Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen‐dependent recovery of subarctic tundra vegetation after simulation of extreme winter warming damage to Empetrum hermaphroditum

Vast areas of (sub)arctic tundra are dominated by the ericoid dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum. Recent experimental and observational data have shown that Empetrum can be damaged heavily by recurrent extreme winter warming. In addition, summer warming leads to increased soil N availability in tundra ecosystems. In a 7‐year experiment, I investigated the recovery of subarctic Empetrum‐dominated tundra vegetation using a factorial combination of various degrees of aboveground Empetrum removal (simulating the damaging effects of extreme winter warming) and N addition (simulating one of the effects of summer warming). After 7 years no new species had established in the plots. The growth of planted Betula nana seedlings was stimulated by Empetrum removal and reduced by N addition. This Empetrum‐dominated tundra ecosystem was resilient against severe disturbances. Only when Empetrum was 100% removed did it fail to recover, and only in combination with high N supply the subordinate species (notably Eriophorum vaginatum and Rubus chamaemorus, a graminoid and a forb) could benefit. In the 50% removal treatment Empetrum recovered in 7 years when no N was supplied and the cover of the subordinate species did not change. However, when N was added Empetrum recovered faster (in 4 years) and the subordinates decreased. When Empetrum was not removed and N was added, Empetrum even increased in abundance at the expense of the subordinate species. Thus, profound changes in tundra ecosystems can only be expected when Empetrum is very heavily damaged as a result of recurrent extreme winter warming and when soil N availability is increased as a result of summer warming. These changes in species composition upon extreme disturbance events may lead to a wide variety of ecosystem feedbacks and cascade processes as this tundra system is relatively species‐poor, and can be hypothesized to have low functional redundancy.
Ameliorating effect of UV‐B radiation on the response of Norway spruce and Scots pine to ambient ozone concentrations

Elevated levels of both ozone and UV‐B radiation are typical for high‐altitude sites. Few studies have investigated their possible interaction on plants. This study reports interactive effects of O3 and UV‐B radiation in four‐year‐old Norway spruce and Scots pine trees. The trees were cultivated in controlled environmental facilities under simulated climatic conditions recorded on Mt Wank, an Alpine mountain in Bavaria, and were exposed for one growing season to simulated ambient or twice‐ambient ozone regimes at either near ambient or near zero UV‐B radiation levels. Chlorotic mottling and yellowing of current year needles became obvious under twice‐ambient O3 in both species at the onset of a high ozone episode in July. Development of chlorotic mottling in relation to accumulated ozone concentrations over a threshold of 40 nL L–1 was more pronounced with near zero rather than ambient UV‐B radiation levels. In Norway spruce, photosynthetic parameters at ambient CO2 concentration, measured at the end of the experiment, were reduced in trees cultivated under twice‐ambient O3, irrespective of the UV‐B treatment. Effects on photosynthetic capacity and carboxylation efficiency were restricted to trees exposed to near zero levels of UV‐B radiation, and twice‐ambient O3. The data indicate that UV‐B radiation, applied together with O3, ameliorates the detrimental effects of O3. The data also demonstrate that foliar symptoms develop more rapidly in Scots pine than in Norway spruce at higher accumulated ozone concentrations.
Photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in tobacco leaves during an incompatible interaction with Phytophthora nicotianae

