Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil strength and rate of root elongation alter the accumulation of Pseudomonas spp. and other bacteria in the rhizosphere of wheat.

Results from a controlled environment system and the field showed that slow root elongation rate was associated with accumulation of Pseudomonas spp. in the rhizosphere; fast root elongation avoided accumulation. In the controlled environment system, total bacteria and bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas were quantified along wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Janz) seminal roots elongating at rates of 2.4 or 0.8 cm d-1 in loose and compacted field soil, respectively. Although total numbers of bacteria were similar for both rates of elongation, more Pseudomonas spp. accumulated on the slow-growing roots and their numbers were greatest 0.5-1 cm from the root tips. A reduced rate of root elongation in compacted soil accelerated the differentiation of root hairs, branch roots and adhesion of rhizosheath soil. Elongation rate and distance between the root tip and the zone of root hair development were positively correlated (r=0.9), providing a morphological indicator of root elongation rate in the field. Slow-growing roots from the field had 20 times more Pseudomonas spp. per unit root length than fast-growing field roots, while total bacteria were 8-fold higher; differences were greatest 0-1 cm from the tips. These results may explain how soil structure and Pseudomonas spp. interact in conservation farming. Rapid root elongation is identified as a desirable trait for avoiding accumulations of bacteria.
Reviews

This was Johann Bernoulli’s own summary of his solution of the two problems he had posed in 1696 “to the acutest mathematicians of the world” [1, 4]1. Bernoulli had thereby demonstrated that the two problems in question, the famous brachistochrone of finding the shortest path along which a particle moves in gravitation, and Fermat’s principle of propagation of light, could be understood within a common framework. His groundbreaking work marked the starting point of what has since become known as the calculus of variations. In the three centuries since Bernoulli’s work, it has been shown that in fact most fundamental equations of physics, from classical physics to quantum field theory and general relativity, as well as many diverse questions in mathematics can be formulated within this framework. For a particularly beautiful and accessible account of the role of calculus of variations in physics we refer the reader to Richard Feynman’s lecture on the least action principle, published in [5]. Nevertheless, despite the richness of its applications, it is probably fair to say that the calculus of variations does not appear prominently in modern-day undergraduate education. Of course, it has its place in standard physics courses on advanced mechanics, but in the mathematics curriculum, if present at all, it is often deferred to specialized graduate level classes on partial differential equations or functional analysis. Inspired by the book under review, I want to make a case for including the subject in the standard introductory course on differential equations offered in most undergraduate mathematics programs in the United States. Comparing current textbooks on differential equations to, say, those of twenty years ago, a major shift in focus becomes apparent immediately. Aided in parts by the easy accessibility of mathematical software, a course that merely focuses on teaching various tricks to solve different types of differential equations has become obsolete. Consequently, various approaches have been proposed for a more modern course, ranging from a greater emphasis on modeling and numerics to perspectives influenced by qualitative analysis and dynamical systems. It seems to me that including an introduction to the calculus of variations is another very natural direction to take in a differential equations course. First and foremost,
Azapteridine Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

A high throughput screen was conducted to identify inhibitors of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of HCV. One of the classes identified was related to toxoflavin, a naturally occurring antibiotic. These compounds were potent inhibitors of HCV RdRp, with optimization of the initial hits giving compounds with half-maximal inhibition at 200 nM. However, binding studies indicated that a physical interaction with RdRp was too weak to be detected. Inhibition was dependent on reducing agent, implicating the flavin core as essential to the inhibitory properties of these compounds. The accumulation of the inhibitory species occurred over a time span of 1 to 2 hours, the period of time required for oxidation of a 10 to 100-fold excess of DTT by the flavin. These results indicate that the inhibitory species is likely to be a chemically reactive species resulting from the interaction of the flavin and DTT. Human RNA polymerase II was also sensitive to inhibition by these toxoflavin-like compounds. While this class of inhibitors has generated interest as antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor agents, their use has been limited by toxicity. These results provide a potential mechanism to explain the toxicity of these compounds.
Different types of cirral activity of barnacles

