Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increase in soil organic carbon stock over the last two decades in China's Jiangsu Province

Estimates of regional and national topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change may help evaluating the soil role in mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through carbon (C) sequestration in soils. However, understanding of the exact mitigation role is often constrained by the uncertainty of the stock estimation associated with different methodologies. In this paper, a soil database of topsoil (0–20 cm) SOC measurements of Jiangsu Province, China, obtained from a soil survey in 1982, and from a geological survey in 2004, was used to analyze the variability of topsoil SOC among soil groups and among soil regions, and to estimate the change in SOC stocks that have occurred in the province over the last two decades. The soil survey data was obtained from measurements of 662 690 randomly collected samples, while the geological survey data was from 24 167 samples taken using a 2 km × 2 km grid. Statistical analysis was conducted on SOC values for 1982 and 2004 for different categories of soil groups, soil regions, and administrative municipalities, respectively. Topsoil SOC storage was then calculated and the provincial topsoil SOC stock was estimated for each sampling time. There were remarkable differences in SOC levels between soil groups and soil regions and different municipalities. The grid sampling with the geological survey in 2004 yielded smaller variability of topsoil SOC averages, both with soil groups and with soil spatial distribution than the random sampling method used in 1982. Variation of SOC was greater with soil groups than with soil regions in both sampling times, although it was less variable across soil taxonomic categories than within a spatial category. Little variance of the SOC level with soil groups could be explained by clay content. However, the prevalence of paddy fields in the total cropland area governed the regional and municipal average SOC levels. The average provincial topsoil SOC content increased from 9.45 g kg−1 in 1982 to 10.9 g kg−1 in 2004, and the total provincial topsoil SOC stock was enhanced from 149.0±58.1 Tg C in 1982 to 173.2±51.4 Tg C in 2004, corresponding to a provincial average SOC sequestration rate of 0.16±0.09 t C ha−1 yr−1. The SOC sequestration trend for the last two decades could be, in part, attributed to the enhanced agricultural production, symbolized by the grain yield per hectare. The results of SOC stock changes suggest a significant C sequestration in soils of Jiangsu, China, during 1980–2000, with paddy management playing an important role in regional SOC storage and sequestration capacity.
Grain Sorghum Response to NPK Fertilizer in the Guinea Savanna of Ghana

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop grown by subsistence farmers in Africa with little or no fertilizer. Field experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 on sandy loam soil in Guinea savanna of Ghana to determine the agronomic and economic benefits of applying nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers to sorghum. Four N levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg−1 as urea) were combined with two P levels (0 and 17.2 kg P ha−1 as triple superphosphate) and two K levels (0 and 33.3 kg K ha−1 as muriate of potash) to constitute 16 treatments that were tested in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Fertilizer N, P, and K did not show significant interactions for any parameter. Across years, added K did not influence grain yield and yield components. However, P increased yield by 14%, and N affected yield in a quadratic manner. The application of 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha−1 resulted in yield increases of 47%, 60% and 69% over farmers' practice (0 kg N ha−1), respectively. Economic analysis revealed that two N and P combinations, i.e., 40:0 and 40:17.2 kg ha−1, were economically superior and stable within a price variability range of 20%. Thus, farmers in the Guinea savanna agro-ecology in Africa can get better returns on the money invested in fertilizer for producing improved sorghum than with their traditional practice of no fertilizer input.
Post-dispersal seed predation: consequences for plant demography and evolution

