Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and increased nitrogen deposition on bog vegetation in the Netherlands

1 We studied the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and increased N deposition on the plant species composition of a Sphagnum‐dominated bog ecosystem in the Netherlands. Large peat monoliths (surface area 1 m2, depth 0.6 m) with intact bog vegetation were kept outdoors in large containers and were exposed to elevated CO2 or increased N deposition for three growing seasons. Elevated CO2 conditions (target concentration 560 µmol CO2 mol−1) were created using MiniFACE technology. In a separate experiment, N deposition was increased by 5 g N m−2 year−1 by adding dissolved NH4NO3 at 3 week intervals during the growing season. 2 Elevated atmospheric CO2 increased height growth of Sphagnum magellanicum, the dominant Sphagnum species, in the second and third growing seasons. Vascular plant biomass was not significantly affected by elevated CO2, but growth of species growing close to the moss surface was influenced negatively by the increased Sphagnum height growth. Elevated CO2 did not change allocation to below‐ground plant parts. 3 Adding N increased above‐ground vascular plant biomass. The shallow‐rooted species Vaccinium oxycoccus responded most to the increased N deposition. Sphagnum growth was significantly reduced in the third growing season. This reduction was likely the result of the increased vascular plant cover, given the observed negative relation between vascular plant cover and Sphagnum growth. 4 The observed shifts in species composition as a result of species‐specific responses to treatments, and interactions between peat mosses and vascular plants will have important consequences for the sequestration of carbon in the bog ecosystem.
PITYOPHAGUS QUERCUS REITTER, 1877, A NEW SAPROXYLIC SAP BEETLE FOR THE ITALIAN FAUNA (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae)

During ecological investigations on saproxylic beetle communities of central Italy (Latium), at Bosco Polverino (a mixed evergreen/deciduous forest fragment dominated by cork oaks), and at Allumiere (a small fragment of beech forest surrounded by turkey oak stands), the authors found three specimens of Pityophagus quercus Reitter, 1877 (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae). These are the first known records of this species in Italy, and the first one in association with an evergreen oak, Quercus suber . This discovery led us to review both bionomical and faunistic data so far available on this exceedingly rare and poorly known species.
Using near-continuous measurements of N2O emission from urine-affected soil to guide manual gas sampling regimes

Abstract Nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes are influenced by fluctuating soil temperature and external factors such as rainfall events. Therefore, sampling time, frequency of sampling after nitrogen (N) application and weather interactions are critical when determining cumulative N2O losses and associated emission factors. Using automated chambers, three short-term field trials were conducted to measure N2O fluxes from urine-affected pasture in southern New Zealand to determine the influence of soil temperature and light on diurnal N2O variation and the effect of sampling frequency on estimated cumulative N2O losses. Diurnal N2O flux patterns were often interrupted by rainfall events, but when present they were mainly driven by fluctuations in soil temperature at 0–2 cm depth. Mean daily N2O fluxes occurred between 10:00–12:00 h and 18:00–21:00 h. Analysis of all data, including rainfall-affected periods, showed that gas sample collection three times a week between 10:00–12:00 h provided zero bias in calculated cumulative emissions when compared with those based on frequent, 2-hourly, flux measurements. To account for resource limitations in field campaigns for estimating cumulative N2O emissions, an alternative approach is to sample two times a week, when fluxes can be expected to be large (e.g. first 4–6 weeks following urine deposition on to pasture), with additional sampling following significant rainfall. This latter approach produced an average bias of +4%, but ranged from −3 to +18%.
Lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) for grain and forage production in the Ord irrigation area

