Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coupled effect of substrate and light on assimilation and oxidation of regenerated nitrogen in the euphotic ocean

Nitrogen (N), as a critical element for microbial metabolisms, recycles rapidly in the euphotic ocean. Oxidation by nitrifiers is a competing pathway for phytoplankton assimilation of regenerated N (NH4+ and urea). Sharing the overlapping substrates may result in competitive exclusion, thus, niche separation for the two assemblages. Both pathways are sensitive to light, but whether light intensity will intensify or alleviate such resource competition in the euphotic zone remains poorly explored in the field at the community level. By using 15N labeling techniques, paired kinetic responses of uptake and oxidation were conducted in single bottles under manipulated light intensities for both NH4+ and urea. We found light stimulated the maximum rate (Rm) and specific affinities (αU) of both NH4+ and urea uptake. In contrast, light effects were opposite for oxidation kinetics (Rm and αO). As irradiance increased, the rapid increase in αU and concomitant decrease in αO imply a distinctive competition advantage of photosynthetic organisms over oxidizers under substrate‐limited environments. The ratio of αU/αO for NH4+ ranged from 0.8 to 3089 (5.8–46,788 for urea) showing a distinct increasing pattern as ambient light increases, demonstrating that phytoplankton overwhelms nitrifiers throughout the oligotrophic euphotic zone, driving down concentrations and maintaining short turnover times of the two regenerated N substrates. Moreover, phytoplankton relied equally on NH4+ and urea; yet, nitrifiers preferred NH4+ to urea. In the nitrate‐depleted euphotic ocean, light acts as a crucial driver for utilization pathways of regenerated N and vertical niche separation.
Production and profit of current and future dairy systems using differing nitrogen leaching mitigation methods: the Pastoral 21 experience in Waikato

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to determine if existing technologies could reduce nitrate leaching by 50%; while maintaining high levels of milk production and profitability. One farmlet, typical of the Waikato (‘CURRENT’) was stocked at 3.2 cows/ha and compared with a farmlet stocked at 2.6 cows/ha (‘FUTURE’), focusing on higher cow production through the use of higher genetic merit cows, lower N fertiliser usage and removing cows from pasture (to a stand-off pad) during critical N leaching periods. The mitigation methods employed on the FUTURE farmlet reduced N leaching by 43% but meant the FUTURE farmlet was more expensive to run than the CURRENT (Control) farmlet. Although cows on the FUTURE farmlet each produced 68 kg more milksolids, production per hectare was 50 kg lower. Thus, the FUTURE farmlet yielded on average $279/ha/yr less profit than the CURRENT farmlet.
ASSOCIATIVE IMPACT OF BIO- AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GERANIUM PLANTS GROWN UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Salinization plays a major role in soil degradation. Every year more and more land becomes non productive owing to salt accumulation. So it seems valuable, to test medicinal plant for their salt tolerance capacity. In the present investigation, experiments were conducted to study the effect of saline water in addition to bio and organic fertilization treatment on geranium plant growth, mineral and chemical constituents. Salinity affected most of the morphological parameters and decreased the growth performance. The use of peanut compost slightly increased plant fresh and dry weights. Although the use of compost full dose at 3000 ppm salinity level led to an increase in plant height and number of branches in the second cut. For the chemical constituents, the biofertilizer and compost application under saline conditions did not show any positive change in N, P, K contents except for Na% where it reached 1.919 when using (half dose of compost + Bio) at 3000 ppm and reached 1.97 when using (full dose of peanut compost + Bio) at 6000 ppm compared to their control. The oil percentage decreased at high salinity level of 6000 ppm but at 3000 ppm the oil percentage reached 0.4 when treated with (HD+Bio) and 0.6% when plants were supplied with full dose of peanut compost compared to the control. The major essential oil constituents were Geraniol and Citronellol. The highest level of oxidized compounds was attained by the untreated plants (control) and the plants supplied with half dose of compost.
Ion cyclotron waves generated by an ionospheric barium injection. Interim report

