Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disentangling Complex Landscapes: New Insights into Arid and Semiarid System Dynamics

Abstract Although desertification is a global phenomenon and numerous studies have provided information on dynamics at specific sites, spatial and temporal variations in response to desertification have led to alternative, and often controversial, hypotheses about the key factors that determine these dynamics. We present a new research framework that includes five interacting elements to explain these variable dynamics: (1) historical legacies, (2) environmental driving variables, (3) a soil-geomorphic template of patterns in local properties and their spatial context, (4) multiple horizontal and vertical transport vectors (water, wind, animals), and (5) redistribution of resources within and among spatial units by the transport vectors, in interaction with other drivers. Interactions and feedbacks among these elements within and across spatial scales generate threshold changes in pattern and dynamics that can result in alternative future states, from grasslands to shrublands, and a reorganization of the landscape. We offer a six-step operational approach that is applicable to many complex landscapes, and illustrate its utility for understanding present-day landscape organization, forecasting future dynamics, and making more effective management decisions.
The applications of candidate gene approaches in the characterization of seed quality traits in soybean

ZHANG, PING. The Applications of Candidate Gene Approaches in the Characterization of Seed Quality Traits in Soybean. (Under the direction of Ralph Dewey.) Over the past decade, candidate gene approaches have become increasing popular as a means to identify and characterize genes associated with the agronomically important traits in crop species. The studies outlined in this dissertation describe an attempt to elucidate the molecular basis of two important traits related to soybean seed quality through the implementation of this approach. Soybean germplasm possessing a high stearic acid (18:0) content is favorable for meeting the demands for oxidatively stable vegetable oils that don’t require hydrogenation, a process that generates undesirable trans fatty acids. We isolated a novel ∆-stearoyl-ACP-desaturase gene, designated SACPD-C, whose enzymatic function serves to convert stearic acid (18:0) to oleic acid (18:1) specifically during seed development. SACPD-C was found to be mutated in two independent high stearic acid soybean lines, A6 and FAM94-41. A molecular marker was generated that can distinguish the muant SACPD-C gene in FAM94-41 and can thus serve as a useful tool in introducing the trait into elite germplasm using marker assisted selection. Lowering the phytic acid levels in soybeans would not only enhance the nutritional value of the seed for its use as livestock feed, but also help reduce problems associated with phosphorus pollution of soils and groundwater. We applied a candidate gene approach to identify genes responsible for one low phytic acid soybean germplasm G03PHY-443. Comparison of myoinositol and myo-inositol phosphate intermediates between the wildtype and mutant lines suggested that the mutation occurs at an early step of the phytic acid biosynthetic pathway. Biochemical assays of phosphatidylinositol kinase and diacylglycerol kinase activities suggested that the lipid dependent branch of the phytic acid metabolic pathway may actually be upregulated in the mutant G03PHY-443 germplasm. Even more surprising, analysis of what we considered the three best candidate genes failed to reveal any perturbation that could count for the reduced phytic acid phenotype. Cumulatively, the results from this study enhanced our understanding of phytic acid biosynthesis in soybean seed and suggested that nonconvertional gene mutations are responsible for the low accumulations of the compound in line G03PHY-443. The Applications of Candidate Gene Approaches in the Characterization of Seed Quality Traits in Soybean
Behaviour‐driven micro‐scale niche differentiation in carabid beetles

