Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrological connectivity, and the exchange of organic matter and nutrients in a dynamic river–floodplain system (Danube, Austria)

Summary 1. The relationship between hydrological connectivity, and the exchange processes of suspended sediments, organic matter and nutrients (NO3-N) was investigated in a dynamically connected river–floodplain segment of the Danube over a 15-month period in 1995 and 1996 in the Alluvial Zone National Park, Austria. 2. Based on water level dynamics and water retention times, three phases of river–floodplain connectivity were identified: disconnection (phase I), seepage inflow (phase II) and upstream surface connection (phase III). The frequency of occurrence of these phases was 67.5%, 29.3% and 3.2%, respectively, during the study period. 3. A conceptual model is presented linking hydrological connectivity with ecological processes. Generally, the floodplain shifts from a closed and mainly biologically controlled ecosystem during phase I to an increasingly open and more hydrologically controlled system during phases II and III. Phase I, with internal processes dominating, is designated the ‘biotic interaction phase’. 4. Phase II, with massive nutrient inputs to the floodplain yet relatively high residence times, and therefore, high algal biomass, is classified as the ‘primary production phase’. This demonstrates that water level fluctuations well below bankfull may considerably enhance floodplain productivity. 5. Finally, since transport of particulate matter is mainly restricted to short flood pulses above bankfull level, phase III has been defined as the ‘transport phase’. 6. The floodplain served as a major sink for suspended sediments (250 mt ha−−1 year−−1), FPOM (96 mt ha−−1 year−−1), particulate organic carbon (POC; 2.9 mt ha−−1 year−−1) and nitrate-nitrogen (0.96 mt ha−−1 year−−1), but was a source for dissolved organic carbon (DOC; 240 kg ha−−1 year−−1), algal biomass (chlorophyll-a; 0.5 kg ha−−1 year−−1) and CPOM (21 kg ha−−1 year−−1). Considerable quantities of DOC and algal biomass were exported to the river channel during phase II, whereas particulate matter transport was largely restricted to the short floods of phase III. 7. The Danube Restoration Project will create a more gradual change between the individual phases by increasing hydrological connectivity between the river channel and the floodplain, and is predicted to enhance productivity by maintaining a balance between retention and export of nutrients and organic matter.
A theory of the regulation of phyllotaxis based on Lupinus albus

A theory is proposed to account for the exact regulation of phyllotaxis systems. It is consistent with a space-filling or packing interpretation of phyllotaxis, and is based on evidence showing that, at least in Lupinus albus, each leaf base is determined over a primary area which covers a constant arc of the circumference of the apex, and then extends further secondarily before its turn comes to act as a contact member for younger leaf bases above. The theory is that the secondary extension of a leaf base varies as the divergence angle between its two contact leaves below, and that this gradually regulates a disturbed system. Evidence of this correlation is offered, and its cause and imperfections are discussed. To test the theory, a first diagram is constructed showing a regular phyllotaxis system with contacts 2 and 3 and with divergence 137°, as in L. albus, and with the leaf bases represented by circles as if on the surface of an unrolled cylinder. An inner circle represents the primary area of each leaf base and an outer circle its area when later it acts as a contact member for younger leaves. Two further diagrams are then constructed which at the base are similar to the last, but higher up show a leaf that has been displaced 20° laterally in either direction by splitting vertically its presumptive area, as was done in the experiments on L. albus. From this level onwards the diagrams are continued in accordance with space-filling principles, by inserting the constant primary area of each leaf base in its turn into the lowest available space between the older ones and then surrounding it with a concentric zone of secondary extension proportional in width to the divergence of its contact leaves below. The diagrams return towards the previous regular arrangement about as quickly as the comparable actual apices, and finally become more regular than a normal apex. It is therefore claimed that the theory provides an escape from the chief difficulty confronting a space-filling interpretation of phyllotaxis. The changes of phyllotaxis in the more severely disturbed apices are described and interpreted, including several changes to spirals with four leaves in a turn. The shapes and development of the leaf bases are discussed in relation to regulation in this and other species.
Importance of recent shifts in soil thermal dynamics on growing season length, productivity, and carbon sequestration in terrestrial high‐latitude ecosystems

