Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of river channelization and the invasive shrub, Ligustrum sinense, on oak (Quercus spp.) growth rates in bottomland hardwood forests

Question Do river channelization and a common invasive shrub, Ligustrum sinense Lour. (Chinese privet), affect tree growth rates in forested riverine wetlands? Location Three sites along the Wolf River, in and near Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Methods We cored and analysed 83 oak trees within three study sites. Correlations of river channelization and climatic variables with basal area increments (BAI) and detrended BAI (SFS) were analysed to investigate channelization effects. Significant correlations were removed from BAI chronologies (BAI-HR) to isolate the effect of L. sinense. We investigated effects of L. sinense on tree growth using a before–after/control–impact (BACI) experimental design with one location impacted by invasion (INV), two control locations that were not invaded (NON and REF) and covariates of tree age and size. We conducted a two-factor mixed effects ANCOVA to determine if there was a significant interaction (BACI) effect. Results Channelization promoted faster canopy oak growth in all sites, spring drought significantly slowed growth in NON, while summer precipitation promoted wood production in NON. Investigation of L. sinense impact on tree growth revealed a significant BACI effect, such that trees in INV grew slower after invasion than trees in the non-invaded control sites (NON and REF). Conclusions We suggest that faster growth after channelization may be a consequence of increased aerobic conditions, by enabling higher oxygen availability to tree roots. However, many of the obligate bottomland tree species struggle to regenerate in drier, post-channelized conditions. Thus, native drought-tolerant species may have an advantage in the sub-canopy and regeneration layers of these altered forests. Instead, L. sinense, an invasive and drought-tolerant species, has invaded most locations adjacent to the channelized portion of the Wolf River. L. sinense presence reduces the channelization advantage by slowing growth of canopy oaks and possibly contributing to accelerated mortality. These results suggest an emerging shift to a commonly held paradigm with respect to invasive shrub species. Not only do invasive shrubs crowd out other small woody species and herbaceous plants, but they also have the ability to impact the structure of the forest canopy.
Adequacy of Different Pseudo-Phenotypes for Model Training and Validation of Genomic Predictions in Beef Cattle

Estimation of marker effects requires an adequate response variable (pseudo-phenotype) to summarize genetic information as well as efficient statistical methods to track the association between pseudophenotypes and genotypes of training animals. This study was carried out to investigate the consequences of using three different pseudo-phenotypes obtained after applying different statistical methods for estimation of marker effects in a simulated beef cattle population. Results suggest that deregressed proofs (dEBV) comprise a more suitable response variable to estimate marker effects than estimated breeding values (EBV) or progeny-yield deviations (PYD). When validating genomic predictions, proper inferences about the accuracy and scale of genomic predictions (GEBV) can be obtained using dEBV as target predictand. The accuracy of GEBV should be assessed by the Pearson's correlation between GEBV and dEBV divided by the average accuracy of dEBV in the validation set.
A key to larvae of Diamesa Meigen, 1835 (Diptera, Chironomidae), well known as adult males and pupae from Alps (Europe)

A key to species belonging to the genus Diamesa Meigen, 1835 (Diptera, Chironomidae) well known as adult males and pupal exuviae from European Alps, is presented; the characters useful in species identification are pictured. The key considers both qualitative and quantitative characters. Thirteen morpho-species are distinguished, probably more species have a very similar larva and can be separated only in the adult or pupal stage. The most discriminant quantitative characters are the length and thickness of anal setae, among qualitative characters the most discriminant ones are the head capsule colour and the split of setae anteriores of labrum. The shape of mental and mandibular teeth are good taxonomic characters, but can be rarely used because teeth are often worn out in samples collected in the field. Quantitative characters show variability within each species, differing according to the sampled site and season, and must be used with caution. The following species groups can be easily separated in the larval stage: i) dampfi , including D. dampfi and D. permacra ; ii) latitarsis including D. modesta and D. latitarsis ; iii) zernyi including D. zernyi and D. vaillanti . D. starmachi , D. steinboecki , D. goetghebueri , D. bertrami , D. aberrata , D. incallida , D. cinerella , D. tonsa and D. insignipes can be separated from all the other known species in larval stage, but some of them, D. cinerella and D. insignipes for example, have a very similar larva, so are better separated on the basis of their distribution and collection of adults and pupae are strongly recommended to support identifications. A new character bound to head capsule colour is proposed to separate D. insignipes , D. cinerella , D. tonsa and D. zernyi.
Incorporación de la peligrosidad de inundación a la infraestructura verde de la Comunitat Valenciana a escala municipal: el caso del Plan General Estructural de Monòver (Alacant)