Carabid beetles form rich and abundant communities in arable landscapes. Their generalist feeding behaviour and similar environmental requirements raise questions about the mechanisms allowing the coexistence of such species‐rich assemblages. We hypothesized that subtle niche partitioning comes into play on spatial, temporal, or trophic basis. To test this, we performed experiments and made observations on the behaviour of two sympatric carabid species of similar size and life cycle, Bembidion quadrimaculatum L. and Phyla obtusa Audinet‐Serville (both Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini). We compared plant climbing behaviour, daily activity patterns, and trophic preferences between the two carabid species under laboratory conditions. Whereas no clear difference in trophic preference was observed, our results suggest temporal niche differentiation at the nychthemeron scale (a period of 24 consecutive hours), with one of the species being more diurnal and the other more nocturnal, and spatial differentiation in their habitat use at the plant stratum scale. Intra‐specific variation suggests that micro‐scale spatio‐temporal niche differentiation could be mediated by behavioural plasticity in these two carabid species. We speculate that such behavioural plasticity may provide carabid beetles with a high adaptive potential in intensively managed agricultural areas.
CHANGES IN HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN RENAISSANCE COHORT OF RUSSIAN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background: The Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQol) is recommended to assess healthrelatedqualityoflife(HRQOL) insystemic lupuserythematosus(SLE). Objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess HRQOL in the first year observation in cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Russian Federation(RENAISSANCE). Methods: The LupusQoL-Russian was administered to a cohort of 128 Russian patients affected with SLE at baseline and follow up visit (in 12 months). Disease activity was evaluated by the SLE disease activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), and chronic damage by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Dam-ageIndex score (SDI)atbaselineandfollowupvisit
NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY BY DIURNAL LIZARDS (SCELOPORUS JARROVI, S. VIRGATUS) EATEN BY SMALL OWLS (GLAUCIDIUM GNOMA, OTUS TRICHOPSIS)

Abstract Whiskered screech-owls (Otus trichopsis) and northern pygmy-owls (Glaucidium gnoma) delivered freshly caught Yarrow's spiny lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi) and striped plateau lizards (S. virgatus) to nestlings from dusk to dark in southeastern Arizona. This observation stimulated studies of the prey deliveries by the owls and lizard activity patterns, because the lizards are not known to be nocturnal. Lizards were more frequent prey of both owls than endothermic vertebrates but infrequent compared to arthropods, a pattern in the pygmy-owl that differs from its northern populations. Yarrow's spiny lizard, the most abundant and frequently captured lizard, was most active in the morning but also active in the evening. Striped plateau lizard, the second most abundant and depredated species, had morning and evening peaks of activity. Few lizards, including S. clarki and Urosaurus ornatus, but not Cnemidophorus exsanguis and C. sonorae, were active at or after dark, when relatively few were captured by the owls.
Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by nucleic acid sandwich hybridization

Chromosomal DNA fragments from Chlamydia trachomatis serotype L2 were shotgun-cloned into pBR322. A C. trachomatis-specific clone was further subcloned to produce specific DNA reagents for the identification of C. trachomatis by nucleic acid sandwich hybridization. The chosen DNA reagents from serotype L2 also hybridized with all the other chlamydial serotypes tested, but not with the DNA from 41 unrelated organisms. The sensitivity of the sandwich hybridization test was 106 DNA molecules. The applicability of the test for routine diagnostic use was demonstrated by a pilot study in which C. trachomatis was directly detected from genital specimens.
Investigation of relationships between DNA integrity and fresh semen parameters in rams.

Summary The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between the routine semen analyses and sperm DNA integrity, as assesed by TUNEL in fresh semen of rams in Kivircik and Awassi breeds in breeding season. Semen was collected by electro-ejaculation five times every other day. For that purpose, 50 fresh ejaculates from 6 Kivircik and 4 Awassi rams were evaluated. The mean percentages of semen volume, concentration, mass activity, motility, acrosomal defects, HOST and DNA fragmentation of Kivircik and Awassi rams were 1.3 ml, 1.9 x109, 3.3 (0-5 scale), 72.6%, 13.2%, 73.6%, 16.2% and 1.0 ml, 1.9 x109, 3.3 (0-5 scale), 72.5%, 11.1%, 77.9%, 15.9%; respectively (P>0.05). Sperm DNA fragmentation was correlated adversely with semen volume (r = -0.329, P 0.05), mass activity (r = -0.349, P 0.05) and HOS test (r = -0.513, P<0.01). This study provided clear evidence that most of the parameters evaluated herein related to DNA fragmentation at one point or the other. Hence, DNA structure evaluation of sperm might be a useful tool for accurate prediction of the male fertility in individual rams.
An Assessment of the Potential Use of Gambusia for Mosquito Control in Michigan