In terrestrial high‐latitude regions, observations indicate recent changes in snow cover, permafrost, and soil freeze–thaw transitions due to climate change. These modifications may result in temporal shifts in the growing season and the associated rates of terrestrial productivity. Changes in productivity will influence the ability of these ecosystems to sequester atmospheric CO2. We use the terrestrial ecosystem model (TEM), which simulates the soil thermal regime, in addition to terrestrial carbon (C), nitrogen and water dynamics, to explore these issues over the years 1960–2100 in extratropical regions (30–90°N). Our model simulations show decreases in snow cover and permafrost stability from 1960 to 2100. Decreases in snow cover agree well with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite observations collected between the years 1972 and 2000, with Pearson rank correlation coefficients between 0.58 and 0.65. Model analyses also indicate a trend towards an earlier thaw date of frozen soils and the onset of the growing season in the spring by approximately 2–4 days from 1988 to 2000. Between 1988 and 2000, satellite records yield a slightly stronger trend in thaw and the onset of the growing season, averaging between 5 and 8 days earlier. In both, the TEM simulations and satellite records, trends in day of freeze in the autumn are weaker, such that overall increases in growing season length are due primarily to earlier thaw. Although regions with the longest snow cover duration displayed the greatest increase in growing season length, these regions maintained smaller increases in productivity and heterotrophic respiration than those regions with shorter duration of snow cover and less of an increase in growing season length. Concurrent with increases in growing season length, we found a reduction in soil C and increases in vegetation C, with greatest losses of soil C occurring in those areas with more vegetation, but simulations also suggest that this trend could reverse in the future. Our results reveal noteworthy changes in snow, permafrost, growing season length, productivity, and net C uptake, indicating that prediction of terrestrial C dynamics from one decade to the next will require that large‐scale models adequately take into account the corresponding changes in soil thermal regimes.
Species of Thalassiosira (Diatoms, Bacillariophyceae) in the plankton of English rivers

Thalassiosira fluviatilis Hustedt and T. pseudonana Hasle et Heimdal have been found to be widespread in both large and small rivers, while a third taxon, apparently new, has been recorded several times. The appearance of the frustules by light and electron microscopy is commented upon and illustrated, and some of the difficulties of identifying these small diatoms are discussed.
Oilseed rape crops distort plant-pollinator interactions.

Summary 1. New incentives at the national and international level frequently lead to substantial structural changes in agricultural landscapes. Subsidizing energy crops, for example, recently fostered a strong increase in the area cultivated with oilseed rape Brassica napus across the EU. These changes in landscape structure affect biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. 2. Mass-flowering oilseed rape has been shown to positively affect colony growth and densities of bumblebees, which may enhance pollination services in agroecosystems. Not considered, however, have been species-specific traits of pollinators resulting in disproportionate benefits from these recurrent resource pulses. A subsequent community shift towards the subsidized species potentially distorts plant–pollinator interactions in the surrounding landscape. 3. We analysed the effects of mass-flowering crops on the abundance of legitimate long-tongued bumblebee pollinators, nectar robbing by illegitimate short-tongued bumblebees and seed set in the long-tubed flowers of red clover Trifolium pratense in 12 landscape sectors with differing amounts of oilseed rape. 4. Densities of long-tongued bumblebees visiting long-tubed plants decreased with increasing amounts of oilseed rape. The simultaneous increase of nectar robbing suggests that resource depletion is a likely explanation for this decline which may lead to a distortion in plant–pollinator interactions. The decline in long-tongued bumblebees, however, did not result in an immediate effect on seed set. In contrast, seed set increased with increasing amounts of semi-natural habitats, indicating the positive effects of these habitats on the legitimate long-tongued pollinators. 5.Synthesis and applications. Accounting for species-specific traits is essential in evaluating the ecological impacts of land-use change. The disproportional trait-specific benefits of increasing oilseed rape to short-tongued bumblebees may abet an increasingly pollinator-dependent agriculture but simultaneously threaten the more specialized and rare long-tongued species and their functions. Semi-natural habitats were found to positively affect seed set in long-tubed plants indicating that they can counteract the potentially distorting effects of transient mass-flowering crops on plant–pollinator interactions in agroecosystems. Future agri-environmental schemes should aim to provide diverse and continuous resources matching trait-specific requirements of various pollinators in order to avoid resource competition. Thereby they harmonize the economic interest in abundant pollinators and the conservation interest in protecting rare species.
Simultaneous selection for early maturity, increased grain yield and elevated grain protein content in spring wheat

High grain yield and grain protein content, and early maturity are important traits in global bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-breeding programmes. Improving these three traits simultaneously is difficult due to the negative association between grain yield and grain protein content and the positive association between maturity and grain yield. We investigated the genetic relationship between maturity, grain yield and grain protein content in a population of 130 early maturing spring wheat lines in a high latitude (52-53°N) wheat-growing region of Canada. Grain protein content exhibited negative genetic correlation with maturity (-0.87), grain fill duration (-0.78), grain fill rate (-0.49), grain yield (-0.93) and harvest index (-0.71). Grain yield exhibited positive genetic correlation with maturity (0.69), rate (0.78) and duration (0.49) of grain fill, and harvest index (0.55). Despite the positive association between maturity and grain yield, and negative association between grain yield and grain protein content, higher yielding lines with medium maturity and higher grain protein content were identified. Broad-sense heritabilities were low ( 0.40) for grain weight, days to anthesis and maturity, and plant height. Selection for longer preanthesis and shorter grain fill periods may help circumvent the negative association between grain yield and grain protein content. Selection for shorter grain fill periods and higher grain fill rate may be a useful strategy for developing early maturing cultivars with acceptable grain yields in northern wheat-growing regions.
Potato spindle tuber viroid not found in western Canadian provinces