A shaped-charge barium plasma-injection experiment was performed in June 1976 at the ERDA Kauai Test Facility. The barium was injected perpendicular to the geomagnetic field at an altitude of 450 km. The second stage of the rocket, located approximately 1.2 km from the point of detonation, contained a payload to measure dc and ac electric fields using a dual spherical-probe antenna. A variety of plasma waves were detected for approximately 20 sec following the detonation. The initial impulse generated ion cyclotron waves at the Ba/sup +/, O/sub 2//sup +/, Al/sup +/, OH/sup +/, and O/sup +/ gyrofrequencies. This was followed by a time period during which ion cyclotron waves were observed in passbands between the barium gyrofrequency harmonics up to the oxygen gyrofrequency. At the high-frequency end of this range the spectrum is essentially continuous, i.e., similar to an ion sound wave spectrum.
Functional and group abundance of insects on eggplant

The eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) were cultivated in the field to investigate the abundance and diversity of insects. In total 488 insects were collected from the eggplant field during May to August 2016, which belonged to 20 species in 21 families and 10 orders. Among the taxonomic orders, Hemiptera was the most dominant followed by Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. The order Thysanoptera revealed the lowest abundance. The abundance, richness and diversity of pest, predator, pollinator and other categories of insects differed significantly and the pest revealed the highest abundance and richness compared to others. In total 9 species of insects belonged to 7 families of 4 orders were found as pest and their abundance varied from 0.1±0.1 to 4.6±0.9 /30 sweeps. In total 8 species of insects belonged to 8 families of 7 orders were found as predator and their abundance varied from 0.3±0.1 to 2.0±0.3/30 sweeps. Among the predator insects, lady bird beetle showed the highest abundance. In eggplant field, insects were highest and lowest abundant at 11.00 and 13.00 h of the day, respectively.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(4): 647-653, December 2018
Influence of seed vernalization on production, growth and development of lisianthus

Flowering induction and control is a limiting factor when commercially producing cut flowers of lisianthus and seed exposure to low temperatures, a physiological event called vernalization, induces the differentiation of vegetative buds to reproductive buds, contributing to a flowering that is uniform and has quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of seed vernalization in three cultivars of lisianthus (Excalibur, Echo and Mariachi) for 12, 24, 36 and 48 days at temperatures of 5, 10 and 15°C, in the production and quality of buds, making this technology feasible to large-scale production. During cultivation it was observed that the lower the temperature and higher the vernalization period, the lower the cycle and the greater the number of plants induced to flowering for all three cultivars, and those are important features in the context of flower production in a commercial scale. The seeds subjected to vernalization originated plants that produce flower stems within the standards required by the market, showing that vernalization was efficient to induce flowering without affecting the quality of the buds. To produce lisianthus as a cut flower of quality, it is recommended seed vernalization of Mariachi and Echo cultivars for 24 days at 5°C and Excalibur for 36 days at 5°C.
Conversion of waste high-density polyethylene into liquid fuels

The present work involves the experimental studies for the production of liquid fuel by thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of waste high-density polyethylene in a laboratory batch reactor. Thermal pyrolysis of virgin HDPE was performed at a temperature range from 400 °C to 550 °C and heating rate of 20 °C/min. The liquid yield is highest 50 wt. % at temperature 450 oC. Reaction time decreases with increase in temperature. Maximum oil yield in thermal pyrolysis of waste HDPE was 50.8 wt. % at optimum condition of temperature,which is improved to 58.8 wt. %, in kaolin catalyzed degradation under optimum condition of temperature and feed ratio. The rate of reaction, oil yield and quality of oil obtained in the catalytic pyrolysis are significantly improved as compared to thermal pyrolysis.The catalytic activity of kaolin is further enhanced by treating it with four different acids and one base (acetic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide). Acid treatment increased the surface area, acidity and also alters the pore volume distribution of kaolin, which support the cracking reaction. The maximum yield of oil in the acid treated kaolin catalyzed pyrolysis of waste HDPE was 79% under optimum conditions. The composition of the oil was analyzed by FTIR and GC-MS. The oil obtained from the catalytic pyrolysis of waste HDPE mostly contains aliphatic hydrocarbons. The fuel properties of the oil obtained from the catalytic pyrolysis of waste HDPE is similar with that of petro-fuels. So they can directly be used as an engine fuel after fractionation or as a feedstock to petroleum refineries.Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the catalytic pyrolysis process of waste high-density polyethylene to liquid fuel over modified catalyst. The reaction temperature, acidity of the modified catalysts and mass ratio between modified catalysts to waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were chosen as independent variables. Optimum operating conditions of reaction temperature (450 °C), acidity of catalyst (0.341) and catalyst to waste HDPE ratio (1:4) were produced with respect to
Effects of experimental harvesting of an invasive hybrid cattail on wetland structure and function

