Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations between tree growth, soil fertility and water availability at local and regional scales in Ghanaian tropical rain forest

Relating patterns of species abundance to the processes that determine them at local and regional spatial scales is one of the central aims of ecological research. To examine the relationship between distribution and growth in tropical rain forest, seasonal and annual changes in tree diameter of two tree species with contrasting distribution patterns, Celtis mildbraedii and Strombosia glaucescens, were monitored across topographic gradients in moist semi-deciduous and moist evergreen forest in Ghana over 2 years, 1997-9. Concurrent measurements were made of soil water availability, and during 1997/8, of rainfall, nutrient availability and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The two sites received similar, low, total rainfall during 1997/8, but soil water availability in the dry season at the evergreen site exceeded that at the semi-deciduous forest site. Soil water availability was higher during 1998/9 at both sites. During 1997/8, PAR was similar at the two sites. The evergreen site had soils of lower pH, available P, Mg, Ca and K concentrations than the semi-deciduous forest site. Water availability and the sand content of the soil increased and concentrations of total N and C decreased, from summit to valley positions at both sites. Celtis mildbraedii had significantly faster growth rates than S. glaucescens, and growth of both species was greater at the semi-deciduous than the evergreen forest site during the wet year (1998/9) but not during the dry year (1997/8). Celtis mildbraedii in semi-deciduous forest grew less in valley than summit and slope positions. We conclude that in the absence of a severe dry season, growth is higher in semi-deciduous than evergreen forest, and is related to the higher soil fertility in more seasonal forest. The patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that concentrations of available P and/or cations in the soil limit growth in evergreen forest, while concentrations of N in valley soils limit growth of C. mildbraedii in semi-deciduous forest. There was no evidence that variation in PAR influenced growth rates in these forests. A reduction in growth rate on less fertile soils may be a factor determining the distribution limit of dry forest species, such as C. mildbraedii, in evergreen forest.
The Early Events of α-Synuclein Oligomerization Revealed by Photo- Induced Cross-Linking

Assembly of α-synuclein (α-Syn) into neurotoxic oligomers and fibrils is an important pathogenic feature of Parkinsons disease. Studying the early events of α-Syn aggregation, such as oligomerization and nucleation, is indispensable to understanding the complicated process. Here, photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP) technique is applied to elucidate the early-stage oligomerization of α-Syn. Results show that α-Syn in solution exhibits a mixture of various species, including at least monomers, dimers and trimers. Aggregation of α-Syn probably originates from the dimeric and trimeric seeds. Furthermore, the N-terminal amphipathic region is proposed to be required for the oligomerization (dimerization and trimerization) process. This observation may extend our knowledge on the early events of α-Syn aggregation and the neurotoxic aggregation species.
Specific leaf area development of autumn-sown sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on different sowing dates in northern Germany

SUMMARY In most regions, sugar beet is normally sown as a spring crop. If sown in autumn the crop remains on the field over winter and may achieve fast re-growth in spring from assimilates stored within the beet, allowing earlier leaf growth and light interception in spring. The specific leaf area (SLA) (ratio between leaf surface and leaf mass) is mainly affected by leaf area expansion and consequently affects productivity in early growth stages. The aim of the present study was (i) to examine the SLA dynamics of autumn-sown sugar beet before and after winter and (ii) to develop an empiric approach describing SLA changes during the growth period. A field trial in northern Germany with three different sowing times (mid-April, mid-June and mid-August) and varying plant densities (148 000, 246 000 and 370 000 plants/ha) was carried out in 2009/10 to 2011/12. The average SLA of the canopy was the highest (>25 m2/kg) directly after emergence, then decreased until autumn (<13 m2/kg) and increased again up to 20 m2/kg during re-growth of winter sugar beet in spring. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed mean photosynthetically active radiation over 10 days before measurement (PARmean), leaf area index (LAI), mean temperature over 10 days before measurement (T mean) and temperature sum since sowing (T sum) as the main influences on SLA dynamics. The strongest correlation to SLA was shown by T mean (r = 0·69) and the weakest by T sum (r = −0·28). A multiple linear regression model was fitted to the dataset with T mean, PARmean and log (T sum) achieving an adjusted R 2 of 0·64. This empirical equation is suitable for use in a crop growth model for winter sugar beet.
Lodging reduces sucrose accumulation of sugarcane in the wet and dry tropics