espanolLa Infraestructura Verde se incorpora a la legislacion valenciana en la Ley 5/2014, de 25 de julio, de la Generalitat, de Ordenacion del Territorio, Urbanismo y Paisaje de la Comunitat Valenciana, dentro de este sistema territorial basico, se incluyen las areas criticas del territorio cuya transformacion implique riesgos ambientales para la comunidad y, entre sus funciones, esta el evitar los procesos de implantacion urbana en los suelos sometidos a riesgos naturales e inducidos, de caracter significativo. Por otro lado, el Decreto 201/2015, de 29 de octubre, del Consell, por el que se aprueba el Plan de Accion Territorial sobre prevencion del riesgo de inundacion en la Comunitat Valenciana (PATRICOVA) determina, en su articulo 14, que las zonas de peligrosidad de inundacion de niveles 1 a 6 definidas en su cartografia forman parte de la Infraestructura Verde, y su caracterizacion y definicion es anterior a cualquier actuacion que se proponga sobre el territorio. En esta comunicacion se propone la metodologia utilizada en el caso de la incorporacion de las areas de riesgo de inundacion dentro de la propuesta de zonificacion del Plan General Estructural de Monover (Alacant), integradas en la Infraestructura Verde municipal, como ordenacion estructural con una normativa urbanistica especifica. EnglishThe Green Infrastructure got incorporated into the Valencian legislation in Law 5/2014 of 25 July, of the Generalitat, Territorial Planning, Urbanism and Landscape of the Region of Valencia, within this basic territorial system, include the critical areas of the territory whose transformation implies environmental risks for the community and, among its functions, is to avoid the processes of urban implantation in soils subjected to natural and induced risks of a significant character. On the other hand, Decree 201/2015, of 29 October, of the Consell, approving the Territorial Action Plan on the prevention of flood risk in the Region of Valencia (PATRICOVA) states in article 14 that zones of danger of flood of levels 1 to 6 defined in their cartography are part of the Green Infrastructure, and its characterization and definition is previous to any action that is proposed on the territory. This communication proposes the methodology used in the case of the incorporation of flood risk areas within the zoning proposal of the General Structural Plan of Monover (Alacant), integrated in the municipal Green Infrastructure, as structural planning with a normative urban development.
Performance Assessment of Three Turfgrass Species, in Three Different Soil Types, and their Responses to Water Deficit in Reinforced Cells, Growing in the Urban Environment

Reinforcement cells are used to aid grass growth and taken together, this serves to extend greenery beyond the conventional spaces of lawns, tree pits, gardens, and parks, and is advantageous to urban cities since space for greening is often limited. Drought has variable effects on plant life and the resilience of turf to drought resistance also varies with species. Changes in photosynthetic ability were more pronounced for media rather than grass species. The media of sand without organic matter was found to be least suited for drought resistance. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and digital image analysis (DIA) data were generally in favour of Zoysia species as oppose to A. compressus. In A. compressus, selective traits such as, a more extensive root system and lower specific leaf area (SLA) were not an underlying factor that assisted this grass with enhanced drought resistance. Generally, WUE was found to be strongly related to plant characterises such as overall biomass, photosynthetic features as well as the lushness indexes, and specific leaf area. This study found a strong relationship between WUE and a suite of plant characteristics. These traits should serve as useful selection criteria for species with the ability to resist water stress.
New records of macrochelid mites from Italy (Acari: Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae)

