Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of sowing date and season on growth and yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Summary Experiments made between 1967 and 1970 tested the effects of sowing oilseed rape on different dates in autumn and spring. Much greater oil yields were obtained from autumn sowings, due to higher seed yields and oil content, but the effect varied considerably between experiments, varieties and seasons. Autumn-sown crops flowered in late April or early May, and by the time pods were developing rapidly in June the leaves had senesced almost completely. Spring-sown varieties followed a similar pattern but about a month later, and did not reach the same peak in pod growth. There was a major effect of sowing date, late-autumn sowings (after mid-September) giving lower yields than early-spring sowings. The best autumn sowings (early September) gave about 3 t/ha of seed, but late sowings less than half this; oil content also decreased with delay in sowing – from 45% to as low as 38%. Delayed sowing restricted growth, leaf area and pod production, and also had a slight effect on seed weight. Frost damage on flower buds appeared to be the cause of reduced yield from early sowing (August) in one experiment. In spring, the earliest sowing (late March) gave the best yields. Vigorous but late vegetative growth from the latest sowing (end of April) did not lead to high yields, possibly due to pest and disease effects.
HIV-1 Tat Protein Enters Dysfunctional Endothelial Cells via Integrins and Renders Them Permissive to Virus Replication

Previous work has shown that the Tat protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 is released by acutely infected cells in a biologically active form and enters dendritic cells upon the binding of its arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) domain to the α5β1, αvβ3, and αvβ5 integrins. The up-regulation/activation of these integrins occurs in endothelial cells exposed to inflammatory cytokines that are increased in HIV-infected individuals, leading to endothelial cell dysfunction. Here, we show that inflammatory cytokine-activated endothelial cells selectively bind and rapidly take up nano-micromolar concentrations of Tat, as determined by flow cytometry. Protein oxidation and low temperatures reduce Tat entry, suggesting a conformation- and energy-dependent process. Consistently, Tat entry is competed out by RGD-Tat peptides or integrin natural ligands, and it is blocked by anti-α5β1, -αvβ3, and -αvβ5 antibodies. Moreover, modelling–docking calculations identify a low-energy Tat-αvβ3 integrin complex in which Tat makes contacts with both the αv and β3 chains. It is noteworthy that internalized Tat induces HIV replication in inflammatory cytokine-treated, but not untreated, endothelial cells. Thus, endothelial cell dysfunction driven by inflammatory cytokines renders the vascular system a target of Tat, which makes endothelial cells permissive to HIV replication, adding a further layer of complexity to functionally cure and/or eradicate HIV infection.
Measuring and modelling seasonal variation of carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange of a Pinus ponderosa forest subject to soil water deficit

We conducted ecosystem carbon and water vapour exchange studies in an old‐growth Pinus ponderosa forest in the Pacific North‐west region of the United States. The canopy is heterogeneous, with tall multiaged trees and an open, clumped canopy with low leaf area. Carbon assimilation can occur throughout relatively mild winters, although night frosts can temporarily halt the process and physiological factors limit its efficiency. In contrast, carbon assimilation is often limited in the ‘growing season’ by stomatal closure associated with high evaporative demand (D) and soil water deficits. All of these factors present a challenge to effectively modelling ecosystem processes. Our objective was to generate an understanding of the controls on ecosystem processes across seasonal and annual cycles from a combination of fine‐scale process modelling, ecophysiological measurements, and carbon and water vapour fluxes measured by the eddy covariance method. Flux measurements showed that 50% and 70% of the annual carbon uptake occurred outside the ‘growing season’ (defined as bud break to senescence, ∼ days 125–275) in 1996 and 1997. On a daily basis in summer, net ecosystem productivity (NEP) was low when D and soil water deficits were large. Whole ecosystem water vapour fluxes (LE) increased from spring to summer (1.0–1.9 mm d−1) as conducting leaf area increased by 30% and as evaporative demand increased, while evaporation from the soil surface became a smaller portion of total LE as soil water deficits increased. The models underestimated soil evaporation, particularly following rain. In the SPA model, varying the temperature optimum for photosynthesis seasonally resulted in overestimation of carbon uptake in winter and spring, showing that in coniferous forests, assumptions about temperature optima are clearly important. Daily estimates of soil surface CO2 flux from measurements and site meteorological data demonstrated that modelling of soil CO2 flux based on an Arrhenius‐type equation in CANPOND overestimated CO2 respired from the soil during drought and when temperatures were low.
The Nobeyama Millimeter Array

