Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global-scale mapping of changes in ecosystem functioning from earth observation-based trends in total and recurrent vegetation

Aim: To evaluate trend analysis of earth observation (EO) dense time series as a new way of describing and mapping changes in ecosystem functioning at regional to global scales. Spatio-temporal patterns of change covering 1982-2011 are discussed in the context of changes in land use and land cover (LULCC). Location: Global. Methods: This study takes advantage of the different phenological cycles of recurrent vegetation (herbaceous vegetation) and persistent vegetation (woody/shrub cover) in combining trend analyses of global-scale vegetation based on different annual/seasonal normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) metrics. Spatial patterns of combined vegetation trends derived from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies NDVI are analysed using land-cover information (GLC2000). Results: The direction of change in annual and seasonal NDVI metrics is similar for most global terrestrial ecosystems, but areas of diverging trends were also observed for certain regions across the globe. These areas are shown to be dominated by land-cover classes of deciduous forest in tropical/subtropical areas. Areas of observed change are found in dry deciduous forest in South America and central southern Africa and are in accordance with studies of hotspot LULCC areas conducted at local and regional scales. The results show that dense time series of EO data can be used to map large-scale changes in ecosystem functional type that are due to forest cover dynamics, including forest degradation, deforestation/reforestation and bush encroachment. Main conclusions: We show that areas characterized by changes in ecosystem functioning governed by LULCC at regional and global scales can be mapped from dense time series of global EO data. The patterns of diverging NDVI metric trends can be used as a reference in evaluating the impacts of environmental changes related to LULCC and the approach may be used to detect changes in ecosystem functioning over time. (Less)
Effects of size and temperature on mud crab,Panopeus herbstii, predation on hard clams,Mercenaria mercenaria

Predation byPanopeus herbstii onMercenaria mercenaria was significantly affected by temperature, and the size of predators and prey items. LargerP. herbstii opened more clams and preyed more successfully on larger clams than did smaller crabs. Increase in seed clam size and decrease in water temperature significantly reduced predation. Clam size appeared to be more important than crab satiation in reducing predation rate. Planting larger seed clams in cooler months should help to improve clam survival by reducing the impact ofP. herbstii in culture operations.
Mapeo genético y análisis de QTL para carotenos en una población s1 de yuca

The S1 population of the Thai variety MTAi8 (AM320), which shows patterns of segregation defined by the content of total carotenes (beta-carotene), underwent an analysis of segregating bulk (BSA = Bulk segregating Analysis) using 700 molecular markers type microsatellites or SSR. There were generated 25 tying groups and identifying 3 major QTLs associated with a region of the genome of cassava with the content of total carotenes. Three markers SSR; explained the 37.2% (NS109), 32% (rSSRY251) and 27.7% (rSSRY313) of the total phenotypic variance, placed in the Group D strongly tying, associated with the content of total carotenes in the family AM320 S1, which established a strong positive correlation between color and content root pulp carotenes total (r = 0.81), and between negative and carotenes total dry matter (r = -0.31). The three possible QTLs showed positive and additive effect for the content of totals carotenes and could be an opportunity to implement assisted selection markers for total carotenes in cassava.
Cyanobacterial phycoerythrin purified from marine Lyngbya sp. induces apoptosis in lung carcinoma cells

Phycoerythrins from various cyanobacterial sources have been extensively studied globally for their therapeutic potentials. This study shows the apoptotic potential of cyanobacterial phycoerythrin isolated, purified and characterized from marine Lyngbya sp. A09DM on human lung carcinoma cells (A549 cell). Results indicated that purified cyanobacterial phycoerythrin accounted for a dose-dependent decrement in cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and an increment in lactate dehydrogenase release. Higher dose of cyanobacterial phycoerythrin caused loss of cell viability and nuclear condensation/fragmentation. Flow cytometry accounted for more number of cells in G 0 /G 1 phase and an increase in total number of early apoptotic cells (39.5%). Overall, this study is the first to report on apoptotic property of cyanobacterial phycoerythrin from marine Lyngbya sp. A09DM against A549 human lung carcinoma cells and requires a detailed scrutiny to establish its anti-cancer potential.
Spatio-temporal analysis of insect pests infesting a paddy rice storage facility.

