Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Substrate gradients and regional patterns of dry matter deposition within developing wheat endosperm. I. Carbohydrates.

Starch and protein content of wheat endosperm are important factors determining yield and grain quality. Experiments were conducted using microsectioning, HPLC, analysis, and radiotracer techniques to describe regional patterns of deposition of starch and protein throughout wheat endosperm, and to test whether these patterns of deposition could be due to regional patterns of substrate supply. This paper describes the distribution patterns of starch and soluble carbohydrates. Carbohydrate entered the grain as sucrose. It was transported to and through the endosperm mostly as sucrose, even though sucrose accounted for only 40-45% (w/w) of the total soluble carbohydrates in the endosperm cavity and endosperm. The concentration of hexose was low, equivalent to only 1.6% and 7% (w/w) of the amount of sucrose in the endosperm cavity and endosperm respectively. The endosperm cavity and endosperm contained appreciable amounts of a glucose disaccharide, appearing in a number of tests as maltose. These regions also contained oligosaccharides appearing as a fructan series. There was no evidence for ribose or raffinose. Other soluble carbohydrates were identified. Turnover of sucrose in the grain is rapid. Sucrose in the endosperm and endosperm cavity was equivalent to only 3.1 h and 1.0 h of starch deposition respectively. Starch was deposited evenly from the endosperm cavity to the endosperm periphery on the dorsal side except for a decrease in the outermost section. Any gradient of protein percentage across the endosperm is not due to changes in the concentration of starch. There was a 2-fold gradient of sucrose across the same region, decreasing in an outward direction. The gradient was steepest near the endosperm cavity. The pattern of starch deposition throughout wheat endosperm cannot be attributed to a regional pattern of sucrose concentration. We conclude that transport of sucrose across the endosperm is not a factor regulating the distribution of starch.
Contribution à la connaissance des affinités écologiques et phytosociologiques des Nepenthes de Malaisie

Summary The author presents the vegetal communities with Nepenthes and other insectivorous species studied in Malaysia (south-east Asia): Cameron Highlands (low herbaceous community with Dicranopteris linearis and Nepenthes sp., scrub community with Vaccinium sp. and Baeckea frutescens), Bako National Park, on sandstone and sterile sands (Casuarina nobilis—Dacrydium beccarii tree community, Baeckea frutescens scrub community, epiphytic community with Nepenthes sp. and myrmecophilous species, small marsh with Burmannia, Nepenthes, Drosera spathulata, Utricularia racemosa), mount Kinabalu (lateritic oligotrophic slopes with Nepenthes fusca, cloud forest with Gymnosperma, Fagaceae, Nepenthes tentaculata and N. lowii, low forest on ultra—basic rocks with Dacrydium gibbsiae, Leptospermum recurvum and Nepenthes villosa).
Home Range, Dispersal and Density of Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes L.) In Central Victoria.

Between 1983 and 1986, various aspects of red fox spatial behaviour were studied in both rural and semi-urban environments in central Victoria. Using radio-telemetry, the short-term home ranges of three adult foxes (2 male, 1 female) in a pasture/woodland habitat were estimated to be of the order of 5-7 km2 each. In a semi-urban environment nearby, the home ranges of a further 3 adult animals (2 male, 1 female) were estimated to be 0.6-1.3 km2 each. Estimates of home range size based on a 90% space utilisation effectively halved the home range area for all six foxes. There were indications that, for the animals concerned, ranges were mutually exclusive except in the case of a breeding pair which shared a common home range. During the studies, 137 young fox cubs were ear-tagged and released at the point of capture. Subsequently, 46 of these animals were returned by hunters. Nearly 70% of the returned animals were killed at a distance of 2 km or less from the tagging site but dispersal distances of up to 30 km were recorded. The average dispersal distance for animals killed more than 2 km from the tagging site was 11 km. Estimates of fox density in a rural area of some 2400 ha were obtained by a survey of active breeding dens in the 1985 and 1986 breeding seasons. Assuming one breeding pair plus three surviving young per litter, the maximum summer density was estimated at about 3.0 foxes km-2 and the minimum winter density as about 1.2 foxes km-2. For a further estimate of density, 13 foxes were live-captured, fitted with radios and released. In a short control program on the study area a few weeks later, 7 of these animals were recovered in a total sample of 50 foxes killed. The remaining 6 foxes were established as still present in the study area. Using this capturehecapture data, an early autumn density of about 3.9 foxes km-2 was indicated. The significance of this data in relation to the possible role of foxes as vectors of rabies disease in Australia is discussed.
Mapping protein–RNA interactions

