Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil water evaporation: first stage drying as influenced by surface residue and evaporation potential.

Evaporation with time was measured from wetted columns of fine sandy loam treated with seven rates of surface residue and subjected to six different evaporation potentials (shaded and unshaded columns in each of three trials). With either shaded or unshaded columns, increasing the rate of soil water evaporation by increasing evaporation potentials or by decreasing rates of surface residue resulted in greater total soil water evaporation after 60 days drying. Surface residue influenced soil temperatures during first and third stage drying and decreased the range between maximum and minimum temperature.
Linking demography with drivers: climate and competition

In observational demographic data, the number of measured factors that could potentially drive demography (such as daily weather records between two censuses) can easily exceed the number of independent observations. Thus, identifying the important drivers requires alternatives to standard model selection and variable selection methods. Spline methods that estimate smooth functions over continuous domains (such as space or time) have the potential to resolve high‐dimensional problems in ecological systems. We consider two examples that are important for many plant populations: competition with neighbours that vary in size and distance from the focal individual and climate variables during a window of time before a response (growth, survival, etc.) is measured. For competition covariates, we use a simulation study based on empirical data to show that a monotone spline estimate of competition kernels via approximate AIC returns very accurate estimates. We then apply the method to long‐term, mapped quadrat data on the four dominant species in an Idaho (US) sagebrush steppe community. For climate predictors and their temporal lags, we use simulated data sets to compare functional smoothing methods with competing linear (LASSO) or machine learning (random forests) methods. Given sufficient data, functional smoothing methods outperformed the other two methods. Functional smoothing methods can advance data‐driven population modelling by providing alternatives to specifying competition kernels a priori and to arbitrarily aggregating continuous environmental covariates. However, there are important open questions related to modelling of nonlinear climate responses and size × climate interactions.
Further Notes on Cistus palhinhae (Cistaceae)

Cistus palhinhae Ingram was the subject of a short article by B. E. Smythies in Kew Bull. 27(1): 154 (1972). The burden of the discussion was in reference to the number of valves in the fruit (or capsule) and whether this was adequate for differentiating between the 'gum' cistuses C. palhinhae and C. ladanifer L. ; the former being described in Flora Europaea 2: 283-284 (1968) as having an ovary which is 6-locular while in the latter it is Io-locular. Smythies cites data he collected in April, 1971, in the vicinity of Cape St. Vincent and on the Sagres Peninsula, at the southern tip of Portugal, in which 208 capsules had valves varying in number from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of Io, 34 per cent. of the total being 8-locular and only 2 -4 per cent. 6-locular. Smythies compared these data with 439 fruits collected near Estepona in southern Spain, which had valves varying from 7 to 12, with 65 per cent. I o-locular. His discussion mentions the possible importance of the leaves of the two species, but contains no data relating to them.
Synthesis of spherical zinc sulfide nanoparticles produced by femtosecond laser ablation and deposited on a silicon substrate under the action of an electrostatic field

In this paper we consider the synthesis of spherical zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on a silicon substrate by femtosecond laser ablation of ceramic target under the action of an electrostatic field in argon gas atmosphere. The use of an electrostatic field in the process of ablative synthesis of NPs allows, in addition to capturing particles, to carry out predicted deposition of nanomaterials on the substrate, while carrying out the ablation products from the region of laser beam propagation. The morphology and structural characteristics of synthesized ZnS NPs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The size distribution of ZnS NPs were studied using dynamic light scattering technique. Obtained NPs have a spherical shape and are characterized by a hexagonal phase of wurtzite ZnS.
Temporal Vocalisation Patterns in Members of a Eucalypt Forest Bird Community: the Effects of Weather on Song Production

