Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimates of soil respiration and net primary production of three forests at different succession stages in South China

Soil respiration (heterotropic and autotropic respiration, Rg) and aboveground litter fall carbon were measured at three forests at different succession (early, middle and advanced) stages in Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Southern China. It was found that the soil respiration increases exponentially with soil temperature at 5 cm depth (Ts) according to the relation Rg=a exp(bTs), and the more advanced forest community during succession has a higher value of a because of higher litter carbon input than the forests at early or middle succession stages. It was also found that the monthly soil respiration is linearly correlated with the aboveground litter carbon input of the previous month. Using measurements of aboveground litter and soil respiration, the net primary productions (NPPs) of three forests were estimated using nonlinear inversion. They are 475, 678 and 1148 g C m−2 yr−1 for the Masson pine forest (MPF), coniferous and broad‐leaf mixed forest (MF) and subtropical monsoon evergreen broad‐leaf forest (MEBF), respectively, in year 2003/2004, of which 54%, 37% and 62% are belowground NPP for those three respective forests if no change in live plant biomass is assumed. After taking account of the decrease in live plant biomass, we estimated the NPP of the subtropical MEBF is 970 g C m−2 yr−1 in year 2003/2004. Total amount of carbon allocated below ground for plant roots is 388 g C m−2 yr−1 for the MPF, 504 g C m−2 yr−1 for the coniferous and broad‐leaf MF and 1254 g C m−2 yr−1 for the subtropical MEBF in 2003/2004. Our results support the hypothesis that the amount of carbon allocation belowground increases during forest succession.
Physiology and Regulation of Seasonal Nitrogen Cycling in Woody Plants

Summary Seasonal nitrogen cycling in trees is a mechanism for conserving and reusing nitrogen that may contribute to nitrogen use efficiency. In this review the physiological and molecular regulation of seasonal nitrogen storage is examined. Research using the 32 kDa bark storage protein gene, bspA of poplar (Populus) as a model system has revealed important facets regulating gene expression and subsequent nitrogen storage. Recent progress has demonstrated that bspA expression is a photoperiod response mediated by phytochrome and secondary messengers including Ca2+ and protein phosphorylation are involved in signaling pathways. Furthermore, evidence indicates that photoperiod modulated expression likely involves metabolic signaling mediated by glutamine and sucrose. A model is proposed that integrates the various facets of poplar bspa expression.
The higher‐level phylogenetic relationships of the Eumeninae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Vespidae), with emphasis on Eumenes sensu lato

Cladistic analyses were carried out to infer the phylogenetic relationships among taxa that were originally part of the large genus Eumenes. Terminals belonging to other eumenine lineages were also included, as well as terminals from other vespid subfamilies. Analyses under equal weights and implied weights were carried out, and better results were obtained with the latter. The results corroborated the monophyly of Eumeninae, and recovered Zethini sensu lato as the sister‐lineage to the remaining eumenines. Eumenes sensu lato as originally recognized is paraphyletic relative to Odynerus sensu lato. A natural classification at the tribal level congruent with the phylogenetic results may be proposed, and the names Zethini, Odynerini, and Eumenini are already available. This is the most comprehensive phylogeny of the Eumeninae to date. A new generic synonymy is Alfieria Giordani Soika, 1934 = Delta de Saussure, 1855.
Numerical Analysis of Jet Breakup Behavior Using Particle Method

A continuous jet changes to droplets where jet breakup occurs. In this study, two-dimensional numerical analysis of jet breakup is performed using the MPS method (Moving Particle Semi-implicit Method) which is a particle method for incompressible flows. The continuous fluid surrounding the jet is neglected. Dependencies of the jet breakup length on the Weber number and the Froude number agree with the experiment. The size distribution of droplets is in agreement with the Nukiyama-Tanasawa distribution that has been widely used as an experimental correlation. Effects of the Weber number and the Froude number on the size distribution are also obtained.
Early familiarity has fitness consequences for arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) juveniles