The present status and the upgrading projects for the Nobeyama Millimeter Array are described. The array is currently being upgraded to produce higher sensitivity and new spectral windows. The major items have been a new 10-m antenna, new receivers, and a new correlator. There follows a brief summary of the astronomical research is presented.
Bose-Condensed Gases at Finite Temperatures: Index

Preface 1. Overview and introduction 2. Condensate dynamics at T=0 3. Couple equations for the condensate and thermal cloud 4. Green's functions and self-energy approximations 5. The Beliaev approximation and the time-dependent HFB 6. 6. Kadanoff-Baym derivation of the ZNG equations 7. Kinetic equations for Bogoliubov thermal excitations 8. Static thermal cloud approximation 9. Vortices and vortex lattices at finite temperatures 10. Dynamics at finite temperatures using the moment method 11. Numerical simulation of the ZNG equations 12. Numerical simulation of collective modes at finite temperature 13. Landau damping in trapped Bose-condensed gases 14. Landau's theory of superfluidity 15. Two-fluid hydrodynamics in a dilute Bose gas 16. Variational formulation of the Landau two-fluid equations 17. The Landau-Khalatnikov two-fluid equations 18. Transport coefficients and relaxation times 19. General theory of damping of hydrodynamic modes Appendices References Index.
Use of a β‐lactamase fusion vector to investigate the organization of penicillin‐binding protein 1B in the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli

The coding region for the mature form of TEM β–lactamase was fused to random positions within the coding region of the penicillin–binding protein 1B (PBP 1B) gene and the nucleotide sequences across the fusion junctions of 100 in–frame fusions were determined. All fusion proteins that contained at least the NH2–terminal 94 residues of PBP 1B provided individual cells of E. coli with substantial levels of ampicillin resistance, suggesting that the β–lactamase moiety had been translocated to the periplasm. Fusion proteins that contained ≤ 63 residues of PBP 1B possessed β–lactamase activity, but could not protect single cells of E. coli from ampicillin, indicating that the 3–lactamase moiety of these fusion proteins remained in the cytoplasm. The β–lactamase fusion approach suggested a model for the organization of PBP 1B in which the protein is embedded in the cytoplasmic membrane by a single hydrophobic trans–membrane segment (residues 64–87), with a short NH2–terminal domain (residues 1–63), and the remainder of the polypeptide (residues 68–844) exposed on the periplasmic side of the cytoplasmic membrane. The proposed model for the organization of PBP 1B was supported by experiments which showed that the protein was completely digested by proteinase K added from the periplasmic side of the cytoplasmic membrane but was only slightly reduced in size by protease attack from the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.
Soil microfungi in three Swedish coniferous forests

Microfungi were isolated by the soil washing technique from 5 soil horizons in each of 3 podzolic coniferous forests: Picea abies at Kongalund, S. Sweden, Pinus sylvestris at Ivantjarnsheden and P. abies/P. sylvestris at Nickobacken (both central Sweden). A total of 126 species was identified, of which 45 were found at 3, and 24 at 2 of the sites. Mortierella and Penicillium were the commonest genera. Species composition differed markedly between the soil layers, but was similar between sites, for a given soil layer. From authors' summary. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: Fungi were isolated by the soil washing technique from 5 soil horizons in each of 3 podzols: spruce at Kongalund, pine at Ivantjarnsheden, and spruce and pine at Nickobacken (south, central and central Sweden, respectively). A total of 126 spp. was identified of which 45 were found at 3 and 24 at 2 of the sites. Mortierella and Penicillium predominated. Spp. composition differed markedly between the soil layers but was similar between sites for a given layer [RPP 58, 3694] (Less)
Chemical and Sensory Effects of Saignée, Water Addition, and Extended Maceration on High Brix Must

