Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactions among patch area, forest structure and water fluxes in a fog-inundated forest ecosystem in semi-arid Chile

1. The area or size of an ecosystem affects the acquisition, storage and redistribution of energy and matter. Patch size reduction due to natural or anthropogenic habitat loss will not only modify species distribution and patch structure but also affect the ecosystem processes that are, in part, responsible for patch persistence. 2. In a fog-dependent forest ecosystem, trees and their architectures play essential roles in capturing and redistributing water from collection surfaces. In this paper, we address the question of how forest patch size and structure interact to determine fog water inputs and storage in a fog-inundated, coastal ecosystem in semi-arid Chile (30°S). 3. Six forest patches ranging in area from 0·2 to 36 ha on a coastal mountaintop of Fray Jorge National Park were characterized using 0·1 ha plots laid down at the centre of each forest patch. In each patch, we assessed tree basal area as a measure of forest structure, recorded daily air temperature and humidity, measured water influx from stemflow and throughfall (water that has passed through the forest canopy). Soil and litter gravimetric water contents were used as a measure of storage. 4. Total tree basal area per hectare was positively related to patch area, despite some variation at the species level. Mean and maximum air temperatures inside the patches were inversely related to patch size, with maximum temperatures differing by 2 °C on average. Annual fog water capture by trees within forest patches (net throughfall) was estimated in 296·1 mm after rain flux (about 122 mm) was subtracted. Throughfall volume and patch area were uncorrelated, but stemflow volume, soil and litter water contents scaled positively with patch area, showing a functional link between water interception and ecosystem retention. 5. Our study shows that ecosystem area in this mosaic of fog-dependent temperate forest patches can modify water fluxes and storage capacity of the ecosystem. This finding has important consequences for fragmented landscapes, where large continuous forests are fragmented into smaller patches, affecting not only the persistence of species but also the continuity of critical ecosystem processes.
Movements, behavior and habitat preferences of juvenile white sharks Carcharodon carcharias in the eastern Pacific

Understanding of juvenile life stages of large pelagic predators such as the white shark Carcharodon carcharias remains limited. We tracked 6 juvenile white sharks (147 to 250 cm total length) in the eastern Pacific using pop-up satellite archival tags for a total of 534 d, demonstrating that the nursery region of white sharks includes waters of southern California, USA, and Baja Cali- fornia, Mexico. Young-of-the-year sharks remained south of Point Conception whereas one 3 yr old shark moved north to Point Reyes. All juvenile white sharks displayed a diel change in behavior, with deeper mean positions during dawn, day and dusk (26 ± 15 m) than during night (6 ± 3 m). Sharks occasionally displayed deeper nocturnal movements during full moon nights. On average, vertical excursions were deeper and cooler for 3 yr olds (226 ± 81 m; 9.2 ± 0.9°C) than young-of-the-year animals (100 ± 59 m; 11.2 ± 1.4°C). Juvenile white sharks are captured as bycatch in both US and Mexican waters, suggesting that management of fishing mortality should be of increased concern.
Effects of Rosemary and husk on hemogram and some biochemical parameters during treatment of ulcerative colitis in rats

Objective: The effects of rosemary (10 mg/kg B.W) and husk (5 mg/kg B.W) on hemogram, GSH , CAT , NO, IL-1β and IL-10 of rats (40 albino rats) were investigated Design:Experimental study Animals: 40 albino rats Procedures: The 1st group was served as negative control, while the remaening groups (2nd, 3rd and 4th) were given acetic acid (4%) to induce ulcerative colitis (UC). Then the 2nd group was used as positive control, the 3rd group was orally given rosemary daily for 7 days, while the 4th group was orally administerated husk daily for 7 days. Blood and serum samples were collected from all groups at one week post dosing Results: The obtained results revealed that, both the tested plants induced a significant increase in RBCs, Hb, PCV% and lymphocyte counts and a significant decrease in WBC, neutrophil, monocyte and blood platelets of treated rats compared with the positive control group. Conclusion and clinical relevance: In addition rosemary and husk evoked a significant increase in GSH, CAT and IL-10 and a significant decrease in NO and IL-1β in serum of treated rats in comparions with the positive control group.
An ecosystem approach to mixed fisheries: technical and biological interactions in the Portuguese multi-gear fleet

