Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic representation of odours by oscillating neural assemblies

Stimulus evoked oscillatory synchronization of neural assemblies has been most clearly documented in the olfactory and visual systems. Recent results with the olfactory system of locusts show that information about odour identity is contained in spatial and temporal aspects of an oscillatory population response. This suggests that brain oscillations may reflect a common reference for messages encoded in time. Although stimulus‐evoked oscillatory phenomena are reliable, their roles in perception, memory and pattern recognition remain to be demonstrated. Using honey bees, we demonstrated that odour encoding involves, as in locusts, the oscillatory synchronization of assemblies of neurons, and that this synchronization is, here also, selectively abolished by the GABA receptor antagonist picrotoxin. In collaboration with Dr Brian Smith's laboratory, we showed, using a behavioural learning paradigm, that picrotoxin‐induced desynchronization impairs the discrimination of molecularly similar odourants, but not that of dissimilar odours. It appears, therefore, that oscillatory synchronization of neuronal assemblies is relevant, and essential for fine odour discrimination. Finally, experiments with locust mushroom body neurons, two synapses downstream from the antennal lobe, indicate that their responses to odours become less specific when antennal lobe neurons are desynchronized by picrotoxin injection. These results suggest that oscillatory synchronization and the kind of temporal encoding it affords provide an additional dimension by which the brain can segment spatially overlapping stimulus representations.
Stand transpiration and sapflow density in relation to weather, soil moisture and stand characteristics

Sapflow density was measured in six stands in a boreal forest in central Sweden, to assess its dependence on soil moisture and stand characteristics. The stands were mixed and pure Scots pine and Norway spruce stands, which were between 34 and 105 years old. Sapflow was measured in 12 trees per stand using the Granier method during two contrasting growing seasons; one warm and dry and one wet and cool. The canopy conductance of the stands was estimated by the inverse of the Penman-Monteith equation, using time-lag-adjusted sapflow as input. Maximum canopy conductance varied between 8 mm s(-1) and 88 mm s(-1) for the stand with the lowest and highest conductance, respectively. Transpiration was higher in the dry, warm season, mean values for the different stands ranging between 1.30 to 4.64 mm day(-1) during July to September. The corresponding range in the wet, cool season was 0.95 to 2.65 mm day(-1). Besides climatic factors, stand age, stem density and diameter explained most of the variation in sapflow density. By use of multiple regression analysis for 5-day periods it was possible to estimate sapflow density and transpiration for a larger area of the forest. This upscaled area) transpiration was compared with evaporation measured by an eddy-correlation system located centrally in the area. It was shown that areal transpiration constituted 78% of total evaporation in the warm, dry season and 52% in the wet, cool season. It was not possible to establish with confidence a critical limit for soil water at which transpiration began to be reduced, mainly because of wide scatter in the relationship between potential and actual transpiration. (Less)
Spectrally Sparse Tensor Reconstruction in Optical Coherence Tomography Using Nuclear Norm Penalisation

Reconstruction of 3D objects in various tomographic measurements is an important problem which can be naturally addressed within the mathematical framework of 3D tensors. In Optical Coherence Tomography, the reconstruction problem can be recast as a tensor completion problem. Following the seminal work of Candès et al., the approach followed in the present work is based on the assumption that the rank of the object to be reconstructed is naturally small, and we leverage this property by using a nuclear norm-type penalisation. In this paper, a detailed study of nuclear norm penalised reconstruction using the tubal Singular Value Decomposition of Kilmer et al. is proposed. In particular, we introduce a new, efficiently computable definition of the nuclear norm in the Kilmer et al. framework. We then present a theoretical analysis, which extends previous results by Koltchinskii Lounici and Tsybakov. Finally, this nuclear norm penalised reconstruction method is applied to real data reconstruction experiments in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). In particular, our numerical experiments illustrate the importance of penalisation for OCT reconstruction.
Estimating Probabilities of Survival of Male Bachman's Sparrows from Plot-Based, Mark-Resighting, Off-Plot Surveys and Multi-Strata Models

