Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proteolytic activity and nitrogen remobilisation in senescing leaves of phenological forms of Fagus sylvatica

Leaf senescence allows plants to remobilise and use the same nitrogen repeatedly and is closely linked to autumn phenology. The timing of leaf senescence affects the growth rate and survival of trees due to the association between senescence and the remobilisation of nutrients, particularly nitrogen. The present study compares protein degradation dynamics and nitrogen remobilisation in early, intermediate and late phenological forms of beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.). Specimens of phenological forms were marked and examined in 2005 and 2008. Leaf samples were collected from August to October during each of these years, and a biochemical analysis and a determination of proteolytic enzyme activity were conducted. The early phenological form showed protein degradation with three clearly indicated phases, whereas in the late form, protein degradation was stable with a constant decrease. The phenological forms differed significantly in their C/N ratios, which increased from approximately 20 in August to 37.5, 35 and 32 for the early, intermediate and late forms, respectively, at the end of leaf senescence. The date of the sudden drop in temperature had a decisive effect on the beginning of leaf senescence. Temperature has a greater effect on protein degradation and the protein and nitrogen resorption efficiency in the early form than in the late form. The trees that began to senesce the earliest exhibited the highest resorption of nitrogen compounds. Senescence led to an increase in proteolytic activity. Aminopeptidase activity was highest at the beginning of senescence, while endoand carboxypeptidase activity was highest in the middle of senescence. The early form had the highest activity levels for all peptidase types. These results indicate that beech trees that differ in their autumn senescence timing display different nitrogen remobilisation efficiencies. This efficiency depended on the length of leaf senescence, peptidase activity and the sensitivity of particular phenological forms to temperature changes. Additional key words: beech, leaf senescence, peptidase, proteins, phenology Address: W. Kraj, Department of Forest Pathology, Mycology and Tree Physiology, Agricultural University in Cracow, Al. 29-Listopada 46, 31-425 Cracow, e-mail: rlkraj@cyf-kr.edu. pl
Tree Root System Characterization and Volume Estimation by Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Quantitative Structure Modeling

The accurate characterization of three-dimensional (3D) root architecture, volume, and biomass is important for a wide variety of applications in forest ecology and to better understand tree and soil stability. Technological advancements have led to increasingly more digitized and automated procedures, which have been used to more accurately and quickly describe the 3D structure of root systems. Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) have successfully been used to describe aboveground structures of individual trees and stand structure, but have only recently been applied to the 3D characterization of whole root systems. In this study, 13 recently harvested Norway spruce root systems were mechanically pulled from the soil, cleaned, and their volumes were measured by displacement. The root systems were suspended, scanned with TLS from three different angles, and the root surfaces from the co-registered point clouds were modeled with the 3D Quantitative Structure Model to determine root architecture and volume. The modeling procedure facilitated the rapid derivation of root volume, diameters, break point diameters, linear root length, cumulative percentages, and root fraction counts. The modeled root systems underestimated root system volume by 4.4%. The modeling procedure is widely applicable and easily adapted to derive other important topological and volumetric root variables.
SPECIE-SPECIFIC OUTCOMES OF WILD RAPTORS ATTENDED AT A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE IN CATALONIA (1997-2005)

Outcome research of rehabilitation of wild birds of prey and owls are scarcely reported. The aim of this study is to investigate specie-specific outcomes of the rehabilitation practice in wild raptor attended in a wildlife center. A total of 6221 hospitalized wild raptors (3241 Strigiformes; 2980 Falconiformes) admitted at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) of Catalonia from 1995 to 2007 were analysed. The outcomes indicators were based on ratios of Euthanasia (Er), Mortality (Mr), Release (Rr) and Captivity (Cr). Stratified analyses by main causes of admission were performed for the different raptor species. Species from the Falconiformes order presented higher rates of euthanasia (33.9%) compared to the Strigiformes (18.6%). Species like B. buteo (45.7%) and M. migrans (47.6%) in the Falconiformes and B. bubo (33.6%) in the Strigiformes, presented the highest Er. Despite no differences between orders could be observed in the row mortality rates, data analysed by the causes of admission showed that the Mr of owls was significant higher than the Falconiformes for the trauma (13.2%; χ2 = 49.97; p
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of an Entomopathogenic Nematode Genetically Selected for Improved Host-Finding

