Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Comparative Efficiency of Ozone and Gamma Sterilization on Fungal Deterioration of Archeological Painted Coffin, Saqqara Excavation, Egypt

An archeological wooden painted coffin was excavated in Tety tomb from Saqqara excavation. It belonged to the Ministry of Antiquities. This coffin was discovered in a bad state of conservation with many destroyed big and small pieces in Saqqara stores. Analyses and investigation study were performed on the ground layer of the coffin by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X ray analysis (EDX) equipped with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results confirmed that the degradation factors affecting the wooden painted coffin are essentially attributed to direct effects of microbial phenomena, which have lead to many deterioration forms as: macro- and microcracks, hydrated salts, flaking, coloration, scaling and defoliation microbiological spots. Nine deteriorating fungal species were isolated from the painted and ground layers of the tested coffin. Fusarium moniliforme followed by Aspergillus flavus able to significantly solublize calcium salts as major components of the ground layer of archeological wooden coffin. Effect of ozone and Gamma sterilization on growth; lipid, tryptophan oxidation and protein, nucleic acid leakage in the most dominant toxigenic deteriorated fungal species were detected. No mycelial growth was observed at 4 ppm of ozone at all exposure times. As Gamma radiation dose increased over 250 Gy, the growth parameter gradually decreased to reach the lethal dose at 2000 Gy. The production of mycotoxins by the tested toxigenic fungi was completely disappeared under the exposure to 3 ppm and 90 min to ozone.
Nutrients obtained from leaf litter can improve the growth of dipterocarp seedlings.

• In tropical rain forests the rate of litterfall is high, and is the most important nutrient cycling pathway in these ecosystems. We tested two hypotheses using seedlings of dipterocarp species: (1) addition of leaf litter improves growth; (2) and litter addition affects both ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization and community structure. • Three dipterocarp species with contrasting ecologies (Parashorea tomentella, Hopea nervosa and Dryobalanops lanceolata) were grown in a nursery in forest soil with or without the addition of litter. • Litter addition improved the growth of all three species. There was no effect of litter addition on total percentage ECM colonization but ECM diversity and percentage colonization by Cenococcum geophilum were lower with litter addition. Foliar δ15 N was lower in two of the three species grown in the presence of litter, reflecting the lower δ15 N of the litter compared with the soil. There was a negative correlation between δ15 N and percentage ECM, suggesting a role for ECMs in accessing litter-derived N sources. • This study shows that litter addition improved the growth of dipterocarp seedlings and that the ECM associations of dipterocarps facilitated access to this organic nutrient source. This has implications for the successful regeneration of seedlings in the rain forest understorey.
VEGETATIONAL HISTORY OF THE IPSWICHIAN/EEMIAN INTERGLACIAL IN BRITAIN AND CONTINENTAL EUROPE

SUMMARY The vegetational history of the Ipswichian (last) Interglacial in Britain is discussed in terms of the behaviour of the various trees and shrubs, the marked opening of the vegetation in the latter part of the interglacial, and climatic indications given by the plant assemblages. The vegetational history of the correlative Eemian Interglacial of the European mainland is surveyed geographically, with particular reference to the differences between the Continent and Britain, and to the variations in the flora and vegetational history between north-west Europe, Poland and southern Europe north of the Alps. Special attention is given to the behaviour of Tilia, Taxus, Acer, Picea and Abies.
Airborne Remote Sensing to Detect Greenbug1 Stress to Wheat

