Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wildfire Effects on Understory Vegetation, Natural Regeneration, and Forest Floor Fuels in a Sierran Mixed Conifer Stand

Wildfire effects on understory shrubs and herbs, regeneration of the seedling and sapling size classes, and downed and dead fuels were assessed in a mixed conifer stand located in the Lake Tahoe Basin in which California white fir (Abies concolor var. lowiana [Gord.] Lemm.) was most abundant but with Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) also prevalent. In burned and unburned stand portions, prefire measurements served as a basis of comparison for the postfire measurements pertinent to each study component. Fire severely suppressed the understory vegetation, which was dominated by shrubs such as bush chinquapin (Chrysolepis sempervirens [Kellogg] Hjelmqvist) and antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata [Pursh] DC.), while a tepid postfire recovery of most of the preexisting species in the burned stand portion was augmented by new ones, including shrubs such as snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook.) and whitethorn (Ceanothus cordulatus Kellogg) ceanothus and herbs such as Holboell's rockcress (Arabis holboellii Hornem.). Tree seedling abundance was also substantially reduced in the burned portion, but the postfire population was dominated by Jeffrey pine whereas white fir had been most prevalent originally. Sapling regeneration was eliminated from the burned stand portion regardless of species. Downed and dead fuel loading was severely diminished by the fire, especially regarding fine fuels, permitting subsequent sheet erosion to imperil new seedling regeneration. These results contribute to an understanding of the direction and pace of postwildfire succession on sites occupied by Sierra Nevada mixed conifer and similar forest cover types, which is critical in decisions concerning the need for, and extent of, postfire site rehabilitation measures.
A model for inferring past conductivity in low salinity waters derived from Murray River (Australia) diatom plankton

Detecting human-induced salinisation in rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin has proved problematic. A diatom-based model that permits the estimation of past electrical conductivity (EC) from sedimentary diatom sequences has been developed from Murray River planktonic diatoms. Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicates that EC explains the greatest amount of variance in Murray River planktonic diatoms and that its influence is partially independent of that associated with velocity, turbidity, pH and nutrients. A weighted-averaging based model for inferring past EC was therefore derived from the relationship between diatom composition and EC in Murray River plankton samples. The model works well when comparisons are made between measured and diatom-inferred EC determined by jackknifing based leave-one-out computer resampling (r2jack = 0.71, root-mean-square-error of prediction = 115 μS cm−1). Application of the model will enhance understanding of the nature of pre-European variability in electrical conductivity and permit detection of changes in conductivity through the period of European occupation at key sites. Such reconstructions will provide a firm empirical basis for assessing European impact on aquatic ecosystems and a means by which to assess restoration efforts.
Canopy Gaps and the Landscape Mosaic in a Coastal Temperate Rain Forest

We studied canopy gaps over a range of stand ages and site moisture classes in the temperate rain forest of Clayoquot Sound, southwestern British Columbia, Canada. We tested predictions about the landscape mosaic at three levels of resolution: the forest as a whole, gaps, and gapmakers. In addition to canopy gaps arising from the patchy mortality of dominant trees (developmental gaps), we described the prevalence and characteristics of gaps arising from edaphic and topographic features. Roughly 56% of the forest area is influenced to some degree by canopy openings (canopy gap + expanded gap), with 30% of forest area in canopy gaps averaged over all sites (14% developmental canopy gaps and 16% in edaphic canopy gaps). Within the most intensively sampled biogeoclimatic subzone, 73% of gaps were developmental in origin. The majority of edaphic gaps result from streamcourses. Though percent area in developmental canopy gaps was similar across stand age classes, gaps and gapmakers were more common in old growth than in mature stands. Most developmental gaps resulted from the mortality of more than one tree: 96% of the developmental gaps had more than one gapmaker, and 50% had three or more. Mature stands had a significantly higher number of gapmakers per gap than old-growth stands. Old-growth forests were thus dominated by many small gaps and mature forests by fewer larger gaps. Drier and wetter sites had more gapmakers per gap than did stands on mesic sites. The number of decay classes of gapmakers in developmental gaps increases with number of gapmakers per gap, indicating that larger gaps represent the combined effects of distinct mortality events separated in time, rather than single large events. Gapmakers in developmental gaps were distributed broadly and evenly over the range of decay classes, suggesting a continuous pattern of recruitment of gapmakers rather than larger episodic mortality events. The snapping of boles and standing death were the most common modes of gapmaker mortality, together accounting for 76% of the mortality of all gapmakers. Uprooting was the least common mode of gapmaker mortality in both mature and old-growth forests (23.6% and 15.6%, respectively; 20.6% of all gapmakers) and uprooting was more common in drier and wetter sites than in mesic sites. These general trends in gap-phase structure and gap formation processes are consistent with data on gaps and forest age structure collected elsewhere on the British Columbia coast, suggesting that a regime of small-scale, low-intensity disturbance is common in the old-growth forests of coastal British Columbia. We estimate that, in the absence of large-scale disturbances, turnover time for this forest is between 350 and 950 yr, resulting in ubiquitous late successional character throughout the landscape mosaic. Silvicultural practices intended to emulate the natural disturbance regime of these forests should create small gaps of 3-10 trees in an otherwise continuous forest matrix and should retain substantial late-successional characteristics within managed forests.
Development of the Sterile Insect Technique to Suppress False Codling Moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Citrus Fruit: Research to Implementation (Part 1)

False codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa and infests a large number of commercial and wild fruit-bearing plants. The pest was unknown in theWestern Cape Province of South Africa until the end of the 1960s, when it was first identified in fruit orchards in the Paarl region. By the late 1970s T. leucotreta was well established on citrus and other host plants in the Olifants River Valley, approximately 180 km north of Paarl. Since then, control measures for the pest included a small number of insecticides, mating disruption and orchard sanitation. However, a longer termsolution was needed and research on the sterile insect technique was initiated in 2002. This initially involved three phases: a study of the radiation biology and F1 sterility of T. leucotreta (phase 1), field cage experiments (phase 2) and a pilot project over 35 ha of T. leucotreta-susceptible citrus (phase 3). Favourable results in these studies led to the design and construction of T. leucotreta-specific rearing equipment and the building of a massrearing facility capable of producing up to 21 million insects per week (phase 4). Commercial sterile insect releases over 1500 ha of citrus orchards in the Citrusdal region commenced in 2007–08. This area was expanded to 3000 ha in 2008–09 and 4000 hectares in 2009–10 (phase 5). Over the three years the status of T. leucotreta as a pest threat was systematically reduced in the sterile insect release area compared to the non-release area. Feral male populations were reduced 3-, 8- and 10-fold, pre-harvest crop losses decreased by 50 %, 80%and 93 %, and post-harvest export fruit rejections in the SIT area dropped 13 %, 25 % and 38 %, respectively, compared to the non-SIT area.
Reply:

We thank Dr. Zuccoli and Dr. Pipitone for their interest in our article. In our study, we evaluated the MR (1.5T or 3T) imaging findings of 23 patients with Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) at a university hospital: 13 nonalcoholic (NA) and 10 alcoholic (AL) patients. Although only 17% of the patients showed the classic symptom triad of WE, this percentage did not differ from that reported by other authors (16%–19%). Thus, MR imaging could be an important tool for early diagnosis and thus help reduce the associated morbidity and mortality, particularly when patients present with unclear clinical manifestations. We agree that the difference in the mean interval between symptom onset and MR imaging in the 2 studies may be responsible for some of the differences in brain MR imaging findings; in our study, the mean interval was 4.5 days, whereas in the study by Zuccoli et al, MR imaging was performed during the acute stage of WE. In our study, 14 patients underwent MR imaging within 3 days, 6 patients between 4 and 7 days, and 3 patients after 8 days following symptom onset. The involvement of typical and atypical sites, however, did not differ between the NA and AL groups at these time intervals. Little is known regarding the temporal progression in WE observed on MR images; in this regard, a large prospective study is warranted. Although cranial nerve nuclei (CNN) are located in the dorsal medulla, we could not specifically differentiate each nucleus from the parts of the dorsal medulla that were involved; therefore, we simply reported signal alteration in the dorsal medulla. In our study, the involvement of the dorsal medulla and the periventricular gray matter of the fourth ventricle—the sites of many CNN—was observed in 14 NA patients and 10 AL patients, and Zuccoli et al reported that CNN involvement was observed in 32% of NA patients but in none of the AL patients. Thus, CNN involvement may by more common in NA patients, but our study did not show a statistical difference between NA and AL patients in this regard. Furthermore, in our study, the involvement of other atypical sites, such as cortical involvement, was observed in both groups. These results are concordant with those of some other studies. We agree with Zuccoli et al that atypical MR imaging findings usually occur in association with the typical MR imaging findings of WE and that prompt treatment with thiamine can avoid a dismal prognosis. Therefore, radiologists need to be aware of the spectrum of both typical and atypical findings. Although the MR imaging findings did not differ between AL and NA patients with WE in our study, MR imaging could still be a helpful tool for supporting the early diagnosis of WE in both the AL and NA groups.
Effects of genetic modification of nitrate reductase expression on 15NO3– uptake and reduction in Nicotiana plants

