Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecological effects of atmospheric reactive nitrogen deposition on semi‐natural terrestrial ecosystems

Evidence that enhanced reactive nitrogen deposition is affecting semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems comes from historic increases in plant tissue N concentrations, correlations between tissue N concentrations and present-day total atmospheric N deposition, changes in plant amino-acid composition and effects on N assimilation. The ecological significance of such changes in biomarkers is uncertain.This paper explores the ecological significance of reactive atmospheric N deposition through a review of previous experimental findings and new experimental evidence from an acidic and a calcareous grassland, both showing phosphorus limitation, and a N-limited Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull heathland in upland Britain. Nitrogen addition in the range 0-20 g N m -2 yr -1 initially (years 0-4) increased the growth of Calluna and a decline in some subordinate species. In subsequent years, shoot extension was not stimulated, but winter injury was observed from 1993 onwards, suggesting a strong interaction between N supply and climatic conditions. By contrast, the grasslands showed a small decrease in the cover of higher plants in later years (6-7) of the experimental treatments (0-14 g N m -2 yr -1 ) and no growth stimulation. All N treatments reduced the bryophyte cover in the acidic grassland. There were marked effects on below-ground processes, including a sustained stimulation of N mineralization in the grassland soils, and an increase in the bacterial utilization of organic substrates in the heathland, as measured in BIOLOG plates. The results strongly suggest the importance of atmospheric N deposition on microbially driven processes in soils, and are discussed in relation to the scale of potential ecosystem changes and their reversibility by pollution abatement.
Rheological Properties and Microstructure of Acid Milk Gels as Affected by Fat Content and Heat Treatment

Gels were made from recombined milks containing 0, 1.5 or 3.5% fat that were heated at 75, 80 or 90°C for 30 min, followed by acidification with glucono-8-lactone at 30°C. The rheological and microstructural properties of acid gels were investigated using dynamic low-amplitude oscillatory rheology and confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Heating milks, at temperatures ≥80°C, increased the storage moduli (G′) and decreased the gelation time. Recombined milks containing high fat (3.5%) had higher G′ than gels made from low-fat or skim milk. Milk heat treatment resulted in gels with a cross-linked microstructure. Recombined fat globules appeared to be embedded in the protein matrix.
Standardization of an efficient protocol for in vitro mass multiplication of Hybrid Tea rose cv. Raktima

An efficient protocol for in vitro micropropagation of hybrid tea rose cv. Raktima was standardised using axillary bud explant. Before inoculation, explants were treated with different concentrations of fungicides and bactericides. Out of different pre-treatments tried, the highest explant survival (73.83%), bud sprouting (69.28%) with minimum microbial contamination (17.16%) were obtained with carbendazim (0.2%) + dithane M-45 (0.2%) + 8-HQC (200 mg/l) for 3 h treatment on a horizontal shaker (120 rpm). The effect of different combinations of BAP (2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 mg/l), NAA (0.1 and 0.2 mg/l), and GA3 (0.3 and 0.5 mg/l) on culture establishment and shoot proliferation was studied. Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with BAP (3.0 mg/l) + NAA (0.1 mg/l) + GA3 (0.5 mg/l) was found most effective for culture establishment with highest explant survival (94.83%) and bud sprouting (91.90%) and on shoot proliferation with highest number of micro-shoots per explant (9.50). Better rooting on micro-shoots was induced on half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with NAA (0.5 mg/l) + IBA (0.5 mg/l) with highest rooting (94.13%). The regenerated plantlets were hardened in glass jars filled with vermiculite + agropeat (1:2) moistened with one quarter-strength MS salts (macro and micro) and covered with polypropyline lids resulting in maximum survival (91.86%). After hardening, plants were successfully transferred to the glasshouse with good survival.
The Scope of Stem Cell Transplantation in Tissue and Organ Regeneration: Myth or Reality?

Transplantation of stem cells to regenerate and repair damaged organs offers promising scope for treating various debilitating diseases and is a feasible alternative to organ transplantation, owing to the ability of stem cells to repopulate the engrafted site by differentiation or trans-differentiation. However, before stem cell-based therapies could be transferred to clinic many challenges such as controlling the self-renewal, differentiation efficiency, and integration of engrafted stem cells or differentiated cells to the host milieu need to be optimized. In this review, we summarize strategies that have been used in stem cell-based regenerative medicine and in particular, feasibility of stem cell therapies in restoring damaged tissue and organs.
Molecular analysis of micropropagated strawberry plants using ISSR (inter simple sequence repeats) markers for ascertaining clonal fidelity.

