Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stable isotope systematics of two cenotes from the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Deep water‐filled sinkholes, cenotes, are common in the northern Yucatan Peninsula. At least five of these cenotes are deep enough to extend through a freshwater lens of meteoric origin in which δ18O and δD follow the trend δD = 8.11 × δ18O + 10.4. Below this freshwater lies saline water that originated as seawater and has retained its seawater isotopic identity. Deep cenotes, characterized by input of variable amounts of organic debris from tropical vegetation and by poor circulation below the fresh‐/saltwater interface, provide excellent water columns in which to study sulfur redox phenomena. Measurements include O, H, and S isotope composition, conductivity, sulfur speciation, and pH from two cenotes (Ucil, 98 m deep, and Xcolac, 125 m deep). Strong 34S enrichment of sulfate and 34S depletion of sulfide indicate anaerobic bacterial reduction of sulfate. A shift in the isotopic composition of sulfur in Xcolac from a seawater value of +21.0‰ (CDT) to +41.8‰ indicates conversion of sulfate to isotopically light sulfide. Mass balance calculations indicate that escape of isotopically light sulfur from the system is a slow process. At 80 m in Xcolac, a difference in sulfur isotope composition between sulfate and sulfide (△34S) of 63.2‰ is observed and could be the result of multiple sulfate reduction reactions. Higher in the water column, sulfide oxidation occurs, probably the result of bacterially mediated sulfide oxidation processes. A deep observation well (lacking organic matter input) shows only a slight deviation in sulfur isotope composition of sulfate from seawater values.
The effect of host quality and crowding on the settling and take‐off of cereal aphids

SUMMARY Settling and take-off behaviour of Sitobion avenae was studied in the laboratory using infested and uninfested wheat at a range of developmental stages. Of the later developmental stages of wheat alate S. avenae preferred to settle on and gave birth to relatively more offspring on flowering and watery-ripe plants. The time to take-off of alatae which matured on wheat was influenced by both the developmental stage of their host plant and the degree of crowding they experienced. All alatae flew but those isolated on flowering plants stayed longer than those crowded or isolated on any of the other developmental stages tested. Similarly the number of offspring produced before take-off was inversely related to the degree of crowding and positively to the time spent on a plant before take-off.
Effects on growth rate and utilisation of amino acids in weaner pigs fed diets containing whole proteins and free amino acids in combination with different energy sources

This experiment was designed to determine the efiects of 3 protein and 3 energy (carbohydrate) sources on the growth rate of weaner piglets and their e-ciency of nutrient utilisation. All 3 energy sources and 2 of the protein sources (casein plus free amino acids (casein), free amino acids alone (FAA)) were chosen because they were suitable for studies measuring amino acid utilisation. The third protein source, based predominantly on peptide protein, was a combination casein{flsh meal{soyabean meal (CFS). The combinations of carbohydrates tested were sucrose alone, sucrose plus 150 g lactose/kg, and wheat starch plus 150 g sucrose plus 150 g lactose/kg. The experiment was a randomised complete block design based on a 3£3 factorial arrangement with 5 blocks and 9 pigs per block. Piglets given CFS as the protein source exhibited greater (P < 0¢001) weight gain than those consuming casein or FAA (494 v. 415 and 345 g/day) and deposited protein more e-ciently (P < 0¢ 001) (e.g. crude protein retention/ileal-digestible protein intake, 0¢65 v .0 ¢56 and 0¢ 49). The apparent digestibility of nitrogen (N) and amino acids was lower for the CFS-fed piglets (0¢83 and 0¢ 88) than for those given casein (0¢ 92 and 0¢ 95) or FAA (0¢ 94 and 0¢ 96). The daily weight gains of piglets given diets containing starch, sucrose, and lactose were 9{10% lower (P < 0¢ 05) than those consuming either sucrose or sucrose plus lactose (391 v. 433 and 430 g/day). The energy sources, however, had no efiect on ileal digestibility of amino acids or empty body composition. Neither casein nor FAA diets were found to be acceptable sources of amino acids for studies on amino acid utilisation. Sucrose and sucrose plus lactose were excellent energy sources for piglets. In contrast, wheat starch was found to be unsuitable for inclusion in synthetic weaner diets for piglets with a liveweight of 5{20 kg.
Multi-scale approach for obtaining the mechanical properties of oriented strand board

