Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A model of the acclimation of photosynthesis in the leaves of C3 plants to sun and shade with respect to nitrogen use

A model of leaf photosynthesis of C3, plants has been developed to describe their nitrogen economy. In this model, photosynthetic proteins are categorized into five groups depending on their functions. The effects of investment of nitrogen in each of these groups on the maximal rate of photosynthesis and/or the initial slope of the light-response curve are described as simple equations. Using this model, the optimal pattern of nitrogen partitioning which maximizes the daily rate of CO2 exchange is estimated for various light environments and leaf nitrogen contents. When the leaf nitrogen content is fixed, the amount of nitrogen allocated to Calvin cycle enzymes and electron carriers increases with increasing irradiance, while that allocated to chlorophyll-protein complexes increases with decreasing irradiance. For chlorophyll-proteins of photosystem II, the amount of light-harvesting complex II relative to that of the core complex increases with decreasing irradiance. At any irradiance, partitioning into ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase increases with increasing leaf nitrogen content Taking the total leaf nitrogen content and the daily CO2 exchange rate as ‘cost’ and ‘benefit’, respectively, the optimal amount and partitioning of nitrogen are examined for various conditions of light environment and nitrogen availability. The leaf nitrogen content that maximizes the rate of daily carbon fixation increases with increasing growth irradiance. It is also predicted that, at low nitrogen availabilities, low leaf nitrogen contents are advantageous in terms, of nitrogen use efficiency. These trends predicted by the present model are largely consistent with those reported for actual plants. The differences in the total amount of leaf nitrogen and in the organization of photosynthetic components that have been reported for plants from different environments would therefore be of adaptive significance, because such differences can contribute to realization of efficient photosynthesis. These results are further discussed in an ecological context.
Effects of two fibrolytic enzyme mixtures on growth performance, digestion and ruminal fermentation in lambs fed corn stover based diets

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two fibrolytic enzyme mixtures (Fibrozyme and Promote) on growth performance, digestion and ruminal fermentation in lambs fed corn stover based diets. Forty-two crossbred (Black Belly×Dorper) lambs (20±1.6 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatments defined as Control (no enzymes), Fibrozyme (Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA), and Promote (Cargill Corp., Minneapolis, MN, USA). Growth performance evaluation lasted 55 days. On day 55, rumen fluid samples were obtained. Both Fibrozyme and Promote improved growth performance, feed conversion and digestion as compared to Control. Enzymes increased total volatile fatty acids, but only Fibrozyme increased molar proportion of propionate, decreased molar proportion of butyrate, and reduced the acetate: propionate ratio. It is concluded that both Fibrozyme and Promote improved growth performance and digestion in lambs fed high-forage diets.
In Vivo Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 Deletion on Cellular Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts in Nude Mice

AIM: It is known that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression is associated with growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, but its in vivo mechanisms remain to be determined. METHODS: In the present study, the parental HuH7, a human HCC cell line, and COX2 deleted HuH7 cells were inoculated to nude mice to assess the in vivo effects of COX-2 deletion (C2D) on cellular signaling in HCC xenografts. RESULTS: We found that C2D significantly inhibited Ki-67 and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) expression, and reduced plasma prostaglandin E2 and α-fetoprotein levels in association with reduced Rb phosphorylation and cyclin D1/CDK4 complex, and increased p21/CDK4 complex, indicating COX-2 overexpression promotes G1-S transition of the cell cycle in human HCC xenografts via a series of complicated signaling. C2D also resulted in significantly reduced phosphorylation of Akt, indicating a potential role of PTENIPI3KIAkt pathway in COX-2-mediated alteration of HCC growth. We also demonstrated that C2D significantly inhibited histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) expression, but increased the acetylation levels of histone-3 and histone-4, indicating that altered histone acetylation by histone deacetylases may be involved in COX-2-mediated HCC cell proliferation. In contrast to previous in vitro reports, we found that C2D did not significantly affect apoptosis and formation of activated caspase-3 and 9 in HCC xenografts. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that C2D results in a series of in vivo alteration of cellular signaling in HCC xenografts that demonstrated important pathogenic mechanisms of COX-2 overexpression in HCC growth and provided valuable information on searching novel approaches to HCC chemoprevention.
Change of Dufour gland contents with age of workers of Formica sanguinea (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT The Dufour glands of newly emerged adult workers of F.sanguinea Latr. are almost empty, but the gland fills slowly over several months. The amount and composition of the secretion varies between individuals but the mean values change with age, the composition reaching its final value only in old foraging workers. Undecane is the major component for most of the period, but its proportion decreases with age. The amount of (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene increases with age and finally becomes the major component. The change in composition may reflect changes in worker function.
Antibiosis to Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) in Lycopersicon Accessions