Grain and forage production of six accessions (Rongai, Highworth, T58/ 13, CPI 3 1 1 13, CPI 41 222 and CPI 60 216) of lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) were measured over two seasons in the Ord Irrigation Area. All accessions were quantitative short day plants, flowering during the early dry season (May-July). Forage yields at flowering were generally unaffected by sowing date for sowings made between December and February, but declined with later sowings. There were marked differences between accessions in the forage yield at flowering, and the peak yield of 8.6 t/ha was obtained with a December sowing of accessions T58/ 13; this comprised 3.6 t/ha of leaf containing 3.7% nitrogen and 5.0 t/ha of stem containing 1.1 % nitrogen. The uptake of nitrogen by the tops between sowing and flowering ranged up to 1.8 kg/ha.d (1 94 kg N in 108 days) indicating the potential value of lablab as a green manure crop. Grain yields ranged from 0.27 to 3.05 t/ha over all sowing dates and accessions with the peak yield being obtained in a February sowing of cv. Highworth. All accessions became smaller and bushier as sowing was delayed. This facilitated harvesting for grain. Cutting and removal of foliage at the onset of flowering led to rapid regrowth and renewed flowering, and gave grain yields up to 90% of those obtained from undefoliated treatments. The cultivar Highworth was best for grain production and for dual purpose forage and grain production.
Seasonal Changes in the Germination Responses of Buried Seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and Ecological Interpretation

Buried seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to natural seasonal temperature changes exhibited an annual dormancy/nondormancy cycle. The majority of freshly matured seeds were dormant. During burial in summer, fresh seeds and those that had been buried for 1 and 2 yr afterripened. During afterripening, seeds first germinated at 15/6 C and then at progressively higher temperatures until they were nondormant by October, when they germinated to high percentages at all thermoperiods except 35/20 C. Light was required for germination of both conditionally dormant and nondormant seeds. During autumn and winter, seeds reentered dormancy, first losing the ability to germinate at high and then at low temperatures. Thus, seeds can germinate in the field only in autumn, and germination is restricted to those seeds on or near the soil surface where both light and moisture can be nonlimiting In spring, seeds are dormant; in summer, temperatures are too high for germination, and in winter, they are too low. Consequently, A thaliana behaves as a winter annual.
Hygroscopic properties and cloud condensation nuclei activity of atmospheric aerosols under the influences of Asian continental outflow and new particle formation at a coastal site in eastern Asia

Abstract. The chemical composition of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), the size distribution and number concentration of aerosol particles ( NCN ), and the number concentration of cloud condensation nuclei ( NCCN ) were measured at the northern tip of Taiwan during an intensive observation experiment from April 2017 to March 2018. The parameters of aerosol hygroscopicity (i.e., activation ratio, activation diameter and kappa of CCN) were retrieved from the measurements. Significant variations were found in the hygroscopicity of aerosols (kappa – κ – of 0.18–0.56, for water vapor supersaturation – SS – of 0.12 %–0.80 %), which were subject to various pollution sources, including aged air pollutants originating in eastern and northern China and transported by the Asian continental outflows and fresh particles emitted from local sources and distributed by land–sea breeze circulations as well as produced by processes of new particle formation (NPF). Cluster analysis was applied to the back trajectories of air masses to investigate their respective source regions. The results showed that aerosols associated with Asian continental outflows were characterized by lower NCN and NCCN values and by higher kappa values of CCN, whereas higher NCN and NCCN values with lower kappa values of CCN were observed in the aerosols associated with local air masses. Besides, it was revealed that the kappa value of CCN exhibited a decrease during the early stage of an event of new particle formation, which turned to an increasing trend over the later period. The distinct features in the hygroscopicity of aerosols were found to be consistent with the characteristics in the chemical composition of PM 2.5 . This study has depicted a clear seasonal characteristic of hygroscopicity and CCN activity under the influence of a complex mixture of pollutants from different regional and/or local pollution sources. Nevertheless, the mixing state and chemical composition of the aerosols critically influence the aerosol hygroscopicity, and further investigations are necessary to elucidate the atmospheric processing involved in the CCN activation in coastal areas.
Sublethal parasites in white-footed mice: impact on survival and reproduction