A strain of Steinernema carpocapsae selectively bred in the laboratory for improved host-finding of scarab larvae did not provide enhanced field efficacy of Japanese beetle larvae, Popillia japonica. Selected (S20) and wildtype (All) strains reduced larval populations by 25-30%, compared with 70% for the chemical insecticide. Similar results were obtained in laboratory exposures conducted in soil-filled pots against the scarab Maladera matrida . The selected S20 strain was, nevertheless, superior to the All and HP88 strains at locating larvae. S20 nematodes, which are known to have enhanced chemosensitivity to carbon dioxide, were observed to aggregate heavily at or near the spiracles. Scarab spiracles are covered with sieve plates and, therefore, are not a portal of nematode entry. Despite selection for greater response to host cues, S20 persisted in nictating, standing on their tails, even when a host was present. The unfavorable field results usually obtained with S. carpocapsae against scarab larvae have been attributed to low powers of host search. Our results indicate that even when larvae are located S. carpocapsae is poorly adapted to cause infection. Genetic improvement cannot he expected to overcome poor adaptation. Future selection efforts with nematodes should begin with species adapted for the target host.
Ammonium thiosulfate and 6-benzyladenine improve the crop load and fruit quality of 'Delicious' apples

Four trials were conducted over 3 years to assess the effect of ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) as a blossom thinner of ‘Delicious’ apple trees. In addition to determining the optimal concentration of ATS and the effectiveness of multiple applications, the effect on fruit quality was assessed. A program using ATS at bloom and 6-benzyladenine (BA) applied postbloom was examined. Multiple applications of ATS reduced crop load more than a single application. A concentration of 1.0% (v/v, 5800 mg/L) applied twice during the flowering period is recommended, with the first application at 20% bloom and the second at 80% bloom. Fruit firmness and sugar content were increased by ATS, and a positive relationship between fruit weight and sugar content and between fruit weight and firmness was demonstrated. ATS can also be effectively combined in a program with BA with the added benefits of increases in fruit size, firmness and sugar content; however, caution is advised to prevent over-thinning.
Novel 3D point set registration method based on regionalized Gaussian process map reconstruction

Point set registration has been a topic of significant research interest in the field of mobile intelligent unmanned systems. In this paper, we present a novel approach for a three-dimensional scan-to-map point set registration. Using Gaussian process (GP) regression, we propose a new type of map representation, based on a regionalized GP map reconstruction algorithm. We combine the predictions and the test locations derived from the GP as the predictive points. In our approach, the correspondence relationships between predictive point pairs are set up naturally, and a rigid transformation is calculated iteratively. The proposed method is implemented and tested on three standard point set datasets. Experimental results show that our method achieves stable performance with regard to accuracy and efficiency, on a par with two standard methods, the iterative closest point algorithm and the normal distribution transform. Our mapping method also provides a compact point-cloud-like map and exhibits low memory consumption.
Characteristics of acid urease from streptococcus mitior

Ethylcarbamate, which is knownto be carcinogenic, is thought to be formed from urea and ethyl alcohol in alcoholic beverages. 1* Acid urease is effective in preventing the formation ofethylcarbamate, but only the enzyme from Lactobacillus fermentum has previously been partially purified and characterized.2) Westarted our research by examining the distribution of acid urease-producing microorganisms and isolated 700 producers. These isolates belonged to 6 genera, strains of the genera Streptococcus and Lactobacillus being dominant.3* The acid ureases from 37 representative isolates from these 700 producers were classified into 6 different types of the enzymeaccording to their electrophoretic mobility.4* Twodifferent types of acid urease, one from L. reuteri5) and one from L.fermentum,6) have been highly purified and characterized, but little is known of the properties of the acid ureases produced by Streptococcus strains. This report describes the purification 2433
Autoradiographic localization of 125I[Tyr14]orphanin FQ/nociceptin and 125I[Tyr10]orphanin FQ/nociceptin(1–11) binding sites in rat brain

