Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of cellular and molecular cytotoxic mechanisms of Cochlodinium polykrikoides in isolated trout and rat hepatocytes

Harmful algal blooms produced by the marine ichthyotoxic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides are responsible for mass mortalities of wild and farmed fish globally. This study compared the cytotoxic mechanisms of C. polykrikoides total extract on both trout and rat liver hepatocytes. Trout hepatocytes were more sensitive than rat hepatocytes against C. polykrikoides extract. The effective concentration 50 after 3 hour incubation (EC503hr) concentrations found for C. polykrikoides extract in trout and rat hepatocytes (i.e., 50% membrane lysis in 3 hr) were Eq. 1 cell/ml and Eq. 240 cell/ml, respectively. C. polykrikoides extract exposure in both isolated trout and rat hepatocytes resulted in membrane lysis, reactive oxygen species formation, glutathione depletion, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP depletion, increase in adenosine diphosphate (ADP)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratio, cytochrome c release into the hepatocyte cytosol, and activation of caspases cascade. Trout hepatocyte toxicity was also associated with lysosomal membrane injury. Mitochondrial permeability transition in both trout and rat hepatocytes produced cytochrome c release from the mitochondrial intramembrane space into the cytosol. Thus, the cytochrome c release triggered activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. Finally, data demonstrated that C. polykrikoides extract may induce more apoptotic phenotype in rat than trout hepatocytes, which in the latter favored predominantly necrotic mode of cell death.
Caloplaca phlogina, a lichen with two facies; an example of infraspecific variability resulting in the description of a redundant species

Abstract Caloplaca phlogina is shown here to have two kinds of soralia, yellow soralia with anthraquinones versus whitish or white-green soralia lacking pigments. Both kinds are present, growing side by side, in some localities in Scandinavia, but yellow soralia appear to be more common. In contrast, the populations from halophilous shrubs on the Black Sea coast have predominantly white soralia, and they were described as a separate species, C. scythica. A single collection from Chile also has white soralia. Molecular data and phenotype examinations convinced us that Scandinavian and Black Sea populations are conspecific. We consider the North European, phenotypically variable population as a source for the Black Sea population which is ecologically and phenotypically more uniform.
Distribution and systematics of Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in North America. 8a. Section Batrachospermum: Batrachospermum gelatinosum

Eighty-six populations of Batrachospermum gelatinosum were examined from throughout its known range in North America and were compared using multivariate morphometrics and image analysis. Morphological variability was as great in individual populations as that measured among locations. Populations pooled for each biome showed a north-south trend in whorl and carpogonium size. The mean measurements for the tundra were significantly smaller in whorl diameter and larger in carpogonium size than those for the coastal plain. B. gelatinosum is widely distributed in North America, having been collected from the north slope of Alaska and Baffin Island in the north to Texas and Louisiana in the south. In addition to the populations analysed, herbarium specimens from North America were examined and confirmed locations in 17 US states, four Canadian provinces and the Yukon territory were added. Three populations, two from the boreal forest (Newfoundland) and one from the deciduous forest (Rhode Island), were examine.
Multi-Year Response of Sugarcane to Calcium Silicate Slag on Everglades Histosols

Plant crops of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) grown in the Eveiglades respond to calcium silicate slag. Substantial cost is associate with application of slag. Thus, it is important to know whether yields of successive ratoon crops of sugarcane respond to residual soil Si applied as slag. Our objective was to determine the long-term response of sugarcane grown on a Terra Ceia muck (euic, hypeithermic Typic Medisaprist) at two locations in the Everglades Agricultural Area to slag applied (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 Mg ha−3.1) before either a rice (Oryza sativa L.)/sugarcane rotation or immediately before sugarcane. Slag increased cane and sugar yields as well as tissue Si concentrations. Application of 20 Mg slag ha⁻¹ increase cumulative cane yields as much as 39% and sugar yields as mucti as 50% over the three crop years. Yield response to slag was generally greater from application immediately prior to sugarcane planting than to the preceding rice rotation crop. Without slag, ratoon yield production decreased as much as 45% in cane and 50% in sugar, whereas with slag, yields decreased only 28% in cane and 29% in sugar. Our data indicate that the critical level for leaf Si may be greater than the previously reported value of 10 g kg⁻¹, and that reduced yields in ratoon crops vs. plant crops were associate with lower Si levels. Consequently, more extensive Si deficiencies may exist in the Everglades than were previously considered. Other yield-limiting factors such as low soil Mg concentrations were also shown to contribute to the decline of sugarcane ratoon yields. Contribution from the Univ. of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Florida Agric. Exp. Stn. , Journal Series no. F. -00761.
HaptiCollar: Investigating Tactile Acuity Towards Vibrotactile Stimuli on the Neck

