Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implications of minimum tillage systems on sustainability of agricultural production and soil conservation

The minimum tillage soil systems – paraplow, chisel or rotary grape – are polyvalent alternatives for basic preparation, germination bed preparation and sowing, for fields and crops with moderate loose requirements being optimized technologies for soil natural fertility activation and rationalization, reduction of erosion, increasing the accumulation capacity for water and realization of sowing in the optimal period. By continuously applying for 4 years the minimum tillage system in a crop rotation: corn – soybean – wheat – potato/rape, an improvement in physical, hydro-physical and biological properties of soil was observed, together with the rebuilt of structure and increase of water permeability of soil. The minimum tillage systems ensure an adequate aerial-hydrical regime for the biological activity intensity and for the nutrients solubility equilibrium. The plant material remaining at the soil surface or superficially incorporated has its contribution to intensifying the biological activity, being an important resource of organic matter. The minimum tillage systems rebuild the soil structure, improving the global drainage of soil which allows a rapid infiltration of water in soil. The result is a more productive soil, better protected against wind and water erosion and needing less fuel for preparing the germination bed. The yields obtained by applying the minimum tillage systems show very differentiated results, choosing the working variant being related to the cultivated plant thus, compared to the conventional tillage variant, the yields obtained in the minimum tillage variants represented: 92.1-97.9% in corn, 96.4-101.6% in soybean, 95.1-98.2% in wheat, 82.4-93.4% in potato and 94.8-97.8% in the rape crop.
Seasonal foraging ecology in a forest avifauna of northern Kenya

We studied the avian foraging ecology in a single montane forest of northern Kenya, analysing the pattern of seasonal variation (wet vs. dry period) and its relationship with habitat structure. The foraging behaviour of 28 species was described in terms of four major dimensions (i.e. foraging technique, food substrate, perching site and perching height). Seasonal rainfall produced an increase in vegetation growth in the lower vegetation layers, while fruiting and flowering peaked in the dry season. We did not find much seasonal variation in foraging ecology when we analysed our data at the species or at the community levels. At the guild level, however, we found some seasonal shifts in perching height, food substrate and foraging technique. Some of these shifts seemed to be determined by food availability and distribution, as omnivores increased fruit consumption when this resource was more abundant, and nectarivores tracked the vertical distribution of flowers. The vertical biomass distribution of this avian community seemed to be largely determined by food. However, seasonal variation in the total biomass of some guilds was probably related to factors not considered in this study, such as breeding, or intra-African migratory movements. Altogether, despite marked seasonal variation in vegetation structure and food resources, the bird assemblage showed little change in its feeding ecology and micro-habitat use. Hence, we suggest that changes in habitat structure and resource levels were coped with primarily by adjusting population density and food requirements through seasonal breeding or migration.
THE EFFECT OF PLANT BIOSTIMULATION WITH 'PENTAKEEP V' AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON YIELD, NITROGEN METABOLISM AND QUALITY OF SPINACH

Foliar application of fertilizers containing biostimulators can influence yield and the uptake and accumulation of NO3 - by plants. The aim of the research was to deter- mine the influence of foliar nutrition with 'Pentakeep V' and diverse doses of nitrogen fertilization on yield, plant nitrogen metabolism and nutritional quality of spinach. The experiment design included two sub-blocks with and without foliar nutrition. Plants with foliar nutrition were sprayed twice with 0.02% w/v 'Pentakeep V' fertilizer (3000 dm 3 water per 1 ha). In each sub-block soil nitrogen fertilization (in the form of ammonium ni- trate) was applied in following combinations: 1 - control (without N), 2 - 50% N dose prior to seed sowing (25 mg N·dm -3 of soil), 3 - 100% N dose prior to seed sowing (50 mg N·dm -3 of soil). The interaction between foliar nutrition and nitrogen fertilization had a significant effect on the content of: nitrates(V), soluble oxalates and ascorbic acid in spinach leaves. The effect of tested factors on the content of nitrates(V) and ascorbic acid was additionally modified by the weather conditions in both years of research. Foliar ap- plication of 'Pentakeep V' resulted in decreased concentration of soluble oxalates in con- trol plants (without N) as well as higher amount of these compounds in plants fertilized with 100% of N dose. No significant effect of tested interaction was observed in the case of yield and the content of: dry matter, nitrates(III), ammonium ions, free amino acids, N-total, soluble sugars and phenolic compounds in spinach leaves.
Active Learning in Higher Education