The endogenous ligand for the orphan opioid receptor, orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ), has recently been characterized. The OFQ peptide sequence contains paired basic amino acids, suggesting the possibility of posttranslational processing to a peptide containing the first 11 amino acids of the OFQ peptide. This peptide has been reported in the brain and it has a unique pharmacology. In the present study, we compared the autoradiographic distribution of 125I[Tyr14]OFQ and 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1–11) in coronal rat brain sections. Nonspecific binding was defined with unlabeled OFQ or OFQ(1–11), respectively. Both radioligands demonstrated high levels of specific binding (>95% of total binding), with no appreciable binding in white matter areas with either ligand. 125I[Tyr14]OFQ binding was widely distributed throughout the rat brain. In contrast, 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1–11) binding was more restricted. The highest 125I[Tyr14]OFQ binding levels measured in this study were found in the locus coeruleus, an area which contained very low 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1–11) binding. Both ligands labeled the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. In the thalamus, 125I[Tyr14]OFQ binding was prominent in most nuclei, whereas 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1–11) binding was restricted to the midline thalamus. 125I[Tyr14]OFQ binding was heavy in the suprachiasmatic hypothalamus, and moderate in other hypothalamic nuclei. 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1–11) binding in the hypothalamus, however, was present mainly in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Lower binding levels of both ligands were found in the caudate putamen. The distinct autoradiographic patterns of these two ligands are consistent with different binding sites, which might help explain their different functional activities. J. Comp. Neurol. 423:319–329, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Life history of Lygus keltoni (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the laboratory1

Abstract Lygus keltoni Schwartz and Foottit is a species of plant bugs recently recognized as distinct from L. shulli Knight and an important component of the pest complex that attacks a number of field crops such as canola (Brassica napus) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in western Canada. The current laboratory study was undertaken to determine basic life-history parameters, such as instar duration, adult longevity, and reproductive potential, required to develop biologically based pest management strategies. At 25–27 °C, males lived around 34 days and females lived around 48 days. Females produced an average of 133 nymphs but up to 306 nymphs during their reproductive life, which averaged around 4 weeks (7-day preoviposition period). Egg incubation lasted around 10 days, instars 1–4 lasted 2–3 days each, and the 5th instar lasted 4 days. The reproductive potential of L. keltoni seems to be lower than that of L. hesperus Knight and L. lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), but other life-history parameters of the adults and development times of the nymphs are comparable. Résumé Lygus keltoni Schwartz and Foottit est une espèce de punaise ravageur des plantes de l'ouest canadien (canola, Brassica napus; luzerne, Medicago sativa) récemment séparée de L. shulli Knight par les taxonomistes. Nous avons fait une étude dans le laboratoire pour déterminer les aspects de base de son cycle de vie tels que sa longévité, son potentiel reproducteur et la durée des stades nymphales. Ces renseignements sont requis pour développer des méthodes de lutte intégrée. Les mâles et femelles élevés à une température de 25–27 °C vécûrent en moyenne 34 et 48 jours, respectivement. La progéniture moyenne fut de 133 nymphes mais le maximum fut de 306 pendant leur période de reproduction de 4 semaines (7 jours de période pré-ponte). L'incubation des oeufs dura 10 jours, les nymphes des stades 1–4 ont duré entre 2 et 3 jours mais la cinquième stade dura 4 jours. Le potentiel de reproduction de L. keltoni semble être inférieur à ceux de L. hesperus Knight et L. lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) mais les autres paramètres biologiques sont comparables.
Influence of ripening stages on antioxidant properties of papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.)

