-1). Among essential amino acids, only valine concentration responded to nitrogen supply. Leucine was the limiting amino acid in grain protein. Key words: Amino acid composition, grain amaranth, nitrogen fertilization, Nmin, protein concentration, sowing date.
GENERIC CONCEPT OF THE PHYTOSEIIDS (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE) ACCORDING TO ATHIAS-HENRIOT

The economic importance of the Phytoseiidae motivated many scientists to work on the systematics of this family. One of them was the French acarologist Claire Athias-Henriot. In her first work, she tackled the question of supraspecific groupings within this family from an evolutionistic point of view, and suggested a system for numbering dorsal shield setae, that could be applied to both hypotrichous and holotrichous forms. She also looked for other characters, such as the ratios of the distance between the insertions of some setae on dorsal and sternal shields, the presence of macrosetae on legs, and the length/width ratio of the ventrianal shield. Following Dosse (1957; 1958) who used the shape of the insemination apparatus (spermatheca) for taxonomic purposes, she also adopted this character to define genera, initially without giving it a particular weight. Meanwhile, she also studied other gamasids, and in 1966 considered the insemination apparatus as the main character for distinguishing families of Gamasida. She distinguished the Phytoseiidae within the Laelapoidea (sic), by the type of insemination apparatus and the dorsal hypotrichy. In 1966, she adopted Lindquist and Evans (1965) chaetotactic nomenclature system in her "Contribution a l'etude des Amblyseius palearctiques (Acariens anactinotriches, Phytoseiidae)". In 1967, she advanced the hypothesis that the insemination apparatus was best for defining phylogenetic relationships because it was less subject to hereditary modifications than external body parts that are in direct contact with the environment. One year later, Athias-Henriot published an exhaustive study on the insemination apparatus of Laelapoidea stating the taxonomic importance of this structure. She also studied adenotaxy and sigillotaxy in order to find characters to define natural lineages. In 1975, she studied the dorsal organotaxy of Amblyseiini in order to define species characters. Two years later she redefined the genus Cydnodromus emphasizing both the importance of the insemination apparatus and the evolution of solenostome gv3. In 1978 and 1981, while describing respectively the new genera Dictydionotus and Pegodromus, Athias-Henriot considered the insemination apparatus and the other characters as having the same weight. In 1983, Ragusa and Athias-Henriot redescribed the genus Neoseiulus; in this case the insemination apparatus was considered as the main character for the definition of the genus, with a series of other (related) characters.
Oral Mucosal Lesions in Psoriasis Patients: A Hospital Based Study

Background: Oral lesions in dermatological diseases may be the early aspects of any disease manifestation and occasionally lesions occur simultaneously in the skin as well as mucous membrane. Subjects and Methods: The present work was designed as a prospective tertiary urban hospital based, case control study during the period from February 2018 to January 2019. The association between studied variables was calculated using descriptive statistics tests such as Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 120 psoriasis patients, 55 males (45.88%) and 65 females (54.16%) were included in the study. The age of the patients ranged from 5 years to 56 years (mean age 24.6 years). The most common form of psoriasis was chronic plaque form (Psoriasis Vulgaris) observed in 85 cases. The majority of patients (72.56 %) were suffering from a mild form of the disease. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of most patients (72.56%) were below 10. The oral lesion was seen in 31 cases (25.83%) of which fissured tongue and geographic tongue were the most common oral lesions identified. Of total 100 psoriatic patients, 45 cases were male, and 55 were female. Mean age of patients was 37.71 years. observed in 85 cases. The majority of patients (70 %) were suffering from a mild form of the disease. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of most patients were below. Conclusion: The present study highlights the prevalence of oral lesions such as fissured tongue and geographic tongue is higher in psoriatic patients.
FOOD SUPPLEMENTATION IN A TROPICAL MAINLAND ANOLE, NOROPS HUMILIS: EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUALS'

