Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth and CO2 uptake for cladodes and fruit of the Crassulacean acid metabolism species Opuntia ficus‐indica during fruit development

Growth and daily net CO2 uptake were measured for fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica and for its cladodes with 0. 5, 10 and 15 fruit and for cladodes after fruit removal. Growth of individual fruit decreased but fruit dry weight per cladode increased as the number of fruit per cladode increased. Removal of fruit decreased the total daily net CO2 uptake of the bearing cladode by about 10%. From 15 to 45 days after flowering, nocturnal CO2 uptake per unit area of the fruit averaged 19% of that of cladodes and then declined, as did the chlorophyll content and the activity of the CO2-fixing enzymes. Fruit growth for O. ficus-indica was supported by the bearing cladode as well as other cladodes, especially for cladodes with more than 5 fruit.
Sea Turtle Conservation in Ubatuba, Southeastern Brazil, a Feeding Area with Incidental Capture in Coastal Fisheries

ABSTRACT Since 1991, Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, the Brazilian sea turtle conservation program, has maintained a station in Ubatuba, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, a feeding area for sea turtles where incidental capture in coastal fisheries occurs. We present an overview of the local fishing methods, explain the conservation approach and field methods employed by TAMAR in the region, present biological data collected between 1991 and 1998, and provide an assessment of the conservation status of sea turtles in the Ubatuba region. During the study period, 2,515 captures of sea turtles were recorded, comprising four species: green turtles (Chelonia mydas, 98.4% of total captures, generally juveniles), loggerheads (Caretta caretta), hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea). Most of the data come from turtles incidentally captured in fishing gear, mainly by artisanal methods. The available data suggest that Ubatuba is a developmental habitat for juvenile green turtles.
Avaliação fitotecnica de bananeiras tipo terra sob irrigação em condições semi-áridas

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de avaliar fitotecnicamente as caracteristicas vegetativas e de rendimento de cinco cultivares de bananeira tipo Terra, em primeiro ciclo de producao sob irrigacao nas condicoes semiaridas da regiao de Guanambi - BA. Utilizaram-se descritores fenotipicos relevantes para a identificacao e selecao de individuos com caracteristicas superiores, visando a disponibilizar aos produtores dos perimetros de irrigacao uma alternativa para a diversificacao da bananicultura. Avaliaram-se as seguintes caracteristicas: numero de dias do plantio ao florescimento e a colheita, altura da planta, perimetro do pseudocaule, numero de folhas vivas nas epocas do florescimento e colheita, o intervalo florescimento-colheita, peso do cacho, da raquis e das pencas, numero de pencas e de frutos, comprimento e diâmetro do fruto. O experimento foi delineado em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos, constituidos pelas cultivares AAB: Terra, Terra-Maranhao, Terrinha e D'Angola e pelo hibrido AAAB: FHIA-21 com cinco repeticoes. Cada parcela foi constituida por 20 plantas (quatro fileiras de cinco plantas), com seis plantas uteis no espacamento de 3,0 m x 3,0 m. Destacaram-se as cultivares avaliadas a Terra e a Terra Maranhao como as mais produtivas, porem, com maior altura e mais tardias em ciclo. O hibrido FHIA-21 e as cultivares Terrinha e D'Angola, apresentaram-se com maior numero de folhas vivas a epoca da colheita. A cultivar D'Angola apresentou a menor produtividade dentre as cultivares avaliadas.
Occurrence of epiphytic macrolichens in relation to tree species and age in managed boreal forest