The study describes the temporal and spatial distribution of the insect fauna collected in a paddy rice storage facility over two years, with major emphasis on the most abundant pests. The experiment, using 19 food-bait traps, was carried out in the county of Massaranduba, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, from November 1997 to October 1999. During the whole survey, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), a primary pest associated to stored cereals, was the most abundant species in the storage facility (28,542 specimens captured). Other beetles were collected in remarkable numbers, both primary pests, such as Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (3,931 specimens), and secondary pests, such as Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (4,075 specimens) and Oryzaephilus surinamesis (L.) (1,069 specimens). In general, various species showed very variable distribution and, depending on pest and year, all parts of the facility appeared infested. Pest populations were present both in processing area and in silos, at least in one of the two years survey. Analyzing different distributions, the various zones of the rice facility appeared to have different propensity to insect infestations, with the south-eastern silos and the grain pit with the conveyor belt as the most frequently infested. Moreover, variations between the 1st and 2nd year survey showed a strong decrease of total population numbers in the 2nd year, but in different ways, depending on the species considered. Such a result was probably due to the cleaning measures accomplished inside and outside the silos and in the processing area, including application of insecticide on the structure.
Adaptations to a terrestrial existence by the Robber Crab Birgus latro VI. The role of the excretory system in fluid balance

Primary urine is formed by filtration in the antennal organ of Birgus latro L. Urine isosmotic with the haemolymph is released into the anterior branchial chambers where substantial reabsorption of water and ions may occur. Some of the branchial fluid is ingested and the remainder (final excretory fluid, P) is released. Crabs supplied with fresh water have a low drinking rate (1.82 ml 100 g−1 day−1). Primary urine is partially reabsorbed (27%) in the antennal organ and urine flow (4.48 ml 100 g−1 day−1) is significantly lower than filtration rate (5.77 ml 100 g−1 day−1). The volume of P released is small in crabs drinking fresh water (0.45 ml 100 g−1 day−1) and the fluid is dilute (≈25 mmol l−1 NaCl). The difference between P flow and drinking rate (1.37 ml 100 g−1 day−1) represents evaporative and faecal water losses. Provision of saline drinking water (300, 600 or 1000 mosmol kg−1 sea water) doubles rates of drinking, filtration and urine flow and increases P flow fourfold. Evaporative/faecal water loss remains constant. Reabsorption of salts from the P rapidly decreases when saline media are provided for drinking.
Purification and characterization of a malate dehydrogenase from Phaseolus mungo

A malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was identified and isolated from the seeds of the mung bean ( Phaseolus mungo ). The procedure entailed extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on CMSephadex and high performance liquid chromatography on POROS HS-20. The purified protein exhibited a molecular mass of 38 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under both nonreduced and reduced conditions. The pI was 9.7 by isoelectric focusing. The specific activity of the MDH was estimated to be 199 U/mg. The enzyme expressed its optimum activity at pH 7.2, 35C, and showed stable activity below 40C. The Km for oxaloacetate was 112 μ M. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence data analysis of the first 20 amino acids of the mung bean MDH revealed 95 and 80% homology with two reported MDH from soya bean ( Glycine max ) and potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), respectively.
Somatic Embryogenesis Induction from Protocorm-like Bodies and Leaf Segments of Dendrobium Sonia ‘Earsakul’