In this study I investigated how individuals of Norops humilis at a tropical lowland wet-forest site in Costa Rica used energy made available by supplemental feeding. I manipulated prey availability on three experimental plots by attracting arthropods to bits of rotting meat that were replenished weekly. Each experimental plot was paired with an unmanipulated control plot in a block design. Mark-recapture data were collected on all plots over a 7-mo test period during which I made 9910 observations on 1582 individuals. Home-range size was not affected by food supplementation. Instead, home-range over- lap was increased for all combinations of age-sex groups (juveniles, males, and females) except for females relative to other females and juveniles relative to females. Growth of females was not altered by supplemental food. For males, both the shape of the growth curve and the estimate of asymptotic largest size were altered by food supplementation. No difference in body mass relative to length was observed for either males or females. Rate of egg production of females on experimental plots was significantly more rapid than on control plots. Males appeared to shunt extra food energy into growth and females into reproduction. The responses of this mainland anole are similar to responses described for island anoles in that increased juvenile overlap, increased clumping of juveniles, and unchanged home-range sizes were observed. In contrast, the observations of unchanged relative body mass, unchanged female growth rate, and increased egg-production rates in supplementally fed N. humilis differ from observations of island anoles.
CYTOLOGY AND EVOLUTION IN THE FERN GENUS PTERIS L.

Pteris is a large genus of ferns, containing about 280 species according to Copeland (1947) a figure which places it seventh among leptosporangiate ferns in order of size. Although a few of its species extend into the warm temperate regions of the world, it is predominantly tropical and subtropical in distribution, and is represented in every continent except Antarctica. The precise delimitation of the genus has differed somewhat in details according to the views held by various authors. For example, Hooker (1858) included in his concept several small groups such as Pteridium Scop. , Histiopteris J. Sm. and Paesia St. Hil. , all of which are now almost universally recognized as distinct genera bearing no very close relationship to Pteris. Copeland on the other hand included two other small groups, namely Lonchitis L. and Anisosorus Trev. within his definition of Pteris, but here again the cytological findings (Manton, 1958) uphold the opinions of earlier pteridologists in keeping them separate. The views of Christensen (1906) on generic delimitation appear to be most in accord with the facts as known at present. Christensen further divided Pteris into three subgenera-Eupteris, Campteria, and Litobrochia. These are distinguished by the presence of free venation in Eupteris and by the degree to which the veins anastomose in the other two subgenera. This subdivision has certain practical uses, but it is purely artificial and in no way faithfully represents the biological situation since the distinction between free and anastomosing veins is very liable to break down. This is shown, for example, in P. (Campteria) biaurita sens. lat. , in which young plants are free-veined but costal arches typical of Campteria are
Durabilité de l’offre et valeur nutritive des fourrages commercialisés en zone urbaine de Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

La commercialisation des especes fourrageres est une activite economique significative indispensable au maintien des elevages urbains et periurbains. Les questions qui se posent concernent (i) la qualite nutritive des fourrages secs, notamment les residus de culture commercialises, (ii) la regularite de l’approvisionnement des marches et des elevages en fonction des saisons et (iii) les pratiques de recolte des fourrages verts a partir des milieux naturels pour approvisionner les villes. De decembre 2007 a mars 2008, nous avons realise une etude dont l’objectif etait d’inventorier les fourrages commercialises et leurs utilisations dans la ville de Bobo-Dioulasso au Burkina Faso, de decrire l’organisation de la filiere et de determiner la qualite nutritive des fourrages. Des prospections dans 26 sites de production et de prelevement des fourrages, ainsi que des interviews semi-structurees, ont ete realisees avec 10 agriculteurs periurbains, 20 commercants de betail et 68 vendeurs dans 15 marches d’aliments fourragers permanents de la ville de Bobo-Dioulasso. L’analyse de la composition chimique de 17 especes fourrageres sur 30 identifiees a ete realisee. D’une part, l’etude a revele que le systeme d’exploitation des ressources, qui est en fait un systeme de cueillette, ne sera certainement pas viable a moyen terme car certaines especes fourrageres sont menacees de regression, voire de disparition. D’autre part, l’etude a montre que les principales especes fourrageres commercialisees dans la zone urbaine de Bobo-Dioulasso avaient des teneurs en nutriments appreciables pour les ruminants domestiques des elevages urbains et periurbains. Cependant, il est necessaire que les acteurs de cette filiere soient mieux organises pour assurer la durabilite de l’approvisionnement de la ville en fourrages et que des recherches pour la sauvegarde et la gestion appropriee des especes en voie de disparition soient entreprises pour accompagner les acteurs.
Expression of Micro RNA in Paraffin Embedded Tissue of Multiple Myeloma