The term “mixed fisheries” refers to fishing activities where more than one species are caught simultaneously and one species may be fished by different gears. Therefore, mixed fisheries present a harder challenge for fisheries management than single-species fisheries and the uncertainty can start at the definition of the target species. In these particular fisheries, we have a large group of species that are caught, being target or not, species with large landing values that are actually not target, and species with a high economic value that can fall in the bycatch category. Although the dynamics of such fisheries is poorly understood, they are known to have a relevant contribution for the Portuguese fishers’ revenue. The present demand of sustainable fishing activities to ensure marine ecosystem preservation led towards an ecosystem approach where effort is being done to biological and technical interactions on management measures and advice. In this work, logbooks data of the Portuguese multi-gear fleet were used to identify different fisheries based on catch composition and gears through cluster analysis (CLARA). Two identified fisheries were used to explore the impact of these fishing activities at the ecosystem scale. This approach was achieved by a productivity and susceptibility analysis and through foodweb analysis. The relation between species vulnerability and their functional role at the ecosystem were highlighted. Technical interactions among fishing gears, and species biological interactions, were explored within and among fisheries. We found and illustrated that these interactions go beyond the fleets and fisheries considered at the present work. This approach allows us to identify key elements that can, ultimately, be relevant to an ecosystem-based approach towards mixed fisheries management.
Species-richness patterns in space, depth, and time (1989-1999) of the Portuguese fauna sampled by bottom trawl

We have analyzed a series of 22 groundfish surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 on the Portuguese shelf and upper slope (97 sampling station grid, 36−710 m) in the summer, autumn, and winter, to address the hy- potheses of latitudinal and depth trends in species richness (number of species) and whether these patterns changed over time and among seasons. Richness was modelled by means of a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) with signif- icant covariates being latitude and longitude, in a joint-spatial smooth, and depth, chronological time, and season. A decrease in richness was detected along the continental margin, when moving higher in latitude, with lowest richness being found in the shallow northern area. Thus, although our study spanned only about 5 degrees in latitude, we found no exception to the equator-pole latitudinal decrease in richness commonly acknowledged by ecologists. There is no common agreement on the way marine fish species richness varies with depth, yet our findings were consistent for the entire eleven-year period: richness decreases slightly with depth, from the coastline to the shelf break (200−300 m), steadily increasing afterwards down the slope. The patterns of change in latitude and depth persisted in time and among seasons but their magnitude changed. Richness was higher in the winter compared to the other seasons.
IMPROVING THE FORMAT OF FINANCIAL TABLES

This paper empirically examines the effects of information format on human judgment accuracy. The theoretical framework is based on the lens model of human judgment. An experimental design is used to test for differences in human judgment accuracy in a bond rating task. The purpose of this paper is to determine if data presentation formats can be improved by implementing a few simple rules which make tables easier to read. The results indicate that the use of certain table simplification techniques does not improve decision accuracy. However, care should be used in interpreting these results because of the small sample size and certain internal and external validity limitations.
ANTIMICROBIAL, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN-BASED FILMS INCORPORATED WITH THYME, CLOVE AND CINNAMON ESSENTIAL OILS

