Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of irrigation regimes on plum (Prunus cerasifera) root system development dynamics

Abstract Prunus genus species are widely spread in semi-arid regions due to their ability to adjust to the limited water supply. Former research described the effect of water deficit on their aboveground development. However, less is known about the effects of water stress on the development of the root system. In order to investigate the effects of the irrigation regime on the root system development, young plum (Prunus cerasifera) trees were grown under three irrigation regimes for a period of five months. The effects of the irrigation regime on different root order and total root system elongation, biomass growth and tip numbers were analyzed. The results indicate that the responses vary according to the stress level. Under moderate stress, the total root system biomass decreases relative to the full irrigation treatment. However, low-order root formation remains similar to that found under no stress conditions. Under severe stress, the formation of low-order roots is also inhibited. Our results suggest that plum trees’ response to water deficit stress escalates according to the stress level. Namely, moderate stress affects the growth rate of the root system but does not alter the relative contribution of different orders, while severe stress both inhibits the total growth and changes the relative contribution of the different root orders. The combined measurements of the total root system and the different orders enable the identification of a stepwise response to water stress.
Metabolic status of crossbreed F1 Holstein × Gyr dairy cows during the transition period in two different seasons in Brazil

Crossbreed F1 Holstein x Gyr cows are proving to be a good alternative for milk production under tropical conditions. In order to contribute to that affirmative, our work focused on clarifying the metabolic patter of F1 Holstein x Gyr dairy cows during the most critical time in the lactation cycle, the transition period, and to compare their performance in two seasons. Blood sampling was performed on 15 cows during summer (January to April) and on 13 cows during winter (May to August), beginning three weeks before the estimated calving date, until 30 days relative to calving. The season had a great influence on the metabolic status. Almost all evaluated metabolites, with exception for aminotransferase (AST), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), that have shown no variation among seasons, demonstrated a different patter between summer and winter. Liver functions were enhanced during the postpartum, with increased liver enzymes activity and increased concentration of cholesterol and BHB. Animals went through negative energy balance (NEB) and an alarming number of animals had experienced subclinical ketosis and high NEFA concentrations.
Thermal Constraints Explain the Distribution of the Climate Relict Lizard Colobosauroides carvalhoi (Gymnophthalmidae) in the Semiarid Caatinga

Abstract. Within the semiarid Caatinga of Brazil, a biome dominated by a xeric arboreal-arbustive vegetation, many lizards are restricted to forest remnants associated with highlands. Although critical for conservation, data to understand the constraints on the distribution of those potential climate relicts are almost nonexistent. Here, we studied aspects of the ecology of the relict forest lizard Colobosauroides carvalhoi (Gymnophthalmidae) in the Caatinga of southern Piauí, northeastern Brazil. We combined data obtained through active sampling with voluntary thermal maximum (VTM) and measurements of environmental temperatures made in different habitats, microhabitats, and seasons to test the prediction that thermal constraints explain the local distribution and abundance of this species. In four field trips, we captured 22 individuals in pitfall traps and 93 in active searches, all in canyon-like valleys covered with semi-deciduous forests. Using plot sampling, we observed that density decreased as distance from rock cliffs increased. Density did not differ among sampling localities but varied among seasons. Field body temperatures were similar to soil temperatures under the leaf litter and lower than air and surface temperatures. Environmental temperatures in forests were lower than the VTM estimated for C. carvalhoi, especially under the leaf litter. Nevertheless, environmental temperatures usually exceeded the VTM at forest borders and in caatingas, in which the species was absent. Our results confirm that C. carvalhoi is spatially constrained to patches of semi-deciduous forests and suggest that its low thermal tolerance likely prevents it from occurring or dispersing through xeric habitats that predominates in Caatinga.
Development and Characterization of a Chloroethenes-Dechlorinating Consortium Using Gluconate as a Hydrogen Donor