Research of thyroid cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer has been reported in Korea. However microRNA research of multiple myeloma has never been reported. Hence we intended to confirm whether microRNA can be utilized as a diagnostic marker to patients of multiple myeloma. We also intended to evaluate whether microRNA can be detected in paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE). This research was conducted targeting 8 samples from patients of multiple myeloma who do not have any other diseases, and 2 control samples. From January 2010 to July 2012, we selected miR-15a, miR-16, miR-21, miR-181a and miR-221 as microRNA target genes. It was decided that for a sample to be significant, the results should show values more than 1.5 or less than -1.5. Our findings of fold change were highly significant in miR-15a with a value of 37.5% (3/8). From these studies, we learned that miR-15a is useful with westerners. miR-221, on the other hand, shows conflicts with westerners, so more research will be needed in this area. In addition, it was confirmed that microRNA can be detected in paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE).
Detection and monitoring of Trichodesmium blooms in the coastal waters off Saurashtra coast, India using IRS-P4 OCM data

Trichodesmium blooms have been observed in the coastal waters off Saurashtra coast, Gujarat, India using Indian Remote Sensing satellite IRS-P4 Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) data. Bloom-forming features were identified usingfalse colour composites of channels 8, 6 and 5 (865, 670, 555 nm). Several bloom features of Trichodesmium like spiral eddies, stripes, slicks and parallel bands were detected in satellite images during 29 April to 7 May 2002. A strong backscattering signal was observed in the near-infrared band of OCM data, indicating the surface manifestation of Trichodesmium bloom. The chlorophyll images have been analysed during the bloom period; overestimation of pigments has been observed and the bloom patches appear darker. Subramaniam's protocol for Trichodesmium bloom study has been evaluated utilizing IRS-P4 OCM data for the waters off Saurashtra coast, and appeared to be relevant in detection by ocean colour remote sensing. The in situ information confirmed the presence of the bloom as coastal waters turned dark brown in colour with an appearance of sawdust spray.
Social Behavior of the Desert Pupfish, Cyprinodon macularius, in the Field and in the Aquarium

A glossary of the motor patterns of the desert pupfish is given. Reproductive, territorial and group behavior is analyzed in detail. During the breeding season the female visits the territorial male; rarely, males leave their territories and pursue the females in order to spawn with them. When approached by the male, the female nips the bottom, the male sidles against her, she halts and forms an S-shape, the male S-shapes along side the female and wraps his anal fin around her vent, she jerks releasing an egg, the male jerks fertilizing the egg, and the pair separates. In a fully developed fight two males approach head on, turn away slightly and stand momentarily eye to eye, advance and arch, give tailbeats, charge at one another, and finally circle head to tail rapidly around one another before separating. During the spawning season males hold territories, and these sometimes contain sub-territories along the periphery which are held by smaller males. Females were never seen to hold territories under natural conditions. Female and juvenile pupfish move about in schools and forage in groups. In the cold season the males join the schools.
THE TAXONOMIC POTENTIAL OF LACCASE AND TYROSINASE SPOT TESTS

Basidiocarps of 359 collections, obtained in New York and Nova Scotia and representing 222 species of 22 families of Basidiomycetes, were assayed for laccase by the syringaldazine spot test method, and for tyrosinase by the L-tyrosine and p-cresol spot test methods. A total of 2619 tests was performed for estimating reaction variability associated with ontological and collection-site differences. In 242 ontological test series, results were significantly constant between the immature and mature specimens of the same collection. In a sample of 77 species, test results were significantly constant for multiple collections of the same species, despite differences in 60% of the sample with respect to the year of collection or the site of collection (New York or Nova Scotia). Variability associated with sporocarp maturation and collection replication was insignificant and it did not diminish the taxonomic potential of laccase and tyrosinase spot tests. Four phenoloxidase profiles are defined and it is shown how they may aid in classifying taxa. The occurrence of laccase and tyrosinase has considerable taxonomic value.
Buffer zone use by mammals in a Cerrado protected area

