Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Transpiration Rate, Water Potential, and Resistances to Water Movement in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effects of transpiration rate on the vertical gradients of leaf and stem xylem water potential (y/, and y/x) were examined using hydroponic sunflower plants. Transpiration was varied by stepwise alterations of environmental conditions. The gradients of y/, and y/x were relatively small (2-3 and 0-8 x 105 Pa m~') when transpiration rates approached zero, but increased sharply to 5-4 and 2-3 x 105 Pa rrr1 as transpiration increased. However, the gradients were independent of transpiration rates above 0-4 g y dm-2 h-1 owing to variability of the plant resistance. The gradients of yrx were usually less than half those of y/,. y, in individual leaves remained constant over a wide range of transpiration rates (0-4-2-4 g dur2 h'1) and each leaf possessed a characteristic plateau value related to its elevation. y/x responded similarly but was approximately 2-0 x 105 Pa higher than y/, at the same elevation. Identical results were obtained regardless of the procedure employed to vary transpiration. The drop in water potential between stem and leaf implies that the leaf resistance is appreciable. This was confirmed using rapidly transpiring excised leaves freely supplied with water, y/, increased by 2-0-2-5 x 105 Pa following removal of the root resistance but remained 2 X 105 Pa lower than
The Effect of the Accumulation of Carbohydrate and Organic Nitrogen on Nitrogen Fixation (Acetylene Reduction) of Faba Bean cv. Fiord

Abstract Plants of faba bean cv. Fiord were grown under controlled conditions, without mineral N, in coarse river sand. Twenty-five days after sowing when plants had at least eight fully opened leaves and were nodulated and actively fixing N 2 , half were topped and kept debudded for 21 d. Changes in dry weight, N 2 fixation (acetylene reduction activity), soluble carbohydrate, starch, soluble N and total N in plants were monitored over the period. Both debudded and control plants grew and accumulated dry matter. Debudding resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of soluble carbohydrate, starch and soluble N. but had only a small effect on the total N concentration. A strong positive linear relation between total plant weight and N content of both control and debudded plants showed that even under conditions of excess supply of carbohydrate, faba beans have little capacity to store N. Soluble N accumulated in debudded plants presumably because less N was needed for the formation of new tissues than in control plants. AR continued to increase throughout the experiment in control plants but declined in debudded plants from 6 to 13 d after debudding and remained low until the end of the experiment. The decline was associated with an increase in available carbohydrate and in soluble N. The results of this experiment are consistent with a feed back control of N 2 fixation by the soluble pool of N.
Effect of titanium dioxide concentration on the survival of Pseudomonas stutzeri during irradiation with near ultraviolet light

Cells of Pseudomonas stutzeri in suspensions of TiO2 ranging in concentration from 0.5 to 4.0 g l‐1 were irradiated with a blacklight blue u.v. source displaying peak emissivity at approximately 370 mm. Irradiation under these conditions is known to result in the generation of lethal free radicals. During irradiation the suspensions were agitated, using a specially modified laboratory shaker, to ensure efficient exposure of the TiO2. A u.v. radiation dose of 175 kJ m‐2 resulted in cell fractional survival ranging from 5.5 times 10‐5, at the lowest TiO2 concentration, to 1.0 times 10‐6, at the highest TiO2 concentration. The advantages of contactors employing TiO2 suspensions are briefly compared to immobilized TiO2 systems.
Recent advance of white spruce (Picea glauca) in the coastal tundra of the eastern shore of Hudson Bay (Québec, Canada)

Aim The species‐specific response of tree‐line species to climatic forcing is a crucial topic in modelling climate‐driven ecosystem dynamics. In northern Québec, Canada, black spruce (Picea mariana) is the dominant species at the tree line, but white spruce (Picea glauca) also occurs along the maritime coast of Hudson Bay, and is expanding along the coast and on lands that have recently emerged because of isostatic uplift. Here we outline the present distribution, structure, dynamics and recent spread of white spruce from the tree line up to its northernmost position in the shrub tundra along the Hudson Bay coast. We aimed to obtain a minimum date of the arrival of the species in the area and to evaluate its dynamics relative to recent climate changes.
Use of indigenous knowledge in the management of field and storage pests around Lake Victoria basin in Tanzania

