Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The structure and metabolic diversity of population of pea microsymbionts isolated from root nodules.

Aims: The study of strains belonging to local rhizobial population, concerning their diversity in the genetic, metabolic and symbiotic properties, and their prevalence in the microsymbiont population. Methodology: 257 rhizobial isolates recovered from nodules of five pea (Pisum sativum cv. Ramrod) plants grown at one site were classified using PCR-RFLP analysis of 16-23S rRNA ITS. After that, for representative group of 55 strains, 16-23S rRNA ITS region was sequenced, nodA-F region was analyzed by PCR-RFLP and sequencing, metabolic capabilities were studied using Biolog`s and growth tests and symbiotic performance in plant tests were assayed. Results: Individual plants were infected by numerous and diverse strains, however, in the entire sampled population of microsymbionts, only three large clusters of strains could be distinguished on the basis of PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses of 16S-23S rRNA ITS region. Rhizobium strains belonging to different groups varied in plasmid number and the amount of plasmid DNA, utilization of carbon and energy sources, growth on soil extractbased media and the ability for symbiotic plant growth promotion. The most numerous group of the isolates was characterized by the high plasmid DNA content, low number of utilized sugar substrates, and comprised numerous strains with low symbiotic efficiency. Research Article British Microbiology Research Journal, 1(3): 55-69, 2011 56 Conclusion: Sampled population of pea microsymbionts had its own characteristic structure with clearly distinguishable sub-populations, composed of numerous strains probably descendants of a few old lineages, which diversified in the lapse of time. These strains are still competing during root nodule colonization, resulting in the symbiosis of individual pea plants with broad spectrum of different Rhizobium strains.
Subchronic effects of environment-like cadmium levels on the bivalve Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus 1758): III. Effects on carbonic anhydrase activity in relation to calcium metabolism

The effects of subchronic cadmium (Cd exposure at environment-like levels (water- and algae-borne Cd) on carbonic anhydrase (CA), its distribution in various body compartments and subcellular fractions, and its correlation to Cd and Ca concentrations in the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina were investigated. CA activity in the hemolymph (HML) and extrapallial fluid were strongly affected in both directions, i.e. inhibition and then induction depending on the length of exposure and depuration. Cd also lowered total and subcellular CA activity in all tested tissues, especially in the digestive gland and gills. These effects were confirmed by negative correlation of both total and cytoplasmic CA activity relative to newly incorporated Cd. The specific activity of total CA was correlated to Ca in the HML and in the mantle but not in other compartments. These observations suggest that Cd exerted indirect effects on ion regulation and Ca homeostasis through its effects on CA, perhaps constituting the physiological basis of Cd-toxicity in this freshwater bivalve.
Distributed service‐level agreement management with smart contracts and blockchain

The current cloud market is dominated by a few providers, which offer cloud services in a take‐it‐or‐leave‐it manner. However, the dynamism and uncertainty of cloud environments may require the change over time of both application requirements and service capabilities. The current service‐level agreement (SLA) management solutions cannot easily guarantee a trustworthy, distributed SLA adaptation due to the centralized authority of the cloud provider who could also misbehave to pursue individual goals. To address the above issues, we propose a novel SLA management framework, which facilitates the specification and enforcement of dynamic SLAs that enable one to describe how, and under which conditions, the offered service level can change over time. The proposed framework relies on a two‐level blockchain architecture. At the first level, the smart SLA is transformed into a smart contract that dynamically guides service provisioning. At the second level, a permissioned blockchain is built through a federation of monitoring entities to generate objective measurements for the smart SLA/contract assessment. The scalability of this permissioned blockchain is also thoroughly evaluated. The proposed framework enables creating open distributed clouds, which offer manageable and dynamic services, and facilitates cost reduction for cloud consumers, while it increases flexibility in resource management and trust in the offered cloud services.
Taxonomy of the Lactobacillus acidophilus Group

A total of 89 strains designated Lactobacillus acidophilus were examined for physiological properties, type of lactic acid produced, cell wall sugar pattern, guanine plus cytosine content of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and DNA homology values compared with selected reference strains. Immunological reactions among a group of the strains were determined by gel diffusion tests, using antiserum to purified lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) from a single strain (Sharpe strain A18). Antiserum to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from strain ATCC 4356 was used in microcomplement fixation tests to determine relationships among some strains. DNA preparations from 78 of the 89 strains of L. acidophilus were distributed among six distinct homology groups, designated A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, and B2. The A group strains had 20 to 30% intergroup homology but very low homology to groups B1 and B2. Likewise, the strains in the two B groups had 20 to 30% intergroup homology but very low homology to the A group strains. Nine strains did not fall into any of the six homology groups. The guanine plus cytosine contents of the DNAs in strains comprising the six homology groups varied from 32 to 38 mol%. In the nine strains not falling into any of the homology groups, the guanine plus cytosine contents were 39 to 47 mol%. Homology group A1, which includes the neotype strain of L. acidophilus (ATCC 4356), is very homogeneous, with most strains showing 95% or more homology to the reference strain. This group corresponds to LDH serogroup III. Strains in the other homology groups showed 60 to 90% homology to their reference strains. Strains of LDH serogroup II were found in homology groups A2, A3, and A4, and those in LDH serogroup I were in homology groups B1 and B2. In general, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase serology results correlated well with the LDH results. Other phenotypic test results were similar for all of the DNA homology groups. It is recommended that homology group A1 be designated L. acidophilus and that strain ATCC 4356 remain the neotype strain.
The Effect of Prepartum Diet on Nitrogen and Major Mineral Balance of Dairy Cows during Parturition in Summer