This study aimed to evaluate effects of types and concentrations of plant growth regulators in a halfstrength Murashige and Skoog medium on somatic embryogenesis from protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and leaf segments of Dendrobium Sonia ‘Earsakul’ cultured for 8 weeks. It was found that media containing thidiazuron (TDZ) either at 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/L alone or in combinations with 0.1 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 1.0 mg/L 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) provided no significant differences in percentage of somatic embryogenesis (38.18-49%) from PLBs. Half strength MS supplemented with TDZ either at 1 and 3 mg/L alone or combination with 0.1 mg/L NAA provided higher percentage of somatic embryo formation and number of somatic embryo per explant more than supplemented with 0.1 mg/L NAA alone. Low percentage of somatic embryogenesis was found from leaf segments. Leaf explants with the dorsal surface in contact with a medium provided higher somatic embryogenesis (0-18.75%) than those obtained from the explants with the ventral surface contact with culture medium (0.89 8.04%). Furthermore, basal segments of leaves with ventral surface in contact with a medium showed higher somatic embryogenesis and number of embryos (1.79-16.07% and 0.2-0.85, respectively) than those obtained from apical segments (0-1.78% and 0-0.3, respectively). There was a significant difference in somatic embryogenesis (0-18.75%) of a leaf when a dorsal surface was placed on the culture medium. Somatic Embryogenesis Induction from Protocorm-like Bodiesand Leaf Segments of Dendrobium Sonia ‘Earsakul’
Temporal variation of tannins (galloylglucoses), flavonols and anthocyanins in leaves of Eucalyptus nitens seedlings : implications for light attenuation and antioxidant activities

Leaves of Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maidenwere sampled during establishment of seedlings that were deprived of nutrientsor fertilised at planting. Extracts were analysed for polyphenolic compoundsusing high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in conjunction with UV diodearray and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with negative iondetection as well as direct MS injection. The presence of quercetin, rutin,sideroxylonal A and B andpenta-galloylglucose were confirmed by comparison with standards. Othergalloylglucoses were identified by first principles. Galloylglucoses comprisedabout 75% of polyphenolics. Quercetin and various quercetin glycosidescomprised ca 85% of flavonols. The anthocyanins,cyanidin-3-glycoside and cyanidin-3,5-diglycoside were identified from directinjection MS data. HPLC–ESI-MS was found to be a superior analyticaltechnique compared to conventional HPLC–UV diode array detection due toco-elution of peaks under UV. Temporal variation of anthocyanins may berelated to the severity of cold-induced photoinhibition. Changes ingalloylglucoses and flavonols were similar with time and related to levels offoliar nitrogen. The suitability of HPLC–ESI-MS for the study of foliarpolyphenolics, the phenolic constitution of E. nitensfoliage, and temporal variation of the phenolic constituents during a seedlingestablishment period of 29 weeks are demonstrated.
The cooler side of mycorrhizas: their occurrence and functioning at low temperatures

Mycorrhizal associations occur in a range of habitats in which soils are subject to low temperature (≤15 °C) for a significant part of the year. Despite this, most of our understanding of mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with their plant hosts is based on physiological investigations conducted in the range 20–37 °C using fungi of temperate origin. Comparatively little consideration has been given to the cold edaphic conditions in which many mycorrhizas survive and prosper, and the physiological and ecological consequences of their low temperature environments. In this review, we consider the distribution and persistence of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal mycorrhizal associations in cold environments and highlight progress in understanding adaptations to freezing resistance and nutrient acquisition at low temperature in mycorrhizal fungi.
Exogenously supplied glycine betaine in spinach and rapeseed leaf discs: compatibility or non‐compatibility?