To evaluate the effectiveness of gluconate as a potential hydrogen donor for reductive dechlorina tion of chloroethenes, we developed a trichloroethene (TCE)-dechlorinating consortium from chloroethenes-contaminated groundwater containing Dehalococcoides using gluconate as the sole hydrogen donor and characterized its chloroethenes-dechlorinating performance and microbial com munity composition. After repeated subculturing, we successfully developed a microbial consortium with gluconate, which showed consistent dechlorination of TCE to vinyl chloride (VC), resulting in subsequent disappearance of VC. The resultant consortium could dechlorinate 24 μmol/L TCE to VC and eliminate VC within 20 days, which was similar to or slightly longer than the required time when other hydrogen donors such as lactate or methanol were used. These results indicate that gluconate can be an effective hydrogen donor for reductive dechlorination of chloroethenes. Real-time PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of bacterial and archaeal populations revealed the establishment of a stable microbial community in the developed consortium. In addition, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that Trichococcus and Malikia were the predominant taxa, whereas Dehalococcoides and other dechlorinating populations were minor. Our results infer that the use of gluconate as a hydrogen donor established a distinctive microbial community compared with enriched consortia developed with other hydrogen donors.
A preliminary DNA barcode selection for the genus Russula (Russulales, Basidiomycota)

ABSTRACT Russula is a worldwid genus which has a high species diversity . Aiming accurate and rapid species identification, candidate genes nLSU (28S), ITS, tef-1α, mtSSU, rpb1, and rpb2, were analysed as potential DNA barcodes. This analysis included 433 sequences from 38 well-circumscribed Russula species of eight subgenera. Two vital standards were analysed for success species identification using DNA barcodes, specifically inter- and intra-specific variations together with the success rates of PCR amplification and sequencing. Although the gap between inter- and intra-specific variations was narrow, ITS met the qualification standards for a target DNA barcode. Overlapping inter- and intra-specific pairwise distances were observed in nLSU, tef-1α, mtSSU, and rpb2. The success rates of PCR amplification and sequencing in mtSSU and rpb1 were lower than those of others. Gene combinations were also investigated for resolution of species recognition. ITS-rpb2 was suggested as the likely target DNA barcode for Russula, owing to the two viatal standards above. Since nLSU has the lowest minimum of inter-specific variation, and tef-1α has the highest overlap between intra- and inter-species variations among the candidate genes, they are disqualified from the selection for DNA barcode of Russula.
Differences in Mental Health and Ethnic-Racial Identity between White Gender Variant Students and Gender Variant Students of Color

This current study examined whether there was a difference in mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety) and ethnic-racial identity (i.e., exploration, resolution, and affirmation) between White gender variant college students (i.e., transgender, genderqueer, and questioning) and gender variant students of color. Findings supported our hypothesis that gender variant students of color would have higher depressive and anxiety scores than White gender variant students; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Further, consistent with hypotheses, gender variant students of color showed overall higher levels of ethnic-racial identity exploration, resolution, and affirmation compared to White gender variant students. This suggests that gender variant students of color have a more developed ethnic-racial identity as a result of their double minority status, compared to White gender variant students. Future studies that explore limitations and gaps in this area will be instrumental to understanding ERI and mental health differences across race in among gender variant students, and how it influences positive development across emerging adulthood. Introduction Measures ● The 90-item Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R; Derogatis & Cleary, 1977) was used to measure levels of depression and anxiety. ○ Anxiety: e.g., “At any point in your life, did you ever have a period of at least one month or longer when you tended to worry excessively about minor matters? ” ○ Depression: e.g., “ Looking back over your lifetime, did you ever have a period lasting 2 weeks or longer when you felt sad, blue, or depressed? ” ● The 9-item Ethnic Identity Scale-Brief (EIS-B; Douglass & Umaña-Taylor, 2015) was used to assess ERI. This scale includes three subscales containing three items each: ○ Exploration: e.g., “I have participated in activities that have taught me about my ethnicity. ” ○ Resolution: e.g., “I have a clear sense of what my ethnicity means to me. ” ○ Affirmation: e.g., “ I feel negatively about my ethnicity. ” (items are reverse coded).
Cooperative Jamming Secure Scheme for IWNs Random Mobile Users Aided by Edge Computing Intelligent Node Selection