The metabolic and cellular changes in source leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv SNN during an incompatible interaction with Phytophthora nicotianae van Breda de Haan were investigated and compared with defence reactions. Hypersensitive cell death was preceded by a rapid and highly localized shift to non-assimilatoric metabolism. During the first 6 h post infection (hpi), reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated. Callose was deposited at the interface of adjacent mesophyll cells (≥1 hpi), the export of sucrose collapsed and its content in the apoplast increased. Stomata closed and photosynthetic flux was reallocated from CO 2 assimilation in favour of photorespiration. This was accompanied by an increase in respiration, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, apoplastic invertase and hexose content. Later (>6 hpi) the photosynthetic electron transport chain was interrupted and photosynthesis completely collapsed. This was accompanied by a further increase in apoplastic invertase and carbohydrates, respiration and oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) and followed by further burst in ROS release. Hypersensitive cell death did not appear until photosynthesis completely declined. Photosynthesis was visualized by chlorophyll-a fluorescence imaging on a macro- and microscopic scale. Decline in photosynthesis and defence reactions were highly localized processes, which occur in single mesophyll cells. We propose that in photoautotrophic leaves, photosynthesis and assimilatory metabolism must be switched off to initiate respiration and other processes required for defence. An early blockage of intercellular sugar transportation, due to callose deposition, in conjunction with enhanced apoplastic invertase activity could facilitate this metabolic shift.
PCB concentrations in intertidal sipunculan (Phylum Sipuncula) marine worms from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Specimens of the sipunculans Phascolosoma perlucens, Antillesoma antillarum, and Sipunculus nudus, were collected for PCB analysis in three coastal embayments on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in October 2005. After collection the worms were kept in cool sea water and transferred to the laboratory for freeze drying. Half of the specimens of S. nudus were depurated in filtered sea water for 72 h before freeze drying. The whole worm sample was ground, using a mortar and pestle prior to being extracted with dichloromethane solvent. The extract was cleaned using a florisil column and analyzed using a 6890 Hewlett-Packard gas chro- matograph equipped with a mass selective detector. Recovery efficiencies averaged between 72 and 80 %. Data are not corrected for blank or recovery efficiencies. Concentration data were calculated based on comparison with standards for Arochlor 1221, 1242, 1248 and 1254 (Supelco, Inc. ®). No worm samples were identified with six or more chlorine atoms. However, the higher chlorinated congeners were identified in the standards. Therefore, the lack of chlorination in the worms was not an analytical artifact. The sum of identifiable PCBs ranged from a barely discernable 0.01 ng/g dry wt in an A. antillarum sample from Culebra Bay to 67.71 ng/g dry wt in a P. perlucens sample obtained near the Rincon river in the inner Golfo Dulce. S. nudus worm samples from the Cocorocas sand flat in the Gulf of Nicoya had relatively high concentrations of PCBs whether they were depurated or not. The samples from Costa Rica are low in PCBs, especially compared to the marine sedi- ment samples measured previously in Costa Rica. This was the first attempt to identify and quantify the presence of PCBs in any marine organisms from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54 (Suppl. 1): 27-33. Epub 2006 Sept. 30.
Can L5 Be Trusted During Proximal Extension of Fusion? A Case Series and a Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT Background: Debate on whether to stop fusion at L5 or to extend fusion to S1 in a long spinal construct has been a controversial topic in spine surgery. Fewer data are available to support whether to include a prior solid fusion at L4–L5 or to extend to S1 during a proximal extension of fusion to T10. The purpose of this review is to report and discuss 2 cases of L5 vertebra fracture after proximal extension of solid L4–L5 fusion to T10 and to provide a guideline to surgeons based on the available literature. Methods: Case report and literature review. Results: Literature review identified multiple publications with levels of evidence from level 2 to level 4. Advanced L5–S1 degeneration with long-segment fusion to L5 is reported to be greater than 60% with a new rate of symptom development approaching 20%–25%. There is no prior literature specific to L5 fracture development after thoracic lumbar fusion with the lowest instrumented level at a fused L4–L5 segment. Reoperation rate is not consistently affected by the lowest instrumented vertebral level L5 versus sacrum/ilium. Conclusions: Literature review is inconclusive as to the need to include the lumbosacral junction when performing a proximal extension of fusion from L5 to the thoracic spine, especially during a revision adult deformity surgery. Stress of the long lever arm of a long-segment thoracolumbar fusion above a prior solid L4–L5 fusion could cause the L5 vertebra to split in the coronal plane, resulting in vertebral body fracture even with a mildly degenerated disc at L5–S1 prior to surgery. Level of Evidence: 4.
GENETIC ANALYSIS IN GREEN GRAM (VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK) SUBJECTED TO NORTH CAROLINA MATING DESIGN-I