While the neck-worn garments are an integral part of fashion around the world, few interactive systems utilize them as form factors. As neck is located beyond the natural field of view, it offers wide opportunities for subtle haptic interaction. While tactile acuity of the neck is well studied in clinical research, these results are difficult to apply for interactive systems. In this paper, we present HaptiCollar - a research prototype for studying tactile acuity of the neck. We conducted two experimental studies comparing different numbers of actuators on the neck, in two contextual scenarios simulating stationary and mobile use. We found that pattern actuations are recognised more effectively than single-point vibrations, independently of use scenario. Our analysis shows that introducing a primary cognitive task and motion does not impair recognition accuracy, while highly increasing the cognitive load. Our work contributes empirical insights for designing haptic interaction for future neck-worn interfaces.
Edo: A Participatory Data Physicalization on the Climate Impact of Dietary Choices

Aparticipatory data physicalization, or PDP, is a physical visualization that allows people to physically participate in the creation of the visualization, by directly encoding their data. PDPs offer a way to engage a community with data of personal relevance that otherwise would be intangible. However, their design space has only begun to be explored, and most prior work shows relatively simple encoding rules. Therefore, we present a design exploration of different ways of faceting contributed data: by week, day, or person. Specifically, we designed Edo, a PDP that allows a small community to contribute their data to a physical visualization showing the climate impact of their dietary choices. In this pictorial, we elaborate on the design process of Edo and reflect on the findings of a three-week deployment of different layouts of Edo. Fabrication instructions and data are available under CC-BY 4.0 at osf.io/q5fr6.
The eggshell of Drosophila melanogaster. V. Structure and morphogenesis of the micropylar apparatus

The micropylar apparatus in Drosophila melanogaster consists of two parts. The inner part is a protrusion of vitelline membrane, whereas the outer part is a chorionic protrusion containing a canal, through which the spermatozoon enters. In the formation of the micropylar apparatus two follicle cell subpopulations are involved: the border cells, i.e., a group of 9 follicle cells, and the peripheral cells (about 36 cells). The morphogenesis of the micropyle starts at stage 10B, when the border cells secrete the paracrystalline region of the vitelline membrane. The micropylar canal (length 7 μm, diameter 0.7 μm) and the pocket that penetrates within the paracrystalline structure are moulded by two border cell projections, full of microtubules. The formation of the micropyle terminates at stage 14B, when its chorionic part is completed and the border cell projections degenerate. The structure of the micropyle in fertilized and unfertilized laid eggs differs from the mature (stage 14B) egg in that the vitellin.
Physiological and anatomical disturbances induced by chloride salts in sensitive and tolerant citrus: beneficial and detrimental effects of cations

In citrus, the relative contributions of chloride and cations to growth disturbances induced by salinity are a matter of controversy. Chloride salts (15 mol m–3 CaCl2, 30 mol m–3 CaCl and 30 mol m–3 KCl) reduced growth and gas exchange parameters, increased leaf damage and abscission and produced anatomical disarrangements and mineral imbalances in seedlings of sensitive Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata) and tolerant Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reshni). In both cultivars, Ca2+ was more beneficial, and K+ more detrimental, for growth than sodium. Photosynthesis and growth disturbances were highly correlated (P≤ 0·001) with leaf Cl– build-up. In the sensitive genotype, Cl– was also significantly correlated with several leaf anatomical disarrangements, such as increase in succulence. In comparison with sodium, both calcium and potassium increased leaf Cl– content (up to 25 and 69%, respectively). Protective calcium effects were not linked to improvement of photosynthesis, reduction of leaf anatomical disarrangements, or prevention of Cl– and Na+ increases. It is proposed that the ameliorative effects of calcium on citrus grown under salinity are mostly related to reduction of leaf abscission. Collectively, the data suggest a cause–effect relationship between Cl– build-up and reduced growth, whereas chloride correlations with declines in photosynthesis or increases in succulence appear to be indirect.
Rhythmic Phenomena in Plants

Imagine that you get such certain awesome experience and knowledge by only reading a book. How can? It seems to be greater when a book can be the best thing to discover. Books now will appear in printed and soft file collection. One of them is this book rhythmic phenomena in plants. It is so usual with the printed books. However, many people sometimes have no space to bring the book for them; this is why they can't read the book wherever they want.
The Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 Receptors Are Largely Dimeric in the Kidney, but Monomeric in the Forebrain