Familiarity is an important factor reducing aggressiveness among individuals. Because of the reduced energy and time expenditure due to lowered aggression, individuals would be expected to perform better in groups of familiar conspecifics as compared with individuals in groups of strangers. However, few studies have examined potential fitness consequences of familiarity. We created familiar (from tanks where several thousands of unrelated fish had been kept since fertilization) and unfamiliar (by combining fish from several tanks) groups of underyearling Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and followed their performance for a 21-day period. Familiarity within groups enhanced survival and body condition of the fish. The fish in familiar groups also grew better in weight and in length. Furthermore, fa - miliar fish differed less in length variation after the experimental period compared with fish reared in unfamiliar groups. There was also a tendency towards similar difference in the variation of weight. These results provide direct evidence for beneficial fitness consequences of early familiarity in Arctic char. Resume : La familiarite est un facteur important de reduction de l'agressivite entre les individus. A cause de la dimi - nution des depenses d'energie et de temps due au declin de l'agressivite, les individus devraient fonctionner mieux parmi des groupes conspecifiques familiers que parmi des groupes d'etrangers. Peu d'etudes ont cependant examine les consequences potentielles de la familiarite sur le fitness. Nous avons cree des groupes d'Ombles chevaliers ( Salvelinus alpinus) de moins de 1 an, familiers (en gardant depuis leur fecondation des milliers de poissons non apparentes dans des aquariums) et non familiers (en melangeant des poissons de plusieurs aquariums) et nous avons suivi leur perfor- mance pendant 21 jours. La familiarite a l'interieur du groupe augmentait la survie et la condition des poissons; la croissance en masse et en taille etait amelioree. De plus, a la fin de l'experience, les poissons familiers affichaient moins de variation dans leurs tailles que les poissons non familiers; les variations de masses suivaient la meme ten- dance. Il s'agit donc d'une preuve directe des consequences benefiques sur le fitness d'une familiarite a un âge precoce chez les Ombles chevaliers. (Traduit par la Redaction) Seppa et al. 1385
Hydrolysis of phytate in soybean and cottonseed meals by Aspergillus ficuum phytase

La phytase produite par A. ficuum sur milieu solide hydrolyse environ 85 % du phytate du tourteau de soja et 67 % du phytate du tourteau de coton. Un pretraitement thermique a 121 degres C a pH 4 a 5,5 favorise l'hydrolyse enzymatique
Perceptions of EMR usage by health sciences students in Ghana

Background and Purpose: Electronic Medical Records improve healthcare delivery, reduce medical errors and costs among many other benefits. A knowledgeable and willing workforce is an important antecedent to actual EMR use. Students in health training institutions should be educated about these tools in order to encourage adoption in their future workplaces. This study therefore set out to identify factors that could influence perceptions of EMR use among College of Health Science students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of students of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. EMR perception was measured on 5 domains using a 5-point Likert scale measured from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Chi-square tests examined significant differences in the levels of agreement across the respondents’ background characteristics, experience and knowledge in computing. Means were used to determine ranking of applications/tools thought to be most useful for respondents’ work. Results: The study identified age, school affiliation, type of study, health sector work experience, frequency of computer use and knowledge of eHealth communication techniques as factors influencing students’ perception of autonomy and physician-patient relationship. Again, type of study, frequency of computer use and knowledge of eHealth communication techniques were the factors influencing students’ perception of ease of use, usefulness and attitude of physicians. Conclusions: Findings from this study bring to the fore, the need for inclusion of health informatics curricula in training health professionals. This will ensure easier adoption of EMR technology as the country journeys towards a paperless health care delivery system.
SWARM INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT In the field of optimization, recently many advanced techniques like evolutionary computation and swarm intelligence were introduced for solving engineering problems. Swarm Intelligence (SI) techniques are recent computational tools for systems optimization, which are gaining wide spread of popularity for solving large scale optimization problems and enabling improved decision making. The most popular of them are Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithms. The SI methods being random search techniques involve some heuristics to guide the search towards optimal solution and speeds up the convergence towards the global optimal solutions. The SI methods have several attractive features and advantages as compared to other nonlinear optimization solvers. This paper provides a brief overview of these advanced optimization methods and discusses their applications to water resources management.
Taxonomy, morphometric circumscription and karyology of the Mediterranean African representatives of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys shows a pronounced morphological variation, especially in Mediterranean Africa, a centre of radiation of this section. In Tunisia, different authors recognize between 9 and 13 species (and 5 subspecies). A multivariate analysis was performed in order to study the polymorphisms of eight critical species of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys represented in Tunisia (O. africana, O. aspea, O. battandieri, O. eleonorae, O. gazella, O. numida, O. subfusca and O. vallesiana). The variation in 20 floral characters (including 5 ratios) were evaluated in 332 live plants belonging to 20 populations of the mentioned Tunisian representatives of sect. Pseudophrys. Two additional labellum characters were measured for the populations belonging to O. subfusca group (namely O. aspea, O. battandieri, O. numida and O. subfusca). In order to distinguish the different species, and identify characters defining their circumscription, we carried out detailed morphological analyses on two different data sets of sect. Pseudophrys, one consisting of all the currently recognized species, and another consisting of all the populations belonging to the controversial O. subfusca group. In order to summarize the overall morphological variation among Pseudophrys, a principal components analysis (PCA) and a cluster analysis of populations were conducted. To test the separation of population groups resulting from the PCA and cluster analyses, a canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was conducted. The most discriminating characters are presented in the form of boxplots. Due to extensive overlapping in even the most distinguishing characters, it is not possible to accept O. africana as a distinct species from O. gazella, or O. numida as distinct from O. subfusca. Cytological data and chromosome counts are reported for the first time for eight Tunisian members of sect. Pseudophrys. All of the analysed species are diploids with 2n = 36 chromosomes. Neither polyploids nor aneuploids were detected. A key to the accepted species is provided.
Expression of IFN‐γ induced CXCR3 agonist chemokines and compartmentalization of CXCR3+ cells in the periphery and lymph nodes of rhesus macaques during simian immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract: Dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines during human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection is thought to be critical in the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To evaluate the potential role of Th1‐agonist chemokines in disease progression during AIDS, we assessed CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 expression simultaneously in the periphery and lymphoid tissues of SIV‐infected animals at a single‐cell level by flow cytometry. We optimized intracellular staining and analysis of CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 production in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR+ macaque cells by flow cytometry using cross‐reactive antibodies against human chemokines. We observed an upregulation of CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 production in both the periphery and lymph nodes of infected animals compared with naïve controls. Animals with higher viral loads had higher levels of CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 producing cells compared with animals with low viral loads. Analysis of cells bearing the receptor (CXCR3) for CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 revealed increased number of CXCR3+ cells in the lymph nodes of infected animals. Importantly, an inverse correlation (P < 0.05) between CXCL9/MIG and CXCL10/IP‐10 production, both in the periphery and lymph nodes, and peripheral CD4+ T‐cell numbers was observed. These findings provide further evidence that dysregulation of Th1 agonist chemokines might contribute to the ultimate immunopathology during AIDS.
Recent studies on the effects of DDT and pyrethroid insecticides on nervous activity in cockroaches