Agriculture in Lake Victoria basin (LVB) in Tanzania is predominantly subsistence and is characterised by perennial food deficits, cyclic famines and poverty prompted largely by unreliable rainfall patterns, declining soil fertility and food grains pests and diseases. The pest problem is more pronounced as farmers are yet to fully integrate synthetic pesticides into their insect pest management systems due to subsistence nature of production and high poverty levels that make them rely on indigenous knowledge (IK) systems to meet their needs. The survey was conducted to document farmers’ IK on management of key field and storage insect pests in Magu and Misungwi districts in the LVB, Tanzania. Major crops grown were maize, rice, sorghum, finger millet, bean, groundnut, cowpea, green gram, brassicas, chicken pea, cassava, sweet potato, cotton and vegetables. Crops were mainly infested by Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Spodoptera spp (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Agrotis spp (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Homoptera: Aphididae), Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and grasshoppers in field and Stophilus spp (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Prostephanus truncates (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), Tribolium spp (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Bruchus rufimanus (Coleoptera; Bruchidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and rodents on storage. IK based control methods used by farmers ranged from animal by-products (cow’s urine and dung), plant parts (Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae),Tephrosia vogelii (Fabaceae), Tamarindus indica (Fabaceae), Aloe spp (Asphodelaceae), red pepper, Capsicum spp (Solanaceae), Nicotiana tabasum (Solanaceae) to ash (general and specific) in the field. They also used neem, Chenopodium opulifolium (Chenopodiaceae), Ocimum suave (Labiatae), Senna siamea (Fabaceae or Caesalpinioideae), tobacco and Eucalyptus spp (Myrtaceae) and plant by-products (rice husks, ash from rice husks and red maize cobs and general ash) to control storage pests. Most of these products were used together with one or two others in different formulation mixtures. However, the formulations had variable amount taken during preparation, crop/ crop product treated, preparation times, modes and rates of application. Research is needed to unveil the amount for mixing, appropriate treatment, and application rate to ensure optimum concentration for specific pest. To ensure quality and safety, biosafety and quality studies are required for quality assessment of resulting product for human health. For understanding of active compounds in the formulations, chemical composition analysis of properly prepared solutions is required. Key words: Field and storage pests, indigenous knowledge, Tanzania, botanical formulation, Lake Victoria basin.
Aphicidal activity of imidacloprid against a tobacco feeding strain of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) from Japan closely related to Myzus nicotianae and highly resistant to carbamates and organophosphates

We investigated the resistance potential of a red-coloured Japanese strain (JR) of a tobacco feeding form of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) of the M. persicae species complex closely related to the tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Blackman. Bioassays were performed with a range of insecticides, imidacloprid, nicotine and cartap, thought to act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vivo , as well as with two conventional insecticides, pirimicarb and oxydemeton-methyl, acting on acetylchol-inesterase (AChE). Compared to a susceptible strain, JR showed high resistance to pirimicarb and oxydemeton-methyl, but was far less resistant to nicotine, cartap and imidacloprid. Imidacloprid was, among the insecticides tested, the most active compound in contact and ingestion bioassays. Compared to the susceptible strain, JR showed four-to seven-fold resistance to imidacloprid depending on the type of bioassay. Resistance factors for other insecticides tested in an oral ingestion bioassay were: cartap five-fold, nicotine nine-fold, oxydemeton-methyl 107-fold and pirimicarb > 385-fold. JR showed high carboxylesterase activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated esterase FE4 as the major carboxylesterase. As for most M. persicae strains and some Greek strains of M. nicotianae , JR was monomorphic for glutamate oxalacetate transaminase. Studies with pirimicarb showed a marked insensitivity of AChE to inhibition by this chemical, whilst such insensitivity could not be detected with the organophosphate insecticide oxydemeton-methyl. Receptor binding assays with [ 3 H]-imidacloprid in aphid homogenates revealed I 50 -values of 0.4 to 0.8 nM and no statistical difference between the JR and susceptible strain.
SOME CHANGES IN THE SUBCELLULAR STRUCTURE OF ROOT CELLS OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS AS A RESULT OF CESSATION OF AERATION IN THE ROOT MEDIUM