Abstract Seven species of macrochelid mites new to the Italian fauna are recorded here: Holostaspella ornata (Berlese, 1904), H. pulchella Mašán, 2003, Macrholaspis recki (Bregetova & Koroleva, 1960), Macrocheles decoloratus(C. L. Koch, 1839), M. punctoscutatus Evans & Browning, 1956, M. rotundiscutus Bregetova & Koroleva, 1960 and Neopodocinum meridionalis (Sellnick, 1931). A description of the male of Holostaspella pulchella is given here, highlighting the existence of specialised ventral structures with unknown function previously unknown in the Macrochelidae. Records also are provided for other two species previously recorded from Italy without specific locality data and missing from the Italian fauna checklist, Macrocheles mammifer Berlese, 1918 and Nothrholaspis montanus Willmann, 1951. The first documented records for Nothrholaspis tardus (C.L. Koch, 1841) (sensu Evans & Browning, 1956) from Italy definitively confirm its synonymy with Macrocheles tridentinus (G. & R. Canestrini, 1882), a species originally described from Italy. Updated and detailed data about geographical distribution and ecology are provided for each species.
The Influence of Islamic Attributes of Destination towards Destination Loyalty with Tourist Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable

The purpose of this research are to analyze : (1) the influences of Islamic attributes of Destination on Destination Loyalty, (2) the influences of Islamic attributes of destination on tourist satisfaction, (3) the influences of tourist satisfaction on destination loyalty. The type of this research is causative research. The population on this research is Muslim traveler that already visited Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan. The total sample of this research was 281 people by using online questionnaire. The result of research show that (1) Islamic attributes of destination has significant influences on destination loyalty, (2) Islamic attributes of destination has significant influences on tourist satisfaction (3) Tourist satisfaction has significant influence on destination loyalty.For the future research it is better to explore more about variable that can influence destination loyalty.
Comparison of parasitic helminth infection between the different age groups of Clarias gariepinus from Asa dam Ilorin, north-central Nigeria

A total of 160 specimens of Clarias gariepinus comprising three age groups – juveniles (standard length 10.0 – 29.9 cm), sub-adults (fish length 30.0 – 39.9 cm) and adults (fish length 40.0 – 59.9 cm) were collected over a period of 8 months from Asa dam, a major river in Ilorin. The fish length and weight ranged from 12.5 to 41.0 cm and 152 to 597 g respectively. They were subjected to parasitological examinations. two cestode types - Amonotaenia sp and Polyonchobothrium clarias ; two nematode types - Paracamallanus sp and Procamallanus laevionchus and one acanthocephalan – Neoechinorhynchus rutili were detected. Eighty-eight parasites were recovered. 27.5% of all fish examined showed parasitic infection. Helminth infection was found in juveniles and sub-adults only. Infection rate was higher in sub-adults than in juveniles. Key words : Parasite, helminths, Clarias gariepinus , Ilorin.
A polyphasic approach for the taxonomy of cyanobacteria: principles and applications

Abstract Taxonomic classification is the only method for understanding and exploring knowledge about organismal diversity. However, it is complicated in prokaryotic, phylogenetically old, phototrophic cyanobacteria, which contain very simple unicellular forms up to multicellular types with a differentiated and diversified thallus. Their cells are cytologically relatively simple, but variable in shape. Various genotypes are adaptable to various specialized ecosystems. The introduction and combination of modern molecular, cytomorphological and ecological methods in the taxonomy of cyanobacteria is necessary and should be accepted as the only method for the elaboration of their modern systematics. The combination of different methods should be based on molecular sequencing as the basic approach, to which must be added other criteria (morphological, ecological) if they are available and which are distinct and recognizable in cyanobacterial populations. The use of such characteristics is necessary and must be obligatorily included for the final characterization both of strains and natural populations. Application of this polyphasic, i.e. combined approach is considered as a unique, modern, unambiguous, unequivocal and a fully acceptable methodological procedure, but it is not yet commonly used, nor possible for all known cyanobacterial populations. The main principles and recent problems of this modern classification method are discussed in the following review and will be the basis of further discussion.
Effects of Ca deficiency on the Ca absorption and distribution in plant and the anatomical structure of stem in tomato seedlings with different Ca efficiency