Abstract Post-dispersal seed predation is only one of many factors underlying plant demography and evolution. Nevertheless, the generalist feeding habits of many post-dispersal seed predators and the limited ability of plants either to compensate for or to respond to post-dispersal seed losses directly suggest that post-dispersal seed predation may have a considerable impact on plant populations. Seed predators probably have little direct influence on the demography of plants that regenerate exclusively by vegetative means or are buffered by a large active seed bank, but such species are only a minority in most plant communities. In general, ants are significant post-dispersal seed predators in arid and semi-arid ecosystems while they act mainly as seed dispersers rather than as predators in temperate ecosystems. Although studies have probably underestimated the importance of invertebrates and birds as seed predators, rodents appear to have greater potential to influence seed dynamics, and are particularly important in temperate ecosystems. For example, production of mast seed crops is more effective at satiating specialist invertebrate seed predators than generalist vertebrates, and recruitment may be limited by post-dispersal seed predation even during mast years. Both spatial variation in post-dispersal seed predation and differences in predation between species are important elements which facilitate the coexistence of different plant species. Where microsites are limiting, selective post-dispersal seed predators can influence pre-emptive competition for these microsites. Seed size determines the extent of density-dependent predation and the exploitation of buried seed. This suggests that post-dispersal seed predators may also play a role in the evolution of seed characteristics. However, conclusions regarding the ecological and evolutionary impact of post-dispersal seed predators will remain speculative without a more substantial empirical base.
The mTORC2 Component Rictor Is Required for Load‐Induced Bone Formation in Late‐Stage Skeletal Cells

Bone relies on mechanical cues to build and maintain tissue composition and architecture. Our understanding of bone cell mechanotransduction continues to evolve, with a few key signaling pathways emerging as vital. Wnt/β‐catenin, for example, is essential for proper anabolic response to mechanical stimulation. One key complex that regulates β‐catenin activity is the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORc2). mTORc2 is critical for actin cytoskeletal reorganization, an indispensable component in mechanotransduction in certain cell types. In this study, we probed the impact of the mTORc2 signaling pathway in osteocyte mechanotransduction by conditionally deleting the mTORc2 subunit Rictor in Dmp1‐expressing cells of C57BL/6 mice. Conditional deletion of the Rictor was achieved using the Dmp1–Cre driver to recombine Rictor floxed alleles. Rictor mutants exhibited a decrease in skeletal properties, as measured by DXA, μCT, and mechanical testing, compared with Cre‐negative floxed littermate controls. in vivo axial tibia loading conducted in adult mice revealed a deficiency in the osteogenic response to loading among Rictor mutants. Histological measurements of osteocyte morphology indicated fewer, shorter cell processes in Rictor mutants, which might explain the compromised response to mechanical stimulation. In summary, inhibition of the mTORc2 pathway in late osteoblasts/osteocytes leads to decreased bone mass and mechanically induced bone formation. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
An Adaptive Channel Division MAC Protocol for High Dynamic UAV Networks

Nowadays, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has captured great attentions for its versatility, flexibility, and low-cost. In this paper, we consider a high altitude platform (HAP) assisted UAV network towards Internet of Things (IoT), where high dynamic UAVs can transmit real-time IoT data to remote ground control center via the HAP. Because of the movement characteristic of UAVs, the number of UAVs within the HAP coverage and the traffic load change frequently, which poses new challenges for the Media Access Control (MAC) protocol in this network. To make full use of the channel resources and guarantee the communication performance of multiple UAVs, we firstly propose an adaptive channel division MAC (ACD-MAC) protocol for this high dynamic UAV network, where the relative length of control channel interval to service channel interval, denoted by channel allocation parameter, can be flexibly adjusted according to the number of UAVs and traffic load. Then, based on a Markov model, we give an algorithm to calculate the optimal channel allocation parameter in the proposed ACD-MAC protocol. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed ACD-MAC protocol can achieve a lower end-to-end delay and a higher throughput performance in such a high dynamic UAV network than the traditional fixed channel division MAC protocol.
Genotypic variation of cell wall composition and its conversion efficiency in Miscanthus sinensis, a potential biomass feedstock crop in China

Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose microfibrils embedded in a cross‐linked‐net of matrix polysaccharides and co‐polymerized with lignin. The study presented the genotypic variations of cell wall composition, biohydrogen production, and lignocellulose degradation ratio in a collection of 102 Miscanthus sinensis (M. Sinensis, hereafter) accessions collected from a wide geographical range in China. Significant variations were observed for the determined traits, cellulose content, hemicellulose content, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation efficiency, and biohydrogen yield. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents ranged from 30.20–44.25, 28.97–42.65, and 6.96–20.75%, respectively. The degradation ratio of cellulose and hemicellulose varied from 2.08% to 37.87% and from 14.71% to 52.50%, respectively. The feedstock was fermented to produce biohydrogen, and the production varied from 14.59 to 40.66 ml per gram of Miscanthus biomass. The expression profile of three cellulose synthase (MsCesA) genes was initially established to indicate the genotypic difference among the M. sinensis accessions. Pearson's correlations were conducted to reveal the perplexing relationship between the tested traits, biohydrogen yield, cell wall composition and their degradation efficiency. In addition, the relationship pattern, between the test traits and the geographic factors corresponding with the original place, was investigated. The result showed that the significant variation among the M. sinensis genotypes is the result of natural selection in different environments of their original habitats. Improvement in cell wall composition and structure and enhancement of lignocellulose degradation ratio could significantly increase sustainable bioenergy production.
Synergistic inhibition of the growth of suspension cultured tobacco cells by simultaneous treatment with cadmium and arsenic in relation to phytochelatin synthesis

Abstract Simultaneous treatments with Cd and arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) led to the synergistic growth inhibition of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. BY-2) cells. Cd contents in cells increased by co-treatment with arsenic for 24 h. The amount of total phytochelatins (PCs) per unit of Cd in the cells treated with Cd and arsenate was lower than that in the cells treated with Cd alone. Simultaneous treatments with Cd and arsenic promoted the induction of the biosynthesis of (γ-Glu-Cys)2-Gly and inhibited the induction of the biosynthesis of (γ-GluCys)3-Gly and (γ-Glu-Cys)4-Gly, compared with the treatment with Cd alone. Consequently, since the inhibition of PC biosynthesis led to the increase of the cellular concentration of putative ionic (= toxic) Cd, cell growth was inhibited synergistically by simultaneous treatments with Cd and arsenic. In addition, based on the results showing that buthionine sulfoximine increased the sensitivity to arsenite and arsenate, that PC biosynthesis was induced by treatment with arsenite or arsenate, it is suggested that glutathione and/or its metabolic products such as PCs are involved in arsenic tolerance.
Morphometric identification of Africanized and European honey bees using large reference populations

Nous avons mis au point des procedures d'analyse discriminante pour identifier les abeilles africanisees et europeennes, qui presentent des ameliorations sur plusieurs points. Tout d'abord, la taille des echantillons d'abeilles africanisees et europeennes est beaucoup plus grande et on peut s'attendre a ce qu'ils renferment une plus grande part de la variation des 2 groupes. Ensuite, les abeilles europeennes sauvages et les abeilles europeennes elevees commercialement sont bien representees, reduisant ainsi la probabilite de classer en abeilles africanisees des abeilles europeennes relativement petites
Suboptimal dialysis initiation is associated with comorbidities and uraemia progression rate but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate

Abstract Background Despite early referral of uraemic patients to nephrological care, suboptimal dialysis initiation (SDI) remains a common problem associated with increased morbimortality. We hypothesized that SDI is related to pre-dialysis care. Methods In the ‘Peridialysis’ study, time and reasons for dialysis initiation (DI), clinical and biochemical data and centre characteristics were registered during the pre- and peri-dialytic period for 1583 end-stage kidney disease patients starting dialysis over a 3-year period at 15 nephrology departments in the Nordic and Baltic countries to identify factors associated with SDI. Results SDI occurred in 42%. Risk factors for SDI were late referral, cachexia, comorbidity (particularly cardiovascular), hypoalbuminaemia and rapid uraemia progression. Patients with polycystic renal disease had a lower incidence of SDI. High urea and C-reactive protein levels, acidosis and other electrolyte disorders were markers of SDI, independently of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). SDI patients had higher eGFR than non-SDI patients during the pre-dialysis period, but lower eGFR at DI. eGFR as such did not predict SDI. Patients with comorbidities had higher eGFR at DI. Centre practice and policy did not associate with the incidence of SDI. Conclusions SDI occurred in 42% of all DIs. SDI was associated with hypoalbuminaemia, comorbidity and rate of eGFR loss, but not with the degree of renal failure as assessed by eGFR.
Profiles of light absorption and chlorophyll within spinach leaves from chlorophyll fluorescence

Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to estimate profiles of absorbed light within chlorophyll solutions and leaves. For chlorophyll solutions, the intensity of the emitted fluorescence declined in a log‐linear manner with the distance from the irradiated surface as predicted by Beer’s law. The amount of fluorescence was proportional to chlorophyll concentration for chlorophyll solutions given epi-illumination on a microscope slide. These relationships appeared to hold for more optically complex spinach leaves. The profile of chlorophyll fluorescence emitted by leaf cross sections given epi-illumination corresponded to chlorophyll content measured in extracts of leaf paradermal sections. Thus epifluorescence was used to estimate relative chlorophyll content through leaf tissues. Fluorescence profiles across leaves depended on wavelength and orientation, reaching a peak at 50‐70 µ m depth. By infiltrating leaves with water, the pathlengthening due to scattering at the airspace : cell wall interfaces was calculated. Surprisingly, the palisade and spongy mesophyll had similar values for pathlengthening with the value being greatest for green light (550 > 650 > 450 nm). By combining fluorescence profiles with chlorophyll distribution across the leaf, the profile of the apparent extinction coefficient was calculated. The light profiles within spinach leaves could be well approximated by an apparent extinction coefficient and the Beer‐Lambert/ Bouguer laws. Light was absorbed at greater depths than predicted from fibre optic measurements, with 50% of blue and green light reaching 125 and 240 µ m deep, respectively.
Effect of certain cultural practices on susceptibility of potato tubers to soft rot disease caused by Erwinia carotovora pv. carotovora

Erwinia soft rot causes destructive and serious damage to many vegetable crops including potato in the field, transit and storage periods. The effect of certain cultural practices on the susceptibility of potato tubers to soft rot bacteria was studied and the results of this work can be summarised in the following: potato tubers harvested on 1 May first exhibited the highest disease incidence compared with those harvested on 15 May or 30 May. Harvesting on 15 June resulted in the lowest disease infection. The application of high levels of nitrogen fertiliser as urea (46.5%), ammonium nitrate (31%) and ammonium sulphate (20.5%) resulted in an increase of the susceptibility of potato tubers to bacterial soft rot disease. In contrast, the addition of phosphorous as superphosphate (15.5%) fertiliser caused the reverse effect. The addition of potassium as potassium sulphate (48%) alone at any of the tested levels showed no effect. The susceptibility of potato tubers to bacterial soft rotting disease was increased by increasing storage periods at 4°C for 1, 2, 3 and 4 months. Spraying copper sulphate exhibited the highest decrease in soft rot incidence disease followed by manganese, zinc and iron. However, spraying of boron increased susceptibility to the disease. Potato tubers obtained from plants sprayed with copper and stored for different periods showed the lowest susceptibility to disease incidence. Tuber sprayed with zinc, iron, manganese and finally boron came next.
Field pea seeding management

The impact of seed placement and seeding rate on crop yield is not clearly understood for field pea (Pisum sativum L.). A field experiment was conducted at Melfort, SK, and Lacombe, AB, in 1998 and 1999, to evaluate the effect of three seed placements (distinct row: 23 cm and 30 cm with a hoe opener; and spread band: a 20-cm spread using a 28-cm sweep on a 23-cm row spacing) and three seeding rates (50, 100, and, 150 seeds m-2) on pea seedling density, seed yield and seed weight of a leafy prostrate and semi-leafless upright cultivar. A follow-up experiment was conducted at seven sites across Saskatchewan in 2001 to further examine the influence of a wider range of seeding rates (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 120 target plants m-2). Pea productivity for both cultivars was not affected by the different seed placements, despite a 4 mg greater seed weight for distinct row seed placements compared with spread band placement across all 1998–1999 sites. Moreover, the absence of a seed placement by se.
How non-Darcy effects influence scaling laws in Hele-Shaw convection experiments