ABSTRACT Chitosan-based films containing thyme, clove and cinnamon essential oils at 0.5, 1 and 1.5% v/v were prepared to examine their antibacterial, physical and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to explain structure–property relationships. Films containing thyme essential oil revealed larger inhibition zones than those containing clove and cinnamon essential oils against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested. Films were more effective against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative. Incorporating thyme and clove essential oils into chitosan-based films increased moisture content (from 17.80–28.38%), solubility in water (25.97–30.62%), water vapor transmission rate (0.00233–0.00571 g/s/m2) and elongation at break (25.31–42.70%) of films. Cinnamon-enriched films had opposite changes such as increase in tensile strength (from 12.2–21.35 MPa) and decrease in moisture content (17.80–9.36%) and solubility in water (25.9–14.21%) of films. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Microbial growth on food surfaces is a major cause of food spoilage. Combining antimicrobial agents such as plant essential oils directly into a food packaging polymer is a form of active packaging. These films possess the potential for improving microbial stability of foods by acting on the food surface upon contact. Because of the effect of direct addition of plant essential oils to food on sensory characteristics of packaged food, incorporation of essential oils into films may have additional applications in food packaging.
Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 larvae feeding ability of Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822) in laboratory condition

When Puntius sophore was offered larvae and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus separately then it consumed more or less similar number of larvae and pupae but when it was offered both of these food item in equal proportion, then it consumed significantly more pupae than larvae. The fish had a definitive preference for Chironomus ramosus larvae irrespective of whether those were offered separately or together with C. quinquefasciatus larvae. However, when the habitat structure was modified by the addition of sand and gravels on the bed of the aquarium then the dietary preference altered in favour of C. quinquefasciatus larvae indicating that the food preference of P. sophore depends not only on alternative prey but also on habitat structure.
PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF REDUCED-CHARGE SMECTITES ÿ A REVIEW

ÐLayer charge reduction of selected homoionic swelling clay minerals upon heating is reviewed. This phenomenon is known for Li + -montmorillonites as the Hofmann-Klemen effect. Aspects covered in the review include: mechanism of the charge reduction caused by the irreversible migration of small cations into the mineral layers; final sites of the fixed cations in the octahedral and/or tetrahedral sheets, as deduced on the basis of structural and spectroscopic data obtained in several studies; effects of octahedral and tetrahedral components of the layer charge; properties of the exchangeable cations; and the chemistry and structure of the mineral on charge reduction. Current knowledge has been summarized on the changes of various mineral properties connected with charge reduction, including the loss of swelling and the decrease in the cation exchange capacity, the most important change upon cation fixation. Also discussed are the preparation, properties, and advantages of uses of series of reduced-charge montmorillonites (RCMs) in research; interactions of RCMs with alkylammonium cations and organic cationic dyes, with some examples on the interactions with organic polymers and other organic compounds. Properties of organo-complexes and composite materials prepared from RCMs are also included in this review. Key WordsÐHoffman-Klemen effect, Reduced-charge Smectites, Swelling Clays.
Gender Equality or Inequality: Becoming Registered Urban Residents during China’s Massive Urbanization

What has the rapid economic development and tremendous social changes shaped the gender inequality in China? The past literature has examined the gender gap on earnings or occupational attainment for either urban or rural residents, or rural migrants. However, less attention has been paid on the gender inequality on the attainment of urban household registration (hukou), which is crucial for not only rural migrants’ occupational attainment, but also their access to social welfare. Using a 2008 nationally representative dataset with unique information on hukou conversion process, this paper attempts to examine the gender inequality in hukou conversion for rural migrants. The results surprisingly show equal chances for rural men and women in hukou conversion and exhibit a gender-specific pathway, with men mainly relying on educational or occupational channels, whereas women predominantly employing marriage, which almost offsets the advantages of men in educational and occupational channels. While this research specifically distinguishes the predictor and de jure channels of hukou conversion, empirical evidence shows that education, employment in state sector, and marriage to an urban spouse predict the access to multiple types of channels. Further, aside from the individual converters who achieve urban hukou as a result of their personal and family attributes, this study finds that rapid urbanization contributes considerably to the gender equality in achieving hukou conversion.
Duration of behaviour patterns during oviposition by the bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus

