Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MOLECULAR ASSESSMENT OF INOCULUM EFFICACY AND PROCESS REPRODUCIBILITY IN COMPOSTING USING ARISA

Traditional analysis of composting process dynamics has focused on changes in physical variables such astemperature, pH, and effluent gas composition. However, to better understand the effect and value of microbial inoculationfor reducing process variability, it is necessary to employ techniques that allow for the measurement of changes in communitycomposition. In this study, automated ribosomal intergenic spacer amplification (ARISA) analysis was performed tocharacterize the ability of inoculated microorganisms from primary effluent wastewater to persist during the initial stagesof composting in micro–scale reactors. We found that while the initial microbial communities differed based on inoculationlevel, after 24 h the microbial community no longer resembled the initial community. In addition, the effect of inoculationwas no longer apparent at this point. There was a clear relationship between the variability observed between physical processvariables and the composition of the microbial communities. The largest source of variation was due to seasonal changes,suggesting that despite the addition of an inoculum, a source of inoculation that varies between reactor groups is not beingcontrolled. It is hypothesized that this source of inoculation is either from the air being forced through the reactors or fromsparsely populated microbial populations in the initial substrate that become active at different rates in different reactorgroups. Furthermore, this analysis demonstrates that it is possible to employ a simple molecular technique to understand theeffects of inoculation and process reproducibility in a traditional agricultural waste treatment bioprocess.
Periphyton, chlorophyll a, and diatoms of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho

Periphyton samples were collected at 15 sites in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage basin, Idaho, USA to test certain principles of the River Continuum Concept (RCC) and to characterize the diatom communities. The standing crop of chlorophyll a increased from 2nd to 4th order streams, peaked in the 5th order stream, and declined in higher orders. These data support the RCC predictions except that peak values were reached somewhat earlier, in terms of stream order, because of the lack of shading in these streams. Also, downstream decreases were not completely attributable to increasing turbidity and decreasing benthic productivity, and may be partially related to discharge. The number of scraping invertebrates was positively correlated with the standing crop og periphyton (AFDM, not chlorophyll a); this, too, supports the predictions of the RCC. One hundred forty-five species of diatoms were identified and the system is characterized by an Achnanthes minutissima – Fragilaria pinnata - Navicula seminulum–Cocconeis placentula community.
Stand establishment and early growth of planted Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies related to microsite conditions

Stand establishment and early height growth of planted Scots pine and Norway spruce trees were investigated in relation to microsite conditions. The 20 - year old pure and mixed stands studied are located on a six hectare experimental site with a harsh climate at high altitude in Swedish Lapland. Observations were made on 360 circular sample plots, each with a 3 m radius, laid out in a systematic pattern over the site. The site conditions were measured separately for each sample plot and were related to seedling survival and mortality, height, and height increment of single trees on individual sample plots. The results show that seedling survival and height increment of single trees are correlated with ground vegetation, frost holes, logging residues and stump occurrence at the local level of 3 m circular plots, as well as with local elevation and tree species mixture. In the stand establishment phase, Scots pine was found to be more sensitive to site conditions than Norway spruce. For Scots pine, this wa.
Competition between Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Nitrifiers for Ammonia in Chemostat Cultures

Mixed cultures of a heterotrophic nitrifier/aerobic denitrifier, Thiosphaera pantotropha , and an autotrophic nitrifier, Nitrosomonas europaea , were grown in chemostats under dual ammonia-and acetate limitation. Because of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by T. pantotropha , the activity of the cultures was evaluated from nitrogen balances as complete as possible. Under most conditions studied, no interaction took place between the two bacteria. Only above a critical C/N ratio of 10.4, T. pantotropha was able to outcompete N. europaea for ammonia (dilution rate = 0.04 h−1). At dissolved oxygen concentrations below 10 μM, the autotroph became oxygen-limited and the heterotroph dominated in the culture. Moreover, when the dilution rate was increased to 0.065 h−1, N. europaea could not maintain itself successfully in the chemostat, even when the C/N ratio was as low as 2.2. Nitrification by T. pantotropha was equivalent to that of N. europaea when the cell ratio of heterotrophs/autotrophs was 250. The relevance of these observations to the nitrogen cycle in natural environments is discussed.
A method for estimating inherent optical properties of New Zealand continental shelf waters from satellite ocean colour measurements