The present study is aimed at ascertaining the genetic uniformity of the nuclear genome of mother plant and its tissue cultured progenies of strawberry in order to establish true-to-type character through enhanced axillary branching micropropagation by employing ISSR-PCR molecular marker. The study yielded monomorphic bands in all the seven UBC dinucleotide motif primers. The results concluded that the tissue culture raised plantlets of strawberry are genetically identical and clonally uniform at least up to the 15 th culture passage.
The egg‐batch of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae): Structure, hatching of the larvae and parasitism in southern Greece 1 2

Studies of egg‐batches of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) were carried out in the years 1986–1989. The egg batches were collected in September–October shortly after oviposition and in March on the western Peloponnes and near Delphi. On Kassandra, the process of egg deposition was observed on one occasion. The hatching of caterpillars and parasitoids was examined over a period of about two years.
The contribution of coffee agroecosystem to soil fertility in Southwestern Ethiopia

To investigate the contribution of coffee agroecosystem to soil fertility, soil samples were collected at the depth of 0 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm from four different land usages: coffee agroecosystem, eucalyptus plantation, grazing and cultivated lands. The soil samples were analyzed for texture, active and exchangeable acidity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, CEC, exchangeable cations and micronutrients. The results indicated that land use systems significantly (P < 0.05) affected all soil quality indicators except sand content, available Fe and Mn. Except for the exchangeable Mg, available Cu and Zn soils at coffee agroecosystem were superior for all soil quality indicators than other land use systems. The highest values of exchangeable Mg, available Cu and Zn were observed at grazing lands while the lowest values were recorded at coffee agroecosystem. Hence, the existing coffee agroecosystem in the study area contributes a significant role to improve the fertility status of the soil. Therefore maintaining the existing coffee agroecosystem, reducing overgrazing and intensive cultivation and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers are recommended to replenish the degraded soil quality parameters in the study area.
Consequences

This chapter considers some of the prominent strategic consequences arising from the prosecution of vicarious warfare over recent times. The chapter reveals its principal operational manifestations to further scrutiny with the aim of uncovering its central dynamics and shedding greater light on the often counterproductive strategic consequences of this form of war, at least as it has been conducted by the United States over recent times. It begins by presenting core Clausewitzian insights that can aid appreciation of the political dynamics underlying the use of force, and specifically as they apply to vicarious warfare. This helps explain how apparent tactical gains can shroud serious deficiencies in strategic terms. The chapter then shifts to outline how these dynamics play out in relation to three 'Ds' of delegation, danger-proofing and darkness, which are employed as short-hand descriptors for some of the central practices that have characterized contemporary US vicarious warfare.
Response of ant communities and ant–seed interactions to bush regeneration

Summary Bush regeneration programmes aim to restore native plant communities by interventions designed to assist natural recovery, supplemented by planting or direct seeding where necessary. The present study compared ground-dwelling ant communities and rates of seed removal by ants in weed-infested, regenerating and undamaged urban bushland in northern Sydney. Three replicate dry sclerophyll sites on sandstone were studied, each containing zones of weed-infested, regenerating and undamaged bushland. Canopy cover, midstorey cover, ground cover and litter depth were measured at each site. Each zone type showed distinctive vegetation and cover characteristics, particularly at the ground level. Ground foraging ants were sampled with pitfall traps, sorted to morphospecies and placed in functional groups. There were no significant differences in ant abundance, number of genera or number of morphospecies between site types. Ant diversity and equitability was highest in the undamaged zones, followed by regenerating zones, then weedy zones. There was a significant difference between zone types in the proportion of ant species in different functional groups. Weedy zones were dominated by Opportunist species whereas regenerating zones had a high proportion of Dominant Dolichoderinae. At undamaged zones, the distribution of ants across functional groups was more even. Differences in the ant communities between the three zone types were reflected by differences in interactions between ants and seeds. Seed removal rates of both native and exotic seeds were significantly lower at weedy zones than at undamaged zones, with the regenerating zones having intermediate rates. Sites subject to regeneration 4–10 years previously were intermediate between undamaged and weedy zones for ground cover, litter depth, ant species diversity and equitability, proportion of Opportunist ant species, and seed removal rates. Thus, the regeneration techniques used have been at least partially successful in restoring some aspects of the invertebrate fauna and ecological interactions typical of undamaged dry sclerophyll bushland.
Distributions of vimentin and desmin in developing chick myotubes in vivo. I. Immunofluorescence study