Abstract. Vegetation indices calculated from the quantity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from plants measured using multi-spectral imaging systems have been used to quantify stress levels in plants. Greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), cause stress to wheat, Triticum aestivum L. , plants and therefore multispectral remote sensing may be useful for detecting greenbug-infested wheat fields. The objectives of this study were to assess whether variation in light reflectance from plants infested with varying densities of greenbugs could be detected and quantified using airborne imagery obtained with a multi-spectral digital camera mounted in a fixed-wing aircraft. In a replicated experiment where greenbug density was manipulated in 1-m2 plots of two winter wheat varieties (‘Jagger’ and ‘OK 101’) planted in a 1 ha field, we found that wheat infested with greenbugs exhibited a similar reflectance response for the two varieties. Both varieties showed a reduction in the normalized differenced vegetation index (NDVI) as greenbug density increased, as indicated by a negative slope for the regression of NDVI on greenbug density. Neither slopes nor intercepts differed significantly between the two varieties. A second vegetation index, Green NDVI, was not consistently correlated with greenbug density in the experiment. In a second experiment in large plots in four production winter wheat fields we found significant negative correlations between greenbug density and the vegetation indices for three of the four fields. The results indicated that airborne multi-spectral imaging can be used to detect stress caused by greenbug infestation of wheat fields.
Rates of Carbon Dioxide Evolution From the Forest Floor

Evolution of CO2 from the forest floor measured by the inverted—box method was related to moisture, temperature, and age of the litter, and to CO2 evolution from oak leaves in litter bags measured by the closed—box method. Rates of CO2 evolution measured by the inverted— and closed—box methods did not differ significantly (P>0.2). Respiration rates from bagged oak leaves were significantly correlated (P 0.05). See full-te.
Phosphorus uptake and return in grazed, steep hill pastures: I. Pasture production and dung and litter accumulation

Abstract Pasture production and dung and litter accumulation were measured on a range of slopes on both a north-facing and a south-facing steep hill paddock for 1 year. All parameters decreased in the following order: campsites, 25° slopes, 45° slopes. Pasture production and dung accumulation declined sharply with increase in surface slope. In particular dung accumulation ranged from very high on campsites to negligible on 45° slopes. The accumulation of pasture litter was more uniform although greater on north-aspect than on south-aspect slopes. There was no significant difference between aspects in the mean annual level of other parameters measured on similar slopes. Pasture species and litter composition varied between campsites and slopes and also with season and aspect. Although legurnes and weeds together at times comprised an appreciable proportion of total pasture production on slopes, these species made a negligible contribution to pasture litter. Uprooted grass plants forrned a significant porti.
Length–weight and chelae length–width relationships of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii under culture conditions

Length–weight (body length; L B versus wet weight; W WT) and chelae length–width (L Ch versus W Ch) relationships were determined for male and female crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) under culture conditions. The length–weight relationships for males, females, and total individuals were described as W WT = 0.014 × , W WT = 0.020 × , and W WT = 0.017 × , respectively. This relationship was significantly different (p < 0.001) between males and females. Compared to females, males were heavier and their tail length was shorter (p < 0.001). No statistical difference was observed in mean L Ch, cheliped length (L Cp), and W Ch between the right and left sides within a gender (p > 0.05), but significant differences were detected between males and females (p < 0.001). The regressions for L Ch versus W Ch for males and females were W Ch = 3.083 × and W Ch = 0.284 × , respectively. This regression differed significantly between males and females; males’ chelae were wider than those of females (p < 0.001). L Ch, L Cp, and W Ch were highly related to L B; males had longer L Ch and L Cp and wider W Ch than females. Individuals without chelipeds were measured to determine the relationship between the length and body weight (W BW). The L B–W BW relationships for males and females were described as W BW = 0.074 × and W BW = 0.033 × respectively. Females exhibited positive allometric growth (b > 3), and males showed negative allometric growth (b < 3). No statistical difference was observed in mean W BW between males and females when L B was used as a covariate (p > 0.05).
Structure of the Anterior Alimentary Tract of Aphelenchoides Blastophthor Us (Nematoda: Tylenchida, Aphelenchina)