Abstract We describe a method to estimate spectral absorption and backscattering coefficients between 412 and 555 nm from measurements of remote sensing reflectance across the visible spectrum. The algorithm described is applicable to ocean colour satellite measurements (e.g., SeaWiFS). In situ measurements of inherent and apparent optical properties were made at 19 coastal stations off the north coast of New Zealand's South Island in December 2001. These measurements were used to parameterise a bio‐optical model that estimates remote sensing reflectance from concentrations of water constituents. The model generated a large number (5000) of modelled ocean colour reflectance spectra that represented a greater range of biogeochemical conditions than were measured in the study area. These modelled values spanned a wide range of chlorophyll concentrations (0.1–10 mg m‐3), total suspended particulate material concentrations (0.1–50 g m‐3), and dissolved yellow substance absorptions (0.01–3 m‐1). The modelled spectra were then used to test the performance of the algorithm. The median ratio of algorithm values to target values was 0.84 (absorption), and 0.80 (backscatter), and the median absolute errors were 33% (absorption) and 36% (backscatter) across two orders of magnitude. The r2 values between target and algorithm values of inherent optical properties in log‐log space were 0.89 for backscatter, and varied with wavelength for absorption from 0.79 (412 nm), 0.72 (443 nm), 0.63 (490 nm), 0.55 (510 nm), and 0.21 (555 nm).
Understanding Microworlds

Little is known about how individuals understand change in complex systems. In the natural world, for instance, the effects of change need to be understood in terms of two-way (interdependent) causal processes. Based on subject's ratings of the causal likelihood that a given change will yield a target effect and on subjects’ ratings of the impact of a given change on specified populations in a microworld, White (1997, 2000) argued that individuals in fact understand change in terms of one-way causal processes and assume that causal effects decline with distance from the source of the change. An alternative view is that the ratings reflect individuals’ mental simulations of change as elicited by the tasks. Experiments 1 and 2 confirm that such ratings are task dependent and that individuals make no general assumption that causal effects decrease with distance. Experiment 3 shows that when required to explain a pattern of change in the size of a population individuals can construct two-way causal explanations consistent with this mental simulation proposal.
THE CLIMATE OF LAGO MAGGIORE AREA DURING THE LAST FIFTY YEARS

Data collected in over 50 years' activity at the C.N. R. meteorological station of Pallanza were analysed to see whether any changes have taken place in some climatic elements and to quantify the extent of such changes. A statistical analysis of the respective historical series was performed on nine meteorological parameters (solar radiation, insolation, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, evaporation and wind), and on two other strictly limnological features: the level of Lago Maggiore and its water temperature at six different depths. In particular, we evaluated the means and the extremes (maxima and minima) on an annual, seasonal, monthly and daily level, with the results presented uniformly for all the parameters, also in graphic form. We especially highlighted the trend lines, even though they were not always statistically significant owing to the extreme variability of the meteorological data; in the absence of statistical validity, their significance is an approximate indication of their increasing or decreasing trend. Results showed that insolation, air temperature and atmospheric pressure had increased markedly over time, at least on an annual level, with the trends for solar radiation, humidity and cloud cover also showing an increase, though very slight. Evaporation and wind showed a steady, marked decrease, while precipitation and lake level were essentially stable. Water temperature showed a more varied picture, with the temperature of the topmost levels (to a depth of 10 m) continuing to increase.
Agricultural Research and Alternative Farmers’ Information Needs

Research on sustainable agriculture is underfunded in the United States. Therefore, the topical relevance and the dissemination of this research must be carefully targeted to reach farmers. This paper investigates the actual linkages between local alternative farmers and the information dissemination efforts of publicly funded researchers who obtained grants from a federal/regional program. This analysis is based on a mail survey of twenty sustainable farmers in the Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Society, fifty farmers in the Illinois Organic Crop Improvement Association, and forty-two researchers who received grant funding from the North Central Region of the USDA’s (United States Department of Agriculture) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (USDA-SARE) program between 1988 and 1996. Appropriate statistical techniques were employed to analyze the relatively small sample sizes. Findings suggest that the local needs of farmers are not being met by the national and regional efforts of USDA-SARE, although sustainable farmers are somewhat more likely than organic farmers to receive publicly funded research information. Based on this survey research, the USDA should reconsider the focus and goals of its commitment to sustainable agricultural research.
Ejaculate characteristics of three genotypes of local cocks in the humid tropics

Twenty four (24) adult Nigerian local cocks comprising 8 naked-neck, 8 frizzle and 8 normal were subjected to two ejaculations per week for 14 weeks using the massage technique. Ejaculates were subjected to both physical and chemical evaluations. Results showed that naked- neck and frizzle cocks had higher (P 0.05) among the three genotypes. There were also no significant differences in most of the chemical parameters among the genotypes. From these results the naked-neck and frizzle cocks appear superior to normal cocks under the humid tropical environment in semen output and quality. Keywords : genotypes, semen, cock, naked-neck, frizzle. Agro-Science Vol. 3 (2) 2006: pp. 33-36
The detection of Salmonella serovars from animal feed and raw chicken using a combined immunomagnetic separation and ELISA method

