Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental heterogeneity and seedling establishment : ant-plant-microbe interactions

1. Mounds produced by animals are important sources of disturbance in the sand shinnery oak community of western Texas. As a first step in the examination of the importance of animal-generated disturbances on the structure of the plant community we ask three questions in this study. (a) Are there differences in the abiotic or biotic characteristics of patch disturbances produced by three different species of ants? (b) Do seedling growth and survival vary when grown on soil from different species of ant mounds? (c) What is the influence of two components of the biotic environment, mycorrhizal fungi and non-mycorrhizal microbes, on seedling survival, growth rates, tissue nutrient content and patterns of biomass allocation? 2. Both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of ant mound soil differed from that of undisturbed soil and from each other. Mound soil typically had higher nutrient content than undisturbed soil and harvester ant mounds had higher nutrient content than the other species. Thus, ant mounds can generate environmental heterogeneity in this habitat. 3. Seedlings grown on unsterilized soil from harvester ant mounds were larger than seedlings grown on soil from the other two mounds, yet had lower tissue nutrient content and higher mortality rates. Seedlings grown in harvester ant soil were larger when the soil was sterilized suggesting that mycorrhizal fungi were a net energy drain in the higher nutrient content soil. Alternatively, seedlings grown without mycorrhizas in the other two mound soils were not different in size and had lower tissue nutrient concentrations than seedlings grown with mycorrhizas. 4. Thus, it appears that the fungi were beneficial in the lower nutrient content soil. In the more nutrient-rich harvester ant soil seedlings grown on sterilized soil with added non-mycorrhizal microbes were larger than seedlings grown in the absence of microbes.
Why bats matters: A critical assessment of Bat-Mediated Ecological Processes in the Neotropics

New World bats play a significant role in ecosystem functioning and are imperative for maintaining environmental services. Nevertheless, human-caused environmental changes are jeopardizing bat communities, which results in the loss of functional roles provided by them. It is important, therefore, to assess ecological processes performed by bats in the Neotropics to define priorities in further research for better conservation planning. In this systematic review, I identify general trends, advances, bias, and knowledge gaps in bat-mediated ecological processes across Neotropical ecosystems. I have conducted an extensive search on Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Bat Eco–Interactions Database resulting in 538 references, of which 185 papers were included in the review. The papers were published in 76 peer-reviewed journals, with the highest peak between 2006-2010. From the six biomes recorded, Moist broadleaf tropical forest was the most researched, contrary to Montane biomes (>2000 m), where few studies have been conducted. Seed dispersal was the process with more studies (44%), followed by pollination (38%), nutrient cycling (10%), and arthropod suppression (8%). Seed dispersal and pollination displayed large bias on specific bat-plant systems (Artibeus-Ficus, Sturnira-Solanum, Carollia-Piper, Pachycereeae tribe-Leptonycteris) and ecoregions (Ithsmian-Atlantic moist forest, Cerrado, Tehuacan Valley matorral), thus being important to explore other bat and plant species as well as other ecosystems. Arthropod suppression and nutrient cycling were largely overlooked despite constituting essential functions in ecosystem resilience; particularly, more research is needed to know cascading effects on plant fitness in different agroforestry systems, but also is key the understanding of how bats can be pivotal mobile links in terrestrial ecosystems and cave environments. I highlight the importance to consider bats with multiple roles and functional trait-based approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of their functionality. Even though functional studies have increased in the last two decades, several aspects of bat roles are still obscured, and is necessary to keep evaluating their ecological and economic importance to provide useful information for major decision-makings in Neotropical ecosystems’ conservation. Bat extirpations are likely to affect their ecological roles, therefore, mitigating major threats of bats are urgently needed to sustain ecosystem integrity in the Neotropics.
Preparation of TFC Membranes Supported with Elelctrospun Nanofibers for Desalination by Forward Osmosis

Abstract. Forward osmosis (FO) process has been considered as a viable option for water desalination in comparison to the traditional processes like reverse osmosis regarding the energy consumption and economical operation. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber support layer was prepared using electrospinning process as a modern method. Then, an interfacial polymerization reaction between m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) was carried out to generate a polyamide selective thin film composite (TFC) membrane on the support layer. The TFC membrane was tested in FO mode (feed solution facing the active layer) using standard methodology and compared to a commercially available cellulose triacetate membrane (CTA). The synthesized membrane showed a high performance in terms of water flux (16 L m−2 h−1) but traded the salt rejection (4 g m−2 h−1) comparing with the commercially CTA membrane (water flux = 13 L m−2 h−1 and salt rejection = 3 g m−2 h−1) at no applied pressure and room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, mechanical properties, porosity, and performance characterizations were conducted to examine the membrane.
Patterns of Variation and Distribution in Apache Trout (Salmo apache) Relative to Co-occurrence with Introduced Salmonids