CMS, cell membrane stability GB, glycine betaine PEG, polyethylene glycol TTC, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride When leaf discs of spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Junius) and rapeseed (Brassica napus var. oleifera cv. Samourai) were incubated in the light in the presence of glycine betaine (GB), they accumulated GB at a very high level. In comparison with the spinach leaf explants, the uptake of GB by rapeseed tissues was restricted, probably by the destabilizing effects exerted by GB in this plant material. In contrast, the viability of spinach leaf discs, as assessed by their capacity to reduce 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), was not affected, suggesting that the GB taken up was compatible in the leaf tissues of the GB accumulator. In rapeseed leaf discs treated with GB, chlorophyll loss as well as significant changes in polyamine content were induced, leading to a dramatic increase of the putrescine/(spermidine + spermine) ratio. In contrast, this ratio remained constant in the GB treated spinach explants, suggesting that spinach has the capacity to stabilize polyamine metabolism in the presence of high amounts of GB. The treatment of spinach leaf discs with GB prior to application of osmotic or salt shocks provided protection from stress. A weak capacity to accumulate proline under stress conditions was partially suppressed. The protein content decreased while the free amino acid level increased independently of the presence of GB. It is concluded that GB behaves as a true compatible solute in spinach, which is a typical GB accumulator, and that GB is damaging when loaded into the leaf tissues of rapeseed, which do not normally accumulate GB.
Priority Factors of Service Recovery Strategy in Distribution Channel

In this study, we tried to evaluate the relative importance and find out the differences in consumer perceptions regarding service recovery strategies and the service provider in the distribution industry by using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) analysis method. Therefore in this study, we tried to systematize various recovery strategies which were considered very important during service failure process in the distribution industry and analyze the relative importance for each recovery strategy. We set hierarchy composed of four items of monetary, action-oriented, psychological, and assured level as primary selection criteria and a total of 16 items(indemnity, refund, gift, gift certificate, prompt resolution, exchange, manager support, explanation, apology, empathy, acknowledge, kindness, assortment, after service, manage subcontractor, manage employee) as secondary selection criteria. We tried to take one step further from the service sector and study service recovery strategies specialized in distributor services. This study suggests various implications about service recovery strategies of distributors. First, this study can provide practical implications ? e.g. service recovery efforts should be applied differently depending on service channels. There is a perceptual difference with respect to the importance of the types of service recovery strategies between service provider and final customer. Second, we can find theoretical implications in terms of identifying the priorities through hierarchy design of new recovery strategies and comparison of each element from the classifications of the current fractional recovery strategies. We hope to help service providers to build more efficient recovery strategy system based on the results of this study.
The effect of elevated CO2 and grazing by Gastrophysa viridula on the physiology and regrowth of Rumex obtusifolius

summary Plants of Rumex obtusifolius L. were grown in Solardomes under ambient and elevated (+ 250 μmol mol−1) mole fractions of CO2 and were exposed to two levels of herbivory by Gastrophysa viridula Degeer larvae. The herbivory treatment lasted 1 month, thereafter half of the plants were harvested and over the following month during a period of regrowth physiological measurements were made on the remaining plants. At the termination of the herbivory treatment uninfested plants showed no damage, whereas the low and high herbivore treatments caused 20–40% and 50–70% loss of leaf area as a proportion of total leaf area, respectively. The CO2 treatment did not affect the degree of defoliation. Total leaf area was not significantly affected by either CO2 or herbivory. Uninfested plants grown in elevated concentrations of CO2 showed increased growth, root-to-shoot ratios (RS), rates of photosynthesis and reduced stomatal conductance compared with uninfested plants grown in ambient CO2. A/C1 analysis revealed that plants grown in elevated CO2 showed reductions in Vcmax. For plants grown in ambient CO2 the high herbivory treatment led to increased rates of photosynthesis and decreased rates of dark respiration per unit leaf area, and caused increases in stomatal conductance and RS. For plants grown in elevated CO2 the high herbivory treatment increased plant biomass and RS. The increases in RS in response to elevated CO2 and herbivory appeared to be additive. Defoliation did not reduce the degree of photosynthetic down-regulation caused by growth in elevated concentrations of CO2, but appeared to reduce the rate of ontogenic decline in photosynthesis in ambient CO2.
In vitro antifungal activity of chitinolytic enzymes produced by bio-agents against root rot pathogenic fungi