We examine experimentally the influence of non-Darcy effects on convective dissolution in Hele-Shaw cells. We focus on buoyancy-driven convection, where the flow is controlled by the Rayleigh–Darcy number, $Ra$ , which measures the strength of convection compared to diffusion. The Hele-Shaw cell is suitable to mimic Darcy flows only under certain geometrical constraints, and a recent theoretical work (Letelier et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 864, 2019, pp. 746–767) demonstrated that a precise limit exists for the parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}^{2}Ra$ – $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}\sim$ thickness-to-height ratio – beyond which the flow exhibits non-Darcy effects. In this work, we run experiments for solute convection in Rayleigh–Bénard-like configuration. We examine a wide range of the parameters space $(Ra,\unicode[STIX]{x1D716})$ and we clearly identify the application limits of Darcy flow assumptions. Besides confirming previous theoretical predictions, current results are of relevance in the context of porous media flows – which are often studied experimentally with Hele-Shaw set-ups. Using our original datasets, we have been able to explain and reconcile the discrepancies observed between scaling laws previously proposed for Rayleigh–Bénard-like experiments and simulations in similar contexts. Specifically, we attribute an important role to the parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}^{2}Ra$ , which clearly establishes thresholds beyond which Hele-Shaw experiment results are influenced by three-dimensional effects.
Produção de brotações e enraizamento de miniestacas de Piptocarpha angustifolia

Piptocarpha angustifolia Dusen ex. Malme (Asteraceae) is a brazilian native and pioneer tree species, occuring in Araucaria Forest, with potential to ecosystem restorarion and introduction in forest, agriculture and pasture systems. Its propagation by seed presents irregular production and low number of feasible seeds while vegetative propagation by cutting of mature plants with semihardwood shoots didn’t present rooting response. This work aimed to evalue adventitious rooting by minicutting technique using minisprouts from seeds. The minisprouts were collected and dipped in ascorbic acid solution (1%) and minicuttings were produced with 5 cm lenght mantaining a pair of leaves in the apex installed in a medium with vermiculite and carbonized rice husk (1:1 v v- 1 ). The evaluation was made after 90 days considering percentage of rooting minicuttings, number and lenght average for minicuttings, percentage of living minicuttings, percentage of minicuttings with callus and dead minicuttings. The higher production of minicuttings was verified in winter and spring, varying between 113.4 to 259.2 units for square meter a month. The adventitious rooting reached 45% in winter with 6.3 roots and an average of 9.8 cm of length, without using plant growth regulator. doi: 10.4336/2011.pfb. 31.67. 257
Settlement and Successful Breeding of Reintroduced Spanish Imperial Eagles Aquila adalberti in the Province of Cadiz (Spain)

Summary. A project to reintroduce the Spanish imperial eagle in the province of Cadiz (Andalusia, Spain) began in 2002. The aim was to restore the former breeding nucleus, to encourage subpopulation interconnection and to ensure the long-term persistence of the southern metapopulation of this endemic Iberian species. A population reinforcement programme also began in 2005 at a location in the Doñana area (Andalusia, Spain) to improve the viability of this endangered subpopulation. Between 2002 and 2010, a total of 73 young Spanish imperial eagles were released at four locations by means of hacking. As a result, in 2010 a released male bred successfully with a non-reintroduced female and two young were reared. This was the first successful breeding event recorded in Cadiz province since 1960. An additional territorial pair also settled in the release area in 2010 and four more translocated individuals have made breeding attempts within nearby breeding subpopulations since 2006. The settlement and breeding of reintroduced individuals is the starting point of a future population and constitutes a relevant indicator for the evaluation of the project.
Presence of the epidemic European fusidic acid-resistant impetigo clone (EEFIC) of Staphylococcus aureus in France—joint authors' response

LEO Pharma, Industriparken 55, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark; Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Service de Bacteriologie-Hygiene, CHU Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France; Hopital Robert Debre, Service Dermatologie, Avenue de General Koening, F-51092 Reims Cedex, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Central Pathology Laboratory, St James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3EX, UK