Merlot grapes harvested from a single vineyard (11,209 kg/ha, Columbia River Basin) at ~28 Brix were vinified using five experimental winemaking techniques: (1) water addition to 24.3 Brix to compensate for high Brix must (control); (2) water addition to 26.8 Brix (high ethanol); (3) saignee (juice runoff) targeted to 16% of the total volume, paired with an equal volume water addition, yielding 24.1 Brix (low saignee); (4) low saignee treatment paired with a 20-day extended maceration (low saignee-EM); and (5) ~32% saignee with water addition to 24.3 Brix (high saignee). All five techniques were duplicated in 18,972 L fermentors at a commercial facility. Among the treatments there were differences in anthocyanin, polymeric pigments (small and large), tannin, and total iron reactive phenolics. The standard water addition (control) and low saignee treatments had comparable extraction of tannin, anthocyanin, and polymeric pigment formation. A significant enhancement in the amount of anthocyanin, tannin, and large polymeric pigments was observed when a greater volume of juice was removed (high saignee) and when extended maceration was used. Results indicated that the proportion of tannin extracted from the skins and seeds was altered by winemaking treatment. Low saignee-EM resulted in significantly greater seed extraction compared with the other treatments and a trained sensory panel found the resulting wines significantly less smooth and more drying than the other treatments. The high ethanol wines had significantly reduced fresh fruit flavors and increased “hot” mouthfeel.
Atrial Fibrillation and the Role of Thumb ECGs

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be underdiagnosed, and there is much that remains unknown about this prevalent and potentially life-threatening arrhythmia. AF epidemiology has been thwarted in part by the fact that about a third of patients with AF have no symptoms, those with symptoms may experience them intermittently or have vague symptoms, and it can be challenging to capture an episode on a 12-lead ECG, which is required for diagnosis. There are many significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of AF etiology and progression. A new user-friendly device that allows for frequent self-monitoring of the heart rhythm has been introduced. With the thumb ECG, patients can record a tracing multiple times a day. A smartphone app will soon allow them to interact with their healthcare providers about these ECG recordings. An ECG parser will allow for an algorithm-directed, rapid, automatic interpretation of these recordings with high specificity and sensitivity. This may help researchers learn more about the so-called silent AF, AF progression (and possible remission), and risk factors for AF. This technology holds great promise for patient care as well as for research into AF.
Spacing and Genotype Affect Fruit Sugar Concentration, Yield, and Fruit Size of Muskmelon

Additional index words. Cucumis melo, plant density, sucrose, birdsnest, vining Abstract. Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes, Birdsnest 1 ('Qalya' (BN1)), Birdsnest 2 (BN2), and 'Mission' (V) were used to determine the effects of differing plant architec- ture and spacing on fruit sugar concentration and yield. The BN1 and BN2 genotypes possessed a highly branched growth habit specific to birdsnest melon types, but not characteristic of standard indeterminate vining types (e.g., 'Mission'). Experiments were conducted at both the Hancock and Arlington Experimental Farms in Wisconsin, where plant response to two within-row spacings (35 cm (72,600 plants/ha) and 70 cm (36,300 plants/ha)) in rows on 210-cm centers was examined. Genotypes were grown in a randomized complete-block design with four replications at each location and evaluated for primary lateral branch number, fruit number per plant and per hectare, average fruit weight, yield per plant (g), yield per hectare (t), and fruit sugar concentration. Yield, fruit number, and sugar concentration were higher for all genotypes at Arlington than at Hancock. The main effect of genotype was significant for all traits examined. Genotypes BN1 and V had higher mean fruit weight, yield per plant and per hectare, and fruit quality (fruit sugar concentration) than did BN2. Spacing affected all traits, except primary branch number and fruit sugar concentration. Fruit number and yield per plant and average fruit weight were higher with wider spacing, but yield (t·ha -1 ) and fruit number per hectare were lower.
Reproductive phenology of Dicranum majus in central Norway