Proper nutritional management during the dry period is required to prevent metabolic disorders during the time of parturition and for potential increase milk yield during early lactation, especially under the heat of summer. The effect of prepartum diets on partitioning of nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) during dry period and early lactation in summer was investigated. Nine cows were assigned to two groups and fed either control (group C: four cows) or high concentrate (group H: five cows) diets to meet 110% of their requirements before parturition. The proportion of concentrate in control diet was 35%, and that in the high concentrate diet was 45%. After parturition, all cows were fed the same diets ad libitum during lactation. Balance trials were conducted at 9, 8 and 7 days before parturition and at 12, 13 and 14 days after parturition. Before parturition, dry matter intake (DMI), DM and NFE digestibility in group C tended to be lower than those in group H. The retention of N (p<0.01) and P (p<0.05) in group C during the dry period was significantly lower than those in group H. The retention of Mg in group C during the dry period tended to be lower than in group H. The concentration of plasma NEFA in group C tended to be higher than in group H during dry period. The prepartum diet did not have an apparent effect on DMI and milk yield at 2 weeks after parturition and N, C a , P, Mg and K balance after parturition.
SAR multi-target interactive motion recognition based on convolutional neural networks

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) multi-target interactive motion recognition classifies the type of interactive motion and generates descriptions of the interactive motions at the semantic level by considering the relevance of multi-target motions. A method for SAR multi-target interactive motion recognition is proposed, which includes moving target detection, target type recognition, interactive motion feature extraction, and multi-target interactive motion type recognition. Wavelet thresholding denoising combined with a convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed for target type recognition. The method performs wavelet thresholding denoising on SAR target images and then uses an eight-layer CNN named EilNet to achieve target recognition. After target type recognition, a multi-target interactive motion type recognition method is proposed. A motion feature matrix is constructed for recognition and a four-layer CNN named FolNet is designed to perform interactive motion type recognition. A motion simulation dataset based on the MSTAR dataset is built, which includes four kinds of interactive motions by two moving targets. The experimental results show that the recognition performance of the authors' Wavelet + EilNet method for target type recognition and FolNet for multi-target interactive motion type recognition are both better than other methods. Thus, the proposed method is an effective method for SAR multi-target interactive motion recognition.
A slab failure origin for the Donegal composite batholith, Ireland as indicated by trace-element geochemistry

Abstract The Silurian–early Devonian Donegal composite batholith of Ireland is a classic composite batholith that intruded Neoproterozoic Dalradian metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks during and after the Scandian phase (c. 435–425 Ma) of the Caledonian Orogeny. The Scandian phase is widely attributed to the collision of Baltica, Ganderia and Avalonia with Laurentia during closure of the Iapetus Ocean. Isotopic and lithogeochemical data indicate episodic construction of the composite batholith from c. 430–400 Ma. The granitoid rocks are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements, such as Cs, Rb and Ba, and are depleted in high field strength (Nb, Ta, P and Ti) and heavy rare-earth elements. In particular, the chemistry of granitoid rocks from the Donegal composite batholith has Nb/Y >0.4, La/Yb >10, Sm/Yb >2.5 and Gd/Yb >2.0. These characteristics are compatible with a slab-failure origin for the batholith. Following collision, the Iapetus Ocean slab severed by detaching from the trailing continental crust. Upwelling asthenosphere filled the void and the advected heat melted the subcontinental lithospheric mantle and/or the base of the crust to generate the magmas that formed the Donegal composite batholith. The trace-element data indicate melt derivation from processes that left behind a garnet-bearing, plagioclase-absent residue.
Benchmarking one-shot distillation in general quantum resource theories