Abstract. Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) is listed as a species of conservation concern throughout its range and therefore an important candidate for demographic studies. We estimated probabilities of males' annual survival by monitoring a large color-marked population for 4 years by using a combination of (1) mark-resighting within a primary study area and (2) surveys outside the primary area to document emigration. We used multi-strata models to assess probabilities of survival, detection, and movement between the primary study area and the surrounding landscape. In the top models included in our confidence set, probabilities of annual survival were ≥0.68. Probabilities of detection and dispersal varied among the top models but averaged ≥0.86 and ≤0.14, respectively, for individuals in the primary study area. We used a survival probability of 0.68 in combination with published information on the species' productivity to construct a two-stage Leslie matrix. Survival of adult males had the greatest proportional influence on population projections (elasticity = 0.52), while survival of juveniles and annual productivity had equal influence (elasticities = 0.24). Our results suggest that off-plot surveys and multistrata models provide an efficient method for estimating probabilities of survival of Bachman's Sparrow.
Pico- and ultraplankton Sargasso Sea communities: variability and comparative distributions of Synechococcus spp. and algae

Ultraplankton (0.2 to 5 ~ m ) provided >88% of euphotic layer chlorophyll (Chl) at 2 Sargasso Sea stations in July/August 1986. Communities were further characterized to quantify the separate abundances of phycoerythrin-fluorescing cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp. and Chl-fluorescing algae in 0.2 to 0 6, 0.6 to 1 and 1 to 5 pm size fractions. Throughout the water-column at both stations, the majority of Synechococcus cells were consistently found in the 0.6 to 1 pm fraction; the Sargasso Sea WH7803 serogroup was not a dominant component of Synechococcus populations at any depth. Highest numbers of Synechococcus cells were always in the surface isothermal layer, where they accounted for >95 % of all ultraphytoplankton cells. At the base of the euphotic layer total numbers of photoautotrophs were low, but numbers of algae increased. The varying distribution of the 2 ultraphytoplankton components with depth was also reflected in their separate contributions to Chl concentrations, and algae were the main contributors to Chl maxima at 1 to 3 % I,. Above this depth, a pigment maximum in phycoerythrin (PE) 1-' occurred at the nitracline, coincident with a peak in primary productivity. PE maxima were due to an increase in PE content of Synechococcus cells and not to an increase in their abundance. The 2 stations did however exhibit significant differences. High surface productivity at Stn 1 was supported by nanomolar changes In nitrate concentrations, which selectively and rapidly induced a Synechococcus bloom. In contrast, the water-column characteristics of Stn 2 were relatively stable, Synechococcus spp. were less abundant throughout the water-column, while algae were twice as abundant at the Chl maximum and 0.5 O/ O llght level, where most were of picoplankton size (79 to 89 % of algae were in < 1 ,um fractions). Data suggest that there is a considerable degree of variability in the abundance, composition, and productivity of stratified oceanic ultraphytoplankton communities.
Assessment of soil phosphorus tests for situations in Australia where reactive phosphate rock and water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers are used

Summary. A selection of commonly used soil phosphorus (P) tests, which included anion and cation exchange resin membranes, were compared in a glasshouse experiment using subterranean clover, and evaluated in the field at 19 sites from the National Reactive Phosphate Rock Project in 1993 and at 6 sites in 1995. The ability of the soil P tests to predict plant response was used to evaluate the tests. In the glasshouse experiment the resin test was less effective than the Bray 1 and Colwell tests in its ability to assess the level of plant-available P from the different fertiliser treatments. Seventy-one percent of the variation in total P content of the subterranean clover shoots was explained by resin-extractable P values, whereas the Colwell procedure accounted for 81% and the Bray 1 procedure accounted for 78%. Water and CaCl2 extracts were poor predictors of P content. In the field experiments all tests evaluated performed poorly in describing the relationship between soil test P and the level of P applied and relative yield and soil test P over a wide range of soil types and environments. The Bray 1 procedure performed best but the relationship was poor.
Increased Antioxidative Activity of Ovalbumin by Heat Treating in an Emulsion of Linoleic Acid