Abstract The immunomagnetic separation technique was used in conjunction with an ELISA-based detection system to recover Salmonella enteritidis , Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella virchow (2–2×10 3 cfu 25 g −1 ) from raw chicken and animal feed. The detection time was less than 27 h and included the conventional pre-enrichment (18 h) step in buffered peptone water and an enrichment step (6 h) in glucose nutrient broth. In contrast, the conventional method using Rappaport-Vassiliades enrichment broth and selective plating on XLD agar required 72–96 h.
Depth of pupation and survival of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae at selected soil moistures

Estimates of pupation depth and survival of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), are important for optimizing soil control and for better understanding its natural mortality in the agricultural system of Guangzhou, China. Late third-instar larvae were placed in soils having relative moistures of 0-100% for pupation. No pupae were found on the surface at soil moistures of 0-70%. Instead, more than 50% of the larvae pupated on the surface at soil moistures of 80, 90, and 100%. Most of the larvae preferred to pupate in less than 4cm of the soils, while relatively few larvae moved more than 4 cm when the soils received too little water or too much water. The survival rate of pupae at 70% moisture level was low, and the pupae were unable to survive at soil moistures of 0, 80, 90, and 100%, while emergence rates exceeded 90% at the conditions of 10-60% moisture levels. Moreover, soil moistures had an influence on the average time to emergence (average time between the larvae release and the emergence of adults). Adult flies at 30% moisture level emerged earlier than those at the other moisture levels, whereas the average time to emergence at 70% moisture level was the longest.
Deficiência hídrica, trocas gasosas e crescimento de raízes em laranjeira Valência sobre dois tipos de porta-enxertos

The growth and distribution of the root system affect the response of the plants to water deficit. This work aim at the to evaluation of 'Valencia' orange budded on 'Rangpur¢ lime and Poncirus trifoliata ('Trifoliata') as to root growth, gas exchange (CO2 and H2O), leaf water potential and distribution of carbohydrates in several organs, in plants submitted to water deficit. Plants were transplanted to 32 rizotrons, which allowed root visualization of the roots. Sixteen plants in each rootstock were submitted to irrigation and the other 16 remained without irrigation. Water deficit was induced withholding the water supply. Stomatal conductance declined after the fourth day without irrigation, causing a reduction of the photosynthesis, the transpiration and the carboxilation efficiency. The total carbohydrate content (sucrose + reducing sugars + starch) in plants without water stress was greater in 'Trifoliata', and among the water deficit treatments it was always less. The dry phytomass of the plants without water deficit was greater in both rootstocks. Among the irrigated and non irrigated treatments, the length of the roots same of rootstocks was similar. However, the root lengths of plants on 'Rangpur' lime were significantly greater than that on 'Trifoliata'. Even under water deficit and great decrease of the photosynthetic production, the roots maintained growth, possibly at the expenses of mobilized substrates of other plant parts.
Introduction

The notion that certain mental or physical events can capture attention has strong intuitive appeal. Such intuitions are typically based on experiences in which an irrelevant event summons attention away from the demands of a current task. Although this apparent vulnerability to external distractions can be detrimental to the mental and physical health of the organism in some situations (as when the distracting event causes us to have an automobile accident), it may also be beneficial to the mental and physical health of the organism in other situations where adaptation to important environmental change is required (as when the distracting event is itself potentially harmful and therefore to be avoided). Because the consequences of attentional capture can have profound effects (both positive and negative) on our mental and physical well-being, it is necessary to go beyond a simple intuitive understanding of this complex behaviour. Indeed, scientific interest in attentional capture has grown exponentially over the last 20 years (see Burnham, 2007; Folk & Gibson, 2001; Rauschenberger, 2003; Ruz & Lupianez, 2002; Simons, 2000; and Egeth & Yantis, 1997, for reviews). A good part of this interest stems from the fact that modelling attentional capture has the potential to provide fundamental
Coastal oceanic climate change and variability from 1982 to 2009 around South Africa