From direct observation and from cinematographic records five different types of cirral activity have been recognized in sessile barnacles. They are, arranged in increasing degree of muscular and cirral movement: (1) testing, in which the valves hardly open and the cirri are not protruded; (2) pumping, in which strong rhythmic movements of the operculum occur, but the cirri are protruded only slightly, and not extended; (3) normal beat, a development of pumping, but with the cirri fully extended and withdrawn in rhythm with the opercular movements; (4) fast beat, with less opercular movement, but strong and fast rhythmic cirral movements; (5) extension, in which the cirri are held outside the shell for varying periods without rhythmic movements. Stalked barnacles show simpler cirral activity, without regular rhythmic movements. The internal current which passes through the mantle cavity during normal beat and pumping in sessile species is considered to be primarily respiratory. The flow is shown to be sufficient for this purpose, and the energy expended in driving it through is calculated to be comparatively small. Further respiratory exchange of importance in fast beat and extension takes place via the larger cirri, which are distended and emptied of body fluids during cirral activity. In laboratory experiments under various conditions the balanoids alone showed the full range of movements. The Chthamalidae showed less rhythmic activity and no fast beat, while the stalked barnacles relied mainly on extension. These differences limit the habitats available to the latter groups, as compared with the Balanidae. Micro-feeding, with the smaller cirri used as a filter, can take place during pumping and normal beat, but is less efficient, to judge from rates of filtration, than captorial feeding on larger particles, when the larger cirri are employed. Fast beat is particularly well adapted to captorial feeding in still water, extension to captorial feeding in moving water. A wide range of food particles was found to be ingested, of sizes varying from a few microns to several millimetres; proteinaceous materials, such as planktonic animals and chopped lamellibranch muscle were most readily utilized, phytoplankton less so, while pure fats and starches passed unchanged through the gut. The interrelationship of cirral movements, feeding, and respiratory exchange is traced through the possible course of evolution of cirripedes, to the culmination in the most highly developed group, the Balanidae.
Size and composition of white-tailed deer groups in a tropical dry forest in Mexico

The tropical dry forest of “Chamela” in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, is distinguished by highly seasonal food and water availability, year-round dense cover understory, and constant presence of predators species of the white-tailed deer. Therefore, frequent small groups and solitary individuals should be expected. To test this hypothesis, the size and composition of white-tailed deer groups was estimated between July 1989 and June 1993. A total of 508 deer was counted in diurnal walks along 756 km. The mean size of the groups was 1.5 individuals (range = 1.0 to 1.9), with a mode of one for the whole study period. Solitary individuals were frequent throughout the year. Females with young comprised the most frequent social group. No groups of males were found. Group size was related with the life cycle, habitat and predation, and was smaller than has been found in other studies.
LEACHN Simulations of Nitrogen Dynamics and Water Drainage in an Ultisol

Nitrate leached from soils can contaminate drinking water and pose a health risk at concentrations > 10 mg N L 1 . Computer models may he useful management tools for estimating NO 3 leaching, but they need to he calibrated and validated before use. The objective of this work was to calibrate and validate LEACHN to simulate soil NO 3 , soil NH 4 , water drainage, and NO 3 leaching in a Cecil sandy loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults). The calibration was done by determining rate constants and parameters under laboratory conditions. The validation data was obtained from a two-year study with conventionally tilled corn (Zea mays L.) during summer and either a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop or fallow conditions during winter. Water drainage collected by tiles was automatically measured, subsampled, and analyzed for inorganic N concentrations. During the cold season, LEACHN underestimated soil NH 4 and NO 3 in at least half of the cases. During the warm season, the model correctly estimated soil NO 3 75% of the time, but it overestimated soil NH 4 in an equal 75% of the cases. Also, LEACHN overestimated cumulative drainage and leached NO 3 at least 50% of the time during both cold- and warm-season periods. These results suggest that the soil hydranlic properties and N mineralization rate constants determined under laboratory conditions did not apply to field conditions. Also. results obtained by changing rate constants for N transformations indicate that LEACHN was not properly simulating N immobilization from fertilizer N, or nitrification under dry conditions.
Accumulation of α-Tocopherol in Senescing Organs as Related to Chlorophyll Degradation

α-Tocopherol (α-T) has been identified, using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance, in senescing leaves of Melia azedarach L. The content of α-T increased concomitantly with the breakdown of chlorophyll in senescing Vinca and Melia leaves. An increase in α-T was found also in detached Melia leaves, senescing in either light or darkness and in senescing, ethylene-treated orange leaves and fruit. The possibility that phytol, which is released from chlorophyll by chlorophyllase is utilized for the biosynthesis of α-T is discussed. Senescing leaves of the low chlorophyllase plants, parsley and tobacco, did not contain α-T in measureable amounts.
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding and Androgen Excess