The effects of heat on the antioxidative activity of ovalbumin toward linoleic acid (LA) in an emulsion were studied. After ovalbumin had been heated at 80°C or more, both the antioxidative activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity were markedly elevated. Heating at this temperature rendered the sulfhydryl residues of ovalbumin more reactive to 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and more susceptible to oxidation during incubation with LA in an emulsion. Among the amino acids tested, methionine, histidine, and cysteine acted as antioxidants in an emulsion, and cysteine and histidine acted as superoxide radical scavengers. Both the hydrophobicity and fat-binding capacity were markedly increased after ovalbumin had been heated at 80°C or more. Heating ovalbumin might have increased its antioxidative activity by exposing antioxidative amino acid residues like cysteine and histidine and by enhanced masking of the surface of oil droplets, providing a suitable environment for the antioxidative activit.
Biodegradation by Two Fusarium Strains as A Strategy for Eliminating A Residual Complex from an Adsorption Process

This study depicts the biodegradation as a strategy to eliminate the complex “adsorbent-adsorbate” obtained from adsorption process. The treatment of these secondary pollutants is very important not only because of its possible toxicity, but also due to the landscape alteration by its confinement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the simultaneous biodegradation of a complex of Brilliant Blue R-250 (BBR) and Sorghum vulgare straw, from a previous process of dye adsorption by the straw; the complex used was a load of 20 mg/g. Two fungi with capabilities to degrade BBR (C1) and S. vulgare (H1) were selected from a strain collection previously isolated from soils. The results showed the biodegradation of organic material through cellulolytic activity and the biodegradation of BBR and/or lignin by laccase, LiP and MnP enzymatic activities. Moreover, the results of absorbance spectra showed decrease in the intensity of the residual dye and aromatic compounds, and infrared spectra showed variation in different spectral regions demonstrating the alteration of bond of dye molecule and organic material by biodegradation process. The fungi were identified as Fusarium oxysporum y Fusarium graminearum by partial 18S rDNA sequencing and morphology.
Development and application of a nutrient‐diffusing bioassay for large rivers

1. Laboratory and field experiments were performed to develop and then apply a nutrient-diffusing substratum (NDS) design suitable for use in large, fast-flowing rivers. 2. Initial laboratory experiments quantified diffusion of PO4 and NO3 from new and previously used clay pots, which were soaked in deionized distilled water. Mean release rates initially exceeded 2.4 and 725 μmol l–1 day–1 P and 0.22 and 18 μmol l–1 day–1 N from new and used pots, respectively, but declined rapidly with increasing time spent in deionized distilled water and were below detectable levels after about 18 and 29 days, respectively. 3. A phosphorus (P) dose–response experiment in a P-limited reach of the Athabasca River, Alberta, Canada showed that epilithic biomass and macroinvertebrate density on NDS increased with increasing concentrations of KH2PO4 up to about 0.5 m. Beyond this threshold, biomasses and densities were unaffected by initial KH2PO4 concentration. Coefficients of variation of epilithic biomass estimates declined with increasing KH2PO4 whereas invertebrate density appeared to be unaffected by KH2PO4 levels. 4. Release rates of both P and N from NDS filled with 0.5 m KH2PO4 or 0.5 m NaNO3 declined at a log-negative rate from about 5000 μmol N-NO3 l–1 day–1 and 3500 μmol P-PO4 l–1 day–1 on day 2, to 200 μmol l–1 day–1 for both N and P on day 32. 5. After development, we used the diffusing substrata to identify spatial patterns in nutrient limitation at seven sites along a 120 km reach in the Athabasca River, that receives two known point-source nutrient inputs. NDS consisting of N, P, N + P and unenriched controls were attached to the river bottom for 22–23 days and then retrieved and sampled for epilithic chlorophyll a. Physicochemical parameters and epilithic biomasses on upper stone surfaces were also quantified when NDS were deployed and retrieved from each site. 6. Sites located immediately downstream of the two point source inputs had higher water column concentrations of PO4 and epilithic biomasses than the site immediately upstream; epilithic biomass was positively related to PO4 in the late autumn (r2= 0.58) but not in early autumn. Sites located immediately below nutrient inputs were not nutrient-limited, whereas upstream reference sites were P-limited.
Experimental and Numerical Study of Perforated Steel Plate Shear Panels