A dot-blot hybridization test was used to survey for the presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid in seed potatoes produced in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Four hundred leaves were collected randomly from 201 and 225 fields of seed potatoes in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Leaves were tested in composites of 100 by extracting the nucleic acid fraction and probing it with a digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probe. RNA duplexes were detected using an antibody-based colorimetric detection assay. All test samples were negative corroborating visual inspection observations that spindle tuber does not occur in seed potatoes in these provinces.
Triacylglycerol migration and bloom in filled chocolates : Effects of low-temperature storage

This study investigated die effect of storage temperature on triacylglycerol (TAG) migration, visual fat bloom and taste of industrially produced milk chocolates with a hazelnut-based filling. The chocolates were stored for up to 10 months at 18 degrees C, either directly after production or with the inclusion of a variable time at -20 or 4 degrees C immediately after production and prior to further storage at 18 degrees C. TAG migration from the filling through the chocolate shell was quantified by HPLC analysis of chocolate sampled from the chocolates' surface. Both [OOO/SOS] and [LOO/SOS] were used as markers for oil migration. Compared to storage at 18 degrees C only, chilling or freezing of the chocolates for part of the storage time was found to reduce the amount of TAG migration. Effects on diffusion, capillary transport and TAG immobilization during the thermal treatment can be raised as possible reasons for this decrease. Furthermore storage at -20 degrees C decreased oil migration during subsequent storage at 18 degrees C. This suggests a crystallization effect during the storage at -20 degrees C, leading to permanent (micro) structural changes. Although a thermal treatment at 4 degrees C compared to -20 degrees C was less effective in retarding TAG migration, storage at low positive temperatures immediately after production appears already beneficial in the prevention of visual fat bloom. Adverse effects of the thermal treatments on the chocolates' taste were not observed.
Profile of fatty acids and activity of elongase and Δ5 and Δ9 Desaturase of growing pigs differ in concentration of intramuscular fat in musculus longissimus dorsi.

Pigs of Pietrain (P) and Polish Synthetic line of 990 (S) were slaughtered at 25, 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg BW and the chemical composition of musculus longissimus dorsi and its fatty acid profiles were determined. The Pietrain pigs were characterised by lower (P<0.01) concentration of intramuscular fat, total SFA (P<0.05) and MUFA (P<0.01) than pigs of the synthetic line 990 at each BW (P<0.05). Simultaneously the Pietrain breed were characterised by higher (P<0.01) concentration of all acids belonging to PUFA group. Concentration of total SFA increased (P<0.01) along with increased body mass of pigs. MUFA was similar at each investigated BW. However, in the case of Pietrain breed increasing concentration of the PUFA was observed till animals reached approximately 110 kg BW, while in Synthetic line only till 70 kg BW. Similar course was observed in the change of C18:2n-6 concentration. However, the concentration of C18:3n-3 decreased (P<0.05) along with the growth of the animals. The course of changes in concentration of C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-6 generally agreed with the course detected for total amount of PUFA. Activity of the Δ5 desaturase was higher (P<0.01) in the pigs of the synthetic line. The activity of the investigated enzymes did not differ between breeds. Activities of the elongase and Δ5 desaturase decreased during the growth of the pigs. Estimated values of the Pearsons’ correlation between body mass/age of the pigs and activity of investigated enzymes showed the opposite relationship between them. However, they were stronger and statistically more significant for the synthetic line of pigs.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Relaxin and Its Receptors in Salivary Gland Tumors: A Preliminary Analysis

Relaxin is a short circulating peptide hormone, and the major stored and circulatory form in humans is relaxin-2, generally known to have hormogenic functions and to act as an antifibrotic factor during childbirth in females. Relaxin is also expressed in mammary gland tissue and its tumors, suggesting association with tumorigenesis and development in exocrine tissues. In addition, leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGR)7 and LGR8 are known to be receptors for relaxin. To understand the biological role of relaxin, it is necessary to determine the distribution pattern of both relaxin and its related receptors. Therefore, we performed a preliminary immunohistochemical analysis of relaxin and the receptors in salivary gland tumors comprising pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin tumors, adenoid cystic carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas and submandibular gland tissues. The immunohistochemical findings showed positive immunoreactivity for relaxin-2 in the ductal, myoepithelial and/or basaloid cells in pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin tumors, adenoid cystic carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and in duct, myoepithelial and serous acinar cells in the submandibular glands. These results suggest that localization and binding of relaxin-2 and receptors such as LGR7 and LGR8 are associated with ductal and tubular growth of the tumors, as well as the maintenance of duct formation, in salivary gland tumors and submandibular gland tissues.
Reply to Efford on ‘Integrating resource selection information with spatial capture–recapture’

