Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Projecting future N2O emissions from agricultural soils in Belgium

This study analyses the spatial and temporal variability of N2O emissions from the agricultural soils of Belgium. Annual N2O emission rates are estimated with two statistical models, MCROPS and MGRASS, which take account of the impact of changes in land use, climate, and nitrogen‐fertilization rate. The models are used to simulate the temporal trend of N2O emissions between 1990 and 2050 for a 10′ latitude and longitude grid. The results are also aggregated to the regional and national scale to facilitate comparison with other studies and national inventories. Changes in climate and land use are derived from the quantitative scenarios developed by the ATEAM project based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change‐Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (IPCC‐SRES) storylines. The average N2O flux for Belgium was estimated to be 8.6 × 106 kg N2O‐N yr−1 (STD = 2.1 × 106 kg N2O‐N yr−1) for the period 1990–2000. Fluxes estimated for a single year (1996) give a reasonable agreement with published results at the national and regional scales for the same year. The scenario‐based simulations of future N2O emissions show the strong influence of land‐use change. The scenarios A1FI, B1 and B2 produce similar results between 2001 and 2050 with a national emission rate in 2050 of 11.9 × 106 kg N2O‐N yr−1. The A2 scenario, however, is very sensitive to the reduction in agricultural land areas (−14% compared with the 1990 baseline), which results in a reduced emission rate in 2050 of 8.3 × 106 kg N2O‐N yr−1. Neither the climatic change scenarios nor the reduction in nitrogen fertilization rate could explain these results leading to the conclusion that N2O emissions from Belgian agricultural soils will be more markedly affected by changes in agricultural land areas.
Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Bacillus Strains on Pine and Spruce Seedling Growth and Mycorrhizal Infection

Rifamycin-resistant derivatives of plant growth promoting Bacillus polymyxa strains L6, Pw-2, and S20 were used to evaluate the interaction of bacterial‐mycorrhizal co-inoculation on pine and spruce seedling growth. We were particularly interested in determining if the mechanism by which bacteria stimulated seedling growth depended on the presence of ectomycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal inoculum was introduced by adding 2 ml of one of six forest floor soil types originating from dierent spruce and pine stands to seedling containers. Mycorrhizal roots developed in 34% of pine and 27% of spruce seedlings treated with forest soil, but no dierences between forest soils were detected. Most mycorrhizae were formed by Wilcoxina sp. (E-strain) (98% for spruce and 67% for pine); small numbers of Amphinema-like, Mycelium radicis atroairens, Suillus-like, Thelephora-like, and Tuber-like mycorrhizae were also found on pine (27% in total). Thelephora-like fungi comprised 2% of spruce mycorrhize. In the absence of bacterial inoculum, spruce seedling biomass was positively correlated with the number of mycorrhizal root tips, but this trend was not detected in spruce inoculated with bacteria or in pine. Bacterial inoculation did not influence the mycorrhizal status of seedlings, but all three Bacillus strains stimulated growth of both conifer species. Root biomass, in particular, was significantly enhanced by up to 18% compared with uninoculated controls. Mycorrhizal fungi improved the growth of spruce seedlings, but plant growth promotion by Bacillus was similar for mycorrizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings of both species. Our results suggest that Bacillus strains L6-16R, Pw-2R, and S20-R enhance conifer seedling growth through a mechanism unrelated to mycorrhizal fungi. # 1996 Annals of Botany Company
Quantum message exchanging network using entanglement swapping and decoy photons

We propose a scheme for secure quantum message exchanging network following the idea in entanglement swapping. In this scheme, the servers of the network provide the service for preparing the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) entangled states as quantum channels. For preventing the eavesdropping, a security checking method is suggested. After the security check, anyone of the authorized users can exchange his/her messages with another on the network securely and directly. Key words: Quantum secure direct communication, entanglement swapping, quantum communication network PACS.
Ley antigen expression is correlated with apoptosis (programmed cell death)