Antibodies against chicken erythrocyte vimentin and gizzard desmin were affinity purified and then cross-absorbed with the heterologous antigen. They were used to study the in vivo distributions of these proteins in developing and mature myotubes by immunofluorescence microscopy of 0.5-2-micron frozen sections of iliotibialis muscle in 7- 21-day chick embryos, neonatal and 1-d postnatal chicks, and adult chickens. The distributions of vimentin and desmin were coincidental throughout the development of myotubes, but the concentration of vimentin was gradually reduced as the myotubes matured and became largely undetectable at the time of hatching. The process of confining these proteins to the level of Z line from the initial uniform distribution occurred subsequent to the process of bringing myofibrils into lateral registry: in-register lateral association of several myofibrils was occasionally seen as early as in 7-11-d embryos, whereas the cross-striated immunofluorescence pattern of desmin and vimentin was only vaguely discerned in myotubes of 17-d embryos, just 4 d before hatching. In some myotubes of 21-d embryos, myofibrils were in lateral registry as precisely as in adult myofibers but desmin was still widely distributed around Z line in an irregular manner. Nevertheless, in many other myotubes of prenatal or neonatal chicks, desmin became confined to the level of Z line in a manner similar to that seen in adult myofibers, thus essentially completing its redistribution to the confined state of adult myofibers in coincidence with the time of hatching. In extracts from iliotibialis and posterior latissimus dorsi muscles of adult chickens, we detected a hitherto unidentified protein that was very similar to vimentin in molecular weight but did not react with our antivimentin antibody. We discuss the possibility that this protein was confused with vimentin in the past.
Using genetic distances in addition to ITS molecular phylogeny to identify potential species in the Parmotrema reticulatum complex: a case study

Abstract We used a genetic distance approach in conjunction with molecular phylogeny to establish species boundaries and detect cryptic lineages in the Parmotrema reticulatum – P. pseudoreticulatum complex. The phylogeny of specimens from a broad geographic distribution was reconstructed from the internal transcribed spacer region. Pairwise genetic distances were calculated and compared to an intraspecific range defined for the parmelioid lichens to circumscribe species-level groups. Our results showed that P. reticulatum and P. pseudoreticulatum are polyphyletic, being comprised of at least seven well-supported lineages. In contrast, the genetic distance approach revealed ten cryptic lineages within the P. reticulatum – P. pseudoreticulatum complex. Neither morphology nor geography was conclusive in attempting to corroborate these genetic lineages. However FST indices suggest significant genetic differentiation between these lineages. Our results suggest that the morphology-based circumscriptions underestimated species in Parmotrema and that, in some cases, genetic distances may be used as an additional tool to determine species boundaries in morphologically cryptic species complexes. The most significant contribution of the present study is the application of a fast and accurate method to identify problematic groups and candidate species using the ITS locus with a genetic distances approach.
Pied Oystercatcher Breeding at Mortimer Bay, Tasmania

Observations on eight pairs of Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus longirostris at Mortimer Bay provide information on breeding success and adult survival. The species is long-lived but the low annual adult mortality is offset by low breeding success. Compared with other populations, the Australian race is characterised by a relatively small clutch size, a long incubation period, a long interval between hatching and flying and a very high age at first breeding. I suggest that breeding territories are at a premium, and that many sites are only marginal.
GENETICS OF SALT TOLERANCE IN RICE

Salt tolerance studies were conducted under controlled conditions by using solution and pot culture techniques at the International Rice Research Institute. Varieties Nona Bokra and Pokkali (tolerant), Damodar and Jhona 349 (moderately tolerant), and IR28 and IR35657-33-2 (sensitive) were selected for genetic analysis of traits under salinization (EC 12 dS/m) at the seedling and reproductive stages. Both additive and dominance effects were important in the inheritance of all the traits studied. Shoot length, Na and Ca content in the shoots, and dry weight of shoots and roots showed significant additive effects with a high degree of heritability. Genes controlling Na and Ca levels in shoots were found to be partially dominant. At least three groups of genes were found to be involved in the inheritance of Na and Ca levels at the seedling stage. Highly significant additive effects were also observed for plant height and yield/plant, with high heritability values. Selection on the basis of shoot length, Na level in the shoots, dry weight of shoots and roots, plant height, and yield/plant showing predominance of additive effects and high heritability values could lead to the development of salt-tolerant cultivars.
Correlations between oxygen isotope ratios of wood constituents of Quercus and Pinus samples from around the world

The oxygen isotope compositions of three wood constituents (the solvent-extractable portion, lignin and α-cellulose) were measured for samples collected from Quercus and Pinus trees around the world. Among Pinus samples all wood constituents were positively related to modelled δ18O of source water at the site, while among Quercus samples whole wood, lignin and α-cellulose showed positive relationships. The data support the hypothesis that many oxygen atoms in lignin exchanged with unenriched stem water during synthesis, rather than retaining the full isotopic signal from the molecular oxygen added during hydroxylation of the aromatic ring. The data also suggest that extraction of α-cellulose from wood samples is unnecessary for isotope studies looking at correlations with site parameters.
Natural enemies of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in northeast China, with notes on two species of parasitic Coleoptera