Bartosz Regula ,1,* Kaifeng Bu,2,† Ryuji Takagi ,3,‡ and Zi-Wen Liu 4,§ 1School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371 Singapore 2Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 3Center for Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA 4Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 2Y5
SCAVENGING OF WATERFOWL CARCASSES BY BIRDS IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Abstract In the Fraser River Delta, scavenging of poisoned waterfowl by raptors during winter has led to secondary anticholinesterase poisoning. During the winters of 1996 and 1998, we used still and video photography to examine scavenging activity on waterfowl carcasses in agricultural fields. Carcass discovery was rapid for both study years; all but two of 54 carcasses were found within 72 h, and 77.8% were found within 24 h (primarily in the first 12 h after sunrise). Single duck carcasses attracted a mean of 16.6 individual scavengers (range 0–79). Seven different species fed on a carcass at least once during 1998, with Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus) being the most common scavengers. In 1996, Bald Eagles arrived first in 26.7% of the trials. In 1998, Northwestern Crows arrived first in 50.0% of the trials with Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) each arriving first in 16.7% of the trials. Results demonstrate that individual poisoned duck carcasses can place numerous scavengers of a variety of species at risk for secondary poisoning due to high incidence of discovery and rapid exchange of information among birds.
Changes in Phosphorus Fractions and Phytase Activity of Rice Seeds during Germination

The present experiment provides information on the phosphorus compounds in rice seeds and elucidates the changes they undergo during germination. In ungerminated seeds, the bulk of total-P appears in phytin (about 76 per cent). It is then dephosphorylated in course of germination with a simultaneous accumulation of large amounts of inorganic-P. Lipid-P increases very rapidly from 0 to 24 hours. The increase up to 72 hours is gradual, after which it drops at 96 hours and again rises to a maximum after 120 hours. The ester-P and RNA-P, fractions increase in concentration with time of germination (except 120 hours). Protein-P begins to fall after 48 hours, while DNA-P remains more or less constant throughout the experiment. The two pH optima recorded for phytase activity at 4.0 and 9.0, suggests that there exist two phytases, one acidic and the other alkaline. Both behave similarly during germination with a continuous increase throughout the course of the experiment. The enzyme with an optimal pH at 4 hydrolyses phytin more actively than the other with the pH optimum at 9.0. Phytase shows maximum activity at a stage when most of the phytin has disappeared; the metabolic significance is uncertain.
Remembering the Gulf: changes to the marine communities of the Sea of Cortez since the Steinbeck and Ricketts expedition of 1940

One of the most storied biological expeditions is the 1940 trip to the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) by author John Steinbeck and his close friend Edward F Ricketts, a professional biologist. Steinbeck and Ricketts visited intertidal sites around the Gulf and made extensive collections, taking notes on fauna and natural history. In 2004, we retraced the Steinbeck and Ricketts voyage, visiting the same intertidal sites during the same season and using the authors' extensive natural history notes as a baseline for comparison. Although we found many of the same species as they did, populations were, in many cases, not as geographically widespread, and individuals were fewer in number and smaller in size. In particular, echinoderms and large gastropods showed declines, as did most large pelagic vertebrate species. One of the most remarkable changes in the pelagic community is the present abundance of jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, a species not reported in 1940. Although Steinbeck and Ricketts, by their o.
Patterns of offspring sex-ratio in a re-establishing population of Black-winged Petrels (Pterodroma nigripennis)

Abstract Natural re-colonisation events are rare so it can be important to monitor newly establishing populations to understand and characterise such events. As re-colonising populations are often freed from spatial and competitive constraints, documenting the sex-ratio of offspring may provide insights in sex-allocation theory. We studied a re-establishing population of Black-winged Petrels (Pterodroma nigripennis) on Raoul Island, in the Kermadec Group, New Zealand, where all predators have recently been removed. We measured, and took DNA samples from 20 chicks in four new colonies in 2007, when the colonies first re-established, 25 chicks from seven colonies in 2008, and 25 adults captured across both years, including seven that were caught nearby at sea, and two adults caught at a colony where no chicks were sampled. We found the developmental stage of chicks to have no differences between sexes, and recorded no sexual differences in the morphometrics of chicks or adults. We report a significantly biased sex-ratio towards male offspring in the first year of re-colonisation. In contrast, the sex-ratios of offspring in the second year of re-colonisation and of adults in both years were even. We suggest that biases in offspring sex-ratios towards the more philopatric sex may be adaptive when under release from spatial or competitive constraints in re-colonising birds. Continued monitoring of the populations of Black-winged Petrels re-establishing on Raoul Island, as well as comparable data from adjacent islets with long-established breeding colonies of Black-winged Petrels will be critical to identify the realised ecological role of variation in offspring sexratio and of sex-biased natal philopatry.
Is the Supply of Charitable Donations Fixed? Evidence from Deadly Tornadoes