The stylet shaft of Aphelenchoides blastophthorus has a porous region associated with nervous tissue, suggesting that the function of the stylet includes sensitivity to taste. Between the shaft and the stylet protractor muscles there is a single microtubular sensillum, possibly a proprioceptor, which is the modified tip of a neuron that passes back through the oesophageal tissues to the region of the nerve ring. There are six stylet protractor muscle cells; the cell bodies of these and the other cells of the procorpus lie in the anterior metacorpus. The prominent metacorpus contains not only all the oesophageal nuclei but also an extensive system of obliquely radial pump muscles, plus an additional set of muscles occupying the apical region of the bulb at its junction with the procorpus. A valve in the lumen of the metacorpus, actuated by truly radial muscles, lies between the dorsal gland duct orifice and the pump chamber. The base of the bulb surrounds a very short isthmus which also contains a valve controlled by radial muscles, with associated circular and longitudinal myofilaments in the isthmus wall. The lining of the pump chamber is of complex shape. There is an extensive system of marginal-cell filaments in the procorpus and metacorpus. These, and the muscles in the anterior bulb and isthmus possibly counteract the pull of the pump muscles and stylet protractors on the other oesophageal tissues. The oesophago-intestinal valve consists of closely apposed, unlined cell membranes as already described in some other Tylenchida. The cell bodies of the oesophago-intestinal junction cells lie alongside the anterior intestine, which is distinguished from the mid intestine by having shorter microvilli. The oesophageal gland lobe is also close, but not joined to the anterior intestine. The nerve ring surrounds the anterior intestine. The structure and working of the feeding apparatus in A. blastophthorus is discussed and compared with that described for some other nematode groups.
A Multi‐Scaled Approach to Evaluating the Fish Assemblage Structure Within Southern Appalachian Streams

AbstractThere is considerable uncertainty about the relative roles of stream habitat and landscape characteristics in structuring stream-fish assemblages. We evaluated the relative importance of environmental characteristics on fish occupancy at the local and landscape scales within the upper Little Tennessee River basin of Georgia and North Carolina. Fishes were sampled using a quadrat sample design at 525 channel units within 48 study reaches during two consecutive years. We evaluated species–habitat relationships (local and landscape factors) by developing hierarchical, multispecies occupancy models. Modeling results suggested that fish occupancy within the Little Tennessee River basin was primarily influenced by stream topology and topography, urban land coverage, and channel unit types. Landscape scale factors (e.g., urban land coverage and elevation) largely controlled the fish assemblage structure at a stream-reach level, and local-scale factors (i.e., channel unit types) influenced fish distributi.
1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3Inhibits Normal Human Keratinocyte Growth by Increasing Transforming Growth Factor β2 Release

Abstract 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 ), alters the proliferation of keratinocytes in cell culture. To assess whether changes mediated by 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 in keratinocyte growth are due to the release of transforming growth factors β (TGFs β), we measured TGF β1 and 2 in human keratinocytes treated with 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 . We showed that the inhibition of keratinocyte growth by 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 was associated with a time- and dose-dependent increase in the concentrations of TGF β2 but not TGF β1. There was a strong correlation between the inhibition of cell growth and the increase in TGF β2 concentrations. Antibodies directed against TGF β1, 2 and 3 partially blocked the inhibition of cellular growth mediated by 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 . We conclude that 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 inhibits human keratinocyte cell growth by a mechanism that involves, at least in part, an increase in the release of TGF β2.
Efficiency of DNA barcodes for species delimitation: A case in Pterygiella Oliv. (Orobanchaceae)

Abstract DNA barcoding is becoming an increasingly popular means to identify species. The obscure discrimination in the genus Pterygiella calls into question the re‐assessment of the criterion for species delimitation. We collected 20 individuals, representing all five described species of this genus in its distributional range. The aim was to use three proposed barcode DNA regions (rbcL, matK, and ITS) to diagnose Pterygiella species, and examine which barcode is more suitable for discerning the congeneric and related species. The results showed that the core barcodes matK and rbcL were comparatively less effective. However, the ITS region, especially ITS‐1 and ITS‐2, successfully identified all species in the genus. Furthermore, the secondary structure of ITS‐2 RNA, especially compensatory base changes, appears complementary to classical primary sequence analysis for DNA barcoding.
Characterization of the β-Lactam Antibiotic Sensor Domain of the MecR1 Signal Sensor/Transducer Protein from Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus†