Previous experiments in the Australian tropics have observed a 'slowdown' in biomass accumulation in mature sugarcane crops. By installing scaffolding to prevent lodging, we eliminated the growth 'slowdown' in 3 experiments to confirm that lodging and stalk death are part of the explanation. In both the wet and dry (irrigated) tropics, lodging of sugarcane significantly decreased both fresh cane yield and commercial cane sugar content (CCS). Prevention of lodging increased cane yield by 11–15%, CCS by 3–12%, and sugar yield by 15–35% at the final harvest in August–September. The rate of increase in CCS in lodged cane was reduced following lodging, although CCS had partially recovered by harvest. A possible component of the lodging effect is a slowdown in the growth due to the ageing of the crop. However, a younger crop (late crop treatment) grew no faster than the scaffolded treatment and so discounted this. In the dry tropics, where cane is irrigated and grows under high radiation, sugar yield was 40 t/ha with scaffolding installed. The increased yield (compared with 35 t/ha in lodged cane) was due to both the survival of an extra 0.8 stalks/m2 and increased accumulation of sugar in live stalks. In 2 years in the wet tropics where sugar yield with scaffolding was 16 t/ha, the same factors, with the addition of increased biomass accumulation in live stalks, were responsible for the increase.
Nutrient Contents, δ^13 C and δ^15 N during Leaf Senescence in the Mangrove, Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

Kandelia candel (L.) Druce is the dominant mangrove species in two nature reserves in Northern Taiwan. We characterized the nutrient quality of the leaf litter originating from K. candel and attempted to suggest the extent to which the observed decline of nutrient concentrations in senescing leaves could be attributed to the withdrawal of these nutrients into the main plant before abscission. On a dry weight basis, senescent leaves and leaf litter had significantly lower concentrations of N, P and K and higher concentrations of Na than did younger ones. At one site Ca and Mg contents rose with senescence; at the second site there was no change with age of leaf. Leaf δ^13 C and C: N ratios suggest that withdrawal into the main plant may not be the major cause for the observed decline of C and N during leaf senescence. The δ^13 C values of mature leaves ranged from -26% to -30%c; senescent leaves and leaf litter were 0.6% more negative for δ13 C than fresh leaves at the most seaward site. We attribute this decline of δ13 C to loss of stomatal control during senescence. δ15 N ranged from +4.3% to +9.8% for individual samples with no significant differences among ages of leaves, indicating no important gaseous N losses during senescence. P was probably not limiting to growth at these sites.
Modulating the cellular uptake of platinum drugs with glycopolymers

The therapeutic potency of platinum-based anticancer drugs can be substantially improved through the use of polymeric nanocarrier systems to target cancer cells efficiently. We synthesized a series of glyco-block copolymers with three different sugars able to self-assemble into nanoparticles when conjugated with 1,2-diamino-cyclopentane platinum(II) (DACP-Pt). The polymers are based on (2-(D-glucosyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (glucose; GlcMA), 2-(D-galactosyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (galactose; GalMA), 1-O-methacryloyl-β-D-fructopyranose (fructose; FrucMA1), and 3-O-methacryloyl-β-D-fructopyranose (fructose; FrucMA3)). They are all readily taken up intracellularly by the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and the ovarian cancer cell line A2780. All cell lines expressed a high preference for the fructose coated nanoparticles. The nanocarriers were themselves nontoxic, but exhibited high cytotoxicity and increased efficacy when conjugated with the DACP-Pt drug.
Altered Rubisco activity and amounts of a daytime tight- binding inhibitor in transgenic tobacco expressing limiting amounts of phosphoribulokinase

Transgenic tobacco with RuBP-limited photosynthetic assimilation due to a 95% reduction in phosphoribulokinase activity, had higher specific activities of Rubisco in fresh extracts and after full activation, than in the wild type. Differences in the amounts of a daytime tight-binding inhibitor were sufficient to contribute significantly to these activity differences.
Trinucleotide repeat microsatellite markers for black poplar ( Populus nigra L.)