A survey of diel temporal vocalisation patterns in nine members of a eucalypt forest bird community in mid-breeding season (October) showed that in five (Yellowfaced Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Rufous Whistler, Striated Thornbill and Superb Fairy-wren) peak singing was from about 30, to 5 minutes pre-sunrise; in one (Grey Shrikethrush) it extended from about 25 minutes pre- to 25 minutes post-sunrise; and in three (Spotted Pardalote, Common Bronzewing and Magpie Lark) it began only about sunrise. In all species there was an initial 20-40 minute period of peak singing followed by a sharp curtailment. The timing and patterns differed between species. Only three species sang regularly through the middle of the day and these vocalisation rates were only about 1/10 to 1/100 of the early morning maximum. The broad similarity of the species' patterns provided no support for the Cody & Brown (1969) suggestion that species vocalisation times have evolved to minimise interspecific acoustical interference. An independent analysis of the effects of weather on temporal vocalisation patterns showed that rain delayed morning song and depressed vocal activity in all species except the Kookaburra, fog had no effect and that dull weather depressed it in only one species, the Rufous Whistler.
Magnon-Pair Modes in Two Dimensions

Magnon-pair modes have been studied in the quadratic layer antiferromagnet ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}$Ni${\mathrm{F}}_{4}$ at temperatures between 5 and 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K (${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=97.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K) using the technique of second-order Raman scattering. At low temperatures the effect of magnon-magnon interactions is observed to be in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. The temperature evolution of the pair-mode spectrum demonstrates striking differences between two and three dimensions in the frequency renormalization and damping of short-wavelength magnons.
A phylogenetically diverse class of “blind” type 1 opsins

Opsins are photosensitive proteins catalyzing light-dependent processes across the tree of life. For both microbial (type 1) and metazoan (type 2) opsins, photosensing depends upon covalent interaction between a retinal chromophore and a conserved lysine residue. Despite recent discoveries of potential opsin homologs lacking this residue, phylogenetic dispersal and functional significance of these abnormal sequences have not yet been investigated. We report discovery of a large group of putatively non-retinal binding opsins, present in a number of fungal and microbial genomes and comprising nearly 30% of opsins in the Halobacteriacea, a model clade for opsin photobiology. Based on phylogenetic analyses, structural modeling, genomic context and biochemistry, we propose that these abnormal opsin homologs represent a novel family of sensory opsins which may be involved in taxis response to one or more non-light stimuli. This finding challenges current understanding of microbial opsins as a light-specific sensory family, and provides a potential analogy with the highly diverse signaling capabilities of the eukaryotic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), of which metazoan type 2 opsins are a light-specific sub-clade.
The novel effect of cis-2-decenoic acid on biofilm producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Microbial biofilms are a main cause of many chronic infections and mortalities, such as dental caries, cystic fibrosis, osteoradionecrosis, urinary tract infections and native valve endocarditis. These polymeric matrices are sessile communities with different rules from those forms via known planktonic bacteria. One of the important biofilm-producing human pathogens is Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which causes death in the majority of people who suffer from cystic fibrosis, AIDS, burns and neutropenic cancer. To find a method for controlling the growth and resistance of P. aeruginosa biofilm, this study investigated the dispersion induction of this microorganism with a diffusible signal factor (DSF), cis -2-decenoic acid (CDA), in combination with Tobramycin as a useful antibiotic. Our findings confirmed that although CDA did not act as a dispersion inducer in this experiment, it did show an antimicrobial effect and decreased the MIC of Tobramycin. These results suggested that research on the probable new effects of DSF molecules will result in advances in the control of biofilm infections.
Inhibitory Effect of Pyridobenzoazoles on Orthomyxo-and Paramyxovirus Replication in vitro