Invasive plants, such as the hybrid cattail Typha × glauca, can reduce biodiversity and alter the ability of wetlands to provide critical ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling and carbon storage. Several approaches have been used to reduce Typha dominance and restore invaded wetlands, but long‐term studies assessing benefits of these restoration efforts are limited. A previous study demonstrated that aboveground harvesting of Typha × glauca stems and litter reduced Typha dominance 2 years post‐treatment in a Great Lakes coastal wetland. In the current study, we extended monitoring of experimental aboveground Typha harvest to 4 years post‐treatment and added assessments of treatment effects on soil nutrients, carbon emissions, and microbial community composition. Aboveground harvest treatment resulted in a dramatic reduction in Typha litter cover that persisted for 4 years, increased soil temperature, and increased abundance of the native plant genus Carex. However, aboveground harvest treatment did not significantly reduce Typha abundance, nor did it have significant effects on soil nutrient concentrations, carbon fluxes, or the taxonomic composition of soil microbial communities. We did observe differences in bacterial community composition between plots based on time since Typha invasion, which may indicate some legacy effects of Typha invasion. At the scale of this experiment (4 × 4 m plots), our results indicate that a single aboveground removal of Typha × glauca is not sufficient to restore a heavily invaded freshwater wetland ecosystem, and that periodic harvesting of Typha stems and litter may be required to maintain native plant abundance.
Weather effect on widely distributed seabirds through migration flyways: a case study with the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus in the Bay of Biscay

ABSTRACT Capsule: Northern Gannet Morus bassanus counts obtained from a coastal monitoring network in northern Spain were highly determined by wind conditions. Aims: To determine how external factors including weather conditions affect seabird counts in a land-based seabird monitoring project (Red de observación de Aves y Mamíferos marinos, RAM project; Seabird & Marine Mammal Observation Network). Methods: Seabird counts were obtained from four study capes situated in the southeastern part of the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain. Counts were conducted on a monthly-basis for a period of 3 hours starting at dawn on each sampling day. Data used here were compiled over a 10-year period (2006–15). Results: Northern Gannet numbers were chiefly influenced by meteorological conditions at a local spatial scale. Northwesterly winds were found to positively influence gannet abundance, whereas high relative humidity caused a decrease in abundance. Moreover, gannets were more abundant during the non-breeding period as compared to breeding period. Conclusion: We recommend considering the effect of the wind and relative humidity on land-based seabird counts in the Bay of Biscay when handling data from the RAM protocol in order to avoid biases and misinterpretation of data. Since seabirds approach the coast during harsh weather conditions, the RAM protocol should be improved in order to better account for the distance at which the birds are seen.
A complete chromosome substitution mapping panel reveals genome-wide epistasis in Arabidopsis

