Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Distribution and Movements of Shortnose Sturgeon and Atlantic Sturgeon in the Penobscot River Estuary, Maine

Abstract Relatively little is known about the distribution and seasonal movement patterns of shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum and Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus occupying rivers in the northern part of their range. During 2006 and 2007, 40 shortnose sturgeon (66–113.4 cm fork length [FL]) and 8 Atlantic sturgeon (76.2–166.2 cm FL) were captured in the Penobscot River, Maine, implanted with acoustic transmitters, and monitored using an array of acoustic receivers in the Penobscot River estuary and Penobscot Bay. Shortnose sturgeon were present year round in the estuary and overwintered from fall (mid-October) to spring (mid-April) in the upper estuary. In early spring, all individuals moved downstream to the middle estuary. Over the course of the summer, many individuals moved upstream to approximately 2 km of the downstream-most dam (46 river kilometers [rkm] from the Penobscot River mouth [rkm 0]) by August. Most aggregated into an overwintering site (rkm 36.5) in mid- to late.
Characterization of sigma factors of Sinorhizobium meliloti involved in stress response

Alternative sigma factors play an important role in that they can respond with transcriptional activation to the presence of adverse conditions in their environment. The presence of multiple sigma factors is a ubiquitous feature in rhizobia. The genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021 contains fourteen genes encoding for sigma factors, nine of which code for putative extracytoplasmic function sigma factors (RpoE) and two for heat shock sigma factors (RpoH). The purpose of this study was to gain detailed insight into the participation of sigma factors in the complex stress response system of S. meliloti 1021. The RpoE sigma factors of S. meliloti share similarities in their predicted protein sequence and this could account for similar promoter selectivity and possible overlapping functions. Expression of sigma factors rpoE5 and rpoE1 was upregulated during oxidative stress. Induction of rpoE5 expression was also observed under cold shock and heat shock, as well as under pH stress. A deficiency in growth was observed for sigma factor mutants for rpoE2 and rpoE5 in heat shock and oxidative stress conditions. However, an extreme growth deficiency phenotype was only observed for the rpoH1 mutant at pH stress conditions. At neutral pH, an upregulation of the rhizobactin biosynthesis operon was observed for the rpoH1 mutant. Analyses of the promoter regions of the genes involved in rhizobactin biosynthesis showed that there are possible binding sites for RpoH1 and RpoE2 in the upstream regions of rhbA, the first gene in the rhizobactin biosynthesis operon. Also, a reduction in rhbA expression was observed for the rpoH1 rpoE5 double mutant in comparison to the rpoH1 single mutant. This indicates that alternative complementarity between different sigma factors could play a role in the regulation of rhizobactin at neutral pH. The involvement of RpoH1 in pH stress response was further analysed by time-course microarray analyes, which lead to the classification of three groups of genes, which were transcriptionally regulated in an RpoH1-independent, an RpoH1-dependent or in a complex manner. Genes regulated in an RpoH1-dependent manner are known to be involved in stress and heat shock response, like ibpA, grpE and groEL. The promoter consensus binding site for RpoH1 was identified in a number of the genes classified as being RpoH1-dependent upon pH stress, as well as for the rpoH1 gene itself. This study provided clear evidence that the sigma factor RpoH1 plays a major role in the pH stress response of S. meliloti.
Exploring The Genetic And Physiological Mechanisms Of Aluminum Tolerance In Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

The genetic and physiological mechanisms of aluminum (Al) tolerance have been well studied in certain cereal crops, and Al tolerance genes have been identified in sorghum and wheat. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been reported to be highly Al tolerant; however, a direct comparison of rice and other cereals has not been reported and the mechanisms of rice Al tolerance are poorly understood. To facilitate Al tolerance phenotyping in rice, a high-throughput imaging system and root quantification computer program was developed, permitting quantification of the entire root system, rather than just the longest root. Additionally, a novel hydroponic solution was developed and optimized for Al tolerance screening in rice and compared to the Yoshida’s rice solution commonly used for rice Al tolerance studies. To gain a better understanding of Al tolerance in cereals, comparisons of Al tolerance across cereal species were conducted at four Al concentrations using seven to nine genetically diverse genotypes of wheat, maize, sorghum, and rice. Rice was significantly more tolerant than maize, wheat, and sorghum at all Al concentrations, with the mean Al tolerance level for rice found to be 2-6-fold greater than that in maize, wheat, and sorghum. Physiological experiments were conducted on a genetically diverse panel of >20 rice genotypes spanning the range of rice Al tolerance and compared to two maize genotypes to determine if rice utilizes the well-described Al tolerance mechanism of root tip Al exclusion mediated by organic acid exudation. Results clearly demonstrate
Efecto del patrón en el rendimiento y tamaño de fruto en pepino injertado