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is frequently a symptom of anovulation. Chronic dysfunctional uterine bleeding which is not temporally related to the extremes of reproductive life, which persists past the menarchal period, and/or is associated with other clinical findings (for example, hirsutism or galactorrhea) is usually a symptom of chronic anovulation. The origin of anovulation is diverse, varying from relatively minor functional disturb­ ances of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis to serious or life-endangering disease processes. The assessment of the cause of the anovulation, and the arrival at a correct diagnosis, will not only pinpoint those women with serious organic path­ ologic factors but also will provide direction in choosing appropriate therapy. Androgen excess serves as an example of one of the causes of chronic anovulation, frequently associated with dysfunc­ tional uterine bleeding.
CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROBIALITE‐FORMING CYANOBACTERIA IN A TROPICAL LAGOON: TIKEHAU ATOLL, TUAMOTU, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Natural populations of benthic cyanobacteria in the lagoon of Tikehau Atoll in French Polynesia were studied using a polyphasic approach that combined field observations, LM, culturing, and molecular sequencing. The approach assessed their phenotypic (morphotypic and ecological) and genotypic diversity. Partial sequences (approximately 450 bp long) of the PCR‐amplified 16S rRNA gene were obtained from both natural and cultured populations using cyanobacteria‐specific primers. The sequences obtained clustered into six separate phylogenetic clusters in relation to the complete set of 16S rRNA sequences available in public databases. Phylogenetic clustering correlated in many cases with some morphological characteristics. For example, Spirulina subsalsa could be identified to the morphospecies level using both molecular and microscopic approaches. Morphotypes identified as Symploca hydnoides (Kütz. ex Gomont) TK22, Phormidium sp. TK1, and P. laysanense (Lemmerman) TK14 formed a distinct cluster. The morphogenus Hydrocoleum (Blennothrix) clustered interestingly close to the morphologically similar, but planktonic, marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium, suggesting a relationship. Other sequences belonging to morphotaxa with very narrow trichomes were found to be polyphyletic. Enrichment cultures, with inoculum obtained from field populations, were followed over a period of 18 months. Dominance in all cultures shifted over time in favor of a set of cyanobacterial strains with narrow trichomes, which were phenotypically and phylogenetically different from natural populations dominating the original samples. Sequences from strains enriched by cultivation clustered into two well‐defined phylogenetic groups, possibly identifying new taxa. These clusters may represent a niche of opportunistic species, evolved to exploit short‐term nutrient spikes in the environment.
Data on honey bee losses in Greece: a preliminary note

Fani Hatjina, Maria Bouga, Aikaterini Karatasou, Aglaya Kontothanasi, Leonidas Charistos, Christina Emmanouil, Nikolaos Emmanouil and Anastasios-Damianos Maistros Hellenic Institute of Apiculture (N.AG.RE.F.), N. Moudania, Greece. Lab. of Agricultural Zoology & Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens. Federation of Greek Beekeepers’ Associations (OMSE), Larisa, Greece. Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Benaki Phytophathological Institute, Athens, Greece. Electrical-Mechanical Engineer, Athens, Greece.
Fish Otoliths in Cetacean Stomachs and Their Importance in Interpreting Feeding Habits

The stomachs of 17 cetaceans of seven species (3 Kogia simus, 5 Stenella longirostris, 3 S. graffmani, 2 Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, 2 Delphinus delphis, 1 Lissodelphis borealis, and 1 Phocoena sinus) yielded 18,164 fish otoliths representing over 51 species, 40 genera, and 22 families. Lanternfish (family Myctophidae) otoliths accounted for more than 89% of the total, and they had come from at least 19 species belonging to nine genera. Only two fish species could have been identified if we had not been able to utilize otoliths. To be useful in food studies involving otoliths, cetacean stomachs cannot be placed in formalin solutions, even for short periods.The kinds and diversity of species preyed upon by several of these cetaceans indicate that they routinely forage in depths of 650–800 ft (200–250 m), and a few such as Kogia simus may descend to 1000 ft (300 m) or deeper.
An austral anuran assemblage in the Neotropics: seasonal occurrence correlated with photoperiod

The study describes habitat use and temporal occurrence of calling males for an austral anuran assemblage in the Neotropics, southern Brazil. Three study sites (S1 – a permanent river and a stream, S2 – a dam and backwater, S3 – two permanent ponds periodically connected) were sampled between August 2005 and July 2006. The site S3 presented the richest and most diverse assemblage and habitat use within studied sites, and was partitioned by species groups. Richness and abundance of calling males for overall assemblage were seasonal, concentrated in spring and summer and correlated with photoperiod. Temperature, rainfall and air humidity were not correlated with the richness and abundance of calling males. Photoperiod also explained the calling seasons when species were analyzed individually. Habitat use and temporal occurrence were complementary in the partitioning of breeding resources, explaining species coexistence.
Koala and Possum Populations in Queensland during the Harvest Period, 1906-1936