This article revisits the notion that to facilitate quality learning requires teachers in higher education to have pedagogical content knowledge. It constructs pedagogical content knowledge as a teaching and learning space that brings content and pedagogy together. On the content knowledge side, it suggests that threshold concepts, akin to a portal that opens up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about a subject, are useful in quality learning. On the pedagogy side, it employs student engagement as a useful proxy for identifying what happens in a learning environment to achieve quality learning. This article asks what fresh insights might this particular conceptualization of pedagogical content knowledge afford teacher education and teacher development in achieving quality learning in higher education. After outlining characteristics of threshold concepts and student engagement, it brings together the contributions these concepts make to pedagogical content knowledge before detailing some fresh insights afforded by the synthesis.
The Impact of Edge Effects & Matrix Restoration on Dung Beetle Community Structure & Ecosystem Function

3 Chapter 1: Introduction 4 1.2 The effects of land use intensity on remnant ecosystems 6 1.3 Do trait differences determine species‘ responses and ecosystem function? 8 1.4 Dung beetles as a focal taxon for habitat fragmentation studies 10 1.5 Mitigating edge effects in an Afromontane forest through matrix restoration 12 Chapter 2: Continuous edge responses reveal off-site effects of matrix restoration in dung beetle communities 16 2.
Ultrastructural evidence for nutritional exchange between brooding unionid mussels and their glochidia larvae

The life history of unionid bivalve molluscs includes retention of developing embryos within the gills of parental mussels. This brooding behavior may facilitate nutrient transfer to the glochidia larvae, i.e., matrotrophy. To address this possibility, morphological relationships between brood chambers and developing larvae of Pyganodon cataracta and Utterbackia imbecillis were examined with TEM, and larval shells were observed with SEM, for features that could be associated with the uptake of dissolved materials. Early in brooding, glochidia are enclosed in a vitelline membrane that physically contacts numerous cilia and microvilli of the epithelial cells lining the brood chamber (marsupium). The vitelline membrane subsequently disappears. Lamellar tissues of parental mussels initially have large deposits of glycogen that diminish during the course of brooding. Septa separating brood chambers from adjacent secondary water tubes have numerous mitochondria and microvilli, suggesting the potential for active transport of materials into or out of the marsupia. Since punctae (pores) in the larval shells become filled with an organic matrix early in brooding, they are unlikely to be involved in nutrient exchange. Ultrastructure of the brood chamber and physical contact between the parental mussel and larvae are consistent with a nutritive role for retention of glochidia in the marsupia.
Finding Mr. Schumpeter: technology adoption in the cement industry

We examine the adoption of fuel-efficient precalciner kilns in the cement industry using the universe of adoption decisions in the United States over 1973-2013. We find that cement plants are more likely to adopt the technology if fuel costs are high, nearby competitors are few, and local demand conditions are favorable. We relate the findings to the Schumpeterian and induced innovation hypotheses regarding the effects of competition and factor prices. Our results suggest firms may be most responsive to factor prices under advantageous competitive and demand conditions.
Growing Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) for Canebrake Restoration: Greenhouse Propagation and Field Trials

The environmental importance of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) habitat (i.e, canebrake) has spurred interest in restoration; however, restoration is hindered by a lack of available planting stock and practical establishment techniques. Rhizomes from 2 southern Illinois canebrakes (Rose and Bellrose Farms) were utilized in greenhouse propagation and field restoration trials to determine if culm, or stem, production and growth from bare rhizomes planted in containers were influenced by collection origin, growing period duration, rhizome morphology, or refrigerated storage. Culms developed (survived) from 77% of Rose Farm rhizomes versus 37% of Bellrose rhizomes after 1 month. Survival was not affected by an additional month in the greenhouse or 1 month of storage. Mean tallest culm height was similar after 1 month for both sources but increased nearly 4-fold when grown for an additional month. We also compared survival and growth of the greenhouse-grown and stored bare rhizome stock that was machine-planted in field plots receiving either pre-planting herbicide treatment or a non-herbicided control at 2 field sites (Big Creek and Perks). Mean field survival after 1 year was 62.2% at Big Creek and 38.8% at Perks. Herbicide did not affect cane survival or growth. Field survival was greatest for stock of Rose Farm origin especially if planted as in-leaf containerized plants. Rhizome length and number of buds also appeared to have an effect on survival. These data suggest that giant cane bare rhizomes, collected from tested sources, can be successfully machine-planted to produce surviving plants for the restoration of canebrakes.
Serum total homocysteine, folate, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C→T genotype and subclinical atherosclerosis