Examination of Apache trout (Salmo apache) populations in the White Mountains, Arizona, indicated wider ranges of morphological and meristic variation than in the type description, greater genetic purity of stocks on Fort Apache Indian Reservation than on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and distributional patterns that primarily reflect stocking of nonnative rainbow trout (S. gairdneri). APACHE trout (Salmo apache Miller) occur naturally in streams of the White Mountains of east-central Arizona. Although recognized for several decades as a distinctive taxon, this species was not described (Miller, 1972) until after drastic reduction of its historic range through habitat alteration and interspecific interactions, including apparent hybridization with nonnative trouts. Salmo apache was first list
In vitro mass propagation and conservation of Nilgirianthus ciliatus through nodal explants: A globally endangered, high trade medicinal plant of Western Ghats

Abstract Nilgirianthus ciliatus is a globally endangered aromatic slender shrub of Western Ghats with extensive applications in Ayurveda. It is endangered due to its indiscriminate collection and overexploitation to meet the requirements of the pharmaceuticals. This study deals with the preservation of this endangered plant through in vitro nodal culture. Nodal explants were initially cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or 6-furfurylaminopurine individually for primary shoot induction. For multiple shoot induction, primary shoots were transferred onto MS medium containing BA individually or in combination with auxins. Clusters of multiple shoots (up to 24.3) occurred with highest frequency (93.2%) on MS medium fortified with BA (3 mg l−1) and indole-3-acetic acid (0.1 mg l−1). In vitro regenerated plantlets were rooted on half-strength MS medium with maximum rooting frequency (82.2%) obtained in the presence of indole-3-butyric acid (1.0 mg l−1). The rooted plantlets were acclimatized to soil with 100% survival rate. Results of this study allowed us to develop an efficient regeneration system that will permit to carry out restoration programmes of N. ciliatus in Western Ghats. In future, this protocol will be an invaluable tool to produce synthetic seeds for cryopreservation and long-term conservation.
The influence of climatic factors on clonal diversity in a population of iris pumila

An attempt is made to determine whether clonal colour diversity currently existing in a population of Iris pumila was causally related to variation in some climatic factors. It was observed that temporal changes in temperature condition affect the magnitude of clonal diversity in the I. pumila population. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the cohort diversity and the mean spring temperatures at the flowering phase of their sexual progenitors, and a significant negative correlation between cohort diversity and the mean winter temperatures two years before the cohorts were detected. Differential requirements of various life-stages of I. pumila for particular temperature conditions, as well as differential pollen transfer rate at different temperatures might explain these inverse correlations. It is supposed that a combination of fluctuating temperatures giving rise to environmental heterogeneity and a varied attractiveness of diverse colour morphs to pollinators promotes stable coexistence of multiple colour variants in the population of I. pumila.
Enhancement of Extracts from Celastrus orbiculatus on Maturation and Function of Dendritic Cells in vitro and in vivo

Objective To examine the immunoregulation of Celastrus orbiculatus extracts (COE), a traditional Chinese medicine, on maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and in vivo. Methods In vitro, after treated with COE in different nontoxic concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL) for 5 d, the surface immunological molecules and cytokine secretion of mice bone marrow-derived DCs in response to COE were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis (FACS) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. In vivo, mouse hepatoma cells (Hepa1-6, 1 × 106) were injected sc and were treated with different dosages of COE (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg/d). Effects on tumor growth were determined by tumor volume and histology analysis after 28 d administration of COE. The relative proportions of mature DCs and CD8+ T cells were measured in mononuclear cells that had been isolated from spleen by FACS. Results COE stimulated IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion of DCs, simultaneously enhanced the maturation of DCs by enhancing immunological molecule (CD40, CD80, CD86, H-2Kb, and I-Ab) expression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the chemotactic responses of DCs were significantly higher in COE-treated than untreated DCs, in association with higher chemokine receptor 7 expression. Furthermore, COE increased DCs produce IFN-γ and IL-2 in a dose-dependent manner when the concentration of COE less than 40 μg/mL, decreased DCs produce IL-10 and IL-4 also in a dose-dependent manner. In in vivo studies, COE can not only suppress growth of malignant hepatocellular carcinomas but also stimulate maturation of DCs, associated with strongly enhanced CD8+ CTL responses. Conclusion These data provide new insight into the mechanism of action of COE and indicate that the stimulation of maturation and function of DCs by COE contributes to its immunoregulatory effects.
IMMI: the role of well calibration in the context of high geological complexity