Papaya (Carica papaya L. cv Eksotika) is one of the most commonly consumed tropical fruits by humans, especially Malaysians. The objective of this study was to determine the phenolic compounds and antioxidants activity in different ripening stages of papaya fruit. The fruits were harvested at five different, stages RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, and RS5 corresponding to 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 weeks after anthesis, respectively. Papayas fruit at five different stage of ripening were obtained from farms at Pusat Flora Cheras, JabatanPertanian and Hulu Langat Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. The antioxidants activity were analyzed using the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The analyses were conducted in triplicate and the data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS. The results showed significant differences (P< 0.05) were found at different stages of ripening. The total phenol content TPC, TFC, FRAP a.
Short Communication Weight-length relationships for 20 Lessepsian fish species caught by bottom trawl on the coast of Iskenderun Bay (NE Mediterranean Sea, Turkey)

Summary Weight–length relationships were estimated for 20 Lessepsian fish species of the Iskenderun Bay, namely, Apogon nigripinnis, Apogon queketti, Callionymus flamentosus, Cynoglossus sinusarabici, Dussumieria elopsoides, Etrumeus teres, Fistularia commersonii, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis, Leiognathus kluzingeri, Nemipterus japonicus, Oxyurichthys petersenii, Saurida undosquamis, Sillago sihama, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Sphyraena chroysotaeina, Stephanolepis diaspros, Upeneus moluccensis and Upeneus pori. All regressions were found to be significant for all species. This study presents the first estimation of weight–length relationships for six species (A. queketti, E. teres, F. commersonii, L. suezensis, Nemipterus randalli, and S. luridus) inhabiting coastal areas of the northeastern Mediterranean Sea.
Massal Induction of Carica papaya L. ‘Golden’ Somatic Embryos and Somaclone Screening by Flow Cytometry and Cytogenetic Analysis

Summary Somatic embryogenesis is a relevant micropropagation technique in Carica papaya �Goldenin view of the difficulties met in conventional seed propagation and the lack of an effective method for early sex determination in this trioecious species. Considering the interest in large-scale production of C. papaya seedlings, we adapted a somatic embryogenesis procedure associating liquid system and immature zygotic embryo explants. This protocol markedly contributed to an increase in the yield of friable embryogenic calli, resulting in a large number of normal somatic embryos at various developmental stages. From these embryos, plantlets were regenerated and evaluated for occurrence of somaclonal variation. Flow cytometry screening revealed diploid (88%), tetraploid (6%), and aneuploid (6%) plantlets. Owing to an interest in the mass propagation of diploid individuals, the karyotype of these plantlets was also analyzed. With this approach, diploidy (2X=18) was confirmed and no structural aberrations were found. Considering the results and the applicability of large-scale production of somatic embryos in C. papaya, the tissue culture protocols shown here could be used for commercial purposes. Moreover, the cytometric and cytogenetic analyses were crucial for a rapid, reliable and conclusive evaluation of the genetic stability of C. papaya plantlets regenerated by somatic embryogenesis.
Morphogenic investigations on parasitic angiosperms. I. Cistanche tubulosa (Orobanchaceae)

In Cistanche tubulosa (Orobanchaceae), a herbaceous obligate root parasite, the seed is tiny and contains a subglobose embryo that lacks differentiation into radicle, hypocotyl, cotyledons, and plumule. Seeds were axenically cultured to study germination and the morphogenesis of the embryo. Germination occurred only when coconut milk was supplied in the agar nutrient medium and was characterized by the activity of only the morphological radicular pole of the embryo, which formed a mass of tissue. Differentiation of the shoot bud occurred when this tissue was grown in the dark on a complex nutrient medium. The plumular pole of embryo did not contribute to the formation of the shoot bud, nor did the embryo attain bilateral symmetry and organ formation before germination.
Role of Prices and Wealth in Consumer Demand for Bushmeat in Gabon, Central Africa