The neuropeptide Y(NPY) Y2 receptors are detected largely as dimers in the clonal expressions in CHO cells and in particulates from rabbit kidney cortex. However, in two areas of the forebrain (rat or rabbit piriform cortex and hypothalamus), these receptors are found mainly as monomers. Evidence is presented that this difference relates to large levels of G proteins containing the Gi α -subunit in the forebrain areas. The predominant monomeric status of these Y2 receptors should also be physiologically linked to large synaptic inputs of the agonist NPY. The rabbit kidney and the human CHO cell-expressed Y2 dimers are converted by agonists to monomers in vitro at a similar rate in the presence of divalent cations.
Immediate Effects of Logging, Mounding, and Removal of Logging Residues on Epixylic Species in Managed Boreal Norway Spruce Stands in Southern Finland

The immediate effects of bioenergy harvesting methods on epixylic species were studied in mature managed Norway spruce dominated forests in southern Finland. The treatments included logging, residue harvesting, and soil preparation as either mounding or mounding combined with stump harvesting. Altogether, 110 logs and 440 species sample plots on logs were inventoried before and after logging, and after soil preparation treatments. Logging decreased the cover and species richness in all epixylic species groups. The soil preparation decreased the cover of macrolichens, while stump harvesting was significantly most devastating both for cover and richness in bryophytes. We suggest that bioenergy harvesting critically affects the epixylic species, and therefore the use of less devastating methods and compensation for the loss of coarse woody debris is recommended on a landscape level.
Hierarchical determinants of the functional richness, evenness and divergence of a vertebrate predator assemblage

Environmental factors are hypothesized to affect the functional diversity of assemblages hierarchically. First, ecological filters constrain the range of functional traits potentially displayed by an assemblage by determining its taxonomic composition. Second, some factors determine actual functional traits through the phenotypic plasticity of species. Little is known about the relative importance of each set of factors and, by using a priori functional information, most empirical studies report only the variability expected from species turnover and neglect that associated to phenotypic plasticity. Herein, we use structural equation models to assess the factors driving the functional richness, evenness, and divergence of a top-predator assemblage faced with high variability in resource availability and assemblage structure (i.e. species richness and abundance). We measured actual functional traits (i.e. diet composition and predation pressure) in the field and contrasted the effects of environmental filters and phenotypic plasticity (i.e. behavioral responses) by controlling for species turnover and sample size with a null model. We found that a priori estimations (i.e. null-model expectations) tended to significantly underestimate (richness and divergence) or overestimate (evenness) functional-diversity components, explaining just a fraction (13-63%) of the variability in observed values. Furthermore, while species richness strongly affected functional richness (positively) and evenness (negatively), and resource availability slightly affected functional divergence, via compositional effects, changes in functional-diversity components attributable to behavioral responses of predators showed little or no association with environmental variables. As a consequence, results indicated that in productive years, functionally-distinctive species exerting relatively low predation pressure entered the assemblage, increasing functional richness and decreasing functional evenness. However, the strong behavioral responses of functionally dominant species buffered such compositional changes, affecting to different extents the three functional-diversity components. Thus, we argue in favor of considering phenotypic plasticity in future studies of functional diversity.
Photosynthesis Light Sensor and Meter

An improved light sensor with a spectral response based on photon absorption between 400 and 700 nm was developed for both field and environmental chamber use. The indicated sensor response was selected because it approximates the photosynthetic response of plants for which data are available. A silicon photo cell with high response in the visible range was used as a sensor. The spectral response was controlled by use of a Kodak Gelatin Wratten Filter. A visible bandpass interference filter produced a sharp cutoff at 700 nm. Heat—absorbing glass eliminated transmission beyond 1,000 nm, and a diffusing plastic and filters were mounted in a miniaturized cosine—corrected head that was fitted with a collimating system to eliminate spectral shifts which arise when light enters the interference filter at oblique angles. Error calculations indicate that under sun—and—sky radiation and various artificial light sources the errors are smaller than those associated with available standard calibration lamps. The device also includes a battery—operated meter circuit suitable for making measurements over a wide range of intensities.
Studies on the Fat Metabolism of Light‐ and Dark‐Germinated Seeds of Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris L.)