Among thirteen newly synthesized pyridobenzoazole derivatives which have been examined for anti-myxovirus and antiherpesvirus activities, three benzimidazoles emerged as potent anti-orthomyxo- or paramyxovirus compounds. 4-Cyano-2-benzamide-1-oxo-1,5-dihydropyrido[1,2a]benzimidazole (CBO-PB) showed broad antiviral activities against paramyxo-and orthomyxoviruses with EC50 of 0.1–2.0 μg ml−1, and 2-cyano-1-amino derivatives of CBO-PB (CCI-PB) were inhibitory to paramyxoviruses at 1.4–8.5 (μg ml−1 by a plaque reduction method. The third compound, 2-ethoxycarbonyl derivatives of CCI-PB was inhibitory only to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at 15–28 μg ml−1. Selectivity indexes of these 3 compounds for RSV in HeLa cells were 60, 86, and >13, respectively. All three compounds inhibited syncytium formation of RSV and Parainfluenzavirus (PFLUV) type 3 at comparable concentrations with EC50 for plaque formation. They inhibited antigen production of RSV and PFLUV at the concentrations that were 4 to 20-fold higher than those needed for plaque reduction, but they did not inhibit adsorption of virus to cells at all. All three compounds inhibited the growth of RSV in HeLa cells at 4-fold higher concentrations than their EC50 for plaque reduction.
A Molecular Phylogeny of Moss Frogs from the Western Cape, South Africa, with a Description of a New Species

Moss frogs of the genus Arthroleptella from the mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa are morphologically identical, and were once placed in a single species. Previous fieldwork on these cryptic animals inhabiting seepage areas has shown the presence of allopatric populations on isolated mountains. We present a molecular phylogeny and describe a new species that is sympatric with Arthroleptella villiersi. It has a unique advertisement call, and the skin is smoother, with nostrils placed slightly wider than the other species.
Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

Understanding dispersal requires multiple lines of investigation, from the study of broad patterns of population connectivity to the identification of factors impacting movement at local scales. To determine the potential effects of different microhabitats on dispersal in the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1850), we experimentally evaluated mobility, moisture loss, and habitat choice in response to five common substrates (deciduous and coniferous leaf litter, grass, moss, and sand). Specifically, we examined differences in the efficiency with which salamanders moved across substrates when motivated to move. We then quantified moisture loss in each substrate and evaluated habitat preference. Our results point to a trade-off between substrates that are easily traversed and those that offer high protection against desiccation. Habitat choice appeared to balance these two aspects of performance, with salamanders favouring a substrate that offered both low resistance to movement and high protection against desiccation. This result was context-dependent, as preferences shifted towards wetter but less easily traversed substrates when supplemental cover objects were made available. Overall, our study highlights the potential for individuals to respond to a given substrate in ways that can both facilitate and limit dispersal and thus underscores the need to consider different aspects of individual performance and behaviour when studying population connectivity.
Evaluating Management Alternatives for Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers: A Modeling Approach

Managers often must evaluate an array of enhancement proposals for endangered species. We present a male-only, stage-based matrix model to assess potential effects of various management techniques used to enhance red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) populations. We analyzed the elasticity of population growth to changes in each matrix parameter and predicted the population-level effects of 5 proposed management techniques that affect stage-specific survival, growth, and fecundity. Maintaining existing habitat and increasing the number of nesting cavities in unoccupied, but suitable, habitat are most likely to help restore declining populations
Scattering from a perfectly conducting surface with a sinusoidal height profile: TE polarization

A method for the analysis of scattering from periodic structures based on the numerical solution of the integral equations is further developed. Using periodicity (Floquet's theorem), the range of the integral equations is reduced to a single period where the kernels are the Green's functions for periodic arrays. The numerical solution of the integral equations is obtained using the method of moments. Efficient numerical methods for the computation of the periodic Green's functions which allows their rapid evaluation with good accuracy are reported. A new treatment of the singularities which includes the effect of the surface curvature is given. Numerical results for the transverse electric scattering from a conducting surface with a sinusoidal height profile are presented, and several interesting physical phenomena are explored including Brewster angle effects and diffraction grating anomalies.
Analise do padrão de expressão dos genes da familia MADS-box durante o desenvolvimento do fruto de Citrus sinensis