A summary is given of the results of three sets of electrophysiological experiments on the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). The effects of DDT and S-bioallethrin [bioallethrin (S)-cyclopentenyl isomer] on single giant axons were studied using the voltage-clamp technique. Whereas both molecules induced long tails of inward (sodium ion) current, the voltage and time-dependency of these tails differed. With DDT, the tail was proportional to the activation of the peak current and decreased with the duration of the pulse, suggesting that the molecules were bound to open sodium channels and delayed their closing. With S-bioallethrin, the voltage dependency of the tail was different from that of the peak current, and the tail current increased exponentially with the duration of the depolarisation, suggesting that the pyrethroid insecticide modified resting (or silent) sodium channels into slowly activating channels. Modified action potentials, mimicking those produced by the two molecules, were computed on the basis of these results. Deltamethrin, one of the most potent pyrethroid insecticides, was applied topically on a leg mechanoreceptor and was found to have little effect on the local ‘receptor potential’ but to inhibit action potential production. The effects of topical applications of deltamethrin on the dorsal part of the abdomen, on nervous activity in the abdominal connectives, were studied under different experimental conditions. The results suggest that the insecticide molecules diffused rapidly through the cuticle, were concentrated in the haemolymph, and eventually reached the central nervous system, where they inhibited nerve activity.
Exploring the Prerequisites of Institutionalizing Crowd funding Process in Bangladesh as an Alternative Financing Option for the Start-ups

Nowadays, Crowdfunding (raising capital for a startup business through the Internet) is becoming a prominent platform as an alternative source of finance for the entrepreneurs. On this ground, three objectives are set here to meet. First, exploring the regulatory reformations needed to institutionalize crowdfunding in Bangladesh. Second, assessing stakeholder’s (i.e., investors and entrepreneurs) bilateral technological readiness for crowdfunding process. Third, analyzing the determinants of their behavioral intention to participate in CF process. An in-depth interview with the experts is conducted to assess the regulatory reformations and reconciliations needed to institutionalize CF in Bangladesh. On the other hand, a structured questionnaire based survey on 250 respondents (investors and entrepreneurs) is conducted to meet the second and third objectives. Result based on descriptive statistical analysis shows significant differences between the investors and entrepreneurs regarding their technological readiness.
Molecular mechanisms of crosstalk between thyroid hormones and estrogens

Purpose of reviewNovel analyses of the relations between thyroid hormone receptor signaling and estrogen receptor-dependent mechanisms are timely for two sets of reasons. Clinically, both affect mood and foster neuronal growth and regeneration. Mechanistically, they overlap at the levels of DNA recognition elements, coactivators, and signal transduction systems. Crosstalk between thyroid hormone receptors and estrogen receptors is possibly important to integrate external signals to transcription within neurons. Recent findingsIt has been shown that reproductive functions, including behaviors, driven by estrogens can be antagonized by thyroid hormones, and it has been argued that such crosstalk is biologically adaptive to ensure optimal reproduction. Transcriptional facilitation during transient transfunction studies show that the interactions between thyroid receptor isoforms and estrogen receptor isoforms depend on cell type and promoter context. Overall, this pattern of interactions assures multiple and flexible means of transcriptional regulation. Surprisingly, in some brain areas, thyroid hormone actions can synergize with estrogenic effects, particularly when nongenomic modes of action are considered, such as kinase activation, which, as has been reported, affect later estrogen receptor-induced genomic events. SummaryIn summary, recent work with nerve cells has contributed to a paradigm shift in how the molecular and behavioral effects of hormones which act through nuclear receptors are viewed.
Aapa mires as a carbon sink and source during the Holocene