Using an enrichment procedure, we have cloned microsatellite repeats from black poplar (Populus nigra L.) and developed primers for microsatellite marker analysis. Ten primer pairs, mostly for trinucleotide repeats, produced polymorphic fragments in P. nigra. Some of them also showed amplification in other poplar species. (P. deltoides, P. tricocarpa, P. tremula, P. tremuloides, P. candicans, P. lasiocarpa). The best six loci were tested on 23 P. nigra genotypes collected across Europe. The microsatellites produced up to 12 alleles per locus in this set, with observed heterozygosity between 0.32 and 0.91.
Role of the single disulphide bond of β2‐microglobulin in amyloidosis in vitro

The aggregation of β2‐microglobulin (β2m) into amyloid fibrils occurs in the condition known as dialysis‐related amyloidosis (DRA). The protein has a β‐sandwich fold typical of the immunoglobulin family, which is stabilized by a highly conserved disulphide bond linking Cys25 and Cys80. Oxidized β2m forms amyloid fibrils rapidly in vitro at acidic pH and high ionic strength. Here we investigate the role of the single disulphide bond of β2m in amyloidosis in vitro. We show that reduction of the disulphide bond destabilizes the native protein such that non‐native molecules are populated at neutral pH. These species are prone to oligomerization but do not form amyloid fibrils when incubated for up to 8 mo at pH 7.0 in 0.4 M NaCl. Over the pH range 4.0–1.5 in the presence of 0.4 M NaCl, however, amyloid fibrils of reduced β2m are formed. These fibrils are ∼10 nm wide, but are shorter and assemble more rapidly than those produced from the oxidized protein. These data show that population of non‐native conformers of β2m at neutral pH by reduction of its single disulphide bond is not sufficient for amyloid formation. Instead, association of one or more specific partially unfolded molecules formed at acid pH are necessary for the formation of β2m amyloid in vitro. Further experiments will now be needed to determine the role of different oligomeric species of β2m in the toxicity of the protein in vivo.
Descriptions of Two New Species of Cyrtinus LeConte, with a Key to the New World Cyrtinini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The two species described herein bring the total number of known species of New World Cyrtinini to 17. Since the descriptions are scattered and no key to these species Gas previously available, a brief key to the genera and species in the tribe is presented, being based in part on the descriptions only. I examined the species of Haldeman and Fisher, but not those described by Pascoe, Gahan, Hope, Bates, and Cameron. References to the original descriptions are given by Leng (1920, p. 281) and Blackwelder (1946, pp. 619, 620, and 1957). In Blackwelder's 1946 work the date given for the description of Sciocyrtinus Fisher on page 620 should read 1935 instead of 1934. I wish to thank Mr. W. S. Fisher, Washington, D.C., for checking the key and examining specimens of the new species.
Adaptive Nonlinear Tracking Approach for Motion Tracking Applications

The problem of output regulation for systems affected by nonlinear reference signal, which is caused by exosystem with parametric uncertainties, is addressed. The control law for a nonlinear trajectory is proposed with the design of an adaptive internal model. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm was proved by experiments using the setup that includes an articulated robot. The experimental results are presented.
Essentials of Conservation Biology (3rd ed)

The following critiques express the opinions of the individual evaluators regarding the strengths, weaknesses, and value of the books they review. As such, the appraisals are subjective assessments and do not necessarily reﬂ ect the opinions of the editors or any oﬃ cial policy of the American Ornithologists’ Union.
Is the socio-spatial distribution of mound-building mice, Mus spicilegus, compatible with a monogamous mating system ?