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved two mechanisms for resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. One is production of a β-lactamase, and the other is that of penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP 2a). The expression of these two proteins is regulated by the bla and mec operons, respectively. BlaR1 and MecR1 are β-lactam sensor/signal transducer proteins, which experience acylation by β-lactam antibiotics on the cell surface and transduce the signal into the cytoplasm. The C-terminal surface domain of MecR1 (MecRS) has been cloned, expressed, and purified to homogeneity. This protein has been characterized by documenting that it has a critical and unusual Nζ-carboxylated lysine at position 394. Furthermore, the kinetics of interactions with β-lactam antibiotics were evaluated, a process that entails conformational changes for the protein that might be critical for the signal transduction event. Kinetics of acylation of MecRS are suggestive that signal sensing may be the step where the two.
Impacts of grazing and burning on spider assemblages in dry eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia

In the dry eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, cattle grazing occurs at low intensities and is accompanied by frequent low-intensity burning. This study investigated the combined effects of this management practice on the ground-dwelling and arboreal (low vegetation) spider assemblages. Spiders were sampled at 49 sites representing a range of grazing intensities, using pitfall trapping, litter extraction and sweep sampling. A total of 237 spider morphospecies from 37 families were collected using this composite sampling strategy. The abundance, richness, composition and structure of spider assemblages in grazed and ungrazed forest sites were compared and related to a range of environmental variables. Spider assemblages responded to a range of environmental factors at the landscape, habitat and microhabitat scales. Forest type, spatial relationships and habitat variability at the site scale were more important in determining spider assemblages than localized low-intensity grazing and burning. However, it is possible that a threshold intensity of grazing may exist, above which spiders respond to grazing and burning. Although low-intensity grazing and burning may not affect spider assemblages below a threshold stocking rate, that stocking rate has yet to be established.
The α‐glucanase Agn1p is required for cell separation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Background information. In animal cells, cytokinesis occurs by constriction of an actomyosin ring. In fission yeast, ring constriction is followed by deposition of a multilayered division septum that must be cleaved to release the two daughter cells. Although many studies have focused on the actomyosin ring and septum assembly, little is known about the later steps involving the cleavage of the cell wall.
Extending functional response models to include a second prey type: an experimental test

Functional response models based on Holling's disc equation allow the use of one—predator/one—prey experiments to predict the feeding rates of a predator when more than one prey type is available. Single—prey trials at six densities of each prey were used to measure the functional responses of 10th—instar naiads of the damselfly Enallagma aspersum to a copepod, Diaptomus spatulocrenatus, and a cladoceran, Simocephalus serrulatus. Rogers' random predator equation, a modification of Holling's type 2 functional response equation, described the data well. The predictions of a one—predator/two—prey model based on the random predator equation were tested by performing all 36 pairwise combinations of densities of the two prey species in a factorial design. The model predicts that naiads should show a preference for Simocephalus over Diaptomus, and that Diaptomus should experience a greater reduction in predation in the presence of Simocephalus than should Simocephalus in the presence of Diaptomus. The two—prey trials show that the reverse is true; the model fails to predict these results adequately. Preference varied slightly with the density of Diaptomus, but not with the density of Simocephalus, total prey density, or the ratio of the two prey types. The "attack" and "handling time" parameters that describe predation on Diaptomus both increased significantly with increasing density of Simocephalus, and the "handling time" parameter for predation on Simocephalus decreased significantly with increasing density of Diaptomus. There was no evidence of switching behavior in this system. Clearly, the outcome of this three—species interaction cannot be predicted by studying only the component two—species interactions. A modified random predator model, which incorporates changes in the "attack rate" and "handling time" parameters with alternate prey density, provided a better fit to the two—prey data. The factorial design, which requires experiments involving all three species, permits the use of other, less mechanistic, models as well.
Changes in some Physico-Chemical characteristics of soils under poplar based agroforestry