Thin perforated Steel Plate Shear (SPS) Walls are among the most common types of energy dissipating systems. The applied holes reduce the shear strength of the plate and allow to decrease the profile size of the members at the boundary of the panel when these systems are used in the typical design of structures. On the other hand, the different fracture locations of these panels are visible when considering the different perforation patterns. This paper reports on the results obtained from the experimental study under cyclic loading of the effect of different hole patterns on the seismic response of the systems and the location of the fracture. According to this, two perforated specimens by different patterns were considered. In addition, a plate without holes for a better comparison of the fracture location was chosen. The results showed that changing the pattern of the holes causes a change in the fracture location. Moreover, in perforated specimens, the amount of shear strength did not reduce suddenly after the fracture phenomenon. In the specimen which was perforated around the web plate, the pinching force was more than any other in the low cycle of the drifts. For this reason, the energy dissipation and initial stiffness were more than up to 3% drift. The experimental specimens were then simulated with a Finite Element (FE) method using the ABAQUS. Finally, a parametric FE analysis on different series of perforated panels, by changing the diameter of the holes and the plate thickness, has been carried out.
The Ecology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a mutually beneficial biological association between species in the fungal phylum Glomeromycota and higher plants roots. The symbiosis is thought to have afforded green plants the opportunity to invade dry land ca 450 Ma ago and the vast majority of extant terrestrial plants retain this association. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi perform various ecological functions in exchange for host photosynthetic carbon that almost always contribute to the fitness of hosts from an individual to community level. Recent AM fungal research, increasingly delving into the ‘Black Box’, suggests that species in this phylum may play a key facilitative role in below-ground micro- and meso-organism community dynamics, even more perhaps, that of a bioengineer. The ubiquitous nature of the symbiosis in extant flora and the fact that variations from the AM symbiosis are recent events suggest that Glomeromycota and plant roots coevolved. This review considers aspects of AM fungal ecology emphasizing past and present importance of the phylum in niche to global ecosystem function. Nutrient exchange, evolution, taxonomy, phenology, below-ground microbial interaction, propagule dissemination, invasive plants interactions, the potential role in phytoremediation and some of the factors affecting AM fungal biology are discussed. We conclude that it is essential to include AM association in any study of higher plants in natural environments in order to provide an holistic understanding of ecosystems.
Requirement Of N, P, K, And S For Yield Maximization Of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia)

Experiments were carried out at the research field of Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur during kharif seasons of 2010 and 2011 to find out the requirement of N, P, K, and S application for obtaining higher yield of bitter gourd (var. BARI Karola-1). There were 14 treatment combinations comprising four levels each of N (0, 90, 20,150 kg/ha), P (0, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha), K (0, 40, 80, 120 kg/ha), and S (0, 20, 30, 40 kg/ha). A blanket dose of 2 kg B, 4 kg Zn, and 5 ton cowdung/ha was used. The maximum fruits/plant, fruit size, and single fruit weight and yield of bitter gourd was achieved from the treatment N120 P40 K80 S30 kg/ha and the lowest from the control treatment. The yield benefit for the best treatment over the control was 208% in 2010 and 137% in 2011. Response to N and P was more pronounced in comparison to K and S. The yield increased linearly with increasing rates of N up to 120 kg/ha, P up to 40 kg/ha, K up to 80 kg/ha, and S up to 30 kg/ha and thereafter decreased. The highest gross margin (Tk. 486867/ha) and marginal rate of return (8083%) was also obtained from the same treatment. Overall results reveal that application of N 120 P 40 K 80 S 30 kg/ha along with a blanket dose of 2 kg B, 4 kg Zn and 5 ton cowdung/ha appears to be the best treatment for maximizing the yield of bitter gourd in Grey Terrace Soil (AEZ-28) of Joydebpur. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(2): 355-361, June 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjar.v38i2. 15896
Genetic differences among subspecies of the saddle‐back tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis):evidence from hybrids

