Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An assessment on the uses of Loranthaceae in ethno pharmacology in Cameroon: A case study made in Logbessou, North of Douala

Loranthaceae are known as hemiparasites of forest and cultivated trees. A study on their uses in ethno pharmacology were carried out in Logbessou in the North of Douala (Cameroon). We used a structured questionnaire to interview 150 active traditional healers in 2008. 82% of the healers recommended P. capitatafor the treatment of at least 22 diseases. We discuss the uses of Loranthaceaewith regard to information available in the literature for European countries. Key words: Loranthaceae, ethno pharmacology, questionnaire, traditional healers.
Necessity of a Functional Octadecanoic Pathway for Indole Alkaloid Synthesis by Catharanthus roseus Cell Suspensions Cultured in an Auxin-Starved Medium

The effect of methyl jasmonate (mJA), jasmonic acid and traumatic acid, derivatives of the octadecanoic pathway, on the production of alkaloids by cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus L. (G) Don was investigated. Cells cultured in the presence of auxin (m-cells) did not accumulate alkaloids. The addition of exogenous mJA to mcells restored the ability to produce alkaloids. In cells cultured in a 2,4-D-starved medium (p-cells), exogenous mJA greatly increased alkaloid production. Similar data were obtained for jasmonic acid. In contrast, traumatic acid had no effect on alkaloid production. The sensitivity of cell suspension cultures to exogenous mJA was restricted to the first four days of subculture corresponding to the active growth phase, whereas the alkaloid accumulation occurred only during the stationary phase of the subculture (days 6 to 10). When p-cells were treated with octadecanoic pathway inhibitors, the ability to produce alkaloids was strongly reduced. The addition of exogenous mJA always restored the ability to produce alkaloids. These data suggest that in response to auxin depletion, endogenous mJA could be produced and act by linking physiological events thus leading to alkaloid biosynthesis activation.
Pigmentation of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1875), using Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) microalga

A feeding experiment was conducted over 9 weeks with seven groups of 30 (fish per group) unpigmented gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1875) (initial mean weight = 145.2 ± 12.3 g). Three experimental diets were prepared by adding to a basal diet free of carotenoid (final pigment content of around 40 mg per kg feed): (i) a biomass of the carotenogenic Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyta, Volvocales); (ii) a synthetic astaxanthin; and (iii) a mixture (1:1) of microalgal biomass and synthetic astaxanthin. At 3-week intervals, five fish were sampled from each tank for total carotenoids analysis in skin and muscle. The carotenoid pigments (total amount = 0.4%) identified in the carotenogenic alga were lutein (0.3%), β-carotene (1.2%), canthaxanthin (36.2%), astaxanthin, free and esterified forms (55.0%), and other pigments (7.3%). Carotenoid pigments were significantly deposited in the four skin zones studied during the feeding trial: the forefront between the eyes, the opercule, along the dorsal fin and in the abdominal area. In the muscle, regardless of the astaxanthin source, the amount of carotenoids measured was very low (less than 1 mg kg−1) and differences not significant. Moreover, no muscle pigmentation was evident, and there was no variation in the amount of carotenoid analysed in skin tissue, through the trial, for each treatment. It was concluded that supplementing the feed with C. vulgaris would be an acceptable practice in aquaculture to improve the market appeal of the gilthead seabream.
Genomic prediction of sunflower hybrid performance

Predicting single-cross performance is of high importance to improve the efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid breeding programmes. We used experimental data from inter- and intragroup sunflower hybrids and their parental lines adapted to Central Europe to (i) study the genetic diversity and combining ability and (ii) examine the accuracy to predict hybrid performance based on phenotypic and genomic data. We evaluated 133 intragroup and 104 intergroup hybrids with their parental lines in replicated trials at four environments for grain yield, oil yield and oil content. Furthermore, the parental lines were fingerprinted with 572 AFLP markers. Variance due to specific combining ability was comparable for intergroup and intragroup crosses. This suggested a lack of clearly defined heterotic groups for the sample of studied sunflower lines. Prediction accuracy of hybrid performance based on general combining ability effects was high and could not be increased using genomic selection approaches. For situations where no information on GCA effects of parental lines was available, hybrid prediction based on genomic selection methods was accurate for groups of related lines. For groups of unrelated lines, however, we observed a strong decrease in the prediction accuracy. This suggests that prediction of hybrid performance for crosses based on genetically distant parents remains challenging.
Optimism