Habitat loss and degradation is threatening mammals worldwide. Therefore, Protected Areas (PA) are of utmost importance to preserve biodiversity. Their effectiveness, however, depends on some management strategies such as buffer zones, which prevent/mitigate the impact of external threats and might increase the amount of available habitat for wildlife existing within reserves. Nevertheless, how intensively terrestrial mammals use buffer zones remains little studied, particularly in the Neotropical region. Aiming to analyse the use of a buffer zone (5 km wide) by medium and large-sized mammals, we modelled the occupancy probabilities of five species of conservation concern including local (interior and buffer zone) as a site covariate, simultaneously controlling for imperfect detection. Data collection was made with camera traps from April to September 2013 in a 9000 ha Cerrado PA (“interior”) and in its surrounding area (39721.41 ha; “buffer zone”). This PA (Jatai Ecological Station) is immersed in a landscape where sugarcane plantations predominate in the northeastern of the state of Sao Paulo. We also conducted an inventory to compare the number and composition of species between interior and buffer zone. A total of 31 mammal species (26 natives) was recorded via camera traps and active search for sightings, vocalizations, tracks and signs. Occupancy estimates for Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Leopardus pardalis and Pecari tajacu were numerically higher in interior. On the other hand, Chrysocyon brachyurus had the highest occupancy in buffer zone, while the largest predator, Puma concolor, used both areas similarly. However, as the confidence intervals (95%) overlapped, the differences in occupancy probabilities between interior and buffer were weak for all these species. Additionally, regarding only the species recorded by cameras, the observed and estimated richness were similar between interior and buffer zone of the PA. Our data demonstrated that the buffer zone is indeed used by medium and large-sized mammals, including conservation-dependent ones. The lack of enforcement of current legislation regarding buffer zones is therefore a real threat for mammals, even when protection is guaranteed in the interior of protected areas.
In vitro Characterization of Trichoderma viride for Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Field Evaluation against Root Rot Disease in Vigna mungo L. Leo Daniel

Soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi pose serious threats to yield of several crops. Biological control is an ecofriendly approach in the effective management of crop diseases. Trichoderma viride is an important soil-borne fungus, which play an important role in antagonism by secretion of different hydrolytic enzymes. Black gram is an important pulse crop world-wide and its yield is severely affected by Macrophomina root rot. Abiotic stresses greatly influence the performance of biocontrol agents. T. viride was evaluated for its In vitro abiotic stress tolerance ability and its field bioefficacy against root rot disease in blackgram. Growth of T. viride decreased with increasing in salinity, temperature and drought. T. viride effectively inhibited the growth of R. solani (45%) and M. phaseolina (40%) under In vitro conditions. T. viride was compatible with 0.25% mancozeb, 1.0% copper oxy chloride and metalaxyl. Among three doses, plants treated with 6 g.kg-1 of T. viride showed highest yield of 1375 kg.ha-1 and lowest root rot incidence of 14.77% which were statistically on par with 4 g.kg-1 T. viride treated plants. To conclude, this study identified an abiotic stress tolerant T. viride for effective management of root rot disease and enhanced yield of Vigna mungo when applied as seed dresser at a concentration of 4g kg-1 under field conditions.
Description of the continuous nature of organic matter in models of soil carbon dynamics

The understanding of soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics has considerably advanced in recent years. It was previously assumed that most SOM consisted of recalcitrant compounds, whereas the emerging view considers SOM as a range of polymers continuously processed into smaller molecules by decomposer enzymes. Mainstreaming these new insights in current models is challenging because of their ill-adapted framework. We propose the C-STABILITY model to resolve this issue. Its innovative framework combines compartmental and continuous modelling approaches to accurately reproduce SOM cycling processes. Model theoretical simulations highlight the role of SOM accessibility on its turnover. They reveal how enzyme depolymerization, decomposer community succession and carbon use efficiency are key drivers of SOM composition and quantity during decomposition and at steady-state. The mathematical structure of C-STABILITY may be tailored to different scales and is open to alternative formulations, thus offering a promising foundation for enhancing carbon cycling predictions.