OSB is an engineered structural panel made from thin wood strands which are laid out in three plies and bonded together with waterproof resin under heat and pressure. In this paper, we build a twostep approach to predict the mechanical behavior of OSB. First, we use the elastic properties of the particles and statistical information on their orientation to find the mechanical characteristics of a single ply. Then, the elastic behavior of the board is computed by the use of the classical laminate analysis. The study is carried out to show the influence, on board overall elastic moduli, of parameters such as the orientation distribution function of the particles and the relative thicknesses of the plies. A brief comparison is also made between these analytical predictions and results obtained by the finite element method.
Ice Property Variability of the Pack Ice Off the Labrador Coast, Canada

During March 2009 and 2011, ice prope rty data were collected from the mobile pack ice off the mid-Labrador coast with helicopter-borne sensors. The su rveys collected ice thickness and roughness data with Electromagnetic-Laser (EM) s ystem and overlapping-pictu res with a Video-Laser system. The surveys in 2009 and 2 011 covered the same offshore region and thus provide information on the interannual variability of the First Year pack ice properties. There are several overall pack ice differences between the near-normal winter of 2009 versus the warm er winter of 2011. From satellite imagery it can be seen that the ice extent was much less in the warmer winter of 2011 than in 2009. In addition, the helicopter-borne sensors data showed that mean and mod al ice thicknesses of 2011 were much less than those of 2009, having a mean offshore ice thickness of 0.71m relative to 1 . 68m for 2009. The moda l (most f requent occurring) ice thickness similarly decreased fr om 1.0-1.1m in 2009 to 0.6-0.7m in 2011. Thus ignoring ice extent, the ice volume off the mid-Labrador Shelf in 2011 due to ice thicknesses alone would be half of that present in 2009. The thinner ice and lower ice extent ice in 2011 can be explained by the fact that the 2011 winter was much warmer reducing regional ice growth as well as providing more he at to the offshore ocean which in turn also retards ice growth. In addition, westerly winds bringing the cold air to the region occurred less frequent during the winter of 2011, reducing the ice transport from the northern latitudes.
A Comparative Study on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Four Senecio Species From Turkey

The present study was conducted to investigate total phenolic content, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of four Senecio L. (Asteraceae). The in vitro antioxidant activities of extracts were evaluated with different antioxidant testing systems. Their antioxidant activities were assessed by phosphomolybdenum reduction, DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assay. The extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity and high scavenging activities against DPPH free radicals. While the extracts exhibited weak to moderate β-carotene bleaching activity. The antimicrobial activity of Senecio extracts was tested against 15 microorganisms using agar diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The extracts were found to be weak to moderate effective against 8 out of the 15 microorganisms tested with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.5 to 12.5 mg/ml. In conclusion, it can be concluded that Senecio extracts may be considered as natural sources in many industry such as food and pharmacy.
Growth of Broiler Chicks Hatched from Various Sized Eggs when Reared in Competition with Each Other

Abstract DURING recent years considerable interest has been shown in the use of small eggs for broiler chicks. At one time the rules of the National Poultry Improvement Plan allowed the use of eggs weighing as low as twenty ounces per dozen for broiler chicks during the months of July through November. However, this rule has been changed temporarily to allow the use of twenty-two ounce eggs for broiler chicks during the period December through April and twenty-one ounce eggs for broiler chicks during the period May through November. Numerous investigators have reported on the relationship between egg weight and subsequent chick growth. Halbersleben and Mussehl (1922) showed a consistent relation between the weight of the egg used for hatching and the weight of the chick at hatch. They also observed that at 35 days of age any apparent advantage possessed by chicks hatched from large eggs had nearly disappeared. Upp .
Interaction between Nitrogen Deficit of a Plant and Nitrogen Content in the Old Leaves