There is a significant need to develop approaches for rapid and accurate mapping of protein-ribonucleic acid (RNA) interactions, especially to complement structure-based methods. Approaches using mass spectrometry to map regions in proteins that contact RNA have now been established. These include a reversible crosslinking affinity purification method, residue-specific modification interference assay, and photoactivatable crosslinking and mass spectrometry. Novel methods to identify nucleotides within RNA that contact proteins using photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation are also available. In combina- tion, these methods should generate results that will lead to more specific hypotheses concerning the biological properties of protein-RNA interactions. This review summarizes some recent
An experimental framework to identify community functional components driving ecosystem processes and services delivery

There is a growing consensus that the distribution of species trait values in a community can greatly determine ecosystem processes and services delivery. Two distinct components of community trait composition are hypothesized to chiefly affect ecosystem processes: (i) the average trait value of the species, quantified by community‐weighted mean trait values (CWM; related to the mass ratio hypothesis) and (ii) the degree to which trait values differ between species in a community, quantified by different indices of functional diversity (FD; related to non‐additive community effects). The uncertainty on the relative effect of these two components is stimulating an increasing number of empirical studies testing their effects on ecosystem processes and services delivery. We suggest, however, that the interdependence between CWM and FD poses a challenge on disentangling their relative importance. We present a framework that allows designing experiments to decouple and assess the effects of these two community functional components on ecosystem processes and services. To illustrate the framework, we focused on leaf litter decomposition, as this is an essential process related to important ecosystem services. Using simulations, we applied the framework for plant leaf litter traits (litter nitrogen and phenolic content) that are related to litter decomposition. CWM and FD generally showed a hump‐shaped relationship (i.e. at more extreme CWM values, communities can have only low FD values). Within this relationship, we showed that it is possible to select quasi‐orthogonal combinations of CWM and FD that can be treated statistically. Within these orthogonal CWM and FD combinations, it is also possible to select species assemblages controlling for other community parameters, such as total biomass, total density and species richness. Synthesis. The framework provides a novel approach for designing experiments to decouple the effects of CWM and FD of communities on ecosystem processes, which otherwise cannot be easily disentangled. To apply the framework and design proper experimental layouts, it is essential to have a priori knowledge of the key traits by which species affect ecosystem processes and service delivery.
Wing shape in New Zealand lesser short‐tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata)

The theoretically optimal shape of a bat's wing changes with flight mode (Norberg, 1987; Norberg & Rayner, 1987) and several studies have shown this theory to be largely born out in practise (Aldridge & Rautenbach, 1987; Norberg & Rayner, 1987; Crome & Richards, 1988). For instance, bats with wings of relatively low surface area (high wing loading) that are also relatively long and thin (high aspect ratio) tend to be fast, straight fliers spending most of their flying time foraging or commuting in open areas such as pasture or above the forest canopy (Norberg & Rayner, 1987). In such bats manoeuvrability is improved by the possession of small, pointed wing tips to reduce drag. In contrast bats with wings of relatively high surface area that are also relatively short and wide with large, rounded wing tips tend to be slow, highly manoeuvrable fliers foraging in cluttered habitats such as woodland (Norberg & Rayner, 1987).
Megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis, and induction of 2n eggs with colchicine in poplar section Aigeiros