For the maintenance of biodiversity some epiphytic macrolichens have been used to identify forests with high conservation value. To understand what these macrolichens indicate, we studied the relationships of tree species and age with the abundance of a set of 33 macrolichens (20 of them in use as indicator species) at 90 localities in a 150 km2 area in south-central Sweden. We sampled the four most common tree species Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. Norway spruce Picea abies, birch Betula spp, and aspen Populus tremula for macrolichens at 0-2 m from the base. Of the 33 target species we found 17, six of them were indicators in use for this region. In 30, out of 40 tested, cases there was a positive relation between lichen abundance and age of the tree. On all tree species the number of the studied lichen species increased with age. The colonisation rate of the species was fastest on birch. All species occurring on birch were also found on at least one of the coniferous trees, while aspen had six species not found on other trees. Pine and spruce with a slow growth rate had more signal lichen species than fast growing trees. We could not detect a competitive situation between common and rare species as the most abundant or largest lichens did not exclude other species. The length of the longest fruticose lichen was positively correlated with the number of species on the tree. Shade had a negative effect on the number of species. We conclude that the indicator macrolichens encountered in this study showed a preference for old trees or aspens. This result, and the low number of indicator species, points at the importance of promoting these trees for the preservation of biodiversity in the boreal forest.
Determination of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol chemotypes of Fusarium culmorum isolates from England and Wales by PCR assay

Functioning Tri13 and Tri7 genes are required for the production of nivalenol and 4-acetyl nivalenol, respectively, in Fusarium species producing type B trichothecenes. Mutations have been identified in isolates which are able to produce deoxynivalenol (DON) but unable to convert this to nivalenol (NIV). In such isolates of Fusarium culmorum, the Tri7 gene is deleted entirely. PCR assays specific for functional and nonfunctional/deleted versions of Tri7 and Tri13 were used to determine the ability of 153 single spore isolates of F. culmorum to produce the 8-ketotrichothecenes deoxynivalenol and nivalenol. The isolates were collected from 76 different locations across England and Wales between 1994 and 2002. Four isolates were also obtained from one field in Scotland. Both DON and NIV chemotypes of F. culmorum were identified, with DON chemotypes predominating overall. In addition, all DON chemotypes were shown to produce 3-acetyl DON using primer sets developed to Tri3. From fields where more than one F. culmorum isolate was obtained, isolates were not exclusively of a single chemotype. Differences in the distribution of DON and NIV chemotypes were identified, with a greater proportion of NIV chemotypes present in the south and west of England and Wales, whereas a greater proportion of DON chemotypes were found in the north and east of England. Seasonal differences in the ratio of DON:NIV chemotypes were indicated. However, these were related to seasonal variation in the distribution of F. culmorum.
Coronatine Alleviates Polyethylene Glycol-induced Water Stress in Two Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars

We studied the effects of coronatine (COR), a structural and functional analogue of jasmonates, on the drought tolerance of two rice cultivars, Handao 297 (a drought-tolerant upland rice) and Yuefu (a drought-sensitive lowland rice). Seedlings were treated with COR at the three-leaved stage at 0.01 and 0.1 lm for 24 h, followed by imposition of water deficit induced with 20 % polyethylene glycol (PEG). Water stress reduced the biomass of both cultivars and increased leaf lipid peroxidation and solute leakage. Pre-treatment with COR significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase in leaf tissues of water-stressed Handao 297 (0.01 lm) and Yuefu (0.1 lm) seedlings. COR supplement also increased the accumulation of 44 and 32 kDa polypeptides in water-stressed Handao 297 (0.01 and 0.1 lm) and Yuefu (0.1 lm) and significantly induced the expression of 29 kDa polypeptide in Handao 297. The results suggest that COR might alleviate drought stress by activating antioxidant enzymes and inducing proteins, thereby preventing membrane peroxidation and denaturation of bio-molecules. Thus, membrane permeability decreased substantially by 24‐27 % in Handao 297, and 22‐29 % in Yuefu. The optimal concentrations conferring drought resistance were 0.01 for the upland rice and 0.1 lm for the lowland cultivar.
High genetic identities between three oil mallee taxa, Eucalyptus kochii ssp. kochii , ssp. plenissima and E. horistes , based on nuclear RFLP analysis