The physiological consequences for NO3– utilization by the plant of underexpression and overexpression of nitrate reductase (NR) were investigated in nine transformants of Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. The in vitro NR activities (NRAs) in both roots and leaves of low- and high-NR tobacco transformants ranged from 5–10% to 150–200%, respectively, of those measured in wild-type plants. The level of NR expression markedly affected the NO3– reduction efficiency in detached leaves and intact plants. In both species, 15NO3– reduction ranged from 15–45% of 15NO3– uptake in the low-NR plants, to 40–80% in the wild-type, and up to 95% in high-NR plants. In the high-NR genotypes, however, total 15NO3– assimilation was not significantly increased when compared with that in wild-type plants, because the higher 15NO3– reduction efficiency was offset by lower 15NO3– uptake by the roots. The inhibition of NO3– uptake appeared to be the result of negative feedback regulation of NO3– influx, and is interpreted as an adjustment of NO3– uptake to prevent excessive amino acid synthesis. In genotypes underexpressing NR, the low 15NO3– reduction efficiency also was generally associated with a decrease in net 15NO3– uptake as compared with the wild type. Thus, underexpression of NR resulted in an inhibition of reduced 15N synthesis in the plant, although the effect was much less pronounced than that expected from the very low NRAs. The restricted NO3– uptake in low-NR plants emphasizes the point that the products of NO3– assimilation are not the only factors responsible for down-regulation of the NO3– uptake system.
Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of four Strombidium species, including description of S. pseudostylifer sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Oligotrichia)

Oligotrich ciliates are important components of marine microplankton and have a high biodiversity. In the present paper, the morphology and small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene sequence of four Strombidium species are recorded, including a new species, S. pseudostylifer sp. nov. that was sampled from a mangrove wetland. This new species is characterized by its prominent apical protrusion, long constant tail and large number of ventral dikinetids. In addition, the morphology of two poorly known species, S. chlorophilum Montagnes et al., 1988 and S. oculatum Gruber, 1884 are redescribed based on the Chinese populations and their diagnoses are improved. The morphology of three populations of S. stylifer Levander, 1894 collected from three sampling sites in China are also compared, revealing that the only difference between them are the sizes of their cells and macronuclei. Finally, the phylogenetic analyses of the above four Strombidium species, as inferred from their SSrRNA gene sequence data, show that S. oculatum, S. stylifer and S. pseudostylifer cluster within the main Strombidium branch while S. chlorophilum clusters with S. conicum and branches from the main Strombidium group.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E869E485-8F29-4B2B-8BB2-D3A039AA6403
Screening of Abelmoschus esculentus and Abelmoschus callei cultivars for resistance against okra leaf curl and okra mosaic viral diseases, under field conditions in South Eastern Nigeria