Do new societal needs increase charitable giving or simply reallocate a fixed supply of donations? We study this question using IRS datasets and the natural experiment of deadly tornadoes. Among ZIP Codes located more than 20 miles away from a tornado's path, donations by households increase by over $1 million per tornado fatality. We find no negative effects on charities located in these ZIP Codes, with a bootstrapped confidence interval that rejects substitution rates above 16 percent. The results imply that giving to one cause need not come at the expense of another. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber. org.
Environment, not phylogeny, drives herbivory and leaf attributes in trees from two contrasting forest formations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

ABSTRACT Background The degree of herbivory in plants can be related to leaf traits, which are, in turn, determined by phylogeny and environment. Aims The objective of our study was to determine the level of trait conservation (determined by phylogeny) vs. trait convergence (owing to overbearing effect of environmental factors) in leaf attributes and its relationship with rates of herbivory in two contrasting neotropical habitats. Methods We quantified herbivory and 12 leaf traits in 10 congeneric, co-occurring pairs of tree species of an Atlantic Rain Forest (ARF) and a coastal forest (Restinga - REST). Results Higher values of N, N:P, leaf area and water content were found for the ARF species, while REST species were characterised by higher total phenol, Ca, C:N and leaf mass per area. There was a great degree of trait convergence in leaf attributes by habitat, and a near lack of trait conservation. Rates of herbivory were related to leaf attributes and were significantly larger in ARF species compared to those in REST. Conclusions These findings indicate that leaf attributes are relatively convergent and closely related to habitat. The results also support theory in confirming greater investment in leaf defence in REST species in a more resource-poor environment than in ARF.
Adaptive Site Selection Rules and Variation in Group Size of Barn Swallows: Individual Decisions Predict Population Patterns

Abstract: Variation in group size is ubiquitous among socially breeding organisms. An alternative to the traditional examination of average reproductive success in groups of different sizes is to examine individual decision making by determining the cues used for site selection. Once factors used for decision making are known, one can determine whether group‐level patterns, such as group size variation, are emergent properties of individual‐level decision rules. The advantage of this alternative approach is that it can explain the distribution of group sizes rather than just the occurrence of optimal group sizes. Using barn swallows, I tested, but did not support, the hypothesis that individuals settle at sites based on the previous success of conspecifics (i.e., performance‐based conspecific attraction). Instead, I demonstrate that an adaptive site selection decision rule—to breed where it is possible to reuse previously constructed nests—predicts 83% of the variation in the number of breeding pairs at a.
Lobbying during government formations: do policy advocates attain their preferences in coalition agreements?

Abstract Elections produce shifts in power and policy that give lobbyists incentives to influence the policy plans of new governments, but very little is known about such lobbying. This study directly observes lobbying during government coalition negotiations and its consequences for coalition agreements by studying the letters that policy advocates send to the (in)formateur steering coalition formation negotiations. While political parties are crucial for the preference attainment of lobbyists, the analysis shows that advocates that are traditional allies of a negotiating party tend to benefit more from making a request in line with the preferences of that political party than other advocates. This seems to be especially the case when advocates represent a constituency that is important to a party’s electoral strategy, suggesting that the policy implications of ties between parties and organized interests are determined by more than the presence of historical ties between parties and groups alone.
Vegetation of South Africa

on them. While the author speaks of sterilizing the seeds with bromine, he says nothing about making cultures to assure that they are sterile. Many authors find it difficult to sterilize seeds without killing them. This is specially true of those with open micropyles. From the first wo papers of the series, KIDD reemphasizes his conception that the dormancy of "moist seeds" is due to the anesthetic a tion of carbon dioxide which is held in by seed coats. If this be the cause of dormancy in any imbibed seeds, it is limited in its application. It does not apply to seeds which have a rest period during which the embryo is developing; to seeds like Alisma and Amaranthus, inwhich the swelling contents do not have sufficient pressure to break the coats; or to seeds like Crataegus, inwhich the embryos are dormant when naked.12 He has by no means proved that this holds even for forms forced by increased oxygen pressure (Xanthium and others). His conception implies that the coats of these seeds are very slightly permeable to CO2. In the elementary course in plant physiology inHull Botanical Laboratory, we used for years various eed coats and the epidermis of various leaves to show that moist plant membranes are relatively very permeable to CO2 in contrast o oxygen and nitrogen. KIDD'S assumption concerning CO2 and dormancy of seeds, therefore, even under limited application, cannot be considered more than an hypothesis without a study of the permeability character of the seed coats to CO2 and other gases. -WM. CROCKER.
The Archaeology of Native American Boarding Schools in the American Southwest

This work discusses the archaeological investigation of Native American boarding schools in the American Southwest. It begins by outlining a brief history of the federal Native American boarding schools system in the region then introduces major theoretical frameworks utilized by historical archaeologists to interpret these sites. Lastly, it traces the history of archaeological approaches to these sites types in the Southwest, summarizing foundational and ongoing historical archaeological research on these institutions.