We reviewed scientific literature and made management recommendations regarding future introduction of non-native fish species, in the genus Gambusia, for the intended purpose of controlling pest mosquitoes in Michigan. Gambusia are small, highly aggressive fish native to the southern United States that have been stocked in nearly every state. They are very predaceous and will consume small prey animals causing serious environmental damage. A number of scientific studies in the U.S. and across the world found that introduced Gambusia had negative effects on native invertebrates, fish, and amphibians. Gambusia stocked in small Michigan ponds as recently as the late 1970s failed to establish self-sustaining populations. However, a warming climate would likely increase the ability of Gambusia to overwinter in Michigan. We followed the American Fisheries Society, Policy Statement for Introduction of Aquatic Species to determine that the introduction of Gambusia into Michigan waters would have negative impacts on existing aquatic communities and fisheries, with little or no mosquito control. We recommend that Gambusia not be used for mosquito control or otherwise be introduced into the waters of Michigan. Instead, we should protect and enhance the quality of Michigan's waterways so that native fishes thrive and naturally constrain mosquito populations. Many native Michigan fish will readily consume mosquito larvae, so if stocking fish is required, we encourage stocking of native fishes, such as the fathead minnow. We also suggest alternative mosquito control methods including an educational campaign to inform people of how to reduce man-made mosquito breeding areas.
The dynamics of nutrient enrichment and primary production related to recent changes in the ecosystem of the Black Sea

The data collected in the southern Black Sea during the period of July 1997 to September 1998 showed that light penetrated into the upper 20-35 m, with a downward attenuation coefficient varying between 0.1 and 0.25 m -1 . The chlorophyll-a concentration for the euphotic zone ranged from <0.5 to 1.5 µg l -1 . Coherent sub-surface chlorophylla maxima formed near the base of the euphotic zone at all study points and a secondary one was observed at very low level of light (<0.1% of the surface light) in the nearshore regions. Production rates were estimated in between 62 and 785 mg C m -2 d -1 in this period. Bioassay experiments (using extra nitrate, ammonia, phosphate, silicon and iron) showed that under optimum light conditions the phytoplankton population is nitrate limited in open waters. Phosphate seems to control the growth in the nearshore regions of the southern Black Sea. Silicon concentration also influenced the phytoplankton growth since the majority of the population was determined to be diatoms.
5G-UASP: 5G-based multi-provider UAV platform architecture

The paper consists of a description of 5G-UASP, a multi-provider platform for drone services. It takes into account the involvement of air traffic management authority in all flight phases. We describe the core components of 5G-UASP and outline the procedures related to flight preparation, execution and termination phases. Instantiation of the concept is presented for 5G network. As it is shown, the usage of network slicing and MEC enables an immersive implementation of the architecture. Two options of instantiation of the reference architecture are included.
Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for C4-dicarboxylic acid production

Biotechnological production of chemicals from renewable feedstocks offers a sustainable alternative to petrochemistry. Understanding of the biology of microorganisms and plants is increasing at an unprecedented rate and tools with which these organisms can be engineered for industrial application are becoming ever more powerful. However, biotechnological production processes that are cost-competitive with petrochemistry still have to be developed for many types of chemicals. In this thesis, the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) to produce C4-dicarboxylic acids (fumarate, malate and succinate) is investigated. These acids, currently produced from oil in relatively small quantities and mainly applied for human consumption, have interesting properties for roles as commodity platform chemicals. First, S. cerevisiae was metabolically engineered for malate production via a pyruvate carboxylase-dependent pathway. While titers of nearly 60 g per liter were achieved, the fermentation process required oxygen, a significant drawback. Therefore, the second part of the research focused on improving process energetics by using phospho-enol-pyruvate carboxykinase or malic enzyme as alternative carboxylating enzymes. Interestingly, it was found that either enzyme could replace the anaplerotic function of pyruvate carboxylase, which offers the perspective of anaerobic and more efficient production of C4-acids with S. cerevisiae.
Viability of  -momorcharin-treated mouse blastocysts in the pseudopregnant uterus