We examined changes in nitrogen content of the first leaves in relation to growth and nitrogen status of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants that were raised hydroponically at two irradiance levels (high and low light, HL and LL) and at two nitrogen concentrations (high and low nitrogen, HN and LN). Initial increases in total dry mass and total nitrogen of the whole plant were faster in HL-plants than in LL-plants irrespective of nitrogen supply, but in LN-plants the increase in total nitrogen was soon blunted. When plants grown under the same irradiance were compared, nitrogen content of the first leaves (leaf N) decreased faster in LN-plants than in HN-plants, while for the plants grown at the same nitrogen concentrations, it decreased faster in HL-plants than in LL-plants. Since these changes in leaf N were not explained solely by the changes in plant dry mass or plant nitrogen, we introduced an index, 'nitrogen deficit (ND*)', to quantify nitrogen deficit of the whole plant. ND* was expressed as ND*(t) = [NmM— N(t)] x DM(t), where Nmax and N(t) were nitrogen contents in the young, expanding leaves that had just unfolded to expand, at the initial stage with sufficient nitrogen and at time t, respectively, and DM(t), plant dry mass at t. The decrease in leaf N was expressed as a liner function of ND* irrespective of the growth conditions, which indicates validity of this index. Limitation of the use of ND*, and mechanisms by which leaves sense nitrogen demand are also discussed.
Angular micro-vibration test of an agile satellite high resolution camera based on liner accelerometer

The angular micro-vibration of a high resolution camera mounting on an agile satellite was achieved based on pairs of liner accelerometers alignment and numerical integration method. Three pairs of sensors were mounted at different portion of the satellite for studying the structure transfer character, including the Reaction Wheel (RW)interface, the camera interface and the camera tail. The results showed that the RW original micro-vibration standard deviation (STD) output acquired at the RW interference was 1. 63μrad at RW 400rpm and increased to 2. 43μrad when the RW speed up to 800rpm. When transferring from RW to the camera interface, the angular vibration response STD was attenuated to 0. 31μrad@400rpm and 0. 27μrad@800rpm, and finally to the camera tail the angular vibration response STD became 0. 31μrad@400rpm and 0. 30μrad@800rpm. We can see that the satellite-camera structure has a good attenuation effect on the micro-vibration, the output angular micro-vibration STD is about 0. 31μrad with an input of 1. 63μrad~2. 43μrad. the stiffness of the camera is pretty good, ensuring that the micro-vibration STD difference between the camera flange and the camera tail is smaller 0. 03μrad. In addition, we found that the FOGs useful bandwidth wasn’t insufficient when acquiring about 340Hz main frequency vibration signal in our case, even though a higher stiffness flange was recommended which connecting the FOG and camera.
Physical and ecological uncertainties in the widespread implementation of controlled upwelling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Based on the recent hypothesis of Karl & Letelier (2008; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 364:257–268), Fennel (2008; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 371:301–303) presents a model and initiates an important discussion on the potential effect that widespread controlled upwelling of deep water in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) may have on upper water column stratification, nitrogen (N2) fixation, and C sequestration. Fennel concludes that the upwelling required to support the sequestration of 1Gt C yr–1 would deepen the mixed-layer significantly, inhibiting N2 fixation and precluding the enhancement of the biological carbon pump. However, her model does not include the role that solar radiant heating plays in the maintenance of the upper ocean stratification, nor does she discuss observations suggesting that N2 fixation in the NPSG is never completely suppressed. When the solar radiance absorbed by the mixed-layer is considered, the upper ocean stratification is maintained in Fennel’s model. Nevertheless, and as Fennel suggests, the effects that a basin scale long-term implementation of controlled upwelling may have on the pelagic ecosystem are difficult to predict due to the complex nature of the system and our incomplete understanding of feedback mechanisms between ocean physics, biology and climate. For this reason, we contend that controlled upwelling of deep water in oligotrophic regions should be viewed as originally concluded by Karl & Letelier (2008): a tool to study the response of pelagic microbial assemblages to perturbations at different spatial and temporal scales, rather than a strategy to stabilize climate through the large-scale manipulation of poorly understood ecosystems.
Porifera (Sponges): Recent Knowledge and New Perspectives