SUMMARY Following cessation of aeration of the nutrient solution several effects could be observed in cells of the root tips of bean plants: Starch grains disappeared from the amyloplasts; small electron dense bodies, probably lipids, were formed and the rough endoplasmatic reticulum showed concentric arrangements. The internal structure of the mitochondria seemed unaffected.
Facultative predation and scavenging by mammalian carnivores: seasonal, regional and intra‐guild comparisons

The extent to which vertebrate carnivores shift facultatively between predation and scavenging has recently been emphasized. Potentially, all carnivores have to do is wait until animals succumb to the debilitating effects of advancing age. However, this may be insufficient because of intense competition among other scavengers and decomposers for food. Moreover, the availability of carcasses of animals dying from causes other than predation varies seasonally, so carnivores must be adapted to exploit various sources of food through the seasonal cycle. We explore how mammalian carnivores cope with seasonality in carrion supply and in prey vulnerability to predation. We focus mainly on large carnivores and ungulates, and compare especially ecological communities in northern temperate and African savanna ecosystems. When carrion is scarce, carnivores can (i) take advantage of temporarily vulnerable segments of prey populations, such as newborn young, heavily pregnant females and males distracted or debilitated by reproduction, (ii) switch to carcass remains left by or stolen from other carnivores, or (iii) exploit small animals and non‐animal food sources. Relationships between carnivores tending towards predation or scavenging can be both competitive and facilitative. Top carnivores may provide a supply of carcasses throughout the year, which subsidizes scavengers when carrion availability from other sources is low. Alterations of seasonal patterns due to anthropogenic environmental change may enhance the role of top carnivores as buffers of anthropogenic perturbations of natural processes. Megaherbivores, which are not normally regarded as prey but can provide huge carrion subsidies, may strongly influence interspecific interactions between carnivores and the proportion of food flowing towards scavenging relative to predation. Relationships among carnivores based on hunting vs. scavenging strategies are flexible and subject to changes in response to circumstances. Their functional complexity is relevant for assessing the effects of global change on ecosystem function.
Self- and Cross-Excitation in Stack Exchange Question & Answer Communities

In this paper, we quantify the impact of self- and cross-excitation on the temporal development of user activity in Stack Exchange Question & Answer (Q&A) communities. We study differences in user excitation between growing and declining Stack Exchange communities, and between those dedicated to STEM and humanities topics by leveraging Hawkes processes. We find that growing communities exhibit early stage, high cross-excitation by a small core of power users reacting to the community as a whole, and strong long-term self-excitation in general and cross-excitation by casual users in particular, suggesting community openness towards less active users. Further, we observe that communities in the humanities exhibit long-term power user cross-excitation, whereas in STEM communities activity is more evenly distributed towards casual user self-excitation. We validate our findings via permutation tests and quantify the impact of these excitation effects with a range of prediction experiments. Our work enables researchers to quantitatively assess the evolution and activity potential of Q&A communities.
Urbanization, nestling growth and reproductive success in a moderately declining house sparrow population