Changes and fluctuations in sea surface temperature (SST) around the South African coast are analysed at a monthly scale from 1982 to 2009. There is a statistically significant negative trend of up to 0.5 °C per decade in the southern Benguela from January to August, and a cooling trend of lesser magnitude along the South Coast and in the Port Elizabeth/Port Alfred region from May to August. The cooling is due to an increase in upwelling-favourable south-easterly and easterly winds. There is a positive trend in SST of up to 0.55 °C per decade in most parts of the Agulhas Current system during all months of the year, except for KwaZulu-Natal where warming is in summer. The warming was attributed to an intensification of the Agulhas Current in response to a poleward shift of westerly winds and an increase in trade winds in the South Indian Ocean at relevant latitudes. This intensification of the Agulhas Current could also have contributed to the coastal cooling in the Port Alfred dynamic upwelling region. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is significantly positively correlated at a 95% level with the southern Benguela and South Coast from February to May, and negatively correlated with the Agulhas Current system south of 36° S. The correlation with the Antarctic Annular Oscillation is weaker and less coherent. El Niño suppresses upwelling along the coast, whereas La Niña increases it. Although there does not seem to be a linear relationship between the strength of the ENSO and the magnitude of coastal SST perturbation, El Niño and La Niña appear to be linked to major warm and cool events, respectively, at a seasonal scale in summer in the southern Benguela and along the South Coast. However, care must be taken in interpreting low-resolution reanalysed climate data (ERA40 and NCEP) and optimally interpolated Reynolds SST, such as used here.
Structure of the T cell receptor in a TiαVβ2,αVβ8‐positive T cell line

The T cell receptor (TcR) is composed of at least six different polypeptide chains consisting of the clonotypic Ti heterodimer (Tiαβ or Tiγδ) and the noncovalently associated CD3 chains (CD3γδϵζ). The exact number of subunits constituting the TcR is still not known; however, it has been suggested that each TcR contains two Ti dimers. To gain insight into the structure of the TcR we constructed a TiαVβ2,αVβ8‐positive T cell line which expressed the endogenous human TiVβ8 and the transfected mouse TiVβ2 both in association with the endogenous Tiα and CD3 chains at the cell surface. Preclearing experiments with radioiodinated cell lysate prepared with digitonin lysis buffer demonstrated that depleting the lysate of TiαVβ8 by immunoprecipitation with anti‐Vβ8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) did not reduce the amount of TiαVβ2 in the lysate, and likewise, depleting the lysate of TiαVβ2 with anti‐Vβ2 mAb did not reduce the amount of TiαVβ8. Comodulation experiments showed that Vβ8 and Vβ2 did not comodulate with each other. Furthermore, functional tests demonstrated that TcR containing Vβ8 and TcR containing Vβ2 mediated transmembrane activation signals independently of each other. These data demonstrate that mouse Vβ2 and human Vβ8 were not expressed in the same TcR in agreement with a TcR model where each TcR contains only one Ti dimer.
The relationship between lodging and plant height in a diverse wheat population

We examined the genetic variation for lodging tolerance in different plant height groups, within a diverse population of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes (n = 14 0). Lodging was artificially induced by dragging a weighted apparatus across plots twice during the season at early and late milk stages. Grain yield was negatively correlated with lodging, while lodging scores were positively correlated with plant height. Although plant height appeared to be the major contributor to lodging tolerance, some variation was also observed in taller plants. This suggests that genetic gain in lodging tolerance can be obtained, to some extent, independent of plant height. Key words: Plant height, lodging tolerance, Triticum aestivum L. , CIMMYT, Canada
Episodic events: their relevance to ecology and evolution

An episodic event can be one of the many “episodes” forming a normal flow of related events. But it can also be an “incident” interrupting a trend and initiating a new one. Appreciation of contrasting meanings of apparently identical categories of phenomena is familiar to evolutionary biologists who, for instance, envisage evolution as the result of both gradual and punctuated events. Seasonal plankton blooms (both normal and noxious), species outbreaks, mass mortalities, and human predation are taken as examples of “episodes” that can influence and/or modify what we perceive as “normality”. Recruitment is another example of an episodic event heavily conditioning both community structure and function, as recently highlighted by the so-called supply-side ecology. The reductionistic study of ecology. more linked to thermodynamics than to history, allowed the formulation of general ecological laws which, however, stem from the laws of thermodynamics. The totalizing value of such laws blurs appreciation of heterogeneity and change, so that many ecologists tend to be rather conservative, using a concept like “conservation” as an absolute paradigm to follow and to consider “change” as an a priori negative phenomenon. Episodes can have a “conservative” or “innovative” meaning, and are the driving force of the history of life. Their importance is recognized mainly when dealing with the history of organisms (evolutionary biology), whereas the assemblages of organisms (i.e., communities) are too often described and interpreted in an ahistorical context or in a too narrow time frame. Recognition of the importance of history in ecology (evolutionary ecology) can lead to a better understanding of environmental dynamics, albeit restricting the supposed predictive strength of ecology, a science timely integrating the reductionistic-thermodynamic approach with the holistic-historical one.