The behaviour of insects between making contact with a potential oviposition site and the act of oviposition itself determines the conditions in which their progeny begin development and, in many cases, whether a crop or commodity is damaged. In this paper the behaviour of female cowpea seed beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), during this period has been examined. The duration of discrete behaviour patterns within this period and the transitional frequencies between them have been used to compare the behaviour of beetles on two different hosts. In a 30‐min period, beetles laid more eggs on mung than adzuki beans and rejected mung as an oviposition site much less frequently.
Genistein and Daidzein Concentrations and Contents in Seedling Roots of Three Soybean Cultivars Grown under Three Root Zone Temperatures

Daidzein and genistein are plant-to-bacterium signal compounds involved in soybean nodule formation. They can induce nod gene expression in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The objective of this study was to determine whether the production of signal molecules was affected by low root zone temperatures (RZTs) in a manner that varied among soybean cultivars. Daidzein and genistein concentrations of soybean seedling roots were measured at three RZTs by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that daidzein content and concentration per plant were higher at 15 and 17.5 C than those at 25 C. AC Bravor had higher daidzein contents and concentrations than did Maple Glen and KG20. At 17.5 C. KG20 had higher genistein content and concentration levels than Maple Glen, and no difference existed for the two cultivars at 15 and 25 C. Daidzein contents and concentrations of Maple Glen and AC Bravor increased with harvest time. However, for cultivar KG20, the content and concentration decreased at 19 days after inoculation. Genistein contents and concentrations of the three cultivars increased under each RZT up to the last harvest. There was an interaction between soybean cultivar and RZT for root genistein and daidzein contents and concentrations. The content and concentration of daidzein in soybean seedling roots were much higher (more than five times) than those of genistein.
Disentangling the Phylogeny of Isoetes (Isoetales), Using Nuclear and Plastid Data

Premise of research. The heterosporous lycopsids of Isoetes show limited morphological and genetic variation despite a worldwide distribution and the ancient origin of the lineage. Here major relationships within the genus are clarified, using a substantially larger sampling of species than in previous studies. A first assessment of divergence times of clades is made, and the implications for dispersal mechanisms and biogeographic distribution patterns are discussed. Methodology. On the basis of sequences from three gene regions and 109 specimens representing 74 species of Isoetes, phylogeny and node ages were estimated using parsimony and Bayesian inference. Pivotal results. Three rooting approaches (outgroup analysis, midpoint rooting, and clock rooting) coherently resolved a diverse clade containing species from South Africa, India, Australia, and South America (clade A) as sister to remaining Isoetes. Analysis of divergence times of clades yielded a median age of the crown group of 147 million years ago (mya) using a birth-death tree prior and 165 mya using a Yule tree prior. Clade A was dated to 111 or 125 mya, respectively. While the earliest divergences in Isoetes appear readily explained by ancient vicariance, patterns in younger clades are consistent with dispersal processes, sometimes over long distances. Isoetes andicola (Amstutz) L.D. Gómez, once hypothesized to represent a separate lineage and assigned to the genus Stylites, is here included in a phylogenetic study for the first time. It is closely related to some other South American species, despite its peculiar morphology with a dichotomizing stem. Conclusions. Despite limited intrageneric variation at the molecular and morphological levels, node ages as well as species composition (phylogeny) indicate a Mesozoic origin of the extant clade. Biogeographic patterns appear complicated and intriguing but need more research. Tuberculate megaspore ornamentation (sensu Pfeiffer) is ancestral in the genus, as indicated by current knowledge. Other megaspore patterns appear restricted to two subclades.
Habitat Partition, and Variations of Size and Symmetry of Three Sympatric Species of Alpheus (Decapoda: Caridea) Along An Intertidal Gradient in the Southwestern Atlantic