Four accessions of Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum Mull. and eight accessions of L. hirsutum f. typicum Humb. & Bonpl. were evaluated for their resistance to the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)). Survival of S. exigua neonate larvae for up to 96 hours on foliage of all these accessions differed significantly from their survival on a susceptible tomato cultivar. Spodoptera exigua survival did not differ significantly be- tween the two forms of L. hirsutum. Antibiosis to S. exigua in L. hirsutum f. glabratum appears similar to the levels found to other Lepidoptera. Accessions of L. hirsutum f. typicum included the very susceptible PI 199381 and the two most resistant accessions, LA 2329 and LA 1777. Insect resistance had not been reported previously in four of the L. hirsutum f. typicum accessions. Spodoptera exigua survival was significantly negatively correlated with the density of type IV glandular trichomes on the leaf surfaces, calculated across all 12 accessions. This relationship did not occur within L. hirsutum f. glabratumor L. hirsutum f. typicum accessions, nor was it significant if PI 199381 was excluded from the analysis. Leaf-surface exudates of L. hirsutum f. glabratum accessions were dominated by the methylketones 2-undecanone and 2-tridecanone. Leaf-surface exudates of L. hirsutum f. typicum were dominated by three sesquiterpenes-zingiberene, δ- elemene, and γ- elemene. Resistance was not correlated with the amounts of these specific compounds within or across botanical form. Spodoptera exigua survival in L. hirsutum f. typicum (excluding PI 199381) correlated negatively with the total estimated amount of leaf-surface volatiles extracted. PI 199381 may be useful as a susceptible parent for intraspecific crosses
Congruence of chloroplast DNA restriction site characters with morphological and isozyme data in Solanum sect. Lasiocarpa

Chloroplast DNA restriction site characters were analyzed cladistically in species of Solanum sect. Lasiocarpa (subg. Leptostemonum), and results were compared with previously published analyses of morphological and isozyme characters. Cladistic analysis of the chloroplast DNA restriction site characters resulted in a single tree in which two main clades were detected: one comprised three morphologically distinct lowland Amazonian species, and the other included the Andean and the two Asian species. Character congruence among the three data sets was assessed with a previously described index and with a permutation test derived from this index. Taxonomic congruence was evaluated with a measure modified from that of another researcher. The three assessments of congruence indicate that the chloroplast DNA and isozyme analyses are the most incongruent, but they differ as to their evaluation of relative (in)congruence for the other comparisons. Combining the three data sets resulted in two most parsimonious tr.
Why are so many households unable to cover a $400 unexpected expense?

Despite a strong economic recovery, about 40 percent of households in 2017 still said they would have trouble paying for a $400 unexpected expense. When households are operating under such a tight budget, building a nest egg for retirement can be challenging. This brief uses data from two Federal Reserve surveys – the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) and the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) – to understand why so many households say they are unable to cover a relatively small unexpected expense. The discussion proceeds as follows. The first section uncovers a difference between what households say they can afford and what they actually have in their checking/savings accounts. The second section shows that many households, despite having enough in these accounts, may be unable to weather small financial surprises due to unpaid credit card debt. The third section examines whether financial literacy is the problem and finds that it is not. The fourth section uses latent class analysis to examine the characteristics of these vulnerable households. The final section concludes that credit card balances and installment loans (e.g., mortgages, student loans) may be seriously constraining household budgets and are the likely reason that so many middle and higher-income households feel cash-strapped. Precautionary Savings
Expression of form I and form II Rubisco in chemoautotrophic symbioses: Implications for the interpretation of stable carbon isotope values

Invertebrate-chemoautotroph symbioses, in which the bacterial partner provides an internal source of autotrophically fixed carbon for its host, fall into two main groups based on previously reported stable carbon isotope ratios: those with 6l”C = -27 to -35%~1 (referred to as the - 3Oo/oo group) and those with V3C = -9 to - 16o/oo (referred to as the - 11%~ group). The 613C values of the -31X& group resemble those of free-living chemoautotrophic bacteria, suggesting the role of the symbionts in the nutrition of the bivalves; there is presently no satisfactory explanation for the 613C values of the - 1 1 ? & group. Immunological and enzyme inhibition data are presented demonstrating that the CO,-fixing enzyme expressed in representatives of the - 11% group is a form II ribulose- 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), while a form I Rubisco is expressed in the - 30% symbioses. Previously reported in vitro del.erminations on purified Rubisco show that the form II enzyme from free-living bacteria has a smaller kinletic isotope effect with respect to CO, than does form I. Thus, the 13C-enriched stable carbon isotope signature observed in the intact - 1 lo/00 symbioses appears to be at least partially due to this diminished enzymatic discrimination. Symbioses between sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria and marine invertebrates are known to be important trophic adaptations for organisms living at the interface between chemically reducing and oxidizing environments (Fisher 1990; Childress and Fisher 1992; Cavanaugh 1994). Initially discovered in the giant hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan Riftia pachyptila (Cavanaugh et al. 198 1; Felbeck 198 l), these symbioses have now been described in five phyla (see (Fisher 1990; Cavanaugh 1994)) from marine habitats as varied as hydrothermal vents, hypersaline cold seeps, tectonic subduction zones, and reducing sediments. The bacterial partners, which can occur as intracellular, extracellular, or epibiotic symbionts, are hypothesized to provide the host animal with a source of organic carbon fixed via chemosynthesis. Although the symbionts have not yet been cultured, physiological, ultrastructural, and enzymatic data support this hypothesis. Some of the most compelling evidence includes the co-occurence of ribulose- 1,5 -bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity with the presence of gram-negative bacteria in specific host tissues (Cavanaugh 1994). Rubisco catalyzes the initial carboxylation in the Calvin-Benson cycle and is found only in autotrophic organisms (Tabita 1988). The host animal is therefore provided with a source of
Approaches to quantifying forest structures