Na planta modelo Arabidopsis thaliana o desenvolvimento do fruto foi amplamente estudado e uma serie de genes foram relacionados com a ontogenese e o amadurecimento. A identidade dos tecidos dos frutos secos de Arabidopsis e determinada principalmente pelos genes FRUITIFULL (FUL) e SHATTERPROOF (SHP), pertencentes a familia multigenica MADS-box. Homologos a estes genes foram encontrados em frutos carnosos, no entanto a expressao destes homologos e o papel biologico dos mesmos durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos carnosos sao desconhecidos. No banco de dados de genes expressos em Citrus (CitEST), sequencias homologas a FUL e SHP foram encontradas. Uma vez que os frutos de Citrus sao carnosos e nao apresentam as mesmas estruturas dos frutos de Arabidopsis, decidiu-se caracterizar detalhadamente o desenvolvimento dos frutos em Citrus sinensis e Citrus reticulata e estudar as possiveis funcoes dos homologos de FUL e SHP durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos em C. sinensis. Tecnicas de microscopia optica e eletronica de varredura foram utilizadas para caracterizacao do desenvolvimento dos frutos. Resultados de RT-PCR mostraram a expressao diferencial dos homologos de Citrus de FUL e SHP em frutos maduros. Os resultados de hibridizacao in situ mostraram que o homologo de FUL expressou-se diferencialmente durante o desenvolvimento do fruto, principalmente nas celulas secretoras das cavidades oleiferas e das vesiculas de suco, nos tecidos do epicarpo, mesocarpo e endocarpo. O homologo de SHP tambem se expressou no epicarpo, mesocarpo, endocarpo e nas vesiculas de suco. Os resultados obtidos poderao auxiliar num melhor entendimento do desenvolvimento do fruto em Citrus Abstract
Use of Diapause Eggs of Brine Shrimp, Artemia salina(Linne) for Artificial Diet of Coccinelid Beetle, Harmonia axyridis(Pallas).

Use of Diapause Eggs of Brine Shrimp, Artemia salina (LINNE) for Artificial Diet of Coccinelid Beetle, Harmonia axyridis (PALLAS). Tomoaki HONGO (Biotechnology Association, Sankei Chemical Corporation, Hatara, Fukaya, Saitama 366, Japan) and Nobuo OBAYASHI (Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790, Japan). Jpn. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 41: 101-105 (1997)
Correspondence Between Morphology and Ecology: Morphological Variation of the Frustulia crassinervia-saxonica Species Complex (Bacillariophyta) Reflects the Ombro-Minerotrophic Gradient

Abstract Two commonly reported Frustulia morphospecies from oligotrophic habitats, F. crassinervia and F. saxonica, showed overlapping morphological variation within natural populations and between clonal strains representing different genetic entities. Therefore, morphologies of natural populations of the F. crassinervia-saxonica complex were analyzed using geometric morphometric techniques regardless of species or genetic identity. It has been examined whether shape, centroid size, morphological diversity, and globularity of valves from three types of peatland habitats representing ombro-minerotrophic gradient reflected ecological differentiation within the Frustulia crassinervia-saxonica species complex. Morphometric analyses showed that valve differences within the species complex were significantly correlated with environmental conditions. In particular, allometric shape changes and size of valves showed strong relationships with different types of peatland habitats. It has been suggested that allometry probably acts as a constraint on morphological plasticity and is canalizing microevolutionary morphological differentiation within the F. crassinervia-saxonica complex.
Analysis of carbohydrates in Sicilian DOC wines by high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with low temperature evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-LT ELSD) was developed for the direct analysis of some pentoses, hexoses and disaccharides in Sicilian Controlled Denomination of Origin (DOC) wines. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Prevail Carbohydrate ES column under isocratic conditions with a mixture of water-acetonitrile. The detection limits of ELSD (S/N=3) were between 7 and 30 mg/L for different carbohydrates, whereas precision and accuracy were 4.2 and 96.5%, respectively. Glucose and fructose were the most abundant sugars in all the wines. Residual levels of xylose, rhamnose and lactose were detected only in Marsalas; maltose was present in all the Sicilian wines.
Digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes de rações balanceadas com alimentos alternativos para cutias (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) em crescimento