Este estudio se baso en antecedentes de la aplicacion comercial exitosa de la tecnica del injerto, que reduce los danos causados por patogenos del suelo y sequia, ademas de mejorar la absorcion de agua y nutrientes. Con el fin de investigar si el crecimiento y la productividad del pepino (Cucumis sativus L.) pueden mejorarse con el uso de injertos, se hizo un experimento en invernadero. Los tratamientos fueron: 1) Pepino sin injerto; 2) Pepino injertado sobre calabaza pipiana (Cucurbita argyrosperma K. Koch var. stenosperma); 3) Pepino injertado sobre chilacayote (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche); y 4) Pepino injertado sobre estropajo (Luffa cylindrica L.). El diseno experimental fue completamente al azar con 20 repeticiones. La unidad experimental fue una maceta con una planta. Se encontraron diferencias (P ≤ 0.05) entre los efectos de los tratamientos en peso seco, area foliar y rendimiento de fruto. Tambien se encontraron correlaciones positivas (P ≤ 0.05) entre el rendimiento de fruto y algunas variables de crecimiento. El pepino injertado en los patrones de calabaza o chilacayote produjo mayor peso de fruto en fresco, en tanto que el injerto de pepino en estropajo mostro un efecto negativo en todas las variables de crecimiento, rendimiento de fruto y acumulacion de biomasa
Silica deposition and ultrastructure in the cell wall of Equisetum arvense: the importance of cell wall structures and flow control in biosilicification?

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy have been used in the investigation of the surface micromorphology and ultrastructure of silicas extracted from different regions of the horsetail Equisetum arvense . The surface micromorphology was found to be very complex and varied with the anatomical region of the plant. Principally fibrillar, globular and sheet-like ultrastructural motifs of silica were observed, their proportions and detailed structure also varying with the anatomical region studied. The physiocochemical mechanisms by which these structural motifs arise are discussed in relation to the surface micromorphologies observed and to their anatomical function.
Glomus intraradices Attenuates the Negative Effect of Low Pi Supply on Photosynthesis and Growth of Papaya Maradol Plants

Low inorganic phosphorus (Pi) supply limits the photosynthetic process and hence plants growth and development. Contradictory reports exist in the literature on whether mycorrhyzal association can attenuate the negative effects of low Pi supply on photosynthesis and growth. In the present paper, the effect that low Pi supply may have on photosynthesis and growth of papaya Maradol plants was evaluated in intact plants and in those inoculated with two different strains of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices. Plant growth was significantly reduced as the Pi supply decreased. However, inoculation with any strain of G. intraradices was able to attenuate such effect. Without Pi in the nutrient solution, the mycorrhizal plants had on average 6.1 times and 7.5 higher photosynthesis than non mycorrhizal plants. The chlorophyll fluorescence values were significantly higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal plants. These results could be associated to an increased ability of mycorhyzal plants to take up Pi from the substrate, as they had higher Pi content than non-mycorrhizal plants. A high correlation was found between internal Pi content and plant biomass. The lower correlation between Pi content and photosynthesis, suggests that some photosynthates could had been used to maintain the symbiosis.
A GALA lipopeptide mediates pH- and membrane charge dependent fusion with stable giant unilamellar vesicles