The eucalypt species Eucalyptus kochii ssp. kochii, E. kochii ssp. plenissima and E. horistes, are harvested for oil production. The genetic diversity in these taxa and their phylogenetic relationships were assessed using anonymous nuclear RFLP loci. Variation was determined for 20 individuals from 10 populations representing the three taxa. The level of diversity in the taxa was high compared to other species where RFLP surveys have been conducted, including another eucalypt species. The populations showed little differentiation, low genetic distance and high gene flow between them. Phylogenetic relationships reveal clustering of populations consistent with their geographical distribution. This analysis suggests that genetically these taxa represent a single widespread, variable species with some provenance delineation. Establishment of a breeding programme based on all populations would allow progress in genetic improvement for oil yield.
Heavy metal toxicities: levels of nickel, cobalt and chromium in the soil and plants associated with visual symptoms and variation in growth of an oat crop

A study was made of toxicity in a field crop of oats on a soil developed in an area where ultrabasic rocks occur. An area selected for sampling showed a range of toxicity from the border where plants were normal to the centre where plants were most affected. The total nickel, cobalt, and chromium contents of the soil increased to high levels at the centre of the area. The concentration of the elements in soil solutions extracted with a centrfuge from soils at field capacity were in the order nickel > cobalt > chromium, the order in which they are found in natural waters. In the soil solutions nickel ranged from 0.13 to 3.25 p.p.m. , cobalt from 0.03 to 0.14p.p.m. , and chromium from 0.01 to 0.02p.p.m. The concentrations found in the soil solutions were compared with concentrations known to induce toxicities in oats grown in frequently renewed solution cultures. These comparisons indicated that the nickel ranged up to levels which were definitely toxic. At its highest level cobalt was present at less than one-tenth of the level needed to induce toxicity, while chromium was present at only one-hundredth of the minimum level for toxicity. Analyses of the toys of plants from the centre of the area indicated values of chromium which would be considered toxic, but because of the very low concentrations of chromium in the soil solutions it was considered more likely that the chromium detected was in soil material which the acid detergent washing procedure failed to remove. Evidence presented indicates the particular importance of contamination in the case of chromium. Nickel was present in much higher quantities at toxic levels. Cobalt was below toxic levels. The symptoms observed in the field and symptoms induced by the application of nickel to oats in pot cultures are described. A feature of these symptoms was a regular succession of chlorotic bands. The evidence suggested that the banding pattern, which is best developed in clear weather, relates to the changing conditions which influence the actively growing tissue as the leaf is emerging. The symptom provided us with a means of identifying nickel toxicity in the field. Degrees of toxicity were related to levels of elements in soil extracts and in the plants.
Quantifying the Public Health Benefits of Reducing Air Pollution: Critically Assessing the Features and Capabilities of WHO’s AirQ+ and U.S. EPA’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program – Community Edition (BenMAP – CE)

Scientific evidence spanning experimental and epidemiologic studies has shown that air pollution exposures can lead to a range of health effects. Quantitative approaches that allow for the estimation of the adverse health impacts attributed to air pollution enable researchers and policy analysts to convey the public health impact of poor air quality. Multiple tools are currently available to conduct such analyses, which includes software packages designed by the World Health Organization (WHO): AirQ+, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA): Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program – Community Edition (BenMAP – CE), to quantify the number and economic value of air pollution-attributable premature deaths and illnesses. WHO’s AirQ+ and U.S. EPA’s BenMAP – CE are among the most popular tools to quantify these effects as reflected by the hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and technical reports over the past two decades that have employed these tools spanning many countries and multiple continents. Within this paper we conduct an analysis using common input parameters to compare AirQ+ and BenMAP – CE and show that the two software packages well align in the calculation of health impacts. Additionally, we detail the research questions best addressed by each tool.
The Burden of Disease from Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Lesotho