Summary For some time, structure indices ‐ quantifying spatial stand structure ‐ have been integrated into forest research and are used to provide a measure of biodiversity. In addition, correlation functions ‐ developed initially for problems outside forestry ‐ enable analysis and characterization of forest stand structures, generating more accessible information. This paper outlines a classification of structural indices measuring alpha diversity and examines typical representatives of the classification groups such as the Shannon index, the aggregation index of Clark and Evans, the contagion index, the coefficient of segregation of Pielou, the mingling index, the diameter differentiation index, the pair correlation and the mark correlation function. These can be used to measure differences between forests in time and space, to generate forest structures, to analyse the differences between observed and expected structures and to characterize modifications of forest structure resulting from selective harvesting. These algorithms are the keys for assessing complex forest structures, which can be the result of continuous cover forestry methods. Continuous cover forests with selective harvesting are being promoted in the new forest policies of Britain. Case studies have shown that from given spatial forest structures one can possibly conclude the suitability for habitats, a hypothesis which has yet to be proved by further appropriate analysis. The equations for the quantification of stand structure presented in this paper have the advantage that they are easier to survey during forest inventory than the more direct measures of ecological variety.
Modelling the Protein and Amino Acid Requirements of the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)

Protein and amino acid requirements of the Greater rhea (Rhea americana) have been estimated from growth data available for this species, and assumptions derived with other closely related species. Differences in body weight and growth pattern caused considerable higher protein and amino acid requirements for males compared to females after 3 months of age. Whereas the absolute protein requirement is comparable between males (148 g/day) and females (144.5 g/day) at 50 days of age, 21.8 g/day protein is needed by males at 500 days of age compared to 12.2 g/day for females. Limitations include the lack of knowledge on feed intake and possible digestive adaptations by Greater rheas. However, estimations could serve as a starting point for direct response trials to determine nutrient requirements of the Greater rhea, which could be improved and developed as new information becomes available.
Environmental factors controlling temporal and spatial variability in the soil‐atmosphere exchange of CO2, CH4 and N2O from an Australian subtropical rainforest

The temporal variations in CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes were measured over two consecutive years from February 2007 to March 2009 from a subtropical rainforest in south‐eastern Queensland, Australia, using an automated sampling system. A concurrent study using an additional 30 manual chambers examined the spatial variability of emissions distributed across three nearby remnant rainforest sites with similar vegetation and climatic conditions. Interannual variation in fluxes of all gases over the 2 years was minimal, despite large discrepancies in rainfall, whereas a pronounced seasonal variation could only be observed for CO2 fluxes. High infiltration, drainage and subsequent high soil aeration under the rainforest limited N2O loss while promoting substantial CH4 uptake. The average annual N2O loss of 0.5 ± 0.1 kg N2O‐N ha−1 over the 2‐year measurement period was at the lower end of reported fluxes from rainforest soils. The rainforest soil functioned as a sink for atmospheric CH4 throughout the entire 2‐year period, despite periods of substantial rainfall. A clear linear correlation between soil moisture and CH4 uptake was found. Rates of uptake ranged from greater than 15 g CH4‐C ha−1 day−1 during extended dry periods to less than 2–5 g CH4‐C ha−1 day−1 when soil water content was high. The calculated annual CH4 uptake at the site was 3.65 kg CH4‐C ha−1 yr−1. This is amongst the highest reported for rainforest systems, reiterating the ability of aerated subtropical rainforests to act as substantial sinks of CH4. The spatial study showed N2O fluxes almost eight times higher, and CH4 uptake reduced by over one‐third, as clay content of the rainforest soil increased from 12% to more than 23%. This demonstrates that for some rainforest ecosystems, soil texture and related water infiltration and drainage capacity constraints may play a more important role in controlling fluxes than either vegetation or seasonal variability.
Crustáceos decápodos estuarinos de Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil

A carcinofauna dos ambientes marinhos e costeiros das regioes sudeste e sul da Bahia, Brasil, ainda e pobremente conhecida. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um inventario da fauna de crustaceos decapodos do municipio de Ilheus, localizado no sudeste da Bahia (14o47'55"S, 39o02'01"W). As amostragens foram realizadas de Fevereiro de 2001 a Fevereiro de 2005, nas zonas supra, meso e infralitoral. Os exemplares coletados foram fixados em etanol 70% e depositados na colecao de crustaceos da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilheus (MZUESC). Foi coletado um total de 51 especies pertencentes a 14 familias. A familia mais representativa em termos de numero de especies foi Ocypodidae, representada nas amostragens por 8 especies. A distribuicao geografica conhecida para as especies Alpheus heterochaelis (Caridea: Alpheidae), Merguia rhizophorae (Caridea: Hippolytidae) e Sesarma curacaoense (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) foi estendida. A ocorrencia do siri exotico Charybdis hellerii, originario do Indo-Pacifico, foi registrada para o estuario do rio Cachoeira. Estes resultados indicam que os estuarios de Ilheus abrigam elevada riqueza de especies.
EFFECTS OF RESOURCE LIMITATION ON A DETRITAL‐BASED ECOSYSTEM

We examined the importance of terrestrial detrital inputs to secondary productivity of a headwater stream. Following a year of pretreatment studies on two headwater streams, we excluded terrestrial litter inputs (=treatment) to one stream while using the other as a reference. We excluded litter for 3 yr followed by 1 yr of small woody debris (≤10 cm diameter) removal and litter exclusion. Monthly benthic samples were collected from dominant mixed substrate (cobble, pebble, and sand-silt) as well as from moss-covered bedrock outcrop substrates. We used randomized intervention analysis (RIA) to test the null hypotheses that no change in abundance or biomass of functional feeding groups or specific taxa occurred in the treatment stream relative to the reference stream. Benthic organic matter was significantly lower in mixed substrate habitats of the treatment stream; however, small woody debris did not show a significant reduction prior to manual removal during year 4. At the end of the treatment period, tot.
Performance measurement systems for green supply chains using modified balanced score card and analytical hierarchical process

Environmental management is becoming a key strategic issue for Supply chain performance. Performance measurement systems for green supply chain is critical for its monitoring, control and improvement. A comparative analysis of some most widely cited Performance measurement systems for supply chains have been undertaken, and it indicates that the modified Balanced score card is a suitable framework for Green supply chain performance measurement. However, there are limitations in this framework when they are used for strategic alignment and planning. The frameworks do not provide weightings to the performance indicators nor does it tell the management the contribution of each performance indicator in achieving organisational goals. Use of Analytic hierarchy process, along with modified balanced score card helps in tiding over these limitations. This paper demonstrates integration of Analytic hierarchy process with modified Balanced score card to facilitate effective Green supply chain performance measurement. Key words: Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), balanced score card (BSC), performance measurement system (PMS), green supply chain (GSC).
Demography and dynamics of mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

We studied the population dynamics of endangered mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni between 2003-2005 in the Bale Mountains National Park. Line-transect sampling and total count methods were used to gather data on demographics and movement patterns. The population's age-group composition was 58% adults, 25% sub-adults, 9% juveniles, 5% calves and 3% unidentified with a female-male sex ratio of 2:1. Population density was found to be significantly different between the two sub-populations (Dinsho Sanctuary and Gaysay/Adelay). A significant difference was found for age-group composition across the two sub-populations except adult females, sub-adult males and calves. The Dinsho sub-population was an isolated group. Separa- tion and containment of the mountain nyala population could have negatively affected their ability to search for habitat require- ments and mates from distant areas. The population varied between 830-908 individuals (95% CI), a reduction of 45% from earlier reports. However, the mean population density increased due to contraction of the species' habitat range. We observed a population decrease of 2%-5% per year over the course of our study. Many of the assessed demographic parameters did not significantly change over the three years. This suggests that the decrease in nyala population was not due to random variations in reproduction. Anthropo- genic factors such as competition with livestock for forage, habitat encroachment and poaching by the local people might have been partly responsible for the depleted population in our study areas (Current Zoology 56 (6): 660-669, 2010).
Caches and Timelines Operate Under Heavy Traffic

The heavy traffic regime is a regime wherein system resources are always busy. As caches and social network timelines are intrinsically always busy, i.e., their space-shared resources are always utilized, the goal of this paper is to evaluate the implications of a simple albeit unexplored observation: caches and timelines operate under heavy traffic. First, we introduce the control problem of caches and timelines under heavy traffic. Then, we derive properties of the asymptotically optimal (AO) policy. In particular, we indicate that there is an AO control that threatens content diversity, as it involves maintaining contents from up to two classes in the system, leading to the so called filter bubbles.