Iterative modelling, migration and inversion (IMMI) aims to incorporate standard processing techniques into the process of full waveform inversion (FWI). IMMI proposes the use of any depth migration method to obtain the gradient, while FWI uses a two-way wave migration, commonly reverse time migration (RTM). IMMI uses well calibration to scale the gradient, instead of applying a line search to find the scalar or an approximation of the inverse Hessian matrix. We used a phase shift plus interpolation (PSPI) migration with a deconvolution imaging condition that works as a gain correction. We show the suitability of estimating the subsurface velocity model by applying IMMI’s approach using synthetic examples with increasingly geological complexity. We found consistently low errors in the well calibration location, even in the most complex settings. This suggests that the gradient obtained by applying PSPI migration points to the correct direction to minimize the objective function, and that well calibration provides an optimal scale. This is promising in the context of reservoir characterization, where we may have many control wells. We found that IMMI satisfactorily performs in the presence of moderate lateral velocity changes. The results, for the scenario of strong lateral velocity changes, indicate that well calibration is a worthy option providing that the well is representative of the geology in the zone of interest.
Ethylene Evolution from Detached Apple Spurs in Response to Chemical Thinners

Ethylene evolution from detached fruiting apple spurs was measured after application of various bloom and post-bloom thinning agents. Ethylene evolution from fresh detached spurs of 'Splendor' apple trees increased one day after application of a bloom thinning spray of ethephon or NAA, and remained higher than rates of ethylene evolution by detached spurs from unsprayed control trees for 6 (NAA) or 10 (ethephon) days. Both ethylene evolution and fruit abscission during the initial drop period were higher on trees treated with ethephon compared to NAA, however final fruit set was similar for these two treatments. Ethylene evolution was significantly higher following NAA application onto 'Fuji' trees compared with NAAm, but final fruit set was reduced by a similar amount (20%) for both of these materials. Application of BA to 'Pacific Rose , apple trees when the average diameter of spur fruit was either 4 mm (6 days after full bloom) or 7 mm (12 days after full bloom) resulted in a significant increase in the rate of ethylene evolution and also reduced final fruit set. When application of BA was delayed until the average diameter of spur fruit was 14 mm (24 days after full bloom) neither the rate of ethylene evolution or final fruit set was affected. Although an increase in the rate of ethylene evolution was a prerequisite for thinning in the present experiments, the magnitude of this increase was not related to the final thinning efficacy. Chemical names used: benzyladenine (BA); 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid (ethephon); naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); naphthalene acetamide (NAAm).
Effect of IBA Concentration, Carbon Source, Substrate, and Light Source on Root Induction Ability of Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) Plantlets in Vitro

Summary Rooting in tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) remains the most difficult challenge in the tissue culture of this woody ornamental plant. In a bid to increase rooting ability of tree peony plants in vitro, several abiotic factors were assessed. Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration, carbon source, substrate, and light source affected the root induction ability of tree peony cv. ‘Wu Long Peng Sheng’. Without IBA, no roots formed. At 4 mg l–1 IBA, all rooting parameters were highest. When plantlets were cultured under lightemitting diodes (LEDs) or cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) on rooting medium, rooting percentage on rockwool was higher than on Gellan gum. However, rooting percentage was higher under heat fluorescent lamps than under LEDs or CCFLs, independent of the medium substrate. Sucrose resulted in higher rooting ability than CO2-enrichment under any light source; moreover, CO2-enrichment appeared to have a detrimental effect on rooting percentage. Rooting was better under heterotrophic than under photoautotrophic conditions. Rooting of tree peony was successfully achieved under various conditions, which will greatly benefit the micropropagation of this difficultto-root tree.
Enhancing the eating quality of concentrate fed lambs

Two studieswere carried out to investigate the effect of dietary concentrate carbohydrateand fat source,and vitamin E level on animal performance, carcass composition and meat quality of concentrate fed lambs. In the first study, forty Suffolk cross Texel ewe lambs were blocked by live weight(LW)into four treatments (ten lambs /treatment): Grazed grass (G), barley based concentrate (B), dried grass based concentrate (DG) and sugar beet based concentrate (SB). The three concentrate diets were formulated to provide a similar level of crude protein, ether extract and an effective rumen degradable protein/fermentable metabolisable energyratio >10.0 g/MJ. Diets DG and SB provided a similar water soluble carbohydratecontent, but different proportions of neutral detergent fibre, whereas,in diet B the energy was supplied mainly as starch. Diet B contained Megalac©(rich in saturated fatty acids), whereasdiets DG and SB contained linseed oil (high in C18:3n-3). Diet B was formulated to contain 60 mgvitamin E (α-tocopherol-acetate)/kg DM,and diets DG and SB to contain 250 mgvitamin E (α-tocopherol-acetate)/kg DM. Lamb performance on diet G was lower than that of those fed the concentrate diets. Concentrate carbohydrate source, fat source and vitamin E concentration did not affect animal performance, carcass composition orcarcass measurements. Lambs fed diets DG orSB had a similar muscle C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, n-6:n-3, C18:2n-6: C18:3n-3 and vitamin E content to those finished on grass. Lambs fed on eitherthe grass orconcentrate diets had similar lipid stability and sensory evaluation characteristics. In the second study, forty Suffolk cross Texel wether lambs were blocked and allocated by live weight to one of four treatments: Grazed grass (FG) or one of three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets, based on barleythat contained Megalac©with250 mgvitamin E (α-tocopherol-acetate)/kg DM (BML), or linseed oil attwo levels of vitamin E 250 (BLL) and 500 (BLH) mg/kg DM. Lambs fed the concentrate dietshad a higher live weight gainthan those finished on grass. Concentrate fat source andvitamin E level did not affect lamb performance, althoughlambs finished on BLH tended to have a lower feed conversion ratio compared to those fed diet BLL. Compared to lambs fedBML, the C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 content of longissimus dorsimuscle from lambs fed dietsBLL orBLH were increased, although, cis-9, trans-11 CLA waslowcompared to lambs fed diet FG or those diet DG (experiment 1). Muscle derived from lambs finished on BML or BLH had an enhanced shelf life (colour and lipid stability) compared to those fed BLL or FG. Neither grass nor concentrate diets affected the sensory attributes of lambsasperceived by consumers.Overall, the meat quality of concentrate fed lambs can be improved by inclusionof linseed oil with supra-nutritional vitamin E.
Genetic analysis of apetalous in Brassica napus L. using mixed model of major gene and polygene