Summary. Mouse morulae and early blastocysts developed normally to the late blastocyst stage in the presence of \g=a\-momorcharinin culture. When these embryos were transferred to a pseudopregnant uterus, they showed a poor ability to induce the decidual reaction and many failed to implant. Those that had implanted showed retarded embryonic development and many implantation sites contained only trophoblastic giant cells and extraembryonic membranes. Implantation of blastocysts was inhibited when the recipient animal was given \g=a\-momorcharinat the time of embryo transfer. We suggest that termination of early pregnancy by \g=a\-momorcharinis the result of the deleterious effect of the protein on the implanting embryos and the endometrium.
MODELING THE EFFECTS OF FIRE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES ON SIERRA NEVADA MIXED‐CONIFER FORESTS

Decades of fire exclusion have led to hazardous fuel accumulations and the deterioration of fire-dependent ecosystems, particularly in the American West. Managers are striving to return the ecological role of fire to many ecosystems and would benefit from a much better understanding of how forest structure and composition might change if fires were reintroduced. We used a forest gap model, developed for forests in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, that integrates climate, fire, and forest dynamics to investigate forest response to changes in the fire regime. The model simulates a spatially heterogeneous fuel bed that is responsive to changes in forest condition, making it well suited for examining alternative management approaches for restoring Sierra Nevada forests after a century of fire exclusion. Presuppression forest basal area, species composition, and spatial autocor- relation structure were restored quickly, if simulated disturbances that caused substantial tree mortality were reintroduced. Simulations of harvest induced the highest levels of mortality and, thus, most effectively restored forest structure and composition. However, prescribed fires were just as effective in restoring forest structure and composition if they were sufficiently severe.
Production and Optimization of Feather Protein Hydrolysate from Bacillus Sp. MPTK6 and Its Antioxidant Potential

3 Abstract: The production of feather protein hydrolysate (FPH) by Bacillus sp. MPTK6 was investigated for its in vitro digestibility and antioxidant potential. The effects of feather concentrations (15-60 g/I) and initial pHs (6-11) on the production of amino acids, peptides and soluble proteins were evaluated for their performance in FPH production medium. The strain MPTK 6 showed maximum keratinase and caesinase activity of 2.4 U/ml and 2.1 U/ml in the initial screening process. The strain MPTK6 showed the ability to degrade raw feather to FPH under optimal conditions (30 g/l chicken feathers, pH 10.0 and 72 h of fermentation). The DPPH free radical-scavenging activity and reducing power showed the antioxidant potential of FPH of the test isolate. The FPH showed very high in vitro digestibility compared to that of the raw feathers.
The effect of crop maturity on the nutritional value of maize silage for lactating dairy cows. 2. Ruminal and post-ruminal digestion

To evaluate the effect of crop maturity on digestion of maize silage in the rumen and post-ruminal digestive tract, four multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with a simple cannula in the proximal duodenum and a rumen cannula were offered four diets in a 4 ✕ 4 Latin-square design. Forage maize (cv. Hudson) was harvested and ensiled at target dry matter (DM) contents of 230, 280, 330 and 380 g per kg fresh weight (FW) to provide a range of starch contents. The mean values for volatile-corrected DM (VCDM) and starch content of the four maize silages as given were 221, 277, 308 and 372 g/kg FW and 173, 257, 328 and 382 g/kg VCDM respectively. Grass silage (GS) containing 250 g VCDM per kg FW was produced from the primary growth of a perennial ryegrass sward. The diets were 8·7 kg DM per day of a dairy concentrate supplement with one of four forage treatments offered ad libitum. The forage treatments were a 3 : 1 DM ratio of maize silage with GS, designated as T23, T28, T33 and T38. Each period lasted 6 weeks with rumen and duodenal samples being taken over 3 days in week 4 and faeces being collected in respiration chambers over 6 days in either week 5 or 6. Milk yield tended to increase with advancing maturity (30·5, 31·8, 32·5 and 32·3 kg/day) but individual treatment differences were not significant. DM intake increased from 19·62 to 21·30 kg/day ( P P P P P
Structure of the C‐Terminal Tail of α‐Tubulin: Increase of Heterogeneity from Newborn to Adult