The potential impact of two parasites on the population density of host white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) was assessed by measuring effects on survival and reproduction in field populations. Thirty-eight mice infected with larvae of the bot fly Cuterebra angustifrons had their larvae removed, another 41 mice remained infected, and 46 other mice were naturally uninfected during the experiment. No effect of bot larvae removal was detected on either survival (measured as attrition) or reproduction (measured as end of reproductive season). However, contrary to expectation, naturally infected mice had lower attrition and a marginally longer reproductive season than naturally uninfected mice. This latter result is probably an artifact, due to underlying differences between naturally infected and uninfected mice. Sixty-seven mice were experimentally infected with the tapeworm Hymenolepis citelli (64 mice were controls), but no effect was detected on attrition from the trappable population nor on the cessat.
Effect of fertilization frequency on pond productivity and fish biomass in still water ponds stocked with Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.).

Four different fertilization frequencies, namely twice per week, once per week, twice a month and once a month, were used in ponds to assess their effects on nutrient release, pond productivity and fish biomass. All ponds received the same total fertilizer inputs during the experimental period of 60 days (cow dung 208.3 kg ha−1 week−1, TSP 9.8 kg ha−1 week−1, urea 6.0 kg ha−1 week−1). Studies have revealed that the highest values of fish biomass, specific growth rate (SGR), net primary productivity (NPP), plankton population and nutrients were observed in the ponds that were fertilized twice a month. A strong and significant correlation of fertilization frequency was observed with dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), alkalinity, nutrient release, NPP, plankton density (no. L−1), fish biomass and SGR. The linear relationship between NPP and fish biomass/SGR for all the ponds was strong (r2= 0.88). Sediment chemistry revealed that O-PO4, NO3-N, organic carbon and electrical conductivity (EC) increased significantly (P<0.05) with a decrease in the frequency of fertilization, while alkalinity and calcium were high in ponds that were fertilized twice a month.
Factors affecting conversion rates in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a single surgeon study

Gallstone disease has been observed in the mummies of the Egyptian dynasty 1085-945 BC plaguing mankind for over two thousand years. Incidences of gallstone disease varies throughout the world. Cholecystectomy has become accepted treatment for symptomatic gallstone disease. With the advent of minimal access surgery, the concept of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was born and marked a significant milestone in the treatment of gall stone disease. Today, it has largely replaced open cholecystectomy as the gold standard treatment of gall stone disease. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy an attractive treatment modality for cholelithiasis because of less scarring, shortened hospital stays, earlier returns to usual activities. Despite the fact that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has got many advantages but its conversion into open cholecystectomy (OC) is disappointing not only for patient but for surgeon as well. But conversion should not be considered as complication of the procedure rather it is mature decision by the surgeons to avoid unnecessary lengthening the duration of procedure. The conversion rate of 3.6 to 13.9% is reported in the literature.
A review of complete albinism in bats with five new cases from Brazil

Complete albinism is a rare phenomenon that occurs in all vertebrate groups. In bats, albinism has been recorded in several species but this information has not previously been reviewed in detail nor has there been an analysis of its importance. In this study, cases of albinism from the literature are checked and new cases are presented. Complete albinism in bats is documented in eight families. 38 species, and at least 64 individuals (47.4% ♀♀ and 52.6%♂♂; n=38). Of these, 39 individuals were observed and/or captured in sheltered roosts, such as caves (51.3%), mines and galleries (20.5%), buildings (17.9%), and hollow-trees and bird boxes (7.7%). Only one albino bat (2.6%) was captured in an external roost (foliage). This individual is the fruit bat, Artibeus planirostris, which is recorded here for the first time. Information on four additional cases of albino individuals of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is also presented. It is suggested that sheltered roosts favour survival of albino bats, offering protection against sunlight, water loss, and visually hunting predators.
The Effects of Parental Quality and Timing of Breeding on the Growth of Nestling Thick-Billed Murres