Of all the several factors that limit okra production in West Africa, okra mosaic virus disease (OMVD) and okra leaf curl disease (OLCD) are rank among the most severe. Twenty three (23) Abelmoschus esculentus and Abelmoschus callei cultivars retrieved from the local farmers were screened in the open field for the resistance against OMVD and OLCD over two cropping seasons in Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria. The degree of susceptibility was determined by the calculation of yield decline (YD) due to changes in the fruit yield with exposure to the disease causing agents as well as virtual scoring of the exposed plants. The results show that all the A. esculentus cultivars were susceptible to the two diseases. The findings indicate that contrary to general belief, not all A. callei cultivars are resistant to these viral diseases. Any cultivar with a YD score of less than 10% was identified as a potential candidate for the disease resistant genes. Only Ebi Ogwu, Ojo ogwu, Tongolo, VLO, Oru ufie and Ogolo met this criterion. The potentials of transferring these resistant genes from A. callei cultivars to the vulnerable A. esculentus cultivars are discussed. Keywords: Okra, screening, resistance, viral diseases. African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(48) 4419-4429
Introdution

Two pot experiments were carried out in the experimental farm of Faculty of AgricultureMansoura University to investigate the best integrated mineral and organic fertilization system which will reflect on increasing grain and straw yield as well as nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency by wheat (Triticum aestivum, L). The used experimental design was split split plot design with three replicates, the main treatments were mineral nitrogen form which were: urea 46% N, ammonium nitrate (AN) 33.5% N, urea formaldehyde coated urea (UFCU) 37.2% N and urea coated rock phosphate (UCRPh) 37.2% N. Subplots represent mineral nitrogen fertilization level as 50 and 100 KgNFed, and organic amendments forms were allocated in sub-sub plots. Results showed that slow release mineral nitrogen sources (UFCU and UCRPh) were better than soluble nitrogen sources (Urea and AN) in increasing grain and straw yield as well as nitrogen use efficiency, also increasing mineral nitrogen level from 50 to 100 KgNFed led to an increasing in grain and straw yields in both seasons. On the other hand, organic amendments forms resulted in increasing grain and straw yields, in addition to mineral nitrogen use efficiency, and chicken manure was better than farmyard manure, that’s because of its high content of available nitrogen content. Finally, it could be concluded that application urea coated rock phosphate at 100 KgNFed and 10 m/ fed chicken manure was the best integrated treatment in increasing wheat grain and straw yields, as well as nitrogen use efficiency, and this will help to solve the gap between wheat supplies and demands in a friendly way with the environment.
Effects of UV on photosynthesis of Antarctic phytoplankton: models and their application to coastal and pelagic assemblages

Se caracterizo la respuesta fotosintetica a radiacion ultravioleta (RUV) en poblaciones naturales de fitoplancton del Oceano Antartico. Se midieron las funciones espectrales de peso biologico (BWFs) y curvas de inhibicion de fotosintesis en respuesta a la exposicion de RUV durante la temporada de mayor disminucion de la capa de ozono (octubre-noviembre). Se desarrollaron dos modelos distintos que relacionan fotosintesis con exposicion a RUV. Un modelo considera la curva de respuesta al tiempo de exposicion (BWFH) debido a que se observo que las respuestas dependian de la exposicion acumulativa y que la velocidad de recuperacion fotosinteticas era lenta. Este modelo se aplica a poblaciones de fitoplancton residentes en mar abierto y en las aguas turbulentas de la Confluencia Weddell-Scotia (WSC, 60° S, 50° O). Estas poblaciones tienen una sensibilidad a la RUV variable y generalmente alta. El segundo modelo analiza el estado de equilibrio (BWFE) y se aplica a las comunidades residentes en aguas poco profundas cerca de la Peninsula Antartica (Estacion Palmer, 64° S, 64° O), donde la inhibicion dependio de la irradiacion (reciprocidad fallo), y donde la recuperacion fue rapida. Usando la informacion derivada de la dependencia al tiempo de fotosintesis en poblaciones con recuperacion rapida, se pudo inferir la contribucion relativa de procesos de dano y recuperacion al peso espectral de la RUV. El metodo se aplico a datos preliminares obtenidos en la Estacion Palmer. Las BWFs de poblaciones recolectadas en Palmer cuando la capa de hielo que cubre las aguas es compacta asignaron mas peso al dano y a una alta recuperacion que las BWFs determinadas para poblaciones de WSC. Las BWFs de muestras de fitoplancton de Palmer durante el periodo de aguas abiertas tienen el mismo peso al dano que en aquellas de poblaciones de WSC aun cuando tienen una velocidad de recuperacion mas alta. Se predice que la exposicion solar por mas de 10 min en general tiene menos efecto sobre el fitoplancton de Palmer que sobre el fitoplancton de WSC
Some Studies of Coumarin and Coumarin Analogues as Germination Inhibitors of Radish Seeds