The cooperative physical layer security scheme can enhance the communication security of industrial wireless nodes that are computing and energy limitation, which provides the lightweight security for future industrial wireless networks (IWNs). By aiding an edge computing device, the optimal cooperative jamming (CJ) node can be selected, and employed to collaboratively transmit jamming signals to maximumly weaken the quality of the wiretap channel. For overcoming the drawback of the existing work that only studies the physical layer security in static scenes, a practical scenario where legitimate user and eavesdropper move randomly is considered in this article. The ergodic secrecy capacity with CJ in random mobile scenes is derived. An edge computing device is employed to make intelligent selection of an optimal cooperative node. Test and verification are carried out in the industrial factory. The test results show that the novel scheme can improve the secrecy of random mobile users in the IWNs.
Improving Hosting Capacity of Unbalanced Distribution Networks via Robust Allocation of Battery Energy Storage Systems

Distribution system operators aim to improve hosting capacity (HC) of distribution networks (DNs) to accommodate more distributed rooftop photovoltaics (PVs). Although PV power generation delivers numerous benefits, power unbalance and voltage rise are two major obstacles that limit the network HC. To mitigate these issues, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can be applied. Thus, this paper proposes a robustly optimal allocation method for BESSs, which aims to reduce the power unbalance and alleviate the voltage rise, and thus improve the HC of the unbalanced three-phase DNs. Considering that locations and capacities of distributed rooftop PVs are determined by customers, future PV installations are regarded as uncertainties. In addition, to deal with the uncertainties, the proposed BESS allocation problem is formulated as an adaptive robust optimization (ARO) model with integer recourse variables. Accordingly, a solution algorithm which integrates an alternating optimization procedure into a column-and-constraint generation algorithm is developed to efficiently solve the ARO model. With the proposed BESS allocation method, a new perspective on HC improvement is provided, which not only considers the worst power unbalance situation but also satisfies the allowed maximum PV capacity. The simulation results verify high efficiency and solution robustness of the proposed allocation method.
Environmental filtering improves ecological niche models across multiple scales

A clear challenge for ecological niche modelling is determining how to best mitigate the effects of sampling bias from commonly collected biodiversity data. Recent approaches have focused on filtering occurrences in overrepresented regions based on geographic or environmental proximity. We tested the efficacy of filtering in geographic and environmental space using occurrence data from four species. Our evaluation strategies examined 14 distance measures in geographic and environmental spaces and eight combinations of environmental variables and their ordinations. This resulted in 78 datasets for each species, which we evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), the difference between training and testing AUC, omission rate, the true skill statistic, and Schoener's D to examine the effects of different filtering schemes. The degree of change produced by filtering on predicted suitability and evaluation statistics increased with increasing range size. Environmental filtering resulted in higher model fit at larger extents and retained more occurrences than geographic filtering. Our results indicate that models should be evaluated using multiple evaluation statistics at multiple thresholds. The use of bin sizes when filtering in environmental space allows for simple comparison between species and filter types and makes for an easily reportable and repeatable distance metric. We specifically recommend that ecological niche models using natural history collection data filter in environmental space with variables derived from permutation importance or the first few axes of a principal components ordination.
The Predictive Effect of Teachers’ Perception of School Principals’ Motivating Language on Teachers’ Self-Efficacy via a Cultural Context

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between teachers’ perception of school principals’ motivating language and teachers’ self-efficacy mediated by the cultural context. School principals’ linguistic communication skills are critical to sustain the motivation of teachers and their self-efficacy. Motivating language theory (MLT), on which this study is based, provides a model that helps us understand how the language, more precisely, the speech acts, used by school principals have an impact on teachers’ self-efficacy. A survey method was employed with 252 teachers through convenience sampling. The teachers’ mean age was 34.87 (SD = 9.22) years, and the average length of service was 11.72 (SD = 9.42) years. The results showed that school principals’ use of motivating language was significantly and positively associated with teachers’ self-efficacy (b = 0.10, p < 0.000). The low-context culture was found to have a full mediating effect in this relationship (b = 0.04, t = 3.1771, p < 0.000). The findings contribute to leader communication theory by highlighting a particular emphasis on the language school principals use to motivate teachers.
Anti-microbial and anti-cancer activity of Setosphaeria monoceras, an endophytic fungus associated with tropical mangrove plant