Objective: To determine the relationship of serum total homocysteine (tHcy), serum folate and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C→T genotype with ultrasonic arterial wall measurements associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Study design: Cross-sectional analysis of 767 participants in an ongoing prospective study. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid (IMTcc), IMT of the internal carotid including plaque when present (IMTmax) and the sum of the thickest plaques present in both carotid and both common femoral bifurcations (total plaque thickness (TPT)) were measured using ultrasound. Results: People in the upper homocysteine quartile were more likely to have clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those in the lowest three quartiles. They were also more likely to have plaques. The MTHFR 677C→T genotype was not associated with any of the measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in either men or women but was the most important determinant of total homocysteine levels in men under 60 years of age. Conclusions: Increased homocysteine levels but not MTHFR 677C→T genotype, are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and the presence of plaques. Our results indicate that measurements of blood levels of homocysteine and folate in people at intermediate risk for atherosclerotic CVD before symptoms occur, might improve risk stratification and facilitate the decision to provide folate/B vitamin intervention in primary prevention.
Comment: An alternative interpretation of the relationship between TN:TP and microcystins in Canadian lakes

Landscape-scale patterns of the cyanobacterial toxin, microcystin, in Canadian lakes were recently analyzed by Orihel et al. (2012). The analysis of this comprehensive dataset was important for linking accelerated eutrophication and water quality issues affecting human health. The primary conclusion by Orihel et al. (2012) was that high microcystin concentrations occur only at low total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN:TP) ratios in nutrient-rich lakes. Using these same data, however, we show that high microcystin concentrations across Canadian lakes of all trophic states are more likely to occur at intermediate TN:TP, where the relative availability of N and P aremore closely balanced with phytoplankton nutrient demand. Additionally, in the most nutrient-rich lakes, high microcystin concentrations were not related to TN:TP. Orihel et al. (2012) hypothesized that “the presence of microcystins in lakes should theoretically be higher under low N:P ratios if cyanobacteria dominate under conditions of relative N deficiency. ” To test this hypothesis, the authors used arbitrary TN:TP categories of 60 (all ratios presented by mass) based on the presumption that lakes with TN:TP 22.5 (Guildford and Hecky 2000). Therefore, the TN:TP categories used by Orihel et al. (2012) did not include values at which phytoplankton N limitation was likely, even though their prediction of cyanobacterial dominance was predicated on the idea that N2-fixing cyanobacteria can overcome N limitation. Our reanalysis of these same data illustrate that when TN:TP categories are expanded to encompass the full range overwhich both N and P deficiency are probable (i.e., 50, and all increments of 5 in between), elevated microcystin concentrations are most frequently observed when the TN:TP ratio is between 15 and 20 (Fig. 1), which is the range for balanced phytoplankton growth identified by Guildford and Hecky (2000). Orihel et al. (2012) developed a regression tree model using the TREES module in SYSTAT 13 (Systat Software Inc., Chicago, Illinois) to quantify the relationship betweenmicrocystin concentrations and TN and TP concentrations and the TN:TP ratio. We were able to recreate their analysis identically using the MVPART library in R 2.9. 2, but only after removing one outlier with a microcystin concentration >500 g·L−1, whichwe assumewas also done but not mentioned by Orihel et al. (2012). We also used nonparametric changepoint analysis in R 2.9. 2 to calculate the statistical significance of the modeled thresholds, which is only possible with bootstrapping (Qian et al. 2003; King and Richardson 2003). The results of our regression tree analysis showed that TN was the strongest predictor of microcystin across all lakes (Fig. 2). Most lakes had low TN ( 23 (Fig. 2B). In lakes with TN > 2600 g·L−1 and TN:TP 219 g·L−1 (Fig. 2C). Thus, the regression tree shows that the highest microcystin concentrations across all Canadian lakes sampled occurred at TN:TP ratios between 12 and 23 because TN:TP was bound on the lower end by
Successive Aeroacoustic Transfer of Leading Edge Serrations From Single Airfoil to Low-Pressure Fan Application