Six basic generations were obtained from the crosses of an apetalous line APLO1 with normal four petals line NB6 and M083.The major gene and polygene mixed genetic model was used to analyze the apetalous trait in rapeseed(Brassica napus L.). Results showed that the heredity of trait of apetalous was fitted for E-0 genetic model,which was two additive-dominance-epistasis major genes and additive-dominance-epistasis polygene model.The additive effects of the two pairs of major genes were equal,but there were difference within different crosses and different years.The range of the additive effect of the two pairs of major genes was-11.13~-20.08. The dominance effects of the two major genes from cross(APL01/NB6) was different;one major gene was significantly greater than that of the other,while there was no difference between the dominance effects of two major genes estimated from cross(APL01/M083). The epistasis effect was also different in different crosses;there were mainly additive-additive and additive-dominance epistasis.The heritability of major gene was 76.29%~94.13%,which was significantly larger than that of the polygene,and the heriatbility of major gene estimated from B1 was larger than that of B2.The additive-aditive and aditive-dominance epistasis played the main role in cross(APL01/NB6),while the dominance-dominance took the main role in cross(APL01/M083).
Evaluation of cerebrovascular reserve in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery stenosis

Objective To evaluate the cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) of patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) steno-occlusion with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and CO2 inhalation test.Methods SPECT were performed in patients diagnosed as having unilateral MCA steno-occlusion disease in our hospital from October 2010 to March 2012.SPECT were performed in 24 unilateral MCA steno-occlusion patients before and after CO2 inhalation text.Twelve regions of interests (ROIs),6 in the right and 6 in the left,were chosen in each patient; the ratio of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF％) of all ROIs were calculated,compared between the normal side and the steno-occlusive side,and before and after CO2 inhalation test for CVR.Results Two of 24 patients had normal CVR.And there were four types of cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2:the first,there were no differences ofrCBF％ before and after CO2 inhalation text in 121 ROIs; the sencond,rCBF％ was normal before the CO2 inhalation text and then decreased after the test in 119 ROIs; the third,rCBF％ was decreased before the CO2 inhalation text and then further decreased after the text in 12 ROIs; and the forth,rCBF％ was decreased before the CO2 inhalation text and increased after the text in 72 ROIs.Conclusion There is normal CVR in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery steno-occlusion;there are four reactions for CVR in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery steno-occlusive. Key words: Middle cerebral artery steno-occlusion; CO2 inhalation text; Single-photon emission computed tomography; Cerebrovascular reserve
Characterization of TEGs, based on the data available from their datasheets and considering various operating conditions, can be analytical, experimental and carried out by multidimensional multiphysics or electrical circuit numerical simulations. Analytical models of TEGs are based on the system

This paper presents results of the modeling of the thermoelectric wireless sensor network node realized with the aluminum core PCBs using SPICE. Static performances of the node are investigated under different thermal gradients, considering three commercial thermoelectric modules used inside the node as thermoelectric generators. Model parameters are derived from the datasheets of the modules and thermal and geometrical properties of the other node building elements. Simulation results are compared with those obtained by the full multiphysics numerical analysis and with experimental ones. An emphasis is put on the influence of the Peltier effect and Joule heating inside the thermoelectric generator on the model accuracy. It is demonstrated that the equivalent electro-thermal model of the node, in conjunction with electrical properties of the load, can be used for the estimation of harvesting efficiency of the nodes realized with different thermoelectric generators.