We explore the effects that optimism bias has on the demand for insurance. Our theory is based on a simple binomial model of the demand for insurance in which consumers make optimistically biased assessments concerning the likelihood of future outcomes. From this model, we derive an insurance demand equation from which we obtain empirically testable predictions based on comparative static analysis. Our empirical study considers the demand for health insurance, and empirical results largely support our theory, in that we find that insurance demand is increasing in wealth and decreasing in optimism bias, premium loading, and the joint interaction between optimism bias and premium loading.
The relationship of parameters of body measures and body weight by using digital image analysis in pre-slaughter cattle

objective of this study was to predict body weight (BW) of pre-slaughtering beef cattle using digital image analysis. Data used in this study were collected from slaughterhouses in Isparta and nearby provinces from 140 animals. Selected body measurements such as body weight (BW), wither height (WH), body length (BL), chest depth (CD), hip width (HW), hip height (HH) and body area (BA) of different breeds of beef cattle were combined and compared by digital image analysis. The body area was included as a different parameter for prediction of BW instead of chest girth. However, regression equation that included only body area gave the lowest R 2 value for Holstein (18.0%), but the R 2 value was 43.2 and 51.7% for Brown Swiss and crossbred animals, respectively. The regression equation which included all body traits resulted in R 2 values 35.3, 85.1, and 79.6% for Holstein, Brown Swiss and crossbred, respectively. The regression equation which included body area and body length showed that prediction ability of digital image analysis was high for prediction of BW in Brown Swiss and crossbred animals compared to Holsteins (R 2 82.6, 76.5, and 29.5%, respectively). Results indicated that the prediction ability of digital image analysis was low for prediction of BW. Although possibility of using body area as a parameter in predicting BW is low it can be developed by further and better designed experiments.
Dissipation of imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron in soil

Summary The degradation of imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron applied at 500.40 and 30 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha-1, respectively, to silt loam soil was studied under laboratory and field conditions. Herbicide residues were analysed by a lentil (Lens culinarits L.) bioassay. Results showed that temperature had a significant effect on herbicide degradation, whereas the impact of soil organic matter ami pH were less well defined. Half-lives for imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron in soil samples from the 0-5 cm layer (6.4% organic carbon) at 15 °C were 125, 88 and 5.4 days, respectively, and 69, 30 and 3.9 days at 30°C. In soil sampled from the 15-20 cm layer (3.5% organic carbon) half-lives were 155. 70 and 6.4 days, respectively, at 15 °C and 77, 24 and 4.8 days at 30 °C, A field experiment investigated the degradation and teaching of each herbicide under two precipitation regimes [natural precipitation (208 mm), and natural precipitation plus 75 mm irrigation (283 mm) over 4 months to a soil depth of 25 cm. Thifensulfuron degraded rapidly, whereas residues of flumetsulam and imazapyr leached below 25 cm in both the low-and high-precipitasion treatments after 4 months. Significant imazapyr residues were still present in the soil to 25 cm depth after 3 months, A multi-component model for herbicide dissipation was developed and evaluated using data from the laboratory and field experiments.
Dual Effects of IκB Kinase β-Mediated Phosphorylation on p105 Fate: SCFβ-TrCP-Dependent Degradation and SCFβ-TrCP-Independent Processing