Genetic studies were conducted on progenies developed in F 2 generation of an intervarietal cross made between powdery mildew resistant parent BPMR 156 and powdery mildew susceptible parent SML-668 of green gram using NCD-1. Significant differences among females in males in sets for all the traits in the study were observed. Dominant variance were more pronounced except for the traits like plant height, pod cluster per plants, pods per plant, 100 seed weight and yield per plant indicating the importance of dominant gene effects for those traits. Partial dominance was observed for plant height, number of pods per plant and yield per plant.
International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes; Subcommittee on the taxonomy of Aeromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae and related organisms : Minutes of the meetings, 6 August 2008, Istanbul, Turkey

Minute 2. Record of attendance, apologies for absence. The members present were B. Holmes (Chairman) and A. Ventosa, plus P. Kämpfer as a guest. Apologies for absence were received from J. J. Farmer (Secretary), A. J. Horneman, G. Huys, J. Michael Janda, Y. Kosako, G. Balakrish Nair and H. Sørum. No response was received from other members, so the Chairman agreed to contact them to determine whether they wished to retire from the subcommittee. In the absence of the Secretary, the Chairman recorded the minutes.
Workplace heat stress in the context of rising temperature in India

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 101, NO. 4, 25 AUGUST 2011 496 S. K. Dash is in the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India; T. Kjellstrom is in the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. *For correspondence. (e-mail: skdash@cas.iitd.ernet.in) Workplace heat stress in the context of rising temperature in India
Osmotic adjustment: effect of water stress on carbohydrates in leaves, stems and roots of apple

Potted apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Jonathan) trees were subjected to water stress in a greenhouse. Midday leaf water potential (ΨW), osmotic potential (ΨS), soluble carbohydrates, and starch content of expanding and mature leaves, stems, and roots were measured to determine whether active osmotic adjustment occurred and if water stress affected carbohydrate metabolism. Mature leaves had the highest total soluble carbohydrate level (357 mM) and lowest Ψ (-1.85 MPa), followed by young leaves (278 mM, -1.58 MPa), stems (115 mM, -1.02 MPa), and roots (114 mM, -0.87 MPa). Sorbitol was the major component in all organs ranging from 53% of total soluble carbohydrate in young leaves to 73% in mature leaves. When ΨW decreased from -1.0 to -3.2 MPa, active osmotic adjustments of 0.3-0.4 MPa were observed in mature leaves, stems, and roots while a significantly higher adjustment of 1.0 MPa was detected in young leaves 5 days after the initiation of water stress. Sorbitol levels in leaves and stems gradually increased as ΨW decreased from -1.0 to -2.5 MPa, and then remained relatively stable or decreased slightly as ΨW decreased from -2.5 to -3.2 MPa. However, the percentage of soluble carbohydrate as sorbitol in roots decreased in response to water stress. Sucrose concentration decreased in mature leaves and stems, but increased in young leaves and roots as ΨW decreased. Starch concentrations in stems and roots also decreased as water stress developed. The sorbitol to sucrose ratios increased in mature leaves, but decreased in roots in response to water stress.
Common Cutaneous Bacteria from the Eastern Red-Backed Salamander Can Inhibit Pathogenic Fungi

Abstract The objective of this study was to characterize the cutaneous antifungal bacterial flora of a plethodontid salamander, Plethodon cinereus, and to relate our results to aspects of amphibian ecology. Scanning electron micrographs of salamander skin indicated a wide distribution of bacteria across the skin. Polymerase Chain Reaction/Denaturant Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR/DGGE) analyses of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that a transient community of bacteria was rinsed off and that a resident epibiotic community remained on the skin. Resident bacteria were isolated from the skin of P. cinereus on a low nutrient medium and challenged against a pathogenic ascomycete fungus collected from dead salamander eggs. The strong antifungal bacteria, identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (∼1400 bp), were related to the genera Lysobacter, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, and Bacillus. Patterns of the cutaneous bacterial flora varied among individual salamanders, as revealed by DGGE, although analysis of DGGE bands from salamander skin revealed the presence of at least one species of uncultured β-proteobacteria on virtually every salamander. These bacteria were closely related to an isolated antifungal Janthinobacterium lividum strain. Antifungal skin bacteria may form mutualistic ecological relationships with amphibian species and help protect them from pathogenic fungi.
EFFECTS OF MOBILE BOTTOM FISHING GEAR ON BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT IN OFFSHORE NEW ENGLAND WATERS