The aim of the present investigation has been to study whether the light factor influences the fat metabolism in the scots pine seeds in any way which could be correlated with its effect on the germination. The studies have been made on petroleum ether extracts. Gravimetric determinations showed small increases of extractable material during the first 24 hours of the germination process. After a longer time there was a small but insignificant consumption (72 hours). No effects of the light factor could be found. Investigations with gas-liquid chromatography on the corresponding extracts did not reveal any influence on the fatty acid composition, either of the light factor or of the germination period. The main identified fatty acids were linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acid. One of the unidentified components (“c”) was also present in a large amount. Principally the same acids were found as free fatty acids but in different proportions: oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acid. After the onset of the imbibition the linoleic acid appeared in the largest proportion. The total content of free fatty acids increased with increasing germination period. This was found both in titration experiments and in gas-liquid chromatography with an internal standard. The latter method permitted studies on the content of the individual acids. During the period 0–21 hours there were no evident differences between the content in light- and dark-germinated seeds, during the period up till 48 hours there was lower content in the light-germinated seeds concomitant with the onset of the mitotic activity in these seeds and after 48 hours there was a rapid increase in the same ones corresponding to the opening of the seed coats and the incipient protrusion of the rootlets. Thus changes of free fatty acid content were found only after the start of the light-induced growth but not under the preliminary phase, which earlier has been shown to be the determinative one in the light control of the germination.
Horizontal Variance of Stand Structure and Productivity in a Tropical Foothill Rain Forest, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Horizontal variance of a stand structure and productivity in a tropical foothill rain forest was analysed with the dbh census data obtained from the successive observation for 8 years at a 1-ha forest stand in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Targets of the census were trees over 8 cm in dbh. Individuals at each dbh class distributed randomly in horizontal pattern. The quadrat method based on the dimensions per some unit area showed that the aboveground biomass was higher aggregated in spatial distribution because of the strong influence of the scattered emergent trees. Main canopy trees being about 35 cm in dbh largely affected the horizontal distribution of leaf biomass and productivity, and the degree of contagion of these values was lower than that of aboveground biomass. We estimated the stand structure and productivity around 2336 points in a plot, arranging systematically at intervals of 2 m, from the values per projection area of a tree covering each point. Bird’s-eye-view diagrams were presented to visualize the horizontal distribution patterns. The three-dimensional distribution of estimated relative illuminance showed the horizontal and vertical stratification in a 1-ha forest stand. The frequency distribution of biomass, productivity and relative illuminance at lower levels under 20 m in height could be approximated by the log-normal distribution. The coefficient of variance of productivity was higher than those of aboveground and leaf biomass. A simulation of the regeneration process at a gap site in a mature forest reproduced the high variance of productivity.
Genetic Control of Fertility in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2): Plasmid Involvement in the Interconversion of UF and IF Strains

SUMMARY: IF (Initial Fertility) strains of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) are shown to harbour a plasmid (SCP 1). Loss of SCP 1 results in a change of fertility from IF to the previously described UF (Ultra-Fertile) type. Although UF X IF crosses yield recombinants for chromosomal markers with a frequency of the order of 10-5 of the total progeny, virtually all the progeny carrying the markers of the UF parent are converted to IF, by reinfection with SCP 1. Efficient conversion of UF to IF in such crosses is associated with the development of aerial mycelium. It is inferred that SCP 1 is responsible for the production of a diffusible substance by IF strains, which prevents the development of aerial mycelium by UF strains.
Polyethylene glycol dehydrogenase activity of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila derives from a type I quinohaemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase

Dye-linked alcohol dehydrogenase from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain M402, able to oxidize polyethylene glycols, was purified to homogeneity. The monomeric enzyme, having a molecular mass of 72 kDa, contains one PQQ and one haem c per enzyme molecule. In other respects also, the enzyme is very similar to the type I quinohaemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases known to occur in Comamonas testosteroni, Comamonas acidovorans, and Pseudomonas putida species. However, dissimilarities exist with respect to the isoelectric points and the substrate specificities. On reinvestigating the substrate specificity of the C. testosteroni enzyme, it also appeared to exhibit good activity towards polyethylene glycols. Based on what has been reported for the polyethylene glycol-oxidizing alcohol dehydrogenase of Sphingomonas macrogoltabidus, this enzyme is quite different from that of R. acidophila. Keywords: Polyethylene glycol dehydrogenase activity; Alcohol dehydrogenase; PQQ; Haem c; Rhodopseudomonas acidophila
PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF ARCTIC EVERGREENS UNDER SNOW: IMPLICATIONS FOR TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM CARBON BALANCE

Vascular plants are generally assumed to have no photosynthetic activity under the snow because of the severity of the subnivean environment. In the arctic tundra, snow cover persists into the spring after air temperatures and light increase to levels suitable for photosynthesis of vascular plants in the absence of snow cover. We found significant photosynthetic activity in four arctic evergreen species under springtime snow. This activity was facilitated by favorable conditions in the subnivean environment, where CO2 concentrations are elevated, temperatures are often above freezing, and light levels are sufficient to drive photosynthesis. Diurnal changes in CO2 concentration under the snow and light responses of snow-covered ecosystem CO2 fluxes provide supporting evidence of carbon gain at the ecosystem level. This activity allows evergreens to rapidly increase photosynthesis upon snowmelt and reduces wintertime losses of carbon from arctic ecosystems. The loss of these species under predicted scenario.