AbstractShoots of Dicranum majus were collected monthly during the snow-free period from permanent plots to study the reproductive phenology in a boreal spruce forest in central Norway. Numbers of sporophytes (current and previous years), gametangia and dwarf males on each shoot and the reproductive stage of gametangia and sporophytes were registered. Gametangia are formed either in late autumn or in early spring, fertilization occurs in June and July and spores are dispersed during August to October in the following year.Mature archegonia were present only during a restricted period (June-July) while mature antheridia were found throughout the summer and autumn.Dwarf males were found only in a region about one cm below the apex. There was no trace of old male gametophores below, indicating that gametophores are annual. However, from this study it is not possible to conclude whether the gametophyte is annual or new males are formed through, for instance, perennial protonema.Fertilization frequency in the .
Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Diabetic, and Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Extracted Phenolics and Hydrolyzed Peptides from Barley Protein Fractions

This study was conducted to search for novel natural bioactive compounds (peptides and phenolic compounds) with hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic potential from barley protein fractions and isolates. Protein isolate and globulin, prolamin, glutein-1, and glutein-2 fractions of barley flour were extracted from barley flour. Free and bound phenolic compounds were extracted from protein isolate and protein fractions. Protein isolate and protein fractions from barley were subjected to pancreatic hydrolysis to obtain peptides. Peptide and both free and bound phenolic compounds were subjected to determine antioxidant and their potential to inhibit the key enzymes relevant to diabetes and hypertension using in vitro models. The extracted phenolic from prolamin fraction and protein isolate revealed the highest content of total phenolics (2.0–2.4 mg/g), antioxidant activity (65–73%), angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory activity (73–87%), and α-amylase inhibitory activity (57–77%) as compared to that of other protein fractions. Hydrolysates of prolamin fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (77.7%) and angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory activity (61.3%) as compared to all other protein fractions and protein isolate. Poor correlations were obtained between total phenolic content, antioxididant activity, ACE-inhibitory activity, and α-amylase inhibitory activity of phenolic compounds from protein fractions and isolate. On the other hand, positive correlations were obtained between antioxididant activities, angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory activity, and the degree of hydrolysis of peptides from hydrolyzed protein fractions and protein isolate. Our findings indicated that prolamin fraction and protein isolate were recommended to be used as hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic ingredients as potential candidates in functional, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Origins, establishment and evolution of new polyploid species: Senecio cambrensis and S. eboracensis in the British Isles

Two new polyploid species of Senecio have originated in the British Isles in recent times following hybridization between native S. vulgaris (2n = 40) and introduced S. squalidus (2n = 20). One of these is the allohexaploid S. cambrensis (2n = 60), the other is the recombinant tetraploid S. eboracensis (2n = 40). We review what is known about when and how each species originated, and their reproductive isolation from parents due to high selfing rates. We also review evidence that suggests S. cambrensis may have undergone rapid genome evolution since its origin, and comment on the risks of extinction to each species due to chance factors operating during the early establishment phase. The discovery of both species soon after their origin provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine two different but related forms of speciation following hybridization between the same parent species. Further detailed study of the ecology and genomics of S. cambrensis and S. eboracensis will help improve our understanding of the process of polyploid speciation in plants.
The Effect of Preplant Monoammonium Phosphate Fertilizer and Compost on the Growth and Yield of 'Macoun' Apple Trees

Macoun'/B.9 apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) trees were planted in May 1998 in ± compost or ± monoammonium phosphate (MAP) for a total of four preplant treatments: 1) 90 g phosphorus (P) per tree, 2) 128 kg compost per tree, 3) 90 g P and 128 kg compost per tree, and 4) and an untreated control. MAP did not increase tree growth or yield in any year of the study. Compost increased canopy width into the sixth year after planting, and increased tree height and trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) into the seventh year. Annual yield was increased by compost in the fi fth and seventh years, but not fourth or sixth year after planting. Compost increased cumulative yield in the sixth and seventh years.
Interactive Visualization and On-Demand Processing of Large Volume Data: A Fully GPU-Based Out-of-Core Approach