Abstract Mobile fishing gear affects biodiversity and habitat in New England offshore waters through selective fishing activity, seabed disturbance, and discarding and encounter mortality. Selective fishing activity results in geographically localized impacts on habitat and more widespread impacts on biodiversity through the selective removal of specific species with a higher economic value. Seabed disturbance by fishing activity results in physical impacts related to resuspension of fine sediments and scarring of the seabed, chemical effect due to resuspension of nutrients, and biological impacts related to alteration of the benthic community structure. Discards and other benthic fauna that encounter mobile gear and are impacted by the interaction, temporarily alter the ecosystem dynamic. In general, the habitat impacts are restricted to areas of heavy fishing activity, and in shallower water are ameliorated by natural processes that regularly disturb the seabed. Effects on biodiversity are more widespread due to the transient nature of many impacted species. Mobile fishing gear produces approximately 75% of the landings from New England offshore waters. Habitat impact and a loss of biodiversity may be considered a cost of seafood production. Preservation of habitat and biodiversity in marine sanctuaries and reserves is recommended to balance the effects of fishing. This is analogous to society's management strategy in the terrestrial environment.
Imidazolinone resistance in several Amaranthus hybridus populations

Abstract Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the responses of several imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant Amaranthus hybridus populations to various acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18)-inhibiting herbicides. In 1996 field studies, IMI resistance was confirmed in one A. hybridus population (R4) that was not cross-resistant to the sulfonylurea herbicides CGA-277476, chlorimuron, or thifensulfuron. Amaranthus hybridus control with triazolopyrimidine herbicides was ≤ 35%, but control with cloransulam-methyl or flumetsulam plus cloransulam-methyl was higher than with IMI herbicides. Follow-up greenhouse studies were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to investigate the response of one IMI-susceptible (S) A. hybridus population collected near Painter, VA, and four IMI-resistant A. hybridus populations (R1, R2, R3, R4) collected from fields in Somerset County, MD, to postemergence imazethapyr, chlorimuron, thifensulfuron, pyrithiobac, and cloransulam-methyl applications. Resistance to imazethapyr was confirmed in all R populations, and no practical level of cross-resistance to chlorimuron, thifensulfuron, pyrithiobac, or cloransulam-methyl was detected. Based on resistance ratios, R populations were slightly more tolerant to chlorimuron and slightly more sensitive to pyrithiobac, thifensulfuron, and cloransulam-methyl than the S population. Nomenclature: CGA-277476, 2-[[[[(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoic acid,3-oxetanyl-ester; chlorimuron; cloransulam-methyl, flumetsulam, imazethapyr, pyrithiobac, thifensulfuron; Amaranthus hybridus L. AMACH, smooth pigweed.
Immunochemical Assay of Hemoglobin with Nε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine at Lysine 66 of the β Chain