Porifera, commonly named sponges, are true animals or metazoan despite their anatomical and morphological simplicity that had led to a long-time debate about their nature (animal versus vegetal) and constitution (colonies of unicellular organisms versus multicellular organisms). Sponges are a successful group of mostly marine filter feeder organisms that represent a major life form of several ecosystems. Devoid of organs, the main characteristics of their body plan are the presence of a network of pores (at the origin of their name), choanocyte chambers and canals devoted to water filtration and spicules (when present) allowing tissue physical support. Currently considered as the sister group to all the other animals, these organisms have a key phylogenetic position. Recent studies have shown that they possess an unexpected molecular complexity raising exciting questions about early animal evolution. Key Concepts: As adults, sponges are sedentary filter feeder animals. The water flow is canalised in an aquiferous system composed of pores (ostia), canals and choanocyte chambers. At present, the number of formally described sponge species is comprised between 8000 and 9000. Sponges are divided into four clades […] Hexactinellida, Demospongiae, Calcarea and Homoscleromorpha. As sponges are devoid of organs, their individual cells or cell layers ensure vital functions. One cell type may have several functions. In addition to cell plurifunctionality, the functional plasticity of sponges also relies on a high capacity of cell transdifferentiation. Sponges often use both asexual and sexual reproduction. Most of key transcription families and main signalling pathways required for eumetazoan development and body patterning are present in sponges. The recent rising interest for Porifera is expected to lead to a better understanding of animal evolution. Keywords: Porifera; sponges; Metazoa; animal; evolution; multicellularity; stem cells; complexity
Polysaccharide degradation by human intestinal bacteria during growth under multi-substrate limiting conditions in a three-stage continuous culture system

Abstract Human faecal microorganisms were grown on mixtures of chemically diverse polymerised C-sources (starch, pectin, xylan, mucin, arabinogalactan, inulin, guar gum) in a three-stage continuous culture model of the colon. The effects of retention time (R=27.1 h, R=66.7 h) on bacterial populations, their expression of hydrolytic enzymes involved in substrate depolymerisation, carbohydrate utilisation and short chain fatty acid formation were investigated. Eleven bacterial marker groups were studied in the fermenters. Strictly anaerobic bacteria predominated including bacteroides, bifidobacteria, clostridia and anaerobic Gram-positive cocci. Changing system retention time from 27.1 to 66.7 h did not significantly affect the predominant bacterial populations in V1, however, enterobacterial cell numbers increased in V3, while saccharolytic anaerobe recoveries declined markedly, reflecting their greater dependence on polymerised carbon sources in the fermentation system. The majority of polysaccharide degrading activity in the colon model was cell-associated, under all culture conditions. Increasing R from 27.1 to 66.7 h did not substantially change overall polysaccharidase (amylase, polygalacturonanase, xylanase, arabinogalactanase, galactomannanase) profiles, however, synthesis of some glycosidases was enhanced (e.g. α-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, neuraminidase), whereas reduced expression of other enzymes such as β-galactosidase, N-acetyl-α-galactosaminidase, α-fucosidase and α-arabinofuranosidase occurred. These observations demonstrate that catabolite regulation is an important control process in the colonic microbiota, with respect to the induction and repression of enzyme synthesis, and that substrate availability plays a major role in regulating bacterial metabolism. Measurements of carbohydrate utilisation demonstrated that while all polysaccharides in the feed medium were digested extensively by bacteria growing in the fermentation system, specific rates of carbohydrate utilisation were maximal at R=27.1 h. These data also provided evidence of bacterial substrate preferences in the colon model, particularly in relation to xylan and inulin digestion, demonstrating that catabolite regulatory mechanisms were also involved in controlling the assimilation of carbohydrate in the microbiota. Short chain fatty acid measurements showed that fermentation was more efficient at R=27.1 h compared to R=66.7 h, with putative conversion of carbohydrate to short chain fatty acids being approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. This was probably due to increased maintenance energy requirements at low bacterial growth rates. Differences were also observed with respect to short chain fatty acid molar ratios, with more propionate, branched chain and longer chain fatty acid production at R=66.7 h, demonstrating the increasing importance of amino acid fermentation under these culture conditions.
La actividad física como herramienta para reducir el absentismo laboral debido a enfermedad en trabajadores sedentarios: Una revisión sistemática