Background: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) causes severe birth defects and is preventable. In line with the global vision for measles and rubella elimination, Lesotho introduced the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine into the routine immunization schedule in February 2017. The aim of the study was to show the burden of CRS in Lesotho before the introduction of the rubella vaccine. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data was extracted from several sources at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital including inpatient, outpatient, electronic and laboratory records as well as expert interviews. Files of infants less than 12 months with CRS during the period January 2012 to December 2016 were selected. Results: There were five laboratory and 4 clinically confirmed CRS cases. One case also had Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection. Mohales’ Hoek district had the highest number of cases (33.3%). Six of the districts had at least one case of CRS within the study period. There were no cases in 4 districts. Most (56%) of the CRS cases were reported in 2015. We were unable to determine the incidence of CRS in Lesotho in this study. Conclusion: The detection of 9 CRS cases in Lesotho over the period under review is of high public health importance.There is an immunity gap among mothers of child bearing age which shows an opportunity for future immunization. Prospective CRS case-based surveillance would be useful in determining accurate estimates of the burden of CRS and the impact of the introduction of rubella-containing vaccine into the routine immunization schedule.
Performance metrics in OFDM wireless networks supporting quasi-random traffic

We consider the downlink of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based cell that accommodates calls from different service-classes with different resource requirements. We assume that calls arrive in the cell according to a quasi-random process, i.e., calls are generated by a finite number of sources. To calculate the most important performance metrics in this OFDM-based cell, i.e., congestion probabilities and resource utilization, we model it as a multirate loss model, show that the steady-state probabilities have a product form solution (PFS) and propose recursive formulas which reduce the complexity of the calculations. In addition, we study the bandwidth reservation (BR) policy which can be used in order to reserve subcarriers in favor of calls with high subcarrier requirements. The existence of the BR policy destroys the PFS of the steady-state probabilities. However, it is shown that there are recursive formulas for the determination of the various performance measures. The accuracy of the proposed formulas is verified via simulation and found to be satisfactory.
The Future of Sediment Transport and Streamflow Under a Changing Climate and the Implications for Long‐Term Resilience of the San Francisco Bay‐Delta

Sedimentation and turbidity have effects on habitat suitability in the San Francisco Bay‐Delta (Bay‐Delta), concerning key species in the bay as well as the ability of the delta marshes to keep pace with sea level rise. A daily rainfall runoff and transport model of the Sacramento River Basin of northern California was developed to simulate streamflow and suspended sediment transport to the Bay‐Delta for the next century (water years, WY2010–2099). The model was calibrated to historical streamflow and sediment data and applied using 10 Global Climate Models with two representative concentration pathways (RCP) each for WY1980–2099 from the IPCC 5th Assessment Report. Results indicate average increases in peak streamflow of +58% and +66% for the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 ensembles, respectively, by mid‐century and +62 and +96% by end‐of‐century. Sediment loads increased by +39% and +69% by end‐of‐century. Suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) increased on average by +4.6% and +6.7% for RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively, by end‐of‐century. Individual scenario results varied, and statistically significant increasing trends of sediment loads to the Bay‐Delta were found for the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 ensembles and five individual scenarios. Increased suspended sediment loads may have negative effects such as contaminant transport but also have positive effects that help protect against sea level rise, increase turbidity and fish habitat, and sustain wetland habitats in the Bay‐Delta.
The Influence Of Recruitment And Career Development Towards Employee Performance: A Mediating Role Of Competence

This study aims to examine the effect of recruitment and career development on the performance of employees in sharia banks with competence as a mediating variable. The sample in this study was 230 respondents and the data are analyzed using the AMOS Version 20 SEM Program. The results of data analysis, recruitment have a significant and positive effect on performance and competence, career development has a significant and positive effect on performance and competence, competence has a significant and positive effect on employee performance, competence mediates the effect of recruitment and career development on employee performance partially. There are indicators of recruitment planning in imperfect recruitment, indicators of exposure in career development are not informative, and indicators of knowledge in competencies that are limited The results of this study recommend to Bank leaders to improve the quality of recruitment processes and procedures, career development, and competence especially for recruitment planning, exposure to career development, and knowledge for competence.
Position of inoculum in the canopy affects the risk of septoria tritici blotch epidemics in winter wheat