ABSTRACT Processing of the p105 NF-κB precursor to yield the p50 active subunit is a unique and rare case in which the ubiquitin system is involved in limited processing rather than in complete destruction of its target. The mechanisms involved in this process are largely unknown, although a glycine repeat in the middle of p105 has been identified as a processing stop signal. IκB kinase (IKK)β-mediated phosphorylation at the C-terminal domain with subsequent recruitment of the SCFβ-TrCP ubiquitin ligase leads to accelerated processing and degradation of the precursor, yet the roles that the kinase and ligase play in each of these two processes have not been elucidated. Here we demonstrate that IKKβ has two distinct functions: (i) stimulation of degradation and (ii) stimulation of processing. IKKβ-induced degradation is dependent on SCFβ-TrCP, which acts through multiple lysine residues in the IκBγ domain. In contrast, IKKβ-induced processing of p105 is β-transduction repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP) independent, as it is not affected by expression of a dominant-negative β-TrCP or following its silencing by small inhibitory RNA. Furthermore, removal of all 30 lysine residues from IκBγ results in complete inhibition of IKK-dependent degradation but has no effect on IKK-dependent processing. Yet processing still requires the activity of the ubiquitin system, as it is inhibited by dominant-negative UbcH5a. We suggest that IKKβ mediates its two distinct effects by affecting, directly and indirectly, two different E3s.
Impact of Land-surface Initialization on ACCESS-S1 and Comparison with POAMA

1 1. Introduction . 2 2. MODELS, LAND DATA, and EXPERIMENT DESIGN . 3 2.1 The ACCESS-S1 compared to POAMA . 3 2.2 JULES offline model configuration and atmosphere forcing data . 3 2.3 ACCESS-S1 hindcast experimental design . 5 3. impact on the mean state and forecast skill . 5 3.1 Impact on surface temperature diurnal range . 6 3.2 Impact on the precipitation biases and atmosphere circulation . 9 3.3 Impact on the forecast skill . 11 3.3.1 Seasonal forecast skill . 11 3.3.2 Monthly forecast skill . 13 3.3.3 Multi-week skill . 15 4. Discussion and Conclusions . 15 Acknowledgements . 18 References . 19 Appendix A: Issues in ACCESS-S1 system . 21 Appendix B: Measure of ensemble performance . 25 IMPACT OF LAND-SURFACE INITIALIZATION ON ACCESS-S1 AND COMPARISON WITH POAMA
Nutritional requirements for the production of antimicrobial metabolites from Streptomyces

The objective of this study was to optimize the nutritional and cultural conditions of Streptomyces strain ERI-1, ERI-3 and ERI-26 for the production of antimicrobial metabolites under shake-flask conditions. Effect of eight fermentation medium, different temperature, pH, incubation time, different carbon and nitrogen sources and different concentration of sodium chloride on production of antimicrobial metabolites were studied. Antimicrobial activity of the fermentation medium was evaluated by cup plate method by measuring the zone of inhibition. Nutritional and cultural conditions for the production of antimicrobial metabolites by Streptomyces strain ERI-1, ERI-3 and ERI-26 under shake-flask conditions have been optimized. Modified nutrient medium was found to be good base for fermentation. Glucose and ammonium nitrate were identified as best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively for growth and production of more antimicrobial compounds. Similarly, initial production medium pH of 7.0, incubation temperature of 30°C and incubation time of 96 h was found to be optimal. Optimization of medium and cultural conditions resulted in better antibacterial and antifungal activity. The zone of inhibition of ERI-26 against Aspergillus niger was 25 and 20 mm for Curvularia lunata, respectively. It is clear that novel Stretomyces strains ERI-1, ERI-3 and ERI-26 produced extra cellular antimicrobial metabolites effective against pathogenic bacteria and fungi, moreover the medium and cultural conditions for better antimicrobial metabolites production have been optimized. Key words: Streptomyces, antimicrobial activity, nutritional requirements, cultural conditions, optimized media.
Backwardness Advantage and Economic Growth in the Information Age: A Cross-Country Empirical Study

This paper seeks to gain insights into whether developing countries benefit more from the backwardness advantage for economic growth in the Information Age. The paper examines this concern through three complementary approaches. First, it derives theoretical grounds from the existing economic models to support the hypothesis that the internet, inter alia, enables developing countries to reap greater growth gains from technology acquisition and catch-up. Second, the paper uses descriptive evidence to show that the growth landscape has indeed shifted decisively in favor of developing countries in the Internet Age in comparison to the pre-internet period. Third, using rigorous econometric techniques with data of 163 countries over a 20-year period, 1996-2016, the paper evidences that developing countries on average reap significantly greater growth gains from internet adoption in comparison to the average advanced country. The paper discusses policy implications from the paper’s findings.
Reduction in Effective Parasitism of Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by Bathyplectes curculionis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Due to Encapsulation