We proposed (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2013, 4) a model for combining telemetry data with spatial capture–recapture (SCR) data that was vigorously criticized by Efford (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2014, 000, 000). Efford's main claim was that our encounter probability model was incorrect, and therefore our R code and simulation results were wrong. In fact, our encounter probability model is correct under the Poisson point process model that we used as a basis for our integrated model. On the other hand, the basis for Efford's claims clearly rest on the assumption of an alternative model which, while possibly useful, is distinct from that analysed in Royle et al. (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2013, 4). A key point of Royle et al. (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2013, 4) was that active resource selection induces heterogeneity in encounter probability which, if unaccounted for, should bias estimates of population size or density. The models of Royle et al. (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2013, 4) and Efford (Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2014, 000, 000) merely amount to alternative models of resource selection, and hence varying amounts of heterogeneity in encounter probability.
Evidence of the differential sensitivity of neogastropods to tributyltin (TBT) pollution, with notes on a species (Columbella rustica) lacking the imposex response

Five neogastropod species collected from a tributyltin (TBT)-polluted site near the port of Faro within the Ria Formosa on the Algarve coast of Portugal were examined in April 1996 for ‘imposex’. All females of four of these species - Hexaplex trunculus, Ocenebra erinacea, Ocinebrina aciculata (all Muricidae) and Nassarius reticulatus (Nassariidae) - exhibited the characteristic development of male sex organs (penis plus vas deferens) but no female of the fifth - Columbella rustica (Columbellidae) - showed any sign of being similarly masculinised. Only two neogastropods have been previously described as lacking the imposex response to TBT exposure. These two species, along with C. rustica, can be considered as ‘zero-response’ forms. Other species can be grouped according to the maximum level of masculinisation they exhibit: level I species develop just a penis and vas deferens; in level II forms oviduct structure and function are disrupted, and in level III species ovary transformation to testis is observ.
Effect of lipids and surfactants on extracellular lipase production by Yarrowia lipolytica

The production of extracellular lipase in submerged cultures of Yarrowia lipolytica CECT 1240 has been investigated. Several compounds have been added to the culture medium, in order to assess their efficiency as inducers of lipase production. First, the effect of triglycerides (olive oil, sunflower oil, tributyrin) and fatty acids (oleic acid) has been studied. The highest activity level was obtained with sunflower oil (58 U cm−3), followed by olive oil (49 U cm−3). The cultures with tributyrin and oleic acid attained similar activities (33 U cm−3). Then, several surfactants (Tween 80, Triton X-100, gum arabic, polyethylene glycol 200) were added to the cultures with sunflower oil, in an attempt to increase the levels of extracellular lipase activity. The obtained activities were slightly lower than those achieved without surfactants. The assay of a wide range of surfactant concentrations in the case of PEG-200 (with which the highest activity levels had been attained) did not improve the results. This strain secreted lipase concentrations two-fold higher and showed significantly different behaviour towards the presence of surfactants in the culture medium, compared with other wild-type Yarrowia lipolytica strains. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetic diversity of sweet yam Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax revealed by morphological traits in two agro-ecological zones of Cameroon

Genetic diversity of 43 Dioscorea dumetorum accessions and two of Dioscorea cayenensis Lam as out-group species was evaluated for qualitative and quantitative traits in two different agro-climatic zones Baham (05°20.040' N/010°22.572’ E and 1634±3 masl, agro-ecological zone III with rainfall of 1500 to 2000 mm, and mean annual temperature of 19°C) and Ekona (04°12.773'N/009°19.425'E and 445±3 masl, agro-ecological zone IV with rainfall of 2500 to 4000 mm and mean annual temperature of 26°C). Forty one (41) morphological characters according to International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) descriptor, including nine quantitative and 32 qualitative characters were analyzed for multivariate analysis using cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and analysis of variance. For quantitative characters, cluster analysis revealed three major clusters. The first three components with eigen values > 1 contributed 83% of the variability. The PCA results indicate that traits which largely contributed to the variability within and between the accessions were stem length, leaf length, internode number, leaf width, harvest index, leaf number and internode length. Traits such as harvest index, internode number and stem length showed high heritability and high genetic advance. For qualitative traits, cluster and principal component analysis revealed two major clusters in Baham as well as in Ekona. The traits such as spines on stem base, spines on stem above base, spines length contributed to the variability within and between the accessions. However, the limits of morphological characters in the study of diversity have been detected. Key words : Dioscorea dumetorum, morphological traits, characterization, agro-climatic zone, Cameroon.