Abstract: Unsustainable hunting of wildlife for food is often a more immediate and significant threat to the conservation of biological diversity in tropical forests than deforestation. Why people eat wildlife is debated. Some may eat bushmeat because they can afford it; others may eat it because it is familiar, traditional, confers prestige, tastes good, or adds variety. We completed a survey of 1208 rural and urban households in Gabon, Africa, in 2002–2003 to estimate the effect of wealth and prices on the consumption of wildlife and other sources of animal protein. Consumption of bushmeat, fish, chicken, and livestock increased with increasing household wealth, and as the price of these commodities rose, consumption declined. Although the prices of substitutes for bushmeat did not significantly, in statistical terms, influence bushmeat consumption, as the price of wildlife increased and its consumption fell, the consumption of fish rose, indicating that fish and bushmeat were dietary substitutes. Our results suggest that policy makers can use economic levers such as taxation or supply reduction through better law enforcement to change demand for wildlife. These measures will help to regulate unsustainable exploitation and reduce the risk of irreversible loss of large‐bodied and slow‐reproducing wildlife species. If policy makers focus solely on reducing the unsustainable consumption of wildlife, they may see adverse impacts on the exploitation of fish. Furthermore, policy makers must ensure that raising household wealth through development assistance does not result in undesirable impacts on the conservation status of wildlife and fish.
USING INSTRUMENTAL VARIABLES FOR INFERENCE ABOUT POLICY RELEVANT TREATMENT PARAMETERS

We propose a method for using instrumental variables (IV) to draw inference about causal effects for individuals other than those affected by the instrument at hand. The question of policy relevance and external validity turns on our ability to do this reliably. Our method exploits the insight that both the IV estimand and many treatment parameters can be expressed as weighted averages of the same underlying marginal treatment effects. Since the weights are known or identified, knowledge of the IV estimand generally places some restrictions on the unknown marginal treatment effects, and hence on the logically permissible values of the treatment parameters of interest. We show how to extract the information about the average effect of interest from the IV estimand, and more generally, from a class of IV-like estimands which includes the TSLS and OLS estimands, among many others. Our method has several applications. First, it can be used to construct nonparametric bounds on the average causal effects of an actual or hypothetical policy change. Second, our method allows the researcher to flexibly incorporate shape restrictions and parametric assumptions, thereby enabling extrapolation of the average effects for compliers to the average effects for different or larger populations. Third, our method provides specification tests. In addition to testing the null of correctly specified model, we can use our method to test null hypotheses of no selection bias, no selection on gains and instrument validity. Importantly, specification tests using our method do not require the treatment effect to be constant over individuals with the same observables. To illustrate the applicability of our method, we use Norwegian administrative data to draw inference about the causal effects of family size on children’s outcomes. ∗We thank the audience at the 2016 Cowles Foundation Summer Econometrics Conference. Bradley Setzler provided excellent research assistant. †Department of Economics, University of Chicago; Statistics Norway; NBER. ‡Department of Economics, University of California at San Diego. Research supported in part by National Science Foundation grant SES-1426882. §Department of Economics, Northwestern University. Research supported in part by National Science Foundation grant SES-1530538. The hospitality of the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago is gratefully acknowledged.
Effect of Air and Root-zone Temperatures on Physiological Characteristics and Yield of Heat-tolerant and Non Heat-tolerant Tomato Cultivars

Comparative studies on photosynthesis (Pr), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (Gs), and yield of heat-tolerant tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Shuki) and non heat-tolerant one (cv. Sataan) at 2 air (40°/23° and 22°/16°C) and 4 root (15°, 20°, 25°and 30°±0.5°C) temperatures were carried out. Physiological characters were measured at the vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages of growth. Pr, E and Gs of 'Shuki' at high air and root-zone temperatures were significantly higher than those of 'Sataan' at the seedling, flowering and fruiting stages but no significant differences were observed at low air temperatures. Yield of 'Shuki' was significantly higher than that of 'Sataan' at all root-zone and high air temperatures but not at low air temperatures. Yield correlated significantly with photosynthesis at high air temperatures but no correlation was observed at low air temperatures.