Triploid breeding through 2n eggs induction has become one of the most powerful approaches for the improvement of the genus Populus. To enhance the efficiency of triploid production in section Aigeiros, female buds (catkins) of P. × euramericana (Dode) Guinier at different developmental stages were exposed to colchicine for 2n eggs induction. The relationship between flower bud morphological characteristics (or time after pollination) and female meiotic stage (or embryo sac development) was established to guide colchicine treatments. In the resulting progeny, three triploid seedlings were obtained via embryo rescue and identified by flow cytometric analyses. Cytological observation revealed that the leptotene to pachytene stage of meiosis and 12 h after pollination might be the suitable period for 2n eggs induction with colchicine in P. × euramericana. Results and protocols related to 2n eggs induction, effective methodologies for embryo rescue, and ploidy evaluation in this study might be applicable in polyploidy breeding in section Aigeiros.
Contaminants in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) of the Canadian Arctic

Contamination of the Arctic environment by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace elements remains a key concern for local residents as well as wildlife and resource management organizations. The common eider (Somateria mollissima) is a large marine duck that forms an important component of the diet of many Arctic predators, including humans. Although various studies have been carried out to evaluate the role of a few contaminants thought to be of local concern, efforts to assess contaminant residues in eider tissues have not been comprehensive. In this review, we summarize the available information on POPs and trace elements in common eiders across the Canadian Arctic. With the exception of one adult bird collected near Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, eiders had detectable but low concentrations of most POPs, in some cases markedly lower than European eiders, and in all cases far lower than POP levels found in sympatric marine birds. However, common eiders did have elevated concentrations of many trace el.
Costs of selection schemes in small cattle populations

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare selection costs in cattle populations of 1,000 to 15,000 females, with the constraint of 1% of inbreeding per generation. Three selection schemes were analysed: no progeny test, with selection of sires on pedigree index (NPT); progeny test of sires of sires (PT3); classical progeny test of sires of sires and sires of dams (PT4). With the progeny test schemes, bulls were either culled after semen collection for progeny testing, or kept alive. Costs per year increased linearly with population size and showed divergent trends among strategies. PT4 was the most expensive scheme, ranging from 125,700 Euro (1,000 females) to 318,900 Euro (15,000 females) with the alive bull strategy, and from 20,200 Euro to 206,300 Euro with the cull bull strategy. NPT was generally cheaper than PT3 when bulls were culled. Costs per female and per semen dose were also analysed.
Effectiveness of neem extracts and carvacrol against Thecodiplosis japonensis and Matsucoccus thunbergianae under field conditions

The effectiveness of two neem extracts, Neem-Azal (containing 10 mg azadirachtin ml -1 ) and neem extract (containing 45mg azadirachtin ml -1 , Neem-45) and carvacrol against larvae of Thecodiplosis japonensis and intermediate nymphs of Matsucoccus thunbergianae was field evaluated by the trunk implantation method and compared with that of the systemic insecticide phosphamidon 500 g litre -1 SL. In tests with T japonensis larvae, Neem-Azal (0.3 ml cm -1 diameter at breast height, DBH) and Neem-Azal+ phosphamidon (0.15+0.15 ml cm -1 DBH) were highly effective compared with phosphamidon alone (0.3 ml cm -1 DBH). With M thunbergianae, Neem-Azal+phosphamidon (0.3+0.3 ml cm 1 DBH) and carvacrol+phosphamidon (0.3+0.3ml cm -1 DBH) gave much better control than phosphamidon alone (0.6 ml cm -1 DBH) and Neem-45 alone in spite of the lower effect of Neem-Azal alone (0.6 ml cm -1 DBH). The efficacy of Neem-45 was comparable to that of phosphamidon. These results indicate a possible synergistic effect. As a naturally occurring insecticide, neem extract alone and in mixture with phosphamidon and a mixture of carvacrol and phosphamidon could be useful as a new preventive agent against damage caused by T japonensis and M thunbergianae.
Breeding biology of the Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) in Swaziland