Endophytes are a promising resource of pharmaceutically and agriculturally valuable secondary metabolites. Screening and isolation of endophytic fungi associated with the predominant mangrove plant Rhizophora apiculata from Chorao Island, Goa was undertaken. Eleven fungal strains were isolated, out of which one dominant strain was selected for phenotypic and genotypic identification. Based on 18S DNA gene sequencing, the fungus revealed 100% homology with Setosphaeria monoceras, a teleomorph of Exserohilum monoceras. GC-MS analysis of crude compounds extracted with ethyl acetate revealed the presence of sulfurous acid, 2-ethylhexyl isohexyl ester, heptacosane, dodecyl pentyl ester, eicosane, 2-methyl and 2-bromotetradecane. Ethyl acetate extracted crude metabolites of this isolate was screened for antimicrobial activity against seven common human pathogenic bacteria viz., Shigella boydii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. However, no antifungal activity was noticed against Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans. Diameters of inhibition zones measured in the plate assay were significantly high (20-50mm). MIC values were between 3.12 to 6.25 μg/mL. The extract revealed strong bactericidal effect against the test bacterial pathogens. The aliquots on testing against human lung cancer cell line A-549 showed significant anti-cancer activity compared with the activity exhibited by the standard drug cisplatin. This study supports the belief of conferring the potential attributes of endophytic fungi associated to tropical estuarine as Setosphaeria monoceras showed impressive bioactivities which may be exploited for novel bioactive compounds. This is the WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SJIF Impact Factor 7.421 Volume 7, Issue 6, 1315-1329 Research Article ISSN 2278 – 4357 Article Received on 09 April 2018, Revised on 30 April 2018, Accepted on 20 May 2018, DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20186-11819 *Corresponding Author Apurva Sawant Department of Botany, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau,
Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) Oil: A Comprehensive Review of Chemical Composition, Extraction Technologies, Health Benefits, and Current Applications.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil has been receiving increasing attention due to its nutritional and functional potentials. However, its application as a novel food ingredient has not yet been fully explored. This review summarizes the chemical composition, extraction technologies, potential health benefits, and current applications of krill oil, with the aim of providing suggestions for its exploitation. Krill oil is a unique lipid consisting of diverse lipid classes and is characterized by a high concentration (39.29% to 80.69%) of phospholipids (PLs) associated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It also contains considerable amounts of bioactive minor components such as astaxanthin, sterols, tocopherols, vitamin A, flavonoids, and minerals. The current technologies used in krill oil production are solvent extraction, nonsolvent extraction, super/subcritical fluid extraction, and enzyme-assisted pretreatment extraction, which all greatly influence the yield and quality of the end-product. In addition, krill oil has been documented to have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, women's health, neuroprotection, and anticancer activities. Although krill oil products used for dietary supplements have been commercially available, few studies have attempted to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms to elucidate how exactly the krill oil exerts different biological activities. Further studies should focus on this to improve the development of krill oil products for human consumption.
Extraction Method of Cell’s Complex Permittivity in Cell Solutions From Measured Impedance by GHz Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

This paper has proposed a new dielectric properties extraction method of cell’s complex permittivity <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> even in cell solutions from the measured impedance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {sol, exp}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> by GHz electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 3 GHz. This new extraction method is composed of the electrical impedance measurement of cell solutions and dispersed medium and the dielectric properties calculation based on a combination of plane wave and transmission line theories. By comparing with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell, BH}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> obtained by Bruggeman-Hanai equation, this new method is proved to extract the complex permittivity of cells <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> in cell solutions successfully from the experimental impedances of yeast cell solutions <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {sol, exp}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and dispersed medium <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {dis, exp}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> by GHz EIS with the relative error less than 10% in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 3 GHz. Moreover, the conductivity of cell <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sigma _{\textit {cell}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> among different concentrations obtained by this method shows the smaller discrepancy than that obtained by Bruggeman-Hanai equation in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 3 GHz. The dielectric properties <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell, BH}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> are brought into a simulation model, respectively. The simulated impedance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {sol, sim}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> shows a better agreement with the experimental impedance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {sol, exp}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> compared with the simulation impedance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Z}^{\ast }_{\textit {sol, sim, BH}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, which means the dielectric properties <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon ^{\ast }_{\textit {cell}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> obtained by this new method is accurate for the future research of cell’s dielectric properties in the GHz frequency range.