Abstract Species assemblages of Alpheus of similar morphology occur along the tropical and subtropical margins of all world oceans. We studied sympatric populations of Alpheus belonging to three color morphs recognized along an intertidal gradient at Cabo Branco beach, State of Paraíba, Brazil. Morphological measurements of populations sampled monthly during a year were used to obtain indexes of size and fluctuating asymmetry. Standard statistical analyses were used in order to verify if the stress gradient established along the intertidal region affects spatial distribution, size and body symmetry in these three sympatric populations. Alpheus armillatus sensu stricto, the most frequent species, was predominant in the upper meso-littoral zone, being significantly smaller in the lower zone. A. cf. angulosus was predominant in the middle zone, while A. cf. heterochaelis was restricted to the upper zone. Individuals of A. cf. angulosus were significantly smaller than those of the other two morphs. Males were larger than females in all morphotypes, while cheliped dimensions show allometric growth. Couples invariably belong to a same morph. We obtained indications that competition between morphs are favoring the establishment of larger individuals in the most disputed zones of the middle and upper meso-littoral, although we were not able to confirm whether wave action was the main environmental factor responsible for these gradients in body size and symmetry along the intertidal region. Our data provide further ecological and biological evidence for the three color morphs representing distinct species, whose sympatric populations may be further recognized by additional morphological criteria. However, we are unsure about the constancy of these auxiliary distinguishing characters for allopatric populations from throughout their full western Atlantic ranges.
Environmental stresses activate a tomato SNF1-related protein kinase 2 homolog, SlSnRK2C

We isolated an SNF1-related kinase 2 homolog (SlSnRK2C) from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom) which has significant similarlity to AtSRK2C (72% amino acid identity). We profiled expression levels and biochemical properties of SlSnRK2C. In contrast to AtSRK2C which phosphorylates histone H1 and is mainly expressed in root chip, SlSnRK2C phosphorylates myelin basic protein but not histone H1 and SlSnRK2C mRNA is expressed in leaves, flowers and fruits but not in roots. Immunoblot by anti-SlSnRK2C-COOH terminus specific antiserum shows that SlSnRK2C is expressed remarkably in developing fruits, and weakly in flowers, mature green fruits and shoots, but marginally in mature red fruits or roots. SlSnRK2C is stimulated strongly by chilling and NaCl stress. These observations suggests that SlSnRK2C is possibly involved in fruit development and stress signaling in response to salt and chiling stress.
Evaluation of onion cultivars for resistance to Aspergillus niger, the causal agent of black mold

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Allium cepa, disease resistance, inoculation method ABSTRACT. Black mold (BM), caused by Aspergillus niger Tiegh. , is a common onion (Allium cepa L.) postharvest disease under hot and humid storage conditions. This study aimed to develop a BM screening protocol, to evaluate onion cultivars for resistance. The effects of pathogen isolate, inoculum density, incubation temperature, and inoculation method on severity of BM were investigated in designing the screening protocol. Variation in virulence was observed and two highly virulent subcultures, An4-2 and An39-3, were selected for study. Disease severity, both in lesion size and sporulation degree, increased with higher inoculum densities and incubation temperatures. In contrast, small lesions and no sporulation were observed when onion scales were inoculated with 1 × 10 4 spores/mL or incubated at temperatures lower than 20 °C. Inoculation of onion scales or entire bulbs were compared and scale inoculation correlated better with BM incidence in storage. The procedure for BM screening protocol included: wound inoculation of onion slices with 40 µL inoculum suspension of 1 × 10 5 spores/mL, incubation at 25 °C with 12 hour photoperiod, and rating lesion diameter and sporulation 4 days after inoculation. Using this screening protocol, 42 onion cultivars were evaluated and cultivars with better storability such as 'Red Pinoy', 'Serrana', 'Dehydrator No.3', and 'Moonlight' were tolerant to A. niger. These cultivars showed small lesions and no sporulation during screening. On the other hand, cultivars with poor storability like 'Texas Early Grano 502', 'Granex 429', and 'Explorer' exhibited larger lesions with profuse sporulation. Lesion diameter caused by the scale inoculation correlated significantly with bulb storage loss (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) as well as with bulb dry matter (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) and total soluble solids (r = - 0.51, P < 0.01). The screening protocol and tolerant materials are now successfully used in the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center onion breeding program for resistance to black mold.