Abstract The extent to which encapsulation of eggs of Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) reduces the effectiveness of this parasitoid as a control agent for the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), was evaluated in two studies over the period from 1973 to 2000. Collections of alfalfa weevil larvae were made annually from research areas in Grady and Payne Counties (Study I) and in statewide surveys (Study II) across Oklahoma to estimate the prevalence of encapsulation of eggs of both first and second generations of B. curculionis. Subsamples of 100 weevil larvae were dissected for each sampling date to determine the numbers and condition (healthy versus encapsulated) of parasitoids in each host larva. Probabilities for encapsulation of solitary eggs ranged from 0.20 to 0.29 for the first generation and from 0.07 to 0.08 for the second generation of B. curculionis. Although probabilities for encapsulation of at least one egg in superparasitized larvae ranged from 0.48 to 0.55 for the first generation, the probabilities of supernumerary eggs being encapsulated were much lower, ranging from 0.03 to 0.19. Regression analyses indicated highly significant relationships between effective (hosts containing healthy parasitoids) and actual (all hosts containing parasitoids) parasitism for both studies across all values (1–100%) for actual parasitism. Regression of efficiency of encapsulation (percentage of reduction in effective parasitism caused by encapsulation) on years indicates that the value of encapsulation as a defense for H. postica against B. curculionis may have diminished over the 28 yr that these studies were conducted. The reduction in efficiency of encapsulation does not appear to have resulted from greater prevalence of superparasitism, as the occurrence of supernumerary parasitoids in larvae of H. postica also decreased during these studies.
Rhodolith bed: a newly discovered habitat in the North Pacific Ocean

Abstract Rhodoliths are unattached calcareous red algae that form extensive beds. Although rhodolith beds are widely distributed in temperate and tropical areas, a recent discovery in the North Pacific Ocean represents a significant northward extension of known rhodolith distribution. This bed, located in Prince William Sound, Alaska, is composed of one rhodolith species, Phymatolithon calcareum, with two reproductive states, tetrasporangial and gametangial. A characteristic feature of this bed is that cryptofaunal chitons were the most abundant associated invertebrate species. Comparisons with P. calcareum populations in other regions showed that Prince William Sound thalli are smaller in many measurable anatomical features.
A quantitative null model of additive diversity partitioning: examining the response of beta diversity to extinction

Abstract Paleobiological diversity is often expressed as α (within-sample), β (among-sample), and γ (total) diversities. However, when studying the effects of extinction on diversity patterns, only variations in α and γ diversities are typically addressed. A null model that examines changes in β diversity as a function of percent extinction is presented here. The model examines diversity in the context of a hierarchical sampling strategy that allows for the additive partitioning of γ diversity into mean α and β diversities at varying scales. Here, the sampling hierarchy has four levels: samples, beds, facies, and region; thus, there are four levels of α diversity (α1, α2, α3, α4) and three levels of β diversity (β1, β2, and β3). Taxa are randomly assigned to samples within the hierarchy according to probability of occurrence, and initial mean α and β values are calculated. A regional extinction is imposed, and the hierarchy is resampled from the remaining extant taxa. Post-extinction mean α and β values are then calculated. Both non-selective and selective extinctions with respect to taxon abundance yield decreases in α, β, and γ diversities. Non-selective extinction with respect to taxon abundance shows little effect on diversity partitioning except at the highest extinction magnitudes (above 75% extinction), where the contribution of α1 to total γ increases at the expense of β3, with β1 and β2 varying little with increasing extinction magnitude. The pre-extinction contribution of α1 to total diversity increases with increased probabilities of taxon occurrence and the number of shared taxa between facies. Both β1 and β2 contribute equally to total diversity at low occurrence probabilities, but β2 is negligible at high probabilities, because individual samples preserve all the taxonomic variation present within a facies. Selective extinction with respect to rare taxa indicates a constant increase in α1 and constant decrease in β3 with increasing extinction magnitudes, whereas selective extinction with respect to abundant taxa yields the opposite pattern of an initial decrease in α1 and increase in β3. Both β1 and β2 remain constant with increasing extinction for both cases of selectivity. By comparing diversity partitioning before and after an extinction event, it may be possible to determine whether the extinction was selective with respect to taxon abundances, and if so, whether that selectivity was against rare or abundant taxa. Field data were collected across a Late Ordovician regional extinction in the Nashville Dome of Tennessee, with sampling hierarchy similar to that of the model. These data agree with the abundant-selective model, showing declines in α, β, and γ diversities, and a decrease in α1 and increase in β3, which suggests this extinction may have targeted abundant taxa.
THEORY OF MARINE COMMUNITIES: COMPETITION, PREDATION, AND RECRUITMENT-DEPENDENT INTERACTION STRENGTH