Background: N e-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), a well-characterized and major advanced glycation end product structure, is produced via a Maillard reaction by nonenzymatic glycation and/or oxidation. Although few of the carboxymethylation sites of lysine residues on proteins have been identified, it is known that the possible lysine glycation site in hemoglobin (Hb) is Lys-66 on the β chain. We aimed to develop an assay for the Hb with a CML (CML-Hb) site specific to Lys-66 on the Hb β chain and to determine whether the lysine residue at that site is carboxymethylated. Methods: Ala-His-Gly-Lys-Lys(CM)-Val-Leu-Gly-Ala-Phe-Ser-Cys, the peptide derived from the β chain of human Hb, was synthesized as an immunogen, and a monoclonal antibody against the peptide was prepared. A latex immunoassay method was established using the antibody on an automatic analyzer. In this study, 20 samples from healthy subjects and 80 samples from nondiabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were analyzed. Results: The latex immunoassay method using the antibody correlated significantly with the ELISA method using the antibody ( r = 0.95; P <0.001). Between healthy subjects (n = 20) and nondiabetic HD patients (n = 80), a significant difference was seen in circulating CML-Hb (525 ± 76 vs 778 ± 137 pmol CML/mg of Hb; P <0.0001). Conclusion: The latex method for the CML-Hb site specific to Lys-66 on the β chain can measure large numbers of samples on an automatic analyzer.
The CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Controls Myeloid Progenitor Trafficking

Cannabinoids are potential agents for the development of therapeutic strategies against multiple sclerosis. Here we analyzed the role of the peripheral CB2 cannabinoid receptor in the control of myeloid progenitor cell trafficking toward the inflamed spinal cord and their contribution to microglial activation in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, EAE). CB2 receptor knock-out mice showed an exacerbated clinical score of the disease when compared with their wild-type littermates, and this occurred in concert with extended axonal loss, T-lymphocyte (CD4+) infiltration, and microglial (CD11b+) activation. Immature bone marrow-derived CD34+ myeloid progenitor cells, which play a role in neuroinflammatory pathologies, were shown to express CB2 receptors and to be abundantly recruited toward the spinal cords of CB2 knock-out EAE mice. Bone marrow-derived cell transfer experiments further evidenced the increased contribution of these cells to microglial replenishment in the spinal cords of CB2-deficient animals. In line with these observations, selective pharmacological CB2 activation markedly reduced EAE symptoms, axonal loss, and microglial activation. CB2 receptor manipulation altered the expression pattern of different chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL5) and their receptors (CCR1, CCR2), thus providing a mechanistic explanation for its role in myeloid progenitor recruitment during neuroinflammation. These findings demonstrate the protective role of CB2 receptors in EAE pathology; provide evidence for a new site of CB2 receptor action, namely the targeting of myeloid progenitor trafficking and its contribution to microglial activation; and support the potential use of non-psychoactive CB2 agonists in therapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis and other neuroinflammatory disorders.
A new algorithm for considering green communication and excellent sensing performance in cognitive radio networks

Multi-node cooperative sensing can effectively improve the performance of spectrum sensing. Multi-node cooperation will generate a large number of local data, and each node will send its own sensing data to the fusion center. The fusion center will fuse the local sensing results and make a global decision. Therefore, the more nodes, the more data, when the number of nodes is large, the global decision will be delayed. In order to achieve the real-time spectrum sensing, the fusion center needs to quickly fuse the data of each node. In this article, a fast algorithm of big data fusion is proposed to improve the real-time performance of the global decision. The algorithm improves the computing speed by reducing repeated computation. The reinforcement learning mechanism is used to mark the processed data. When the same environment parameter appears, the fusion center can directly call the nodes under the parameter environment, without having to conduct the sensing operation again. This greatly reduces the amount of data processed and improves the data processing efficiency of the fusion center. Experimental results show that the algorithm in this article can reduce the computation time while improving the sensing performance.
Molecular Characterization of Polyhedrin Gene of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus of Mulberry Leaf-Roller, Diaphania pulverulentalis (Hampson)

Mulberry Leaf-Roller, Diaphania pulverulentalis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an important pest of mulberry and causes extensive loss to mulberry crop. The Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus was isolated from the larvae of D. pulverulentalis collected from mulberry fields. For the molecular identification of virus, occlusion bodies were isolated from insects and total DNA extraction was performed. The polyhedrin gene which is responsible for later infection found in the DpNPV genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR analysis of results revealed that a DNA fragment of 396 bp was amplified within the orf of the DpNPV polyhedrin gene. Sequencing of the PCR product and comparison to GenBank sequences showed that the product encoded part of the polyhedrin gene.