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a basic physiological process which determines specific patterns of tissue size and shape, and balance of cell number, during morphogenesis, and seems to play an integral role in oncogenic progression. Since dramatic changes of cellular glycosylation pattern are well known to be closely correlated with differentiation, development and oncogenesis, it is likely that similar specific changes are associated with apoptosis. However, this possibility has not been systematically investigated. We therefore carried out histological studies of many tumours and normal tissues for which a high incidence of apoptosis is believed to occur. Sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed to carbohydrate antigens Le(y) and Le(x), proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Fas (previously claimed to be an apoptosis-inducing antigen). Antibody staining patterns were compared with morphological cell characteristics as revealed by haematoxylin/eosin staining, and DNA fragmentation patterns (a marker of apoptosis) as revealed by 3'-OH nick-end labelling technique. We found that expression of Le(y) (defined by MoAb BM1) is closely correlated with the process of apoptosis, but not with cell proliferation or necrosis. Within Le(y)-positive areas of tissue sections, typical apoptotic morphological changes and DNA fragmentation (as revealed by positive nick-end labelling) were frequently observed in certain loci, although not all Le(y)-positive cells showed such signs of apoptosis. Le(y)-positive areas showed consistent negative staining by MoAb directed to PCNA and negative or weak staining by MoAb directed to Fas antigen, regardless of tissue source. No such trends were observed for Le(x) glycosylation. We conclude that Le(y) expression is a useful phenotypic marker predictive of apoptosis, i.e. some (although not all) Le(y)-positive cells subsequently become apoptotic.
IdentIfIcatIon of SnP mutatIonS In MYBЕ-1 gene Involved In drought StreSS tolerance In maIze

ASSENOV, B. , V. ANDJELKOVIC, D. IGNJATOVIC-MICIC, J. VANCETOVIC, A. NIKOLIC, N. K. CHRISTOV, S. TSONEV, N. ABUMHADI, D. VASSILEV, Y. MUHOVSKI, M. ILCHOVSKA and E. TODOROVSKA, 2013. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 19: 181-185 As one of the most important agricultural crops, maize is a staple diet for a large portion of the continuously growing world’s human population. Unfortunately, its production is severely affected by adverse environmental stresses such as drought, salt, low and high temperatures. The mechanisms of drought stress tolerance in maize are quite complex and involves a signaling network of genes that controls its adaptation to the stress. Recently, many transcription factors (TFs) for tolerance to drought stress have been identified in maize. In this study, specifically designed primers were used to identify functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MYB-like protein E1 (MYBE1) gene of 26 tolerant and sensitive maize inbred lines from the gene banks of Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Serbia and Maize Research Institute, Kneja, Bulgaria by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Multiple alignments of the sequenced fragments to the drought sensitive US maize inbred B73 and other inbred lines, representing the functional diversity of maize, from the Panzea database (http://www.panzea.org/) was performed. The sequence alignment revealed several SNPs in inbred lines object of this study, one of which unique to the drought tolerant Serbian inbreds T3, T5, T6, T7 and T8. In these lines, the A→G transition, located in the acidic Ser/Thr – rich region of the gene, leads to amino acid change from Tryptophan to Alanine at the corresponding position of the protein. This replacement does not affect the binding site of MYBE-1 transcription factor, but possibly reflects the spatial conformation through changing of its functional activity. This study will contribute the identification of functional markers in genes implicated in the development of drought stress tolerance and their further use for genomic improvement in the national maize selection programs.
The Impact of Environmental Factors on Diversity of Ostracoda in Freshwater Habitats of Subarctic and Temperate Europe

In this study, we compared the ostracod species diversity in selected inland-water habitats of Lapland and Poland, and assessed the relationships between ostracod occurrence and abiotic environmental variables. In total, 41 species were collected, of which only 15 species were found in Lapland, as compared with 35 in Poland. Almost all species collected from the Lapland sites were eurybiontic and no clear differences were found between ostracod assemblages inhabiting different habitat types. We hypothesize that this homogeneity might be a consequence of the raised water level during the springtime snow melt, temporarily connecting various waterbodies. The main factors limiting distribution of ostracod species in Lapland appeared to be low pH and low ionic content of water. In Poland,predominantly stenobiontic species were observed. In temporary waters and peat-bogs of this area useful indicator species were identified.
Combined nitrification-denitrification processes