Ecological conditions are likely to change with increasing urbanization, influencing the demography and size of animal populations. Although one of the most tightly linked species to humans, the house sparrow has been suffering a significant decline worldwide, especially in European cities. Several factors have been proposed to explain this conspicuous loss of urban sparrows, but studies evaluating these factors are usually restricted to Britain where the decline was very drastic, and it is unclear whether similar or different processes are affecting urban populations of the species elsewhere. In this study we investigated the reproductive success of urban and rural sparrows in a central European country, Hungary where our census data indicate a moderate decline during the last decade. We found that rural pairs produced more and larger fledglings than suburban pairs, and the difference remained consistent in two years with very contrasting meteorological conditions during breeding. This difference is likely explained by habitat differences in nestling diet, because we found that 1) rural parents provided large prey items more often than suburban parents, 2) birds from differently urbanized habitats produced fledglings of similar number and size in captivity under identical rearing conditions with ample food for nestlings, and 3) in a cross-fostering experiment, nestlings tended to grow larger in rural than in suburban nests irrespective of their hatching environment. These results agree with those found in a recent British study, indicating that poor nestling development and survival due to inadequate diet may be widespread phenomena in urbanized habitats.
Enzyme supplementation of low or high crude protein concentration diets for broiler chickens

Previous investigations have established that supplementing broiler chicken diets with appropriate endosperm cell wall degrading enzymes can improve nutrient digestion, and indicated that this could allow lower protein diets to be used. In this study the effect of enzyme supplementation on the productive value of low (192 g/kg dry matter (DM)) and high (227 g/kg DM) protein diets was studied. The diets employed were based on barley, wheat and rye, and the two enzyme preparations used, Glucanase GP 5000® and Novozym-343®, contained β3-glucanase and arabinoxylanase activities.The high protein diet gave a higher incidence of sticky droppings, but resulted in a higher growth rate and improved food conversion ratio than the low protein diet. Enzyme supplementation reduced the incidence of sticky droppings and also improved growth rate, food intake and food conversion efficiency for both diets, with the Glucanase GP 5000 preparation generally being more effective. Enzyme supplementation improved growth rate on the low protein diet to a level equal to or better than that on the high protein diet, although this was achieved by a better food intake and an inferior food conversion ratio. This study demonstrated that supplementation with appropriate enzymes could allow a reduction in dietary protein level without affecting broiler growth rate.
Hereditary persistence of α-fetoprotein is due to both proximal and distal hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 site mutations1

Abstract Background & Aims: The molecular mechanism of hereditary persistence of α-fetoprotein (HPAFP) has been previously described in a large Scottish family, consisting of a −119G>A substitution in the distal hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1) binding site of the α-fetoprotein (AFP) gene promoter. We report here the molecular mechanisms of HPAFP in 2 new unrelated families. Methods: Family 1 was of Bengali origin, and family 2 was Italian. Four of 5 subjects (family 1) and 3 of 9 (family 2) showed HPAFP. The AFP gene promoter was studied in all available family members. Results: All subjects with high AFP levels had mutated promoter sequences. Family 1 showed the reported −119G>A substitution. Family 2 showed −55C>A and −65C>T substitutions in the proximal putative HNF-1 binding region of the promoter. The −55C>A mutation increased the similarity of the proximal HNF-1 binding region to a consensus binding region. Gel shift assays confirmed its increased affinity toward HNF-1, and transfection experiments revealed an increased level of gene transcription. The −65C>T substitution theoretically created a CCAAT box. However, gel shift and transfection experiments failed to show any biological effect of this substitution that is associated with the −55C>A mutation. Conclusions: Two different mutations localized in either HNF-1 binding sites of the AFP gene promoter may result in HPAFP. This highlights the importance of HNF-1 in AFP gene expression. Unexplained persistent AFP should lead to family study and/or AFP gene promoter sequencing to avoid inappropriate explorations and treatment decisions.
Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges in Particle Separation with Coagulation

Chemical coagulation is a robust and efficient method used in both water supply and wastewater treatment mainly for particle removal, but also for removal of dissolved components. The use of the coagulation process in various process combinations in modern treatment plants generates not only possibilities but also challenges, especially regarding the downstream processes of recovery and reuse of valuable material from waste streams. Potential process combinations together with efficient solutions to meet the above challenges are presented. The potential role of coagulation in managing emerging micropollutants and microplastics is also discussed.
On the diameter of half-integral polytopes