Physical and chemical properties of soil in poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) plantations were evaluated in the alluvial soils of Punjab. The results showed that there was an overall improvement in the soil physical and chemical characteristics under poplar plantations. The magnitude of effects improved with increase in the number of cutting cycles of poplar. A decrease in soil pH and an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) were observed under higher age plantations. In the surface soil layer, the pH values ranged from 8.25 to 8.45 under different treatments. No significant effect of cutting cycles of poplar was observed on soil bulk density and particle density. Significant improvement in water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity with increase in cutting cycles of poplar plantations was observed upto 30 cm of depth. A general reduction in soil physical and chemical parameters with increase in soil depth was observed under different cutting cycles. The soil pH was lower whereas EC, bulk density, water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity were higher under paddy-wheat sequence than the poplar plantations.
Influence of Pollen, Chia Seeds and Cranberries Addition on the Physical and Probiotics Characteristics of Yogurt

Yoghurt is a fermented milk product obtained from fermentation of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus strains. The effect of bee pollen, chia seeds and cranberries on the viability of probiotic bacteria in yogurts during storage (21 days) at refrigerated temperature (4Â°C) was evaluated. The yogurt supplementation with 1,4 % chia seeds and 7,6% cranberries significantly improves the stability of the lactic acid bacteria, that contained the recommended levels of (10 6 -10 7 cfu/g) probiotic bacteria at the end of 21-day shelf life.
Influence of Maize and Pigweed on Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) Populations Infesting Cotton

Abstract. The influence of maize, Zea mays L. , and pigweed, Amaranthus spp. , on the abundance of tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), adults infesting cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. , in the Mississippi Delta was studied using stable-isotope analyses. Cotton fields adjacent to maize and those farther than 1.6 km from maize were identified in four counties of the Mississippi Delta. Tarnished plant bug adults were collected from the cotton fields weekly throughout the growing season and analyzed with stable-carbon and nitrogen isotopes to determine the natal host. The proportion of tarnished plant bug adults collected from cotton that developed as nymphs on plants that used the C4 photosynthetic pathway, primarily maize and pigweed, peaked from 79–92% during 2008–2009. Distance of cotton fields from maize did not influence the peak proportion of tarnished plant bug adults with a C4 signature from cotton fields, the peak time, or peak duration. Time of the C4 peaks occurred from 28 June to 8 July, and the duration was between 13 and 19 days. Stable-nitrogen isotope analyses indicated maize was the major contributor of C4 tarnished plant bugs infesting cotton compared to pigweed. Nevertheless, pigweed produced a significant proportion of tarnished plant bug adults infesting cotton. Improved control of these weed species could potentially reduce abundance of tarnished plant bugs in cotton. Because maize makes up a significant amount of the crop acreage in the Mississippi Delta, this information can be used to estimate the time of mass movement, thus allowing more efficient use of insecticide to control tarnished plant bugs in cotton. It may also allow future targeting of tarnished plant bugs in field corn before movement to cotton.
Juvenile Hormone and host‐plant colonization by the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae

Abstract Host‐plant colonization by winged, summer forms of Aphis fabae Scop, involves the resumption of embryogenesis and larviposition, leading eventually to flight muscle degeneration. Topical application of Juvenile Hormone I to young adults which (a) had access to the host plant, (b) were starved, (c) were starved and treated with precocene III, or (d) were decapitated shortly after the final ecdysis suggests that embryogenesis and flight muscle histolysis may be stimulated by an increase in Juvenile Hormone titres after settling. The duration of the pre‐reproductive period and the initial reproductive rate were not significantly affected, possibly because other neuroendocrine factors are involved in parturition.