Nitrification and denitrification have traditionally been regarded as essentially separate phenomena, carried out by different bacteria in segregated areas of soil, sediments, water or reactors. However, research in the 1980s and 1990s has established that nitrifiers and denitrifiers are not as metabolically fastidious as previously thought, and strict segregation is not necessary. Moreover, some bacteria are able to convert NH44 and other reduced nitrogen compounds to nitrogen gas and the gaseous nitrogen oxides in combined nitrification/denitrification processes. Such organisms are of interest for wastewater treatment for two opposing reasons. Firstly, the idea of single-stage nitrogen removal has obvious attractions for system design. Secondly, N2O is a serious pollutant, implicated in virtually all current environmental problems (e.g. acid rain, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion).
Intertidal water column meiofauna in relation to wave intensity on an exposed beach

Since the 1970s, various studies have shown that some meiofaunal taxa frequently occur in the water column. Water currents or any process that disturbs the sediments are possible factors that can facilitate the passive entry of meiofauna in the water column. Wave action has been predicted as one of these factors (Armonies, 1994), suggesting a correlation between the number of eroded specimens and wave intensity should exist. As a test of this prediction, replicated samples were taken in the water column, swash sediment and back-swash water in an exposed beach (Island of Sylt, northern Wadden Sea). Wave height and period were measured to characterise the energy regime. Samplings were carried out over a nine day period in August 2000, at diurnal mid-tide time. Wave height and period varied significantly among collections. Densities of nematodes, harpacticoids, nauplii, platyhelminthes, ostracods and bivalve larvae in the water column, swash sediment and back-swash water varied significantly among collections. Nevertheless, no significant correlation was found between water column density and wave characteristics. Density of meiofauna in the water column was not correlated with density in the sediment or in back-swash water. Therefore wave intensity did not explain the variability of meiofaunal densities present in the water column.
A survey of spiders (Araneae) inhabiting the euedaphic soil stratum and the superficial underground compartment in Bulgaria

In 2005 a team of Bulgarian zoologists started a project aiming to study the invertebrates inhabiting the deeper soil stratum (euedaphon) and the Superficial Underground Compartment (SUC) in Bulgaria. In the course of a four-year sampling, a total of 52 species of spiders were caught from 19 collecting sites and 9 geogra- phical regions. They belong to the following families: Scytodidae (1), Segestriidae (1), Dysderidae (8), Nesticidae (1), Anapidae (1), Theridiidae (1), Linyphiidae (20), Agelenidae (3), Cybaeidae (1), Dictynidae (2), Amaurobiidae (2), Liocranidae (3), Corinnidae (1), Zodariidae (1), Gnaphosidae (5), and Salticidae (1). The family Anapidae, with the species Zangherella relicta (Kratochvil, 1935) is recorded from three sites in the Pirin and Slavyanka mountains, and this represents the first record of the family, genus and species in Bulgaria. In spite of the active investigations of the epigean and cave spiders in these regions over the years Z. relicta was not found and it seems it occurs only in deeper subterranean habitats and nowhere else. Comparative study of almost topotypic specimens of Z. relicta from Montenegro with those collected from Bulgaria showed no variation in the shape of palp and female vulvae. Until the true identity of Z. apuliae (Caporiacco, 1949) from Italy is revealed, it remains unclear whether Z. relicta and Z. apuliae are conspecific, as it remains unclear whether the older records of Z. apuliae from the Balkan Peninsula refer to this species or to Z. relicta. Pelecopsis mengei (Simon, 1884) (Linyphiidae) and Scotolathys simplex Simon, 1884 (Dictynidae) are also reported from Bulgaria for the first time, the latter being also new to FYR of Macedonia. A faunistic overview of the spiders found in these underground environments is made, along with remarks on the distribution and ecology of some rare and interesting species. The presence of cave-dwelling and superficial spiders in the sampled sites indicates that SUC and euedaphon are inhabited by different ecotypes, e.g. litter- (tanathostromic), soil- (edaphic) and cave-(troglobitic) which at some places co-occur.
Changes in the Vegetation of Sclerophyll Shrubby Woodland Associated With Invasion by Phytophthora cinnamomi