The spread of septoria leaf blotch in wheat caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola is widely reported to depend on the occurrence of splashy rainfall. Previous studies have also implicated an important effect of canopy architecture on the risk of disease spread. This is because architecture affects the proximity of the yield-forming leaves to inoculum present on older diseased leaves within the crop. This study demonstrated that infection of the final three leaves of winter wheat could occur in the absence of splashy rainfall. For cvs Riband and Longbow, the final two leaf layers emerged at a position ≈ 8 cm below older leaves containing sporulating lesions. Under these conditions, infection of new leaves occurred in treatments that simulated dew and nonsplashy rainfall. These treatments resulted in disease incidences of 10–40% above the untreated control on the final two leaf layers. Within a season, the distance between diseased and healthy leaves during the period of stem extension varied substantially across a range of 30 cultivars. While the magnitude of these differences was not the same across seasons, the relative differences between cultivars were generally consistent, suggesting a strong genotype influence on lesion proximity. This study shows how knowledge of the distribution of lesion proximity within a crop can be used to estimate the risk of inoculum transfer for a given maximum splash height. A rapid crop-monitoring method for estimating the distribution of lesion proximity was developed and tested. Lesion proximity was manipulated by plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments. Significant increases in disease, between 14 and 62%, were observed on the upper canopy leaves of plants treated with PGR. The largest differences were observed in treatments where lesion proximity was most affected.
The impact of vegetation characteristics and prey availability on breeding habitat use and diet of Little Owls Athene noctua in Central European farmland

Capsule Foraging habitats are determined by vegetation characteristics rather than the availability of insect prey. Aims To determine the diet composition of Little Owls in relation to the availability of insects at foraging sites, and to elucidate the main factors determining the owls’ habitat choice. Methods The feeding ecology of Little Owls was studied during the 2002 breeding season in the agricultural landscape of western Bohemia (Czech Republic), where its population is in decline. Diet composition was determined by pellet analysis. Insect availability was studied using pitfall traps in the two most important Little Owl foraging habitats. For both habitats, we assessed the main vegetative characteristics (average and maximum vegetation height, vegetation density). Results Based on number, insects were the most dominant prey, followed by small mammals; based on weight, insects comprised only a minor part of the diet. Among insect prey, Carabidae beetles were the most abundant. The proportion of insect numbers was strongly positively correlated with advancing day of the season and negatively correlated with the proportion of vertebrates. Although the highest densities of Carabidae were found in cornfields Little Owls significantly preferred grassland habitats, probably because of the lower vegetation cover. Conclusions The availability of short sward vegetation in grassland habitats during the breeding season may play a key role in the conservation of Little Owls in central European farmland.
A generic revision of Portulacaceae tribe Montieae using techniques of numerical taxonomy

Using a variety of clustering and ordination techniques on data from 37 species or species complexes recognized within the Portulacaceae tribe Montieae, a classification is proposed in which two genera, Claytonia and Montia, are recognized. Claytonia is distinguished from Montia by the possession of a basal leaf rosette, a scape-like stem with a pair of opposite leaves, and tricolpate pollen; this circumscription agrees with that originally proposed by Greene in 1891 and endorsed by Swanson (1966) in his review of relationships in the group; it differs, however, from that adopted in most recent Floras in that it includes the annual Limnia group in Claytonia. Within Claytonia, four sections are recognized, while nine are distinguished within the more variable Montia; the latter correspond to the segregate genera recently adopted by Nilsson and Yurtsev. A taxonomic synopsis is given of the genera, sections, and species, with keys to the genera and sections recognized. Three new combinations at sectional lev.