Chromosome substitution lines (CSLs) are tentatively supreme resources to investigate non-allelic genetic interactions. However, the difficulty of generating such lines in most species largely yielded imperfect CSL panels, prohibiting a systematic dissection of epistasis. Here, we present the development and use of a unique and complete panel of CSLs in Arabidopsis thaliana, allowing the full factorial analysis of epistatic interactions. A first comparison of reciprocal single chromosome substitutions revealed a dependency of QTL detection on different genetic backgrounds. The subsequent analysis of the complete panel of CSLs enabled the mapping of the genetic interactors and identified multiple two- and three-way interactions for different traits. Some of the detected epistatic effects were as large as any observed main effect, illustrating the impact of epistasis on quantitative trait variation. We, therefore, have demonstrated the high power of detection and mapping of genome-wide epistasis, confirming the assumed supremacy of comprehensive CSL sets. One sentence summary Development of a complete panel of chromosome substitution lines enables high power mapping of epistatic interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Nano-structural and physico-chemical analysis of Pd-Sn colloidal solutions applied to the metallisation of polymers

Le revetement electrochimique de metaux sur des polymeres est frequemment realise dans de nombreuses applications industrielles. La surface du polymere doit pour cela subir un traitement d'activation. Dans une premiere etape, une fine couche de colloides palladium-etain est deposee sur le polymere ; elle est suivie d'une etape d'echange qui consiste a echanger des atomes d'etain par des atomes de cuivre pour accroitre la conductivite de surface et rendre alors possible l'electrodeposition d'un metal comme le cuivre par exemple. Les colloides deposes sont produits dans une suspension acide. Leur taille est voisine de 2 nm et ils sont supposes avoir un cœur constitue d'un alliage Pd-Sn entoure d'une peau riche en etain. Le but de notre etude est d'approfondir la nature physico-chimique des suspensions colloidales et des couches adsorbees en surface d'un polymere en combinant plusieurs techniques de caracterisation microstructurales fines comme la diffusion centrale de rayons X (SAXS), la cryo-microscopie electronique, la microscopie electronique a haute resolution (METHR), la spectroscopie de rayons X (EDX) et photoelectrons (XPS), la retrodiffusion (RBS) et la spectroscopie de pertes d'energie des electrons transmis (EELS). Les deux premieres techniques ont donne des informations sur la valeur et la distribution des tailles des colloides ainsi que sur la stabilite des solutions. La nature cristallographique des colloides a ete apprehendee par METHR tandis que la composition chimique a l'echelle atomique a ete obtenue par EELS en mode nano-sonde. C'est ainsi que nous avons valide un enrichissement superficiel en etain des colloides. Les analyses des couches deposees en surface des polymeres apres chacune des etapes du procede de metallisation, ont permis d'apprehender l'evolution de la nano-structure et de la chimie des couches colloidales au cours de leur elaboration.
Investigation of flow boiling phenomena in small-scale complex geometries

ii DEDICATION. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. iv RESEARCH THESIS SUBMISSION. v TABLE OF CONTENTS. vi LIST OF FIGURES. x LIST OF TABLES. xvi NOMENCLATURE. xix LIST OF PUBLICATIONS BY THE CANDIDATE. xxiv CHAPTER 1, INTRODUCTION . 1 1.
Chouri-parta method of estimating seedlac yield

Chouri-parta method of estimating seedlac yield from sticklac is an old method practiced in lac industries/trade. In most of places, chouri-parta is determined based on yield of golden seedlac, obtained from samples of raw material taken through indigenous sampling method. Seedlac raw material reaches to processing unit crop and season wise like aghani and jethwi for kusmi crop and baisakhi and katki for rangeeni crop mostly through middleman called arhatiya. It varied in terms of wooden material, impurity and to some aspect quality also results in different yield of seedlac. The yield of seedlac from kachha lac is 50-60% in kusmi and 35-45% in rangeeni whereas from pucca lac it is 60-75% in kusmi and 45-55% in rangeeni. This method of yield determination from a stick lac sample gives fair estimation of seedlac recovery agreed by both suppliers and buyers (processing industries) of sticklac.
Environmental Policy and Audit Pricing