Peptides capable of mediating fusion between lipid membranes are widely observed in nature, and have attracted considerable attention in the liposome drug delivery field. However, studies that are proving the benefit of small synthetic fusion peptides as components in drug delivery systems remain sporadic and there is a strong need to characterize and increase our understanding of the membrane fusion properties of these peptides. Many fusion studies have focused on the ability of free peptides in solution that mediate fusion between liposomes. For drug delivery purposes it is a necessity to attach the peptides to the surface of the liposome drug delivery carrier, without impairing the peptide functionality. Here we present the synthesis and characterization of a new diacylated derivative of the previously described fusion peptide GALA. Two myristoyl chains were attached to the GALA peptide through the 1,2-diamino propanoic acid (Dap) moiety, yielding the lipopeptide dimyristoyl-Dap-GALA (DMDGALA). We have investigated DMDGALA as a component in large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and demonstrate pH-triggered fusion of peptide containing LUVs with stable target giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), which were used as simple mimics of cell membranes. The number of fusion events was large at pH 5.0, which is a physiologically relevant pH-range for a drug delivery system.
Habitat preference of endangered Eastern Iberian Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi

Capsule Careful management is required to maintain or create habitats with the correct proportions of rush with reeds that are preferred by this subspecies. Aims To determine the habitat requirements of Eastern Iberian (Western Iberian Reed Buntings were not included in the study) Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi, a subspecies endemic to a few marshes in France, Spain and Morocco, with a population of 254–360 breeding pairs. Methods Twenty-five wetlands in Spain were surveyed and presence/absence of Iberian Reed Buntings was deteremined together with data on 41 environmental variables. The relationships between the birds and habitat data were investigated using glm. Results Proportion of rush with reeds, proportion of reed–bulrush patches and perimeter length of rush–reed patches, were the variables that primarily explained the present distribution of Eastern Iberian Reed Buntings. Other vegetation classes traditionally associated with the presence of the Eastern Iberian Reed Buntings, such as sedges, were not found to be important in the selected models. Conclusion Conservation planning and management guidelines for this subspecies should focus on encouraging these specific-vegetation parameters. Flood control and grazing are proposed as the best practices that will favour these vegetation variables and avoid simplification of the plant community.
Microbial biogeography of permafrost thaw ponds across the changing northern landscape

Microbial diversity varies at multiple spatial scales, but little is known about how climate change may influence this variation. Here we assessed the free-living bacterioplankton composition of thaw ponds over a north-south gradient of permafrost degradation in the eastern Canadian subarctic. Three nested spatial scales were compared: 1) among ponds within individual valleys 2) between two valleys within each landscape type, and 3) between landscape types (southern sporadic versus northern discontinuous permafrost). As a reference point, we sampled rock-basin lakes whose formation was not related to permafrost thawing. β-diversity was low at the smallest scale despite marked differences in limnological properties among neighboring ponds. β-diversity was high among valleys, associated with greater environmental heterogeneity. The largest differences were between landscape types and appeared to reflect the concomitant effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. Raup–Crick β-diversity indicated that community assembly was driven by both stochastic (random extinction, dispersal, ecological drift) and deterministic (environmental filtering) processes. Communities sampled in the most degraded valley appeared primarily assembled through stochastic processes, while environmental filtering played a greater role at the other valleys. These results imply that climate warming and ongoing permafrost degradation will influence microbial community assembly, which in turn is likely to affect the functioning of thaw pond ecosystems.
Mapping site indices for five Pacific Northwest conifers using a physiologically based model

Questions: How well can we predict tree growth potential (site index) of five, locally dominant tree species in reference to estimates made with a detailed vegetation classification? Location: The forested region of the Pacific Northwest, USA and Canada. Methods: We employed a physiologically based process model (3-PG, Physiological Processes to Predict Growth) to generate estimates of site index under averaged climatic conditions (1971–2000) generated from hundreds of weather stations and extrapolated, with adjustments for topography, across the region at 1-km resolution. The model was parameterized from published information, but we had to assume fixed values of soil water storage capacity at 200 mm and soil fertility at 70% of maximum across the region. Field estimates of site index for the five dominant species were derived from published correlations with detailed mapping of vegetation provided by The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range. Results: The site indices projected with the 3-PG model for the five species combined, when compared with those produced by the Ministry of Forests and Range, produced an r2 averaging ∼0.5 with a standard error of 2.8 m at 50 yr, equivalent to 10% of the mean. Some of the variation may be attributed to inadequate information on soil properties. Importantly, the relationship between the two estimates was not significantly different from a 1:1 line, with an intercept of zero. Conclusions: The 3-PG modelling approach offers a means of predicting spatial variation in site indices across the Pacific Northwest and provides a basis for predicting future site indices under a changing climate.
Intraluminal volume homeostasis