1. The effect of coumarin and eight coumarin analogues upon radish seed germination was studied. Coumarin itself is a much more effective inhibitor than are the other compounds examined. 2. There appears to be a threshold concentration for normal seedling development in the region of 10-3 M coumarin. 3. Plant metabolites such as octanoate, sucrose, glutathione, and calcium pantothenate do not appear able to reverse the coumarin inhibition of radish-seed germination when present in 10-3 M concentration and in the presence of a similar concentration of coumarin.
An individual tree diameter increment model for white spruce in Alberta

Based on a data set from 164 permanent sample plots, an age-independent individual tree diameter increment model is presented for white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) grown in the boreal mixed-species stands in Alberta. The model is age independent in that it does not explicitly require tree or stand age as input variables. Periodic diameter increment is modelled as a function of tree diameter at breast height, total tree height, relative competitiveness of the tree in the stand, species composition, stand density, and site productivity. Because data from permanent sample plots are considered time series and cross sectional, diagnostic techniques were applied to identify the model's error structure. Appropriate fit based on the identified error structure was accomplished using weighted nonlinear least squares with a first-order autoregressive process. Results show that (1) all model parameters are significant at α = 0.05 level, and (2) the plot of studentized residuals against predicted diameter incre.
EFFECT OF RIPENESS AND DRYING OF HOPS ON THE ESSENTIAL OIL

The examination of undried Fuggles hops picked at intervals throughout the ripening period revealed that the total oil content of the samples rose throughout ripening, the production of hydrocarbons far exceeding that of the oxygenated compounds. The amounts of both myrcene and humuiene increased but, whereas the proportion of myrcene in the hydrocarbon fraction of the oil rose, that of humuiene fell throughout. The composition of the oxygenated fraction of the oil showed little apparent change. The drying of hops always reduced the amount of essential oil, usually without noticeably affecting its composition. Occasionally, however, drying caused a change in composition suggesting the occurrence of oxidation.
Morphology, distribution, and the role of trichomes in cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) resistance to the legume pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Studies on the morphology and distribution, and the role of trichomes in damage to cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) by the legume pod borer Maruca testulalis (Geyer) showed that trichome cover on individual cultivars varied in trichome length and density, but not in trichome type from different plant parts. Trichome density on different parts decreased with increasing plant age. Significant ( P M. testulalis in cultivated cowpeas. It is, therefore, concluded that breeding for a higher level of trichomes in high yielding and agronomically desirable cowpea cultivars, will serve as an important component in the integrated management of M. testulalis .
Raw Material Quality of Short-Rotation, Intensively Cultured Populus Clones. II. Wood and Bark from First-Rotation Stems and Stems Grown from Coppice

The coppicing ability of Populus hybrid clones after dormant season harvesting is weil suited to a short-rotation, intensively cultured (SRIC) growth system. stems formed from coppice exhibit a greater amount of growth than first-rotation trees during the juvenile stage. This research examines and compares properties, including specific gravity and fibre length of the wood and bark, of 3-year-old firstrotation stems (from cuttings) and 3-year-old coppiced stems of three hybrid Populus clones grown und er SRIC. Trees produced from coppiced stumps were 1.5 to 2.5 times larger (in height and diameter at the base) than first-rotation trees after 3 years of growth. Some of the wood properties of the first-rotation trees differed from those of the coppiced trees. For example, wood specific gravity was higher and wood fibres were longer in the sampies removed from the basal portion of the first-rotation trees. Although significant, these differences were small and not important from an industrial standpoint. The increase in woody biom ass after coppicing is likely to be more important to industry than any decreases in wood properties expected during short-rotation, intensive culture of Populus trees.