The subspecies of saddle‐back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) are known to be chromatically and morphologically diverse but little is known of the genetic basis for the observed morphological variation. The morphology of first generation subspecific hybrids can be compared to that of the parental subspecies to provide information on the extent and nature of genetic differences in morphology between subspecies. We compare two groups of saddle‐back tamarin hybrids (S. f. illigeri × S. f. lagonotus and S. f. illigeri × S. f. leucogenys) to pure‐bred members of their parental subspecies. These crosses were examined for heterosis, caused by allele frequency differences between the subspecies in combination with directional dominance.
LCZ696 mitigates diabetic‐induced nephropathy through inhibiting oxidative stress, NF‐κB mediated inflammation and glomerulosclerosis in rats

One of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes is DN that considered the primary cause of end‐stage renal disease. Recently, combined therapy of angiotensin II receptor antagonist and neprilysin inhibitor are using to attenuate the DN. Thus the present study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of LCZ696 (LCZ696) therapy on DN‐induced oxidative stress, inflammation and glomerulosclerosis in rats.
The role of biodiversity for element cycling and trophic interactions: an experimental approach in a grassland community

Abstract The focus of a new experiment, set up in Jena in spring 2002, are the effects of biodiversity on element cycles and the interaction of plant diversity with herbivores and soil fauna. The experimental design explicitly addresses criticisms provoked by previous biodiversity experiments. In particular, the choice of functional groups, the statistical separation of sampling versus complementarity effects, and testing for the effects of particular functional groups differ from previous experiments. Based on a species pool of 60 plant species common to the Central European Arrhenatherion grasslands, mixtures of one to 16 (60) species and of one to four plant functional groups were established on 90 plots (20 m × 20 m) with nested experiments. In order to test specific hypotheses 390 additional small-area plots (3.5 m × 3.5 m) were set-up. Exact replicates of all species mixtures serve to assess the variability in ecosystem responses. In a dominance experiment, the effects of interactions among nine selected highly productive species are studied. Each species is grown as monoculture replicated once. Effekte der Biodiversitat auf Elementkreislaufe und Wechselwirkungen der pflanzlichen Artenvielfalt mit Bodenfauna und Herbivoren stehen im Mitttelpunkt eines neuen Experiments, das im Fruhjahr 2002 in Jena eingerichtet wurde. Das Versuchsdesign berucksichtigt ausdrucklich die Kritik, die an den Aufbau fruherer Biodiversitatsversuche gerichtet wurde. Die Auswahl funktioneller Gruppen von Pflanzenarten, die statistischen Moglichkeiten, die Effekte des “Sampling” gegen Komplementaritat zu trennen sowie den Einflus funktioneller Gruppen zu uberprufen, unterscheiden dieses Experiment von fruheren Versuchen. Sechzig typische Pflanzenarten der zentraleuropaischen Frischwiesen (Arrhenatherion) bilden den Artenpool fur den Versuch. Auf 90 Flachen wurden Artenmischungen etabliert, die 1 bis 16 (60) Arten und 1 bis 4 funktionelle Gruppen dieser Pflanzenarten enthalten. Die Versuchsparzellen haben eine Grose von 20 m × 20 m, auf denen in genesteter Anordnung verschiedene Teilexperimente durchgefuhrt werden. Zusatzlich wurden 390 kleine Parzellen (3.5 m × 3.5 m) angelegt, um spezifische Hypothesen zu uberprufen. Alle Arten werden hier mit je einer Wiederholung als Monokulturen kultiviert. Identische Wiederholungen aller Artenmischungen sollen deren Variabilitat untersuchen. In einem Dominanz-Versuch werden die Effekte der Wechselwirkungen zwischen 9 ausgewahlten hochproduktiven Arten untersucht.