In a wide range of scientific fields, 3D datasets production capabilities have widely evolved in recent years, especially with the rapid increase in their sizes. As a result, many large-scale applications, including visualization or processing, have become challenging to address. A solution to this issue lies in providing out-of-core algorithms specifically designed to handle datasets significantly larger than memory. In this article, we present a new approach that extends the broad interactive addressing principles already established in the field of out-of-core volume rendering on GPUs to allow on-demand processing during the visualization stage. We propose a pipeline designed to manage data as regular 3D grids regardless of the underlying application. It relies on a caching approach with a virtual memory addressing system coupled to an efficient parallel management on GPU to provide efficient access to data in interactive time. It allows any visualization or processing application to leverage the flexibility of its structure by managing multi-modality datasets. Furthermore, we show that our system delivers good performance on a single standard PC with low memory budget on the GPU.
CONSUMPTION-WEALTH RATIO AND HOUSING RETURNS

This paper shows, from the consumer budget constraint, that the consumption spending and the different components of total wealth, i.e. financial, housing and human wealths, are cointegrated and that deviations from the common trend cahy is a proxy for the consumption – wealth ratio that should predict expected returns on financial assets and housing. Using U.S post–war data, we provide empirical evidence in favor of the existence of a cointegration relationship with a structural break in the mid-eighties. Moreover, we show that until the beginning of 2000, consumption spending and housing wealth were dominated by permanent shocks. The main variable that adjusts to restore the long–run trend when a deviation occurs is the financial wealth and therefore it presents the main transitory variations in total wealth. However, over the last period 2000–2009, most of transitory shocks in total wealth are associated to fluctuations in the housing component of wealth rather than financial wealth. Besides, we found that a small fraction of transitory changes in wealth is associated with movements in consumption. These conclusions are in line with our empirical results on the ability of the cahy to predict expected asset and housing returns. Indeed, until the beginning of 2000, the proxy of the consumption–wealth ratio predicts expected asset returns and fails to explain future fluctuations in housing returns.
Carnosine and taurine contents in individual fibres of human vastus lateralis muscle

Analysis of ATPase characterized type I and type II fibres from biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis muscle of four male subjects showed a selective distribution of carnosine and free taurine similar to that observed in other species. The mean carnosine concentration was twice as high in type II compared with type I muscle fibres (23.2 +/- 17.8 and 10.5 +/- 7.6 mmol . kg -1 dry weight, respectively), while taurine was four times higher in type I compared with type II muscle fibres (39.2 +/- 17.8 and 9.6 +/- 2.6 mmol . kg -1 dw, respectively). Overlap in the concentration of carnosine or taurine between fibre types occurred only once in one subject. There was no overlap between fibre types in the ratio of carnosine to taurine. Higher carnosine concentrations in type II fibres will result in a greater contribution to the buffering of H+ arising from anaerobic metabolism. The contribution in a type II fibre with the highest carnosine content was estimated to equal 28% of that from other sources.
Biological and photochemical production of dissolved gaseous mercury in a boreal lake

We used in situ experiments and measured depth profiles of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) to investigate the relative contribution of photochemical versus biological processes on the production of DGM in an oligomesotrophic lake of the Canadian Shield. At the surface, DGM production was mainly photomediated, with reduction rates being twice as high in the wetland than in the lake. In the water column, the distribution of DGM concentrations was not strictly related to light but followed a multimodal distribution, with peaks encountered below the epilimnion at depths receiving <5% of the incident light. Those peaks were recorded in the middle and at the bottom of the metalimnion during the ice‐free season, as well as under ice cover and at the bottom of an anoxic hypolimnion. Rather than being a consequence of the bacterial mercuric reductase activity, metalimnetic DGM peaks were associated with the intensity and duration of phytoplankton blooms. In situ incubation experiments also showed that DGM production ceased when samples were kept in the dark, filtered, or when an inhibitor of photosynthesis was added. Our results illustrate the important role of phytoplankton on Hg redox dynamics in the water column of lakes.