This paper examines the effect of environmental policy stringency (EPS) on audit pricing. By exploiting the exogenous variation in environmental policies across 26 countries, we find that firms in countries with more stringent environmental policies incur lower audit fees. The inverse association is more pronounced in common law countries, in countries with a higher level of public enforcement of regulations and in countries with more investor protection. The lower audit fees are also more prominent for firms that are followed by more analysts and firms that have a greater institutional ownership. Furthermore, we find that firms in countries with strong regulations are better and more innovative at managing environmental risk, which implies that better environmental performance of the firms following stronger regulations could lower business risks and thus decrease audit fees. Overall, our findings suggest that compliant firms benefit from EPS.
An In Silico Study: Can the Modulation of miRNA Expression through a Diet that Promotes the Production of Butyrate and Consumption of Genistein and Quercetin, Impact Cancer?

Diet plays a major role in regulating cancer. Bioactives such as polyphenols and isoflavones found naturally in our food are increasingly being recognised as regulators of interest. These compounds can regulate cancer pathways through microRNAs which are critical in modulating expression of various genes. We carried out a literature review wherein we assessed the impact of three dietary compounds, namely butyrate, genistein and quercetin, on miRNA expression followed by an in silico study utilising DIANA-miRPathv3 software. Our literature search found that miR-34a, miR-200a-3p and miR-200b-3p were modulated by all three compounds while miR-221, miR-222, miR-29a, miR-3935 and miR-574-3p were modulated by both genistein and butyrate and let-7b, miR-194, miR-96-5p and miR-424 were modulated by butyrate and quercetin. The in silico analysis identified key pathways of interest such as “bladder cancer” which had significant interactions with the miRNAs modulated by the dietary compounds.
Late Night Show Evolution in Albania: From Infotainment to Trash Show

The impact of the new and social media on the audiences has obliged traditional television to adapt to a new culture of TV consumption. With the intention to generate new audiences, accustomed to social network infobesity mainly oriented in fake than real news, spectacle and consumption culture rather than information that affect the public opinion, TV genres are changing their flexible boundaries from infotainment talk show to trash show. But what are these new TV formats emerging in Albanian television? How are they created and under which influences? How are they organized and what kind of topics do they propose to the audiences? Are the interviews preprogrammed or are they spontaneous? What is the typology of their guests? Do they interact with the audiences in the studio? Are the questions of their followers in the social media included in the interview? The above listed questions and other issues are analyzed in this paper. The subject of this study is focused on two of the highest audience rated TV talk shows, “Xing me Ermalin” and “Zone e lire”, aired on the national television, Klan. The methodology of this paper is based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data and programs generated by the TV, social media monitoring process and interviews with anchorman, guests and media experts.
Response to Reviewer #1

Kim et al. present the calibration of the broad supersaturation scanning CCN instrument. The instrument is a modified version of the DMT CCN, where the aerosol is entering the growth tube in a spatially distributed manner. As a result, particles experience a range of supersaturation. When fed with monodisperse particles, the activated fraction can be related directly to the hygroscopicity parameter of the aerosol at that size. The manuscript presents experimental calibration data for this instrument. Comparison with regular size-resolved CCN measurements shows reasonable agreement in the derived kappa for the two methods.
Transformation of event representations along middle temporal gyrus

When learning about events through visual experience, one must not only identify which events are visually similar, but also retrieve those events’ associates—which may be visually dissimilar—and recognize when different events have similar predictive relations. How are these demands balanced? To address this question, we taught participants the predictive structures among four events, which appeared in four different sequences, each cued by a distinct object. In each, one event (‘cause’) was predictably followed by another (‘effect’). Sequences in the same relational category had similar predictive structure, while across categories, the effect and cause events were reversed. Using fMRI data, we measured associative coding, indicated by correlated responses between effect and cause events; perceptual coding, indicated by correlated responses to visually similar events; and relational category coding, indicated by correlated responses to objects in the same relational category. All three models characterized responses within right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), but in different ways: perceptual and associative coding diverged along the posterior to anterior axis, while relational categories emerged anteriorly in tandem with associative coding. Thus, along the posterior-anterior axis of MTG, the representation of the visual attributes of events is transformed to a representation of both specific and generalizable relational attributes.