Changes in the vegetation of a sclerophyll shrub woodland community growing on deep infertile sands at the northern end of Wilson's Promontory National Park were monitored for infected and control plots over a 5- year period and compared with changes due to disease on a ridge site. In all cases disease appeared as a mosaic of chlorotic and dying plants. The plant community changed to an open sedge woodland characterized by a rediction in tree density, loss of susceptible species, an increase in cover by resistant sedges and increased amount of bare ground. There were highly significant changes in plant density for 12 of the 16 species and in the proportion of these species in the total vegetation. The changes are continuing and there is no evidence as to whether they are irreversible or likely to become part of a cyclic process of disease and recovery. Changes in soil temperature and soil matric water potential were monitored continuously during the 5 years and were correlated with changes in pathogen disease potential, symptom expression and deaths. Disease was most severe not on the plots but on nearby ridge sites with exposed shallow, gravelly soils, and in these plant deaths were more frequent and occurred in more species.
Structural Studies on the Galactomannans of Lichens of the Genus Cladonia

Abstract Galactomannans were isolated from Cladonia signata, C. furcata, C. imperialis, and C. clathrata via successive alkaline extraction and precipitation with Fehling solution and Cetavlon. They were investigated using ⊃13C-NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and Smith degradation, and their specific rotations and monosaccharide compositions determined. As with galactomannans of other Cladonia species, they contained (l →6)-linked main chains of α-mannopyranose, which were non-substituted (structure 4 in Fig. 2), monosubstituted at O-2 with α-mannopyranose (structure 6) or α-galactopyranose (structure 1), O-4 with β-galactopyranose (structure 2), and disubstituted at O-2 and O-4 with α-mannopyranosyl and β-galactopyranosyl units, respectively (structure 5). Disubstitution was present to a greater extent in the galactomannans of C. clathrata and C. imperialis than in those of C. signata and C. furcata. In the case of the galactomannans of C. furcata, C. clathrata, and C. imperialis, substitution also occurred at O-2 with O-β-galactofuranosyl-(l→6)-O-α-mannopyranosyl units (structure 7). As observed in previous investigations, the C-l portion of the ⊃13C-NMR of mannose-containing polysaccharides is typical of the lichen species. However, those of galactomannans of C. imperialis and C. clathrata are almost identical and, although other chemical data showed many structures in common, some differences were evident.
Characterization of the Visceral Endoderm Components in Early Post-Implantation Mouse Embryo Development: A Dissertation

Early post-implantation vertebrate embryos are shaped by complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. In mice, the visceral endoderm, an extraembryonic cell lineage that appears before gastrulation, provides several important functions such as nutrition and mechanical protection. My thesis research focused on the role of the visceral endoderm in embryo patterning, a newly discovered function for this tissue. My results showed that an interplay between two subpopulations of visceral endoderm the anterior and posterior visceral endoderm, located on the opposite sides of the developing conceptus, are critical for the establishment of the anteroposterior body axis of the embryo. I also found that senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity delineates the visceral endoderm marking apical vacuole, a lysosomal-like organelle. This however indicates the nutritional function of visceral endoderm cells rather than a senescent population. My studies highlight the fundamental role of extraembryonic tissues in patterning mammalian embryos as opposed to housekeeping roles. They also reveal important difference when conducting studies at the organismal level rather than in cells in culture.
Factors That Contribute to Vegetable Sales by Hawkers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