RESUMEN Fundamentos: Se ha sugerido que los programas de actividad fisica (AF) podrian reducir el absentismo laboral por motivos de enfermedad en trabajadores sedentarios. Esta revision tuvo como objetivo examinar la evidencia cientifica disponible para estudiar los efectos de la AF sobre el absentismo laboral teniendo en consideracion el diseno del programa de AF. Metodos: Se realizo una busqueda bibliografica en 4 bases de datos (Medline, Sportdiscus, Web of Science y Embase) de ensayos clinicos y estudios observacionales publicados sobre AF y absentismo laboral, en ingles y en espanol, desde el inicio de indizacion hasta diciembre de 2017, utilizando la metodologia PRISMA. Resultados: Un total de 10 estudios publicados cumplieron con los criterios de elegibilidad establecidos. Las evidencias encontradas en la revision sugieren que la AF es efectiva como medida para reducir el absentismo laboral por motivos de enfermedad. En general, los estudios senalaron que se observan mayores probabilidades de ausentarse del trabajo en trabajadores sedentarios que en los fisicamente activos. Conclusiones: La AF en general parece disminuir el absentismo laboral. En concreto, la AF vigorosa podria obtener mejores resultados que la realizada a intensidad moderada, aunque faltan estudios de intervencion mas rigurosos y especificos, con un mayor control sobre las variables de intervencion.
Intestinal DNA concentration and protein synthesis in response to low quality diets in two strains of Leghorn layers

Performance, protein synthesis and mucosal DNA in small intestine of Leghorn hens may be affected by low quality feedstuff. An experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) in 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Main factors included diets containing 20 and 40 % barley and black and blue strains of leghorn. Layer performance was recorded weekly up to eight weeks. Egg production (%), egg mass and egg number were significantly higher in black strain leghorn on 20% barley diet than blue strain with 40% barley diet (P<0.05). Treatments blue × 40% barley and black × 20% barley showed lowest and highest egg production percentage, egg mass and egg number, respectively (P<0.05). The lowest protein synthesis in small intestine was shown in blue × 40% barley treatment group. Small intestine mucosal DNA quantity in blue strain was significantly higher than that in black strain (P<0.05). In contrast, protein synthesis in blue strain was lower than that in black strain (P<0.05). It was concluded that lower performance in blue × 40% treatment group could be related to lower protein synthesis in small intestine in blue strain, and this may be due to the high barley (40%) contained in diet.
diploid drone of Apis cerana japonica and its chromosomes

SummaryDiploid drones were produced from a sibling-mated queen of A. cerana japonica and reared in an incubator on royal jelly from A. mellifera. The haploid chromosome complement of A. cerana japonica consisted of 8 metacentrics and 8 submetacentrics. The 32 chromosomes of diploid drones are shown in a photomicrograph. Sex determination in A. c. japonica is similar to that in A. mellifera.
LODGING IN LENTIL AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARACTERS

Lentil (Lens culinaris Med.) is normally harvested by hand in west Asia and north Africa, but research is needed on mechanizing its harvest to reduce input costs. Yield losses from a mechanized harvest increase with increased lodging. The genetic, environmental, and genotype × environmental variation in lodging was studied in 242 lines grown at three locations contrasting in rainfall in northern Syria and Lebanon. There was no lodging at the dry site where only 1.5 t ha−1 biomass was harvested. The lodging was considerable at the two wetter sites, where biological yields exceeded 3 t ha−1. The broad-sense heritability of lodging score across sites was 0.41 ± 0.05; clearly, some response to selection for standing ability based on plot values may be expected. In a separate experiment of 22 lines in one location hand-harvested biological, seed and straw yields were obtained and detailed morphological measurements were made to relate to lodging scores. Path coefficient analysis revealed the importance of stem.