In the Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia, an Arctic seabird that raises a single chick annually, late-hatched chicks often grow slowly and depart the nest lighter in mass than early-hatched chicks. At Coats Island, N.W. T. , Canada, in 1994 and 1995, I examined whether the seasonal declines in growth were caused by timing of breeding (the seasonal deterioration hypothesis), or by late breeding of less capable pairs (the parent quality hypothesis). I removed the single egg from early-breeding pairs, inducing them to relay, and compared the growth of chicks from these replacement eggs to that of chicks of unmanipulated pairs. Growth rate and mass at nest departure correlated negatively with hatching date in the general population. However, in both years the experimental chicks grew as well as the chicks of unmanipulated early-breeding birds, and departed at similar mass. The experimental chicks also grew more quickly than unmanipulated chicks that hatched later in the season, in one of two years. These results support the parent quality hypothesis, but not the seasonal deterioration hypothesis. I suggest that the late breeding of less capable birds is the likely proximate cause of many of the seasonal declines in success reported frequently in the Alcidae.
Signalling pathways evoked by α1‐adrenoceptors in human melanoma cells

The biological effects of catecholamines in mammalian pigment cells are poorly understood, but in poikilothermic vertebrates they regulate the translocation of pigment granules. We have previously demonstrated in SK‐Mel 23‐human melanoma cells the presence of low affinity α1‐adrenoceptors, which mediate a decrease in cell proliferation and increase in tyrosinase activity, with no change of tyrosinase expression. In this report, we investigated the signalling pathways involved in these responses. Calcium mobilization in response to phenylephrine (PHE), an α1‐adrenergic agonist, was investigated by confocal microscopy, and no change of fluorescence during the treatment was observed, suggesting that calcium is not involved in the signalling pathway activated by α1‐adrenoceptors in SK‐Mel 23 cells. cAMP levels, determined by enzyme‐immunoassay, were significantly increased by PHE (10−5–10−4M), that could be blocked by the α1‐adrenergic antagonist benoxathian (10−5–10−4M). Several biological assays were then performed with PHE, for 72 h, in the absence or presence of various signalling pathway inhibitors, in an attempt to determine the intracellular messengers involved in the responses of proliferation and tyrosinase activity. Our results suggest the participation of p38 and ERKs in PHE‐induced decrease of proliferation, and possibly also of cAMP and protein kinase A. Regarding PHE‐induced increase of tyrosinase activity, it is suggested that the following signalling components are involved: cAMP/PKA, PKC, PI3K, p38 and ERKs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationships Between Bulls’ Pedigree Indexes and Daughter Performance in the Modified Contemporary Comparison

Abstract The United States Department of Agriculture Modified Contemporary Comparison method calculating bull Predicted Difference is influenced directly by the merit of the bull's male ancestors. In this study, the appropriateness of that influenced and the accuracy of pedigree indexes on bulls were investigated. The complete United States Department of Agriculture-Dairy Herd Improvement Association sires files were examined. Sire pedigree indexes calculated from Predicted Differences resulting from the Fall 1974 Modified Contemporary Comparisons were nearly as accurate as expected. Regressions of average daughter performance (Modified Contemporary Deviation) on pedigree index was near the expected 1.0. Correlations were reasonably close to the approximated expected values. Corresponding relationships between Predicted Difference and pedigree index gave similar results.
Persistence and Effects of Parasitic Genotypes in a Mixed Population of the Spodoptera exigua Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Abstract Spod-X, a commercialized bioinsecticide for the control of the pest Spodoptera exigua, is based on a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) of S. exigua (SeMNPV) isolated in Florida (US2wt). This field isolate is made up of at least seven genotypic variants, of which two (US2C and US2E) have defective genomes and act as parasites, reducing the pathogenicity of the viral population. Upon co-infection of US2wt and a Spanish field isolate of the same virus (SP2wt), persistence of the defective variants (US2C, US2E) in the viral progeny was observed. This persistence diluted the presence of intact, self-infectious genotypes in the progeny, decreasing the pathogenicity of these viral inocula. Further passages of viral occlusion bodies produced after the co-infection revealed that the parasite US2C continued replicating and constituted up to 30% of the viral progeny in some samples. In addition, the presence of US2C within SP2wt significantly decreased the pathogenicity of contaminated inocula by 3.6-fold. The use of foreign virus field isolates containing defective genomes and their possible impact on the biological activity of native NPV populations may be a cause for concern where these viruses are used as agents for biological control.
The Moderating Effect of Social Media Use on Sustainable Rural Tourism: A Theory of Planned Behavior Model

Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model, this research aimed to investigate which important factors affect the potential behavior of rural tourism tourists. It also sought to identify the effects of social networking service (SNS) use on the rural tourism using TPB model. For analysis, a partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used. The results revealed that tourists were influenced by subjective norm and perceived behavior control, of which the effect of subjective norm was greater. Consumers’ use of SNS played a notable role in contributing to the strength of the relationship between intention to visit and subjective norm. Promoters and marketers of sustainable tourism can use the results to make more effective decisions in their businesses.
Quantitative ruminant nutrition — a green science

Knowledge of quantitative digestion and metabolism in ruminants was developed most rapidly when isotope dilution techniques became easy to apply, facilitated by improved instrumentation and mathematical approaches. The Armidale group led by Professor E. F. Annison and Dr D. B. Lindsay were at the forefront of these developments in the late 1950's. Since then knowledge in this area has developed at an ever increasing rate. The data that accumulated from the quantitative approach led to simple or complex models of animal digestion, metabolism and growth. These in turn led to much questioning of the dogma of feed evaluation and feeding standards as they applied in practice, especially for ruminants fed on poor quality forages. The knowledge that developed has clearly shown that the way toward substantial increases in productivity of ruminants on forage based diets is through the balanced nutrient approach that considers the efficiency of the rumen ecosystem and the availability of dietary nutrients post-ruminally. With increasing emphasis on quality-beef markets at the present time, it seems likely that the time is ripe for application of much of this knowledge. The major breakthroughs have come about by recognition of the nutrients required to balance a ruminant's diet where the animal depends on the end-products of rumen fermentation (i.e. on a forage-based diet). When this is achieved, the increase in efficiency of use of nutrients lifts the overall nutrition of the animal to a level that is well above that predicted from feeding standards, based on the metabolizable energy content of the supplement or the total diet. This understanding, together with the stoichiometry of rumen fermentation, has indicated an important approach to help ameliorate the greenhouse effect, that is, lowering of enteric methane production per unit of feed intake or per unit of animal products from ruminants by strategic supplementation.
Dolomite and Compost Amendments Enhance Cu Phytostabilization and Increase Microbiota of the Leachates from a Cu-Contaminated Soil

The chemical properties, ecotoxicity, and microbiome of leachates from phytomanaged Cu-contaminated soils were analyzed. The phytomanagement was carried out using Cu-tolerant poplar Populus trichocarpa × deltoides cv. Beaupre and black bent Agrostis gigantea L. , aided by soil amendments, i.e., dolomitic limestone (DL) and compost (OM), alone and in combination (OMDL). Plants plus either DL or OMDL amendments reduced in leachates the electrical conductivity, the Cu concentration, and the concentration of total organic C except for the OMDL treatment, and decreased leachate toxicity towards bacteria. Total N concentration increased in the OM leachates. The aided phytostabilization increased the culturable bacteria numbers and the proportion of Cu-resistant bacteria in the leachates, as compared to the leachate from the untreated soil. Phytomanagement also enriched the microbial communities of the leachates with plant beneficial bacteria. Overall, the Cu stabilization and phytomanagement induced positive changes in the microbial communities of the soil leachates.