This study determines the factors that contribute to vegetable sales by hawkers in the Limpopo province of South Africa. A stratified sampling technique was used to collect data. Three major towns or shopping centres from each district were randomly selected for 366 questionnaire administration. Giyani, Tzaneen and Phalaborwa were selected from Mopani district. Alldays, Polokwane and Lebowakgomo were selected from Capricorn district. Makhado, Thoyandou and Musina were selected from Vhembe district. Mokopane, Naboomspruit and Belabela were selected from Waterberg district. Groblersdal, Marble Hall and Jane Furse were selected from Greater Sekhukhune district. Multiple regression analysis (linear, semi-log and double-log) was used determine the significant variables contributing to vegetable sales. Nine independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales of hawkers when the linear regression model was applied. On application of the semi-log regression, 11 independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales. Ten independent variables had a significant impact on vegetable sales when considering the double-log regression. The study showed the degree of significance of different variables that have an impact on hawkers’ vegetable sales.
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE L.) LEAVES

Oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare L.) were extracted with ethanol, diethyl ether, n-hexane:2-propanol 4:1 (v/v) and n-pentane. The highest yield was obtained with ethanol and the ethanolic extract showed the strongest inhibitory effect on lipid oxidation when added (amounts from 0.02 to 5% w/w) to a model lipid system (made up of refined bleached peanut oil), subjected to forced dynamic oxidation, using the Oxidative Stability Instrument (OSI). The hydrolyzed ethanolic extract showed a more powerful antioxidant activity than the untreated extract. Total polyphenols in RIASSUNTO
Role of Factor VIII C2 Domain in Factor VIII Binding to Factor Xa*

Factor VIII (FVIII) is activated by proteolytic cleavages with thrombin and factor Xa (FXa) in the intrinsic blood coagulation pathway. The anti-C2 monoclonal antibody ESH8, which recognizes residues 2248–2285 and does not inhibit FVIII binding to von Willebrand factor or phospholipid, inhibited FVIII activation by FXa in a clotting assay. Furthermore, analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that ESH8 inhibited FXa cleavage in the presence or absence of phospholipid. The light chain (LCh) fragments (both 80 and 72 kDa) and the recombinant C2 domain dose-dependently bound to immobilized anhydro-FXa, a catalytically inactive derivative of FXa in which dehydroalanine replaces the active-site serine. The affinity (K d ) values for the 80- and 72-kDa LCh fragments and the C2 domain were 55, 51, and 560 nm, respectively. The heavy chain of FVIII did not bind to anhydro-FXa. Similarly, competitive assays using overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to ESH8 epitopes (residues 2248–2285) demonstrated that a peptide designated EP-2 (residues 2253–2270; TSMYVKEFLISSSQDGHQ) inhibited the binding of the C2 domain or the 72-kDa LCh to anhydro-FXa by more than 95 and 84%, respectively. Our results provide the first evidence for a direct role of the C2 domain in the association between FVIII and FXa.
Enhanced methylglyoxal formation in cystathionine γ-lyase knockout mice

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive glucose metabolite and a known causative factor for hypertension and diabetes. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), on the other hand, is a gasotransmitter with multifaceted physiological functions, including anti-oxidant and vasodilatory properties. The present study demonstrates that MG and H2S can interact with and modulate each other‟s functions. Upon in vitro incubations, we found that MG and H2S can directly interact to form three possible MG-H2S adducts. Furthermore, the endogenous production level of MG or H2S was significantly reduced in a concentration-dependent manner in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (A-10 cells) treated with NaHS, a H2S donor, or MG, respectively. Indeed, MG-treated A10 cells exhibited a concentration-dependent down-regulation of the protein and activity level of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), the main H2S-generating enzyme in the vasculature. Moreover, H2S can induce the inhibition of MG-generated ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner in A-10 cells. In 6-22 week-old CSE knockout male mice (CSE -/), mice with lower levels of vascular H2S, we observed a significant elevation in MG levels in both plasma and renal extracts. Renal triosephosphates were also significantly increased in the 6-22 week-old CSE -/mice. To identify the source of the elevated renal MG levels, we found that the activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), the rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, was significantly down-regulated, along with lower levels of its product (fructose-6-phosphate) and higher levels of its substrate (fructose-1,6-bisphosphate) in the kidney of 6-22 week-old CSE -/mice. We have also observed lower levels of the gluconeogenic regulator, peroxisome