Leading edge serrations are identified as an effective passive treatment for reducing fan broadband noise due to high turbulent inflow conditions. This paper aims to investigate the isolated effect of serrated applications in a rotating frame, covering the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance. With this purpose, a serration design, previously analyzed in the rigid domain, is transferred to the rotating frame, following a successive approach in form of a continuous increase of the fan blade number. This is considered as a feasible way to isolate the serration effects and to provide information on fan blade interaction and possible masking effects. Comparing blades with straight and serrated leading edges by analyzing the spectral noise reduction and the overall level result in deep insights in the underlying noise reduction mechanisms. Furthermore, analysis of phase differences by means of the wall pressure fluctuations leads to the identification of rotating flow phenomena, nonsynchronized with the rotor speed. The results obtained indicate an efficient noise reduction by the serrations in the vicinity of the design point. By use of the presented successive approach, noise reduction phenomena observed with the full rotor could be identified to be of either aeroacoustic or aerodynamic nature. A reduced noise is observed for the full rotor case, showing a reduction of blade interaction effects. At reducing flow coefficients, an improved stall margin of the serrated rotor is identified that also affects the aeroacoustic signature.
PPARγ and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a major vascular complication of diabetes and the primary cause of mortality in persons with this disease. Metabolic abnormalities related to the Insulin Resistance Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome may importantly contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis associated with diabetes. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are oral insulin sensitizers in broad clinical use that enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. TZDs can also improve cardiovascular risk factors and exert direct effects on vascular cells to potentially retard the atherosclerotic process. Direct vascular effects of TZDs likely result from their activity as ligands for the nuclear receptor, PPARγ. All of the major cell types in the vasculature express PPARγ, including intimal macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in human atheroma. TZDs block VSMC growth by inducing cell cycle arrest in G1 through an inhibition of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation. Migration of monocytes and VSMCs is also inhibited by TZDs, possibly through decreased matrix metalloproteinase production. Activation of PPARγ by TZDs in macrophages induces ABCA1 transporter expression to promote reverse cholesterol transport. These antiatherogenic activities may also occur in vivo because TZDs have been shown to inhibit lesion formation in several animal models. Thus, TZD activation of PPARγ may protect against atherosclerosis both by normalizing proatherogenic metabolic abnormalities of the insulin resistance/diabetes milieu and through an inhibition of vascular cell growth and movement.
An Ordination of the Upland Forest Communities of Southern Wisconsin

INTRODUCTION A renewed interest in objeetive and quantitative approaehes to the elassifieation of plant communities has led, within the past decade, to an extensive exalllination of systematic theory and technique. This examination, ineluding the work of Sorenson (1948), Motyka et al. (1950), Curtis & McIntosh (1951), Brown & Curtis (1952), Ramensky (1952), Whittaker (1954, 1956), Goodall (1953a, 1954b)? deVries (1953), Guinoehet (1954, 1955), Webb (1954), Eughes (1954) and Poore (1956) has acconlpanied theoretie studies in taxonomy [Fisher (1936), Womble (1951), Clifford & Binet (1954), Gregg (1954)] and in statisties (Isaaeson 1954). It is a Gonclusion of many of these studies that nature of unit variation is a naajor problenl in systematies, and that whether this variation is diserete, continuous, or in some other form, there is a need for appliGation of (uantitative and statistical methods. In eeologic elassifieation, an inereased use of ordinate systellls, sr hiGh has been stimulated by the developnlent of more effieient sampling teehniques and the collection of stand data on a large seale, has prompted the proposal of the term "ordination" ( Goodall 1953b ) . Goodall (1954a) has defined ordination as "an arrangenlent of units in a unior multi-dinlensional order" as synonylllous with "Ordnung," (Ramensky
Role of phospholipase C in pathogenesis of Beijing and Non-Beijing strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The Beijing strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bear high transmission potential and there is a significant correlation between Beijing strain and multidrug resistance. Phospholipase of M. tuberculosis plays an important role in its pathogenesis through breaking up phospholipids and production of diacylglycerol (DAG) as an important signaling molecule in infected macrophages as well as a precursor for synthesis of triacylglycerol tha t acts as an energy store for utilization during lo ngterm dormancy of M. tuberculosis. DNA extraction was performed by using CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) method from positi ve culture specimens of tuberculosis patients (Van Soolingen et al., 1991). Spoligotyping was don e for differentiation of Beijing strains from nonBeijing strains. Finally Phospholipase C region was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The current study showed that, 19 (9.5%) of 200 strains were Beijing strain and 181 (90.5%) were non-Beiji ng strains, corresponding to spoligotyping. Based on P CR assays for plcA, plcB, plcC genes, of Beijing strains, 16(84.2%) strains were positive for plcA, and 17 (89.4%) strains were positive for plcB and 17(89.4%) strains were positive for plcC genes (Goudarzi et al., 2010). In non-Beijing strai ns 17 strains (9.4 %), 18 (9.9%), 18 (9.9%) were positive for plcA, plcB, plcC, respectively. Considering the majority of Beijing strains possess phospholipase C genes, it is possible that plc serves a role in pa thogenesis and thereby severity of tuberculosis diseases. However, confirmative studies will be needed to verify the exact role of phospholipase C in the pathogenecity of M. tuberculosis.