Abstract To investigate natural enemies of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in northeastern China, we conducted field surveys of ash (Fraxinus Linnaeus (Oleaceae)) trees in semi-natural forests and plantations at variable EAB densities from 2008 to 2013. Our surveys revealed a complex of natural enemies including eight hymenopteran parasitoids and two apparently parasitic Coleoptera, woodpeckers, and several undetermined mortality factors. Parasitoid complex abundance and its contribution to EAB mortality varied with the time of year, type of ash stands, and geographic regions. The egg parasitoid Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the larval parasitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were frequently observed in Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang provinces and in Beijing, but not in Tianjin. Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), however, was more prevalent near Beijing and further south in Tianjin. Larvae of two species of apparently parasitic beetle, Tenerus Laporte (Coleoptera: Cleridae) species and Xenoglena quadrisignata Mannerheim (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae), were also recovered attacking overwintering EAB in Liaoning Province, with Tenerus species being a dominant mortality agent (~13%). Our findings support the need to consider the geographic origin of insect natural enemies for EAB biocontrol, as well as an expanded foreign exploration for EAB natural enemies throughout its native range in Asia.
Reproductive disorders induced by Chlamydophila spp. infections in an italian mediterranean buffalo(bubalus bubalis) herd

Abstract The Italian Mediterranean Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) has low fecundity and high incidence of abortion. Several studies have associated reproductive failure of water buffalo with viral infections but there is limited information on the role of chlamydial infections. To investigate the presence and the role of Chlamydiaceae in water buffalo a retrospective study was performed in a farm where, in the arch of 11 months, the pregnant heifers suffered an abortion rate of 36.8% in the 3rd and 5th month of pregnancy. Antibodies to Chlamydiaceae were detected in 57% of the aborted cows, while the rate of positivity was 0% in overtly healthy cows used as control. By a PCR assay 3 of 14 vaginal swabs from aborted animals tested positive for Chlamydophila agents and, additionally, 3 out of 7 aborted foetuses tested positive for Chlamydophila spp. , with two being co-infections by Cp. abortus and Cp. pecorum and one being characterised as Cp. abortus. The presence of anti-Chlamydiaceae antibodies in 57% of the aborted animals and the detection of Chlamydophila agents in foetal organs and in vaginal swabs is consistent with the history of abortions (P<0.002) observed in the herd and may suggest a pathogenic role by Chlamydophila spp. in water buffalo.
Ubiquitin- and proteasome-dependent pathway of protein degradation as an emerging therapeutic target

The majority of cellular proteins are degraded by the ubiquitin-and proteasome-dependent proteolytic pathway. Among those proteins are various regulators of crucial processes, like the cell cycle, apoptosis, gene expression, angiogenesis, antigen presentation, inflammation etc. Therefore, the proteasome constitute an interesting target for drug discovery. Various inhibitors of this multicatalytic enzyme complex are already available. Experiments on animal models of various diseases have shown, that they can be useful anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anticachectic and antiparasital drugs. Clinical trials with at least one class of proteasome inhibitors are already conducted. The proteasome pathway is involved in the ethipathogenesis of some more groups of diseases, among them various neurodegenerative disorders. Proteasome activators and modulators can be of potential therapeutic use in these conditions.
Effect of Plant Nitrogen Concentration on the Response of Glyphosate-Resistant Corn Hybrids and Their Progeny to Clethodim and Glufosinate

Abstract Rapid adoption of glyphosate-resistant (GR) corn hybrids has led to the reemergence of volunteer corn as a problematic weed in soybean and has made controlling the initial stand of corn in a replant situation more difficult. If volunteer corn in soybean or the initial corn stand in a replant situation is not controlled, yield loss can occur. Clethodim and glufosinate are often used to control GR corn in corn replant situations and in soybean. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the response of two hybrid corn varieties and their F2 progeny to clethodim and glufosinate and to evaluate the effect of plant nitrogen (N) concentration on clethodim and glufosinate efficacy. First, a dose-response study was conducted with clethodim and glufosinate on DeKalb 60-18 and 60-18F2, and DeKalb 63-42 and 63-42F2 to compare the response of the hybrids and their F2 progeny to the herbicides. DeKalb 63-42 was more tolerant to clethodim than 60-18 and 60-18F2. No differences were found between the hybrids and their respective F2 progeny in the response to clethodim or glufosinate. In a second dose-response study assessing the effect of N conditions on herbicide efficacy, both clethodim and glufosinate were less injurious to plants growing in low N than in high N availability. Nomenclature: Clethodim; glufosinate; corn Zea mays L. ; soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.