Le but de ce travail etait de verifier sur le terrain si la distribution socio-spatiale de la souris glaneuse, Mus spicilegus, pouvait etre compatible avec la monogamie suggeree par plusieurs etudes comportementales menees en laboratoire. Nous avons realise une session de piegeage sur cinq jours consecutifs a la fin du mois d'avril 2000, dans la region de Gyongyos (Hongrie). L'espece est determinee a l'aide d'un marqueur genetique (Musmcka). Quarante-trois animaux ont ete captures, et le taux de recapture etait eleve (6/10 pour les mâles, 17/33 pour les femelles). Dix-sept des 33 femelles capturees etaient gravides. Les animaux ont generalement ete recaptures dans les memes pieges. Des associations spatiales (animaux captures dans le meme piege) ont ete observees entre un mâle et une femelle (six cas), entre plusieurs femelles (six paires et deux trios) accompagnees ou non d'un mâle. Ces resultats nous amenent a remettre en question la monogamie et a proposer l'existence possible d'un systeme polygyne, du moins au debut de la periode de reproduction et pour la population etudiee. Le biais du sex-ratio observe en faveur des femelles, ainsi que la forte densite de population pourraient avoir favorise une polygynie locale. Plus encore, les associations entre femelles pourraient decouler de liens sociaux forts s'etablissant pendant les six mois d'hivernage commun au sein des tumulus. La polygynie serait alors reservee a cette generation d'animaux hivernants.
Investigating the function of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CTSB gene: a computational approach

Aim: Recent genome-wide association studies have revealed large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we have investigated the gene CTSB, which plays a crucial role in encoding CTSB, a lysosomal cysteine proteinase protein. CTSB is also involved in the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is believed to be a causative factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Materials & methods: Several bioinformatics algorithms such as, Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT), Polymorphism Phenotyping (PolyPhen) and CUPSAT could identify the synonymous SNPs and nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs), which are predicted to be deleterious and nondeleterious, respectively. Similar tools were used to predict the impact of single amino acid substitutions on CTSB protein activity. The FASTSNP server and UTRscan were used to predict the influence on splicing regulations. The stability and solvent-accessible surface area of modeled mutated proteins were analyzed using PBE.
Pathogenicity and attraction to host extracts of Canadian pinewood nematodes: studies with Scots pine, western larch, and black spruce seedlings

Two isolates of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchusxylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer), from Canada (an r form from Ontario and an m form from Quebec) and one from Japan (an r form) were inoculated into Scots pine, Pinussylvestris L. , western larch, Larixoccidentalis Nutt. , and black spruce, Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P. to determine the pathogenicity of this nematode and to observe changes in its numbers as well as the effect it had on seedling water and tannin content. Attractiveness of water, ethyl ether, and ethyl acetate stem extracts of these conifers to the pinewood nematode was also determined. The r form of the pinewood nematode was pathogenic on all three conifers: the Japanese isolate killed more Scots pine and the Ontario isolate, more black spruce. The Quebec isolate was as pathogenic as the other two isolates to western larch, weakly pathogenic to black spruce, and nonpathogenic to Scots pine. In general, there was a positive relationship between nematode population buildup and seedling mortali.
Cortinarius parkeri, a new species from the Pacific Northwest of North America

Cortinarius parkeri, a new vernal species in subgenus Cortinarius, section Veneti, is described from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Within its subgenus, C. parkeri is unique in that its membranous universal veil is attached to the pileus edge of young mushrooms and extends as a covering over the pileus surface. At maturity, the universal veil forms a sheathing membranous volva-like structure that flares out above the stipe base. Sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8s-ITS2) determined for 13 collections of C. parkeri were all identical, except for a polymorphic two base pair indel. In a phylogeny including other related species from North America and Europe, C. parkeri is monophyletic. In contrast to intraspecific distances, the interspecific genetic distance between C. parkeri and other Veneti species sequences was large. Being dikaryotic, mushrooms of C. parkeri contain genomes from two parents. As expected in a dikaryon in an interbreeding populatio.
Distribution pattern and molecular identification of Anopheles maculipennis complex in eight river basins of Anatolia, Turkey