We prove a new bound on the diameter of lattice polytopes, that improves on a 20 year old bound by Kleinschmidt and Onn. This result implies that the diameter of a d-dimensional half-integral polytope is at most ⌊ 3 2 d ⌋ . For this family of polytopes we also show that the bound is tight.
Survey on Fault Tolerance in Wireless Sensor Network

In The WSNs Energy is the main things of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), A sensor node consume a limited power sources , and it is a irreplaceable part of the sensor node , there are number of researchers find to reduce the energy consumption of the sensor node and increase the time period of the sensor node , some researcher used the cluster head and some researchers used the Gateway to reduce the load of the sensor node , but all are the battery operated so it is difficult to increase the life time of the sensor node , In the DFCA the researcher used the run time recovery of the sensor node when immediately change occurs in the cluster head, but if the sensor node link with the another gateway at run time and cover that sensor whose are uncovered by the gateway it will do increase the load on the another gateway so it will also die very soon , In this paper sensor nodes will find a new cluster head in their own group at run time .
Mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides as energy supplements to broilers’ diets

Abstract Mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides from olive oil (MDT) were added to: palm oil (PO), olive oil (OO), soybean oil (SO), free fatty acids from palm oil (PFA), free fatty acids from olive oil (OFA). The compound mixtures were used as energy supplements in the diets of broiler chickens in comparison with plain SO and plain animal fat (AF). Two hundred and ten birds were randomly allotted to 7 dietary treatments with the diverse oil sources: 6 birds per cage, 5 cages per treatment. The effects of the treatments on growth rates, feed/gain ratios and acidic composition of abdominal fat of hybrid Ross 308 female chickens were studied. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the trial, at day 35. The breast meat quality was then evaluated by a panel of 15 trained members and analysed for shelf life duration. The AF treatment gave the highest weight gain, but only in the first week. MDT + OO (50/50) resulted the best combination, with slight, non significant, better performances and a decidedly better quality in terms of acidic composition of abdominal fat, taste and juiciness of breast meat and shelf life.
Fundamental mechanisms in the extreme UV resistance of adenovirus

Fundamental Mechanisms in the Extreme UV Resistance of Adenovirus by Anne Catharine Eischeid Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Karl G. Linden, co-chair and advisor ___________________________ Claudia K. Gunsch, co-chair ___________________________ Mark R. Wiesner ___________________________ Joel N. Meyer ___________________________ Jeanette A. Thurston An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Graduate School of Duke University 2009
Effects of cold treatments on the sprout growth of three potato varieties

SUMMARY A period of storage at 2–3 °C followed by storage at higher temperatures more suitable for sprouting, gave a more rapid and greater total sprout development than that produced by continuous storage in sprouting conditions. The effect on the number of sprouts produced and the potential yield advantages to be gained from increasing sprout development by such a treatment are discussed.
First Description of Nests and Eggs of Two Hispaniolan Endemic Species: Western Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus tertius) and Hispaniolan Highland-tanager (Xenoligea montana)

Abstract We present the first nest descriptions for two Hispaniolan endemic songbirds, the Western Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus tertius) and Hispaniolan Highland-tanager (Xenoligea montana) from a montane broadleaf forest site in the Sierra de Bahoruco of the Dominican Republic. Single Western Chat-tanager nests were found on 17 May 2002 and 9 June 2004. Both were coarsely-built, partially-domed, bulky structures 1.0–1.5 m above ground. One nest was freshly-depredated when found, whereas the second contained two eggs which hatched on 19 and 20 June. The nestlings were depredated on 25 June. A Hispaniolan Highland-tanager nest found on 27 June 2004 fledged a single chick the following day. This nest, in a vine tangle 2.5 m above ground, was an open cup structure composed of moss, small herbaceous stems, leaf fragments, lichens, and other plant fibers. We describe the eggs of both species, the nestlings of Western Chat-tanager, and the juvenal plumage of Hispaniolan Highland-tanager. We believe that depredation by introduced feral cats (Felis domesticus) and rats (Rattus spp.) is a serious problem in these montane forests.