Two tomato cultivars with different Ca efficiency were used to study the kinetic characteristics of Ca2+ absorption rate, Ca accumulation and distribution in plant under Ca stress in tomato seedlings. The anatomical structure of stem was also studied at the same time. Results showed that there was a genotype difference in absorption of Ca between the different Ca efficiency tomato cultivars. The Ca2+ absorption rate of Cainefficiency cultivar 04 was higher than that of the Cainefficiency cultivar 05 under both sufficient Ca treatment (CK) and Ca deficiency treatment (Ca). In normal Ca supply condition (CK), Cainefficiency cultivar 04 had higher growth rate, Ca absorption rate and Ca content in seedlings than cultivar 05 while these indices were lower than those of 05 under Ca deficient condition. The ratio of R/S increased under Ca deficiency stress in both cultivars and the degree of the increase in 05 was larger than that in 04. In control the shape and size of epidermal cells and cambial cells of the young stem were uniform and the cells were regularly arranged and the xylem pipes of cultivar 04 were larger and more than that of 05. In the condition of Ca deficiency the development of these cells was affected significantly especially for Cainefficient cultivar which indicated that it was influenced greatly more than Caefficient cultivar when suffered by the Ca stress.
Effect of Polyethylene and Butylated Hydroxytoluene on the histological structure and some enzymes of rat liver

This research studied the effect of polyethylene (PE), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), PE with BHT, and the thermally-treated PE on the histopathological examination and some biochemical activities of the liver of adult male mice.105 mice were divided into 5 groups. The (PE group) supplied with 20% crushed PE, the (BHT group) supplied 400mg/kg of BHT dissolved in corn oil, the (PE + BHT group) were fed with 20% crushed PE and 400mg/kg of BHT dissolved in corn oil, the (thermally treated PE group) supplied food with 20% of crushed thermally-treated PE, and the control group. The weight of the mice was recorded before the study and after 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected to determine the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The animals were sacrificed; the liver was weighed before and after treatments and examined microscopically. Liver specimens were stained and examined by a light microscope. The results showed that the mean weights of the mice in PE, BHT, and PE + BHT groups were statistically reduced and the mean weights of their livers significantly (p≥0.05) increased and the enzymes AST and ALT in the blood significantly (p≥0.05) increased in comparison to the control group. The histopathological examination of the liver specimens showed significant changes with all PE and BHT treatments. The results of the current investigation suggest preventing the use of plastic in food preservation and replacing it with safe grade substance like wood materials
Treatment strategies impacting ceftiofur resistance among enteric bacteria in cattle

A randomized controlled field trial was designed to evaluate the effects of two treatment strategies on ceftiofur and tetracycline resistances in feedlot cattle. The two strategies consisted of administering ceftiofur crystalline-free acid administration (CCFA) at either one or else all of the steers within a pen, and subsequent feeding/not feeding of therapeutic doses of chlortetracycline. Both strategies were hypothesized to reduce ceftiofur resistance. The effects of treatment strategies were evaluated via metagenome-based and culture-based assays. In this 26-day study, 176 steers were allocated to 16 pens of 11 steers each. The two strategies were randomly assigned to the pens in a two-way full-factorial manner resulting in four treatment groups. The blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M, tet(A), tet(B), and 16S rRNA gene copies/g feces were quantified using qRT-PCR from fecal community DNA. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using microbroth dilution technique from the non-type-specific (NTS) E. coli isolates (n=1,050). The NTS E. coli DNA was screened for the presence of blaCMY-2, tet(A), and tet(B) genes. Pens in which all the steers received CCFA treatment showed an increase in blaCMY-2 and blaCTX-M log10 gene copies/g feces and in the proportion of ceftiofur-resistant and blaCMY-2 positive NTS E. coli. This was in contrast to the pens where only one animal received CCFA treatment. There was a significant decrease in quantities of tetracycline genes in community DNA in pens where all animals received CCFA treatment. In contrast to metagenome-based assay results, culture-based assays indicated an increase in the proportion of tetracycline resistant NTS E. coli upon CCFA treatment. Thereafter, chlortetracycline administration led to rapid expansion both of ceftiofur (blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M) and tetracycline [tet(A) and tet(B)] log10 gene copies/g feces. Chlortetracycline treatment delayed the return of the ceftiofur resistance prevalence to baseline among NTS E. coli and thus did not lead to the hypothesized decrease in ceftiofur resistance. Our data suggest that chlortetracycline use is contraindicated when attempting to avoid expansion of resistance to critically important 3 generation cephalosporins in feedlot cattle. Further studies are required to better establish the animal-level effects of co-housing antimicrobial-treated and non-treated animals together at varying ratios on the levels of antimicrobial resistance. TREATMENT STRATEGIES IMPACTING CEFTIOFUR RESISTANCE AMONG ENTERIC BACTERIA IN CATTLE
Cloning and Co-expression of pps A and pck A Genes in Escherichia coli

Phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (PpsA) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PckA), which are encoded by pps A and pck A genes in Escherichia coli, are the key enzymes for biosynthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) in the pathway of carbon center metabolism. In this work, pps A and pck A genes were amplified from genomic DNA of E. coli K12 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The two genes were introduced into p λ P R plasmid either independently or in a tandem way. The resulted constructs p λ P R ppsA, pλP R pckA and p λ P R ppsA pckA were transformed into the E. coli P2392 strain for expression. The activity of PpsA in the transformed cells harboring p λ P R ppsA increased 5.2 fold. The activity of PckA in E. coli cells harboring p λ P R pckA increased 2.5 fold. In the case of p λ P R ppsA pckA, the activities of PpsA and PckA increased 3.1 fold, and 2.3 fold respectively, and the yield of 3 deoxy α arabinoheptulosonate 7 phosphate (DAHP) increased 2.1 fold, which was higher than that with only a single gene.
Irisin Levels Related to Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Type 2 Diabetic Obese Women

The aim of the preset study is to explain the role of irisin hormone levels in type2 obese diabetic women and compare these levels with those in obese nondiabetic women. In addition, we investigated the relation of irisin levels with those of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) in the patients. Eighty eight subjects were included in this study, including 44 type-2 Iraqi obese diabetic women as a patients group, and 44 obese nondiabetic women as a control group. Serum irisin was measured by Enzyme-linked Immune-Sorbent assay (ELISA), while determination of glycosylated Hemoglobin was carried out by The SD A1c Care TM system. Diabetic type-2 obese women showed a highly significant decrease in the levels of serum irisin when compared to levels in obese non-diabetic women, while no significant changes were observed in the mean±SD values when comparing age and duration of DM. In the patients, a negative correlation was found between serum irisin and HbA1c while no significant correlation was recorded between the hormone levels and BMI.
Apoptotic regulation of cellular extrusion

The purpose of this dissertation is to define how the pathways of apoptosis and extrusion connect. These studies employed MDCK and HBE in vitro cultured epithelia as model systems to explore the ability of different components of the apoptosis pathways to participate in the activation of the extrusion response. Because of the ease of their manipulation for genetic, pharmacological and cell biology analyses but most importantly because their ability to reproduce in vivo apoptotic cellular extrusion, cultured epithelia provide a powerful and efficient system to study and dissect the molecular basis of apoptotic cellular extrusion. In the first part of this dissertation, we established that both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways activate cellular extrusion and that the contraction force that drives cellular extrusion requires caspase activity. Accordingly, we found that necrosis does not trigger the cellular extrusion response; nevertheless, necrotic cells are removed from epithelia by a passive mechanism that involves forces of the stochastic movement of epithelial cells. The second part of this dissertation is focused on the regulation of apoptotic cellular extrusion by the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Mutations that increase Bcl-2 protein levels result in resistance to cell death, which in turn lead to several malignances in the living organism. Here, as a way to complement our studies in the first part of this dissertation,