The Queensland Koala Phascolarctos cinereus and possum harvests were regulated from 1906-1927 and 1906-1936, respectively. Before that, there was an uncontrolled harvest. Historical data from the harvest period were analysed to gain information on P. cinereus and possum (mainly Trichosurus vulpecula) population ecology and status. P. cinereus numbers peaked in southern Queensland around the turn of the century or in the first decade of the 20th century. In central Queensland, they peaked later, probably in the 1920s, and in north Queensland there does not appear to have been any pronounced fluctuation in numbers. P. cinereus populations experienced diseases similar to those occurring today. Chlamydial diseases were common and occurred in most parts of the State, with cystitis being more common. Some diseases were not clearly identified. In contrast to current populations, P. cinereus populations then had many more episodes of high mortality, population size appears markedly more volatile and overall abund.
INSECT HERBIVORE ABUNDANCE IN TROPICAL MONOCULTURES AND POLYCULTURES: AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF TWO HYPOTHESES'

Abstrcict. The population dynamics of six beetle pests (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) were studied for three seasons in monocultures and polycultures of the corn-bean-squash agroecosystem in Costa Rica. The study was designed to determine if beetle abundance differed among these treatments, and if so, to determine whether the differences were caused primarily by predators and parasites (Enemies Hypothesis) or by movement patterns of adult beetles (Resource Concentration Hypothesis): In polycultures containing at least one nonhost plant, the numbers of beetles per unit host plant (squash or bean) were significantly lower relative to the numbers of beetles on host plants in monocultures. This pattern was generally oberved for each of the beetle species studied between 40 and 60 d after planting and continued until the end of the season. When a given beetle species fed on both crop species in a diculture (i.e., the squash-bean diculture), the general polyculture effect was reversed: beetle numbers were significantly greater on one or both of the host plants in the diculture relative to the respective monocultures. These effects were apparently caused by changes in species richness of the plots per se rather than changes in host density or total plant density in the plot. There were no differences in rates of parasitism or predation of beetles between monocultures and polycultures. Neither were there significant differences in beetle emergence between treatments that could account for differences in adult beetle numbers between monocultures and polycultures. Instead, several lines of evidence show that different movement patterns of adult beetles were primarily responsible for the observed pattern of beetle abundance and distribution. Direct measurements of beetle movements in the field showed that beetles tended to emigrate more from polycultures that included a nonhost plant than from host monocultures. Field observations and experiments showed that this was due to several factors: (1) beetles avoided host plants shaded by corn; (2) cornstalks interfered in some way with flight movements of beetles; (3) as beetles moved through polycultures they remained on nonhost plants significantly less time than on host plants and their overall rate of movement in polycultures was higher. These data suggest that the Resource Concentration Hypothesis rather than the Enemies Hypothesis can account for differences in beetle abundance between monocultures and polycultures. The implications of this finding for predicting herbivore abundance in yet untried agroecosystems are discussed. It is suggested that it is not sufficient merely to recognize that herbivores are less common in particular polycultures. Practical issues of agroecosystem design and more theoretical questions of plant-herbivore coevolution depend on knowing exactly what ecological processes create reduced herbivore loads in polycultures.
An Annotated List of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformis) of Sri Lanka

the world (Michener 2000). They differ from sphecoid wasps, their closest relatives, by having branched hairs on the body and en enlarged hind basitarsus. As in the case of many other insect groups, bees of Sri Lanka have not been adequately studied systematically or biologically, except for the honey bee species Apis cerana. Hence no information exists about the number of bees that occur in Sri Lanka or about their diversity. Many species of bees have been recorded from Sri Lanka but this information is mostly scattered in the taxonomic literature. The Catalogue of Hymenoptera (Dalla Torre 1896) listed 17 bee species from Sri Lanka while Bingham (1897) gave descriptions of 47 species. Strand (1913) identified 42 species of which 12 were described as new. Since then more bees have been recorded and described from Sri Lanka by many authors. Little is known about the biology of most of the native bees of Sri Lanka. Relevant biological information and a key for identification of (Indian) genera can be found in Batra (1977). The higher classification of bees has been changing recently. Gauld and Bolton (1988) recognized only two families, Sphecidae and Apidae in the superfamily Apoidea. They classified all bees within Apidae in different subfamilies. Michener (1993), recognized 11 families of bees within an informal series Apiformis of Apoidea but later reduced the number of families to seven (Michener 2000). The objective of this work is to present a complete and updated list of bees known to occur in Sri Lanka in order to encourage and facilitate taxonomic work on Sri Lankan bees. Descriptions and distribution records of bees from Sri Lanka were gathered by surveying the taxonomic literature. The currently valid scientific name of each species was determined by reviewing the literature in consultation with old world bee taxonomists.
Cooperation in the regional transportation infrastructure sector in South Asia

Abstract Regional integration is of long-standing concern in South Asia. Despite increasing general levels of prosperity observed in some of its countries, an ongoing problem is how to ensure a good quality transportation system for the entire region. The purpose of the present study is to investigate opportunities for cooperation in the transport sector in South Asia. The study suggests adopting a common transport policy in South Asia for the optimum utilisation of existing utilities, as well as the expansion of new facilities in the region.