The breeding biology of the Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) was studied in Hlane National Park, north-eastern Swaziland. This breeding colony was first recorded in 1964. A minimum of 15 pairs bred there in 2003. Counts from aerial census suggest that equally large numbers have been breeding there since, at least, 1995. Marabous selected nesting sites in relatively low-crowned trees of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica, which were situated well away from rivers or standing water. Eggs were laid bimodally between June and September. Mean clutch size was 2.1 eggs and fecundity (or productivity) was 0.41 chicks/pair/annum. Measurements taken from chicks of known age allowed for the calculation of growth rates. The Marabou population in Swaziland cannot sustain itself without immigration from other populations. However, due to the relatively large number of pairs that have bred continuously and regularly for the past three or four decades, this population is viewed as being of regional conservation significance.
Concepts de voisins dans les graphes RDF : Une extension Jena et une interface graphique

Résumé. Les concepts de voisins déﬁnissent une forme symbolique de simila-rité entre les entités d’un graphe de connaissances. Partant d’une entité, chaque concept de voisins est un cluster d’entités voisines partageant un même motif de graphe centré sur l’entité. Dans ce papier démo, nous rappelons les déﬁnitions des concepts de voisins et nous présentons une extension de la librairie Jena dont l’API permet de calculer les concepts de voisins pour un modèle RDF(S) Jena. Nous présentons également une interface graphique permettant à un utilisateur d’effectuer ces calculs de façon simple et interactive.
Conception de services pour la mobilité urbaine respectueux des données privées et assurant la sécurité des clients et des véhicules. (Services design for urban mobility respectful of private data and ensuring safety of customers and vehicles)

Ce manuscrit aborde le probleme du transport a la demande (Dial-A-Ride Problem – DARP) utilisant des vehicules prives et des sommets alternatifs (Dial-A-Ride Problem using Private Vehicles and Alternative Nodes – DARP-PV-AN). Le DARP consiste a creer des tournees de vehicules afin d’effectuer les transports de differents clients. Chaque requete correspond a un client ayant besoin d’etre transporte de son point d’origine a son point de destination. Les differents couts de transport doivent etre minimises tout en respectant un ensemble de contraintes comme les fenetres de temps ou encore la duree maximale d’une tournee.Dans le DARP classique, les vehicules partent d’un depot et doivent y revenir a la fin de leur tournee. Dans le DARP-PV-AN propose, le service de transport a la demande peut etre assure par les vehicules classiques (appeles vehicules publics) ou par les clients utilisant leurs propres vehicules (appeles vehicules prives). L’utilisation de ces vehicules ajoute plus de flexibilite et permet aux clients d’organiser leurs propres transports. Cependant, cela souleve egalement des problemes de confidentialite. Le DARP-PV-AN propose egalement une solution a ces problemes et met l’accent sur la confidentialite des adresses, c’est-a-dire la possibilite d’empecher des tiers de connaitre la localisation des clients en preservant leurs lieux de depart et d’arrivee. Pour cela, plusieurs sommets d’origine/destination sont ajoutes pour chaque demande de transport.Le DARP-PV-AN est tout d’abord traite dans un cadre mono-objectif. Un modele lineaire est presente et une metaheuristique de type ELS (Evolutionary Local Search) est proposee pour calculer des solutions de bonne qualite. Ces deux methodes sont testees sur un ensemble d’instances classiques. Un nouvel ensemble d’instances dediees au DARP-PV-AN est egalement fourni pour tester la methode ELS.Une seconde approche de resolution du DARP-PV-AN mono-objectif est proposee. Basee sur une metaheuristique hybride, elle est divisee en trois parties. Un algorithme genetique est couple a une methode de « separation et evaluation » (Branch and Bound) ainsi qu’a l’utilisation de la programmation lineaire en nombre entier (PLNE) pour resoudre le probleme de couverture par ensembles avec poids (Weighted Set Cover Problem – WSCP). Cette approche est testee sur les nouvelles instances et est comparee a l’ELS propose precedemment.Cette methode hybride est ensuite adaptee pour resoudre le DARP-PV-AN dans un contexte bi-objectif. Pour cela, un algorithme genetique de type NSGA-II est utilise. Ce dernier est associe a une methode de Branch and Bound et a la resolution du WSCP bi-objectif par PLNE. Pour la resolution du WSCP bi-objectif, differentes methodes d’agregation ont ete testees et comparees. Cette approche est egalement testee sur les nouvelles instances qui ont ete modifiees pour les aborder dans un contexte bi-objectif.
Invasive plants escape from suppressive soil biota at regional scales