Abstract: A combination of posttranslational modifications contributes to the high heterogeneity of brain tubulin in mammals. In this report, the structures of the detyrosinated carboxy‐terminal peptides of α‐tubulin from newborn and adult mouse brain were compared. The heterogeneity of these carboxy‐terminal peptides was observed to increase from newborn to adult brain tubulin. The major part of this increased heterogeneity is due to the posttranslational excision of Glu450, which makes α‐tubulin nontyrosinatable (Δ‐2 tubulin). The structures of the polyglutamyl side chain of the bi‐ and triglutamylated peptides were analyzed in this work. In polyglutamylation of α‐tubulin, the first glutamyl residue can only be amide‐linked to the γ‐carboxyl group of Glu445, but the additional residues may be linked either to the γ‐ or to the α‐carboxyl groups of the preceding one. By optimized reverse‐phase separations and comparison with synthetic peptides corresponding to all possible linkages for the biglutamylated (γ1α2, γ1γ2) and triglutamylated (γ1α2α3, γ1γ2γ3, γ1α2γ3, γ1γ2α3, γ1γ2α2) tubulin peptides, it was possible to conclude that the mode of linkage connecting the second and third additional glutamyl residues corresponds mostly to α‐bond structures, for both newborn and adult mice.
Efficient Sampling-Based Maximum Entropy Inverse Reinforcement Learning With Application to Autonomous Driving

In the past decades, we have witnessed significant progress in the domain of autonomous driving. Advanced techniques based on optimization and reinforcement learning become increasingly powerful when solving the forward problem: given designed reward/cost functions, how we should optimize them and obtain driving policies that interact with the environment safely and efficiently. Such progress has raised another equally important question: what should we optimize? Instead of manually specifying the reward functions, it is desired that we can extract what human drivers try to optimize from real traffic data and assign that to autonomous vehicles to enable more naturalistic and transparent interaction between humans and intelligent agents. To address this issue, we present an efficient sampling-based maximum-entropy inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) algorithm in this letter. Different from existing IRL algorithms, by introducing an efficient continuous-domain trajectory sampler, the proposed algorithm can directly learn the reward functions in the continuous domain while considering the uncertainties in demonstrated trajectories from human drivers. We evaluate the proposed algorithm via real-world driving data, including both non-interactive and interactive scenarios. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves more accurate prediction performance with faster convergence speed and better generalization compared to other baseline IRL algorithms.
Conductive filament evolution dynamics revealed by cryogenic (1.5 K) multilevel switching of CMOS-compatible Al2O3/TiO2 resistive memories

Non-volatile resistive switching devices are considered as prime candidates for next-generation memory applications operating at room temperature and above, such as resistive random-access memories or brain-inspired in-memory computing. However, their operability in cryogenic conditions remains to be mastered to adopt these devices as building blocks enabling large-scale quantum technologies via quantum–classical electronics co-integration. This study demonstrates multilevel switching at 1.5 K of Al2O3/TiO2-x resistive memory devices fabricated with complementary metal-oxide-semiconducto-compatible processes and materials. The I–V characteristics exhibit a negative differential resistance (NDR) effect due to a Joule-heating-induced metal-insulator transition of the Ti4O7 conductive filament. Carrier transport analysis of all multilevel switching I–V curves show that while the insulating regime follows the space charge limited current (SCLC) model for all resistance states, the conduction in the metallic regime is dominated by SCLC and trap-assisted tunneling for low- and high-resistance states respectively. A non-monotonic conductance evolution is observed in the insulating regime, as opposed to the continuous and gradual conductance increase and decrease obtained in the metallic regime during the multilevel SET and RESET operations. Cryogenic transport analysis coupled to an analytical model accounting for the metal-insulator-transition-induced NDR effects and the resistance states of the device provide new insights on the conductive filament evolution dynamics and resistive switching mechanisms. Our findings suggest that the non-monotonic conductance evolution in the insulating regime is due to the combined effects of longitudinal and radial variations of the Ti4O7 conductive filament during the switching. This behavior results from the interplay between temperature- and field-dependent geometrical and physical characteristics of the filament.