Of the marine animals that spend their adult lives inhabiting benthic communities, most have a planktonic larval phase. In this paper, we derive the relationship between the physical oceanographic processes that transport these larvae and the strength of species interactions in the benthic habitat. We review a model of hierarchical competition for space between two species with planktonic larvae and develop a model for predator–prey dynamics in which prey are space-limited. Lotka-Volterra approximations to these models are developed. The approximations provide per capita interaction strength (the effect of an individual of one species on the per capita growth rate of another) and population interaction strength (the effect of a population of one species on the per capita growth rate of another) as functions of parameters in the original model. Per capita and population interaction strengths of dominant competitors on subordinates decrease in magnitude as offshore advection of larvae increases. The per cap.
Achieving High Thermoelectric Performance in Rare-Earth Element-Free CaMg2Bi2 with High Carrier Mobility and Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity

CaMg2Bi2-based compounds, a kind of the representative compounds of Zintl phases, have uniquely inherent layered structure and hence are considered to be potential thermoelectric materials. Generally, alloying is a traditional and effective way to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity through the mass and strain field fluctuation between host and guest atoms. The cation sites have very few contributions to the band structure around the fermi level; thus, cation substitution may have negligible influence on the electric transport properties. What is more, widespread application of thermoelectric materials not only desires high ZT value but also calls for low-cost and environmentally benign constituent elements. Here, Ba substitution on cation site achieves a sharp reduction in lattice thermal conductivity through enhanced point defects scattering without the obvious sacrifice of high carrier mobility, and thus improves thermoelectric properties. Then, by combining further enhanced phonon scattering caused by isoelectronic substitution of Zn on the Mg site, an extraordinarily low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.51 W m−1 K−1 at 873 K is achieved in (Ca0.75Ba0.25)0.995Na0. 005Mg1.95Zn0. 05Bi1.98 alloy, approaching the amorphous limit. Such maintenance of high mobility and realization of ultralow lattice thermal conductivity synergistically result in broadly improvement of the quality factor β. Finally, a maximum ZT of 1.25 at 873 K and the corresponding ZTave up to 0.85 from 300 K to 873 K have been obtained for the same composition, meanwhile possessing temperature independent compatibility factor. To our knowledge, the current ZTave exceeds all the reported values in AMg2Bi2-based compounds so far. Furthermore, the low-cost and environment-friendly characteristic plus excellent thermoelectric performance also make the present Zintl phase CaMg2Bi2 more competitive in practical application.
Petrocodon hunanensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species identified by both morphological and molecular evidence from limestone area in Hunan, China

Petrocodon hunanensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from limestone area in Hunan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Petrocodon coriaceifolius , but readily differs from the latter one in the growth form with terrestrial stems and distinct internodes, both surfaces of leaf densely with white pubescence, petiole densely with reddish-purple or white pubescence, zygomorphic corolla white or pale purple and 2–3 cm long, pedicels 0.3–2 (2.8) cm long, 4 stamens and 1 staminodes, ovary and capsule stipitate. Molecular evidences indicate that it is systematically similar to P. hispidus , but the morphologies of two relatives are obviously different.