A prominent hypothesis for plant invasions is escape from the inhibitory effects of soil biota. Although the strength of these inhibitory effects, measured as soil feedbacks, has been assessed between natives and exotics in non‐native ranges, few studies have compared the strength of plant–soil feedbacks for exotic species in soils from non‐native versus native ranges. We examined whether 6 perennial European forb species that are widespread invaders in North American grasslands (Centaurea stoebe, Euphorbia esula, Hypericum perforatum, Linaria vulgaris, Potentilla recta and Leucanthemum vulgare) experienced different suppressive effects of soil biota collected from 21 sites across both ranges. Four of the six species tested exhibited substantially reduced shoot biomass in ‘live’ versus sterile soil from Europe. In contrast, North American soils produced no significant feedbacks on any of the invasive species tested indicating a broad scale escape from the inhibitory effects of soil biota. Negative feedbacks generated by European soil varied idiosyncratically among sites and species. Since this variation did not correspond with the presence of the target species at field sites, it suggests that negative feedbacks can be generated from soil biota that are widely distributed in native ranges in the absence of density‐dependent effects. Synthesis. Our results show that for some invasives, native soils have strong suppressive potential, whereas this is not the case in soils from across the introduced range. Differences in regional‐scale evolutionary history among plants and soil biota could ultimately help explain why some exotics are able to occur at higher abundance in the introduced versus native range.
Contribution of Leaf Expansion, Rate of Leaf Appearance, and Stolon Branching to Growth of Plant Leaf Area under Water Deficit in White Clover

Response of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) leaf area to water deficit depends on three processes: individual leaf expansion, phytomer production, and stolon branching. We have evaluated these processes in five clones under a wide range of conditions. Four experiments of 60 to 120 d duration were conducted: two in a growth chamber, one in a greenhouse, and one outdoors. Water supply was managed in such a way that predawn leaf water potential and day-time leaf relative water content (RWC) were maintained at constant values during deficit periods of 20 to 68 d. This was achieved by growing plants either in soil columns with irrigation controlled by tensiometers, or in vermiculite, on top of foam columns with a controlled level of water inside the foam. Leaf appearance rate (LAR) and leaf initiation rate remained constant with time at a given RWC, but decreased with decreases in RWC. A reduction in individual leaf area (LA) was observed in all leaves which experienced water deficit during part of the expansion period. Stolon branching decreased considerably with relatively mild deficits. Similar relationships between relative reductions in RWC (compared with control plants), and relative reductions in LA, LAR and stolon number were observed in all experiments. Short deficits (1-2 wk) caused a 20 to 30% reduction in stolon number and individual LA but no change in leaf number per stolon. Longer deficits with mild, intermediate, or severe intensities caused major reductions in stolon number, individual leaf area, and number of leaves per stolon, respectively, with respect to the reduction in plant leaf area. In addition to individual leaf area, phytomer production and stolon branching make major contributions to drought-induced reductions in leaf area depending upon the type of water deficit.
Soil heavy-metal distribution and transference to soybeans surrounding an electroplating factory

Abstract Heavy-metal pollution of soils and crops is an often overlooked issue that is becoming increasingly serious. A study of soybean production on soils surrounding an electroplating factory in the Yangtze River Delta of China was conducted to identify heavy-metal mobility and spatial distribution in soils, their transfer to plant tissues, and subsequent changes in plant enzymatic activities. The results indicated systematic Ni and Zn contamination of soils and soybean crops in this region. Zinc and Cu were distributed along a gradient and their concentrations in soil and soybean foliage were closely related, suggesting that their similar spatial distribution in soil and soybean foliage was affected by factory contamination. The combinations of soil heavy-metal pollutants influenced the total amounts of heavy-metal pollutants in soybean foliage. In soybean foliage, the activity of peroxidase was significantly correlated with Ni, Cu, Zn, and their ionic impulsion (an index of plant-soil pollution). Peroxidase activity may be an appropriate biomarker for heavy-metal accumulation in soybean foliage.