A study was carried out using simple laboratory techniques to examine the influence of the antagonistic isolates of Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, Bacillius subtilis and Pseudomons flourescence and their culture filtrates on selected soil-borne root rot pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. Testing procedures were standardised using two different methods. The experiments were based on the principle of dual culture and agar diffusion techniques. The experiment involved the recording of the percentage of reduction in growth and inhibition zones formed by various filtrates of antagonistic culture growth. The results showed that the antagonists tested had the ability to reduce the linear growth of fungal pathogens. Also, the cultures filtrates of antagonists had antifungal activities by forming inhibition zones. Culture filtrates have shown a strong clear inhibition zone which increases in diameter as the incubation period of antagonists increases. This observation was related to the increase in the activity of chitinolytic enzymes as secondary metabolic compounds produced in growth media by prolonging the period of incubation. The study has proved that such enzymes can be effectively used for suppression of soil-borne pathogens and that it can evolve as a potential biocide.
Lichens in four Newfoundland provincial parks: new provincial records

Fieldwork in J. T. Cheeseman, Sandbanks, Jipujijkuei Kuespem, and Fitzgerald’s Pond Provincial Parks, Newfoundland, has yielded 133 lichen taxa, of which 15 species are new to the province: Anisomeridium biforme , Athallia holocarpa , Caloplaca borealis , Cetrelia olivetorum , Cladonia cf. rappii , Gyalolechia xanthostigmoidea , Lecanora straminea , Lecidea brunneofusca , Micarea globulosella , Micarea prasina ( s.l. ), Miriquidica pycnocarpa , Pertusaria consocians , Toensbergia leucococca , Usnea fragilescens var. mollis , and Usnea silesiaca .
Winter survival by dragonfly adults in the Cape Floristic Region

Little is known about the ability of adult dragonfly individuals to survive into or over the winter in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), a significant biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. Dragonfly species richness and abundance were recorded throughout winter and into spring in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Several environmental variables were also measured. Individuals of eight dragonfly species (four in the Anisoptera and four in the Zygoptera) survived into the winter as adults, even though winter conditions would seem unfavourable (wet, windy and cold) for them in this area at this time of year. Five of these species were CFR endemic or national endemic species or subspecies, illustrating local adaptation. Of the remaining three, all of which are widely distributed species in Africa, only one, Trithemis arteriosa, clearly appeared as old, overwintering adults into spring, indicating its versatility both in its adaptation to winter conditions as well as its well-known tolerance of biotope variability. This may partly explain its success as one of South Africa's most common and widespread species. Although many environmental variables were measured and correlated with species richness and abundance, it was only air temperature and associated low relative humidity that were highly positively significant. This emphasizes that the species were opportunistic during the winter and only took to the air on clear, sunny and warm winter days during the cold season. Unlike some other local studies conducted in the summer, these winter results indicated that water flow was a less important variable than that of the seemingly critical variable of temperature during this season. In addition, the importance of emergent vegetation also played a role and appears important for shelter on cool, wet, windy days which precluded flight activity.
Advection‐Based Function Matching on Surfaces

A tangent vector field on a surface is the generator of a smooth family of maps from the surface to itself, known as the flow. Given a scalar function on the surface, it can be transported, or advected, by composing it with a vector field's flow. Such transport is exhibited by many physical phenomena, e.g., in fluid dynamics. In this paper, we are interested in the inverse problem: given source and target functions, compute a vector field whose flow advects the source to the target. We propose a method for addressing this problem, by minimizing an energy given by the advection constraint together with a regularizing term for the vector field. Our approach is inspired by a similar method in computational anatomy, known as LDDMM, yet leverages the recent framework of functional vector fields for discretizing the advection and the flow as operators on scalar functions. The latter allows us to efficiently generalize LDDMM to curved surfaces, without explicitly computing the flow lines of the vector field we are optimizing for. We show two approaches for the solution: using linear advection with multiple vector fields, and using non‐linear advection with a single vector field. We additionally derive an approximated gradient of the corresponding energy, which is based on a novel vector field transport operator. Finally, we demonstrate applications of our machinery to intrinsic symmetry analysis, function interpolation and map improvement.