1 The vertical and horizontal dynamics of peat carbon accumulation in Ruosuo aapa mire, north‐central Finland, were investigated in an attempt to understand variations in carbon accumulation over time. 2 Paludification began around 8700 BP (9600 cal BP). The long‐term net carbon accumulation rate, based on vertical and lateral growth, was 8.0 g C m−2 year−1. Variations in carbon accumulation rates can be explained to a great extent by natural succession and variations in local conditions, but the role of climate cannot be ignored. 3 The marked decline in carbon accumulation rates after 6100 BP (7000 cal BP) may indicate a relatively dry and warm climate. The levelling out and subsequent increase in carbon accumulation rates after 4000 BP (4500 cal BP) indicates the development of a cooler and moister climate. 4 The low long‐term net carbon accumulation rate and the high carbon content per unit volume in the layer underlying the surficial peat is typical for a wet aapa mire. The continuous penetration of roots, mostly sedge, results in carbon input into the underlying peat layer and contributes to the intensive decay of the surficial peat due to high biological activity. 5 Although one‐third of the apparent carbon has accumulated during the last 2000 years, most of Ruosuo is approaching the stage where primary production does not adequately compensate for overall carbon loss. The declining net carbon accumulation rates from the base up to the depth of 80 cm may indicate a real delayed trend in net carbon accumulation rates. 6 We suggest that under the present climatic conditions the northern circumpolar wet mires are significant sources of greenhouse gases. In addition to high methane production, northern aapa mires also have lower carbon accumulation rates than more southern raised bogs. 7 Our results, which are based on horizontal and vertical carbon accumulation rates, suggest that the earlier published carbon accumulation rates in Finnish aapa mires are overestimated.
Pleistocene Diversification of the Odontophotopsis unicornis Species-Group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

ABSTRACT Many recent studies have suggested that a majority of the species-level diversification in the arid-adapted North American biota was driven by mountain-building events that took place in the late Neogene (15-2 Ma). This assertion was tested with a phylogeographic analysis of the Odontophotopsis unicornis species-group by using the rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and ITS2 and a Bayesian methodology. The validity of the two species in this species-group [Odontophotopsis unicornis Schuster and Odontophotopsis erebus (Melander) ] was tested both morphologically and molecularly. The female of O. unicornis was previously unknown and was associated with the male using molecular data. Here, O. unicornis is described and compared with that of its sister species O. erebus. Divergence dates for the O. unicornis species-group were estimated using the programs r8s and BEAST and calibrated with fossils from Dominican amber. These analyses resulted in a well supported phylogenetic tree that reinforces the notion that O. unicornis and O. erebus are distinct species. Little or no phylogenetic structuring was found among populations of either species. The species in this group seem to have evolved in the middle Pleistocene (≈1 Ma). The lack of phylogeographic structuring in each of the species of the O. unicornis speciesgroup is probably due to the recent origin of these species. This analysis represents one of the few instances of Pleistocene age species-level divergences in desert-adapted taxa.
Studies on the nutrient uptake by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii by in situ microinjection of fluorescent probes into the feeding structures in Arabidopsis thaliana

SUMMARY A method was developed, which enables substances to be injected into the feeding structure (syncytium) established by Heterodera schachtii in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. The technique was used to study the uptake of nutrients by the feeding nematode. The fluorescent dye lucifer yellow CH (LYCH) and fluorescence-labelled dextrans of different molecular weights were injected into the thin and translucent roots of A. thaliana. Such roots are a feature of this plant and they provide optimal conditions for microinjection. Injected LYCH was taken up by feeding juveniles and adults, indicated by the staining of the alimentary duct and the digestive system. Fluorescent dextrans of 3, 10 and 20 kDa but not of 40 and 70 kDa were ingested, suggesting that molecules of a maximum Stokes radius of 3·2 to 4·4 nm are taken up. It is likely that the feeding tube, forming the interface between the plant cytosol and the nematode's digestive system, is responsible for this size exclusion effect. The injected fluorescent substances were not detected in plant cells adjacent to the syncytium or in the root vascular elements. Injections into parts of roots which were infested by several nematodes revealed that feeding H. schachtii individuals may share one syncytium.