Objetivou-se avaliar a digestibilidade aparente da proteina bruta, energia bruta, extrato etereo, calcio e fosforo de racoes balanceadas com alimentos alternativos contendo diferentes niveis de proteina bruta para cutias na fase de crescimento. Dezesseis cutias, com idade media de cinco meses e peso vivo medio inicial de 1.200 g, foram alojadas individualmente em gaiolas de metabolismo e distribuidas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos: T1 – racao com 14% de proteina bruta (PB); T2 – racao com 16% de PB; T3 – racao com 18% de PB e T4 – racao com 20% de PB. A unidade experimental foi representada por um animal. Nao foram observados efeitos significativos para os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes. Os niveis de proteina bruta da dieta nao interferem nos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da PB, da EB, do calcio e do fosforo. A digestibilidade do extrato etereo diminui com o incremento da proteina bruta nas racoes. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Alimento alternativo, cutia, digestibilidade aparente, nutrientes.
Phytochemical, cytotoxic, in-vitro antioxidant and anti-microbial investigation of ethanolic leaf extract of Zizyphus rugosa lam.

Zizyphus rugosa Lam. (Family: Rhamnaceae), locally known as "Bon Boroi" or as "Jongli Boroi" in Bangladesh generally found as a herb on the hills in bunches on thorny branches of the Zizyphus rugosa trees. Its bark and wood are used medicinally for dysentery in China, India, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Phytochemical screening of the Leaf extract of Zizyphus rugosa Lam showed different phytoconstituents including carbohydrates (monosaccharides, reducing and mixed-reducing sugars), alkaloid, glycosides, steroids, tannins and saponin. No flavonoid was detected. In DPPH and NO radical scavenging methods, IC50 was moderately satisfactory. IC50 was found 179. 713µg/ml and 769. 909µg/ml respectively compare with the reference ascorbic acid (15.707µg/ml and 82.642µg/ml respectively). In LPO (Lipid peroxidation) assay the Leaf fraction extract showed moderate inhibition potentiality (IC50 402.835µg/ml) in comparison to standard drug BHT (IC50 32.94µg/ml). In CUPRAC assays, the fraction was found to possess low Total antioxidant content, good flavonoid, and moderate amounts of phenolics, tannin and alkaloid content. The Leaf fraction extract was found to show good toxicity to Brine Shrimp nauplii, (LC50 212.402µg/ml & LC90 10715.91µg/ml) compare with the reference anticancer drug vincristine sulphate (LC50 2.47µg/ml & LC90 42µg/ml). In the antimicrobial study the fraction showed moderate activity against only one bacterium (Shiggla sonni) while the standard drug Chloramphenicol showed very good zone of inhibition against all five types (Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Shiggla sonni, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella grb) of bacteria. These findings provide scientific basis for the use of Zizyphus rugosa Lam. leaf ethanolic extract in traditional medicine in the treatment of aforementioned diseases. The plant also possesses moderate antimicrobial activity,
The effects of acetate and of pyruvate on the pathways of glucose catabolism in lactating mammary tissue: 1. Rat tissue

Summary A study was made of the changes in the pathways of glucose catabolism in slices of lactating rat mammary gland which occurred when acetate or pyruvate was added to the medium. When acetate was added there was an increase in the rates of oxidation of the C(2) and C(6) atoms of glucose but little change in that of the C(1) atom. The amounts of these carbon atoms which were incorporated into fatty acids, lactic acid and glyceride glycerol were reduced, but the results showed that the relative proportion of the glucose converted to these substances which passed through the pentose phosphate pathway was increased. When pyruvate was added, the rates of oxidation of the C(1), C(2) and C(6) atoms were all reduced to about the same extent. The incorporation of the glucose carbon into fatty acids was almost abolished and its incorporation into lactic acid and glyceride glycerol was very much reduced. The results showed that most of the glucose incorporated into these compounds under these conditions passed through the pentose phosphate pathway. Evidence is presented which suggests that the triose phosphates are not in complete isotopic equilibrium in lactating rat mammary tissue. These results are discussed in relation to the existence of 2 pools of acetyl coenzyme A, one intra- and the other extra-mitochondrial, and to the possible inhibition of certain steps of the glycolytic pathway.