The present study was set up to identify the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex, and to determine the distribution pattern of existing species in eight river basins of Anatolia using the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA-ITS2) sequences from 107 specimens. Resulting sequences of this complex from eight river basins revealed the presence of three species belonging to the An. maculipennis complex, namely An. sacharovi, An. maculipennis and An. melanoon. Anopheles melanoon was the rarest species, An. maculipennis the most abundant and An. sacharovi the most widespread. Although all specimens of the same species shared the same ITS2 haplotype, the size of the ITS2 sequences varied between species. Inclusive of primers (43 bp), the ITS2 fragments were 284, 291 and 303 nucleotides in An. maculipennis, An. melanoon and An. sacharovi, respectively. An. maculipennis and An. melanoon were shown to be most similar with a 3.4% sequence divergence value. The sequence of An. sacharovi differed the most from the other two species, showing 14.8% and 15.2% divergence from An. melanoon and An. maculipennis, respectively.
Genetic diversity in some introduced pasture grass cultivars revealed by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers

This study was focused on studying the genetic diversity among pasture grass cultivars using intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers to determine their genetic background. Six grass cultivars were used in this study: two perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (Aries and Quartet), two endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars (Fawn and K5666v) and two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars (Tekapo and Niva). Analysis of the 15 selected ISSR primers among the six grass cultivars generated 77 bands, 66 (85.7%) of which were polymorphic. The two perennial ryegrasses cultivars (Aries and Quartet) were distinguished by a 600-bp amplification fragment produced by primer UBC807. The 500-bp amplification fragment was produced by primer UBC825, which was distinguished in Niva, but absent in Tekapo- orchard grass. Furthermore, Fawn-tall fescue was distinguished by a 400-bp amplification fragment produced by primer UBC825. The minimum genetic similarity (GS) value was obtained between the two orchard grass cultivars (Niva and Tekapo), while the maximum GS value was obtained between the two perennial ryegrasses cultivars (Aries and Quartet).
PHOTOPERIOD CONTROL OF DIAPAUSE IN DAPHNIA. II. INDUCTION OF WINTER DIAPAUSE IN THE ARCTIC

1. Control of the sexual polymorphism leading to an embryonic diapause was studied in an arctic (71° N) population of Daphnia middendorffiana. The reproductive cycle is similar to a previously analyzed population of D. pulex although males are non-functional in the polymorphism.2. In constant temperatures and standardized culture density the reproductive shift is controlled by daylength with a critical photoperiod of L:D 22:2 at 12° C. Control may be partially overridden in long days (constant light) by density of culture. The overwintering generation shows resistance to both photoperiodic induction and density suppression, and one or two non-diapause broods are released before reproduction shifts.3. The reproductive shift in the source pool at Barrow, Alaska occurs in mid-July when the sun is continuously above the horizon and after the overwintering generation has released one brood of non-diapausing embryos. Completeness of the shift and the relatively low density of the population in the pool argues a.
Sorbitol transporter expression in apple sink tissues: Implications for fruit sugar accumulation and watercore development

In apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.), where sorbitol is a primary photosynthetic product that is translocated throughout the plant, accumulation of sorbitol in sink cells appears to require an active carrier-mediated membrane transport step. Recent progress in isolation and characterization of genes for sorbitol transporters in sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) and mannitol transporters in celery (Apium graveolens L.) suggested that similar transporters may be present in apple tissues. A defect in these transporters could also explain the occurrence of the fruit disorder water- core, characterized by the accumulation of fl uids and sorbitol in the apoplasmic free space. Our objectives therefore included isolation and characterization of genes for sorbitol transporters in apple tissues and comparisons of expres- sion of transporter genes, especially in various sink tissues including watercored and non-watercored fruit tissues. We have isolated and characterized two sorbitol transporter genes, MdSOT1 and MdSOT2. Sequence analyses indicated that these are members of the major facilitator transporter superfamily that gives rise to highly hydrophobic integral membrane proteins. Heterologous expression and measurement of sorbitol uptake in yeast indicated that these are specifi c and with high affi nities for sorbitol, with Kms for sorbitol of 1.0 and 7.8 mM for MdSOT1 and MdSOT2, respec- tively. Sorbitol transporter expression was evident in all sink tissues tested with the exception of watercore-affected fruit tissues. Sorbitol accumulation in apple sink tissues thus involves an apoplasmic active membrane transport step and watercore results from a defect in that process.