Volume homeostasis is a common physiological phenomenon for fluid secreting organs, such as exocrine and endocrine glands. It is a manifestation of a finite intraluminal space and an ever changing demand for secretory fluids. Volume homeostasis addresses issues of fluid secretion, storage and clearance for efficient functioning. Here we discuss the evidence gathered over the past 2-3 decades on serotonin’s role as a feedback inhibitor of secretion in the mammary gland, salivary gland, liver, pancreas, lung, thyroid gland and prostate gland. We propose that serotonin action is a common mechanism of regulating intraductal volume homeostasis.
Institutional Pressures, Top Management and M-commerce Adoption in Organizations: an Empirical Study of SMEs in China

Based on the institutional theory, this paper intends to clarify the relationship of institutional pressures, top management and m-commerce adoption intention in organizations. Using the data from 204 small and medium-sized enterprises in China, we examined the effect of mimetic, coercive and normative pressures on top management support and M-commerce adoption intention. The empirical result shows that: top management support and three types of institutional pressures could positively act on the adoption intention of M-commerce in organizations; top management support partly mediates the influence of two institutional pressures (coercive pressures and normative pressures) on the adoption intention of m-commerce. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Evaluating the impacts of climate and elevated carbon dioxide on tropical rainforests of the western Amazon basin using ecosystem models and satellite data

Forest inventories from the intact rainforests of the Amazon indicate increasing rates of carbon gain over the past three decades. However, such estimates have been questioned because of the poor spatial representation of the sampling plots and the incomplete understanding of purported mechanisms behind the increases in biomass. Ecosystem models, when used in conjunction with satellite data, are useful in examining the carbon budgets in regions where the observations of carbon flows are sparse. The purpose of this study is to explain observed trends in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using climate observations and ecosystem models of varying complexity in the western Amazon basin for the period of 1984–2002. We first investigated trends in NDVI and found a positive trend during the study period, but the positive trend in NDVI was observed only in the months from August to December. Then, trends in various climate parameters were calculated, and of the climate variables considered, only shortwave radiation was found to have a corresponding significant positive trend. To compare the impact of each climate component, as well as increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, on evergreen forests in the Amazon, we ran three ecosystem models (CASA, Biome‐BGC, and LPJ), and calculated monthly net primary production by changing a climate component selected from the available climate datasets. As expected, CO2 fertilization effects showed positive trends throughout the year and cannot explain the positive trend in NDVI, which was observed only for the months of August to December. Through these simulations, we demonstrated that the positive trend in shortwave radiation can explain the positive trend in NDVI observed for the period from August to December. We conclude that the positive trend in shortwave radiation is the most likely driver of the increasing trend in NDVI and the corresponding observed increases in forest biomass.
Phytoplankton biomass and environmental factors over a gradient of clear to turbid peri‐urban ponds

1. Small lakes and ponds with high nutrient loadings can be clear, turbid or intermediate, with low, high and intermediate phytoplankton biomass, respectively. 2. A combination of biotic and abiotic factors, such as hydraulic retention time, presence of submerged vegetation, depth, top-down phytoplankton control, and cascading effects of fish community structure, play an important role in phytoplankton biomass control when nutrients are not limiting. Different combinations of these factors lead to different levels of phytoplankton biomass. 3. Identification of the main factors controlling phytoplankton biomass in a particular pond or a small lake is essential for choosing an appropriate management strategy for the maintenance of a desired ecosystem state. 4. When a pond or a small lake ecosystem is impaired by eutrophication, a considerable degree of its ecological quality can be restored through the modification of some environmental factors when a sufficient reduction in nutrient input is not feasible. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organic aquaculture in Greece: a brief review

Organic aquaculture has recently attracted attention from both researchers and industry. Organically produced aquatic products are increasingly available to consumers and, in particular, sea bass and sea bream from certified farms in Greece have been exported and also channelled to large retail markets in Greece since 2008. The current paper briefly reviews issues pertaining to global organic aquaculture and national organic and conventional aquaculture production with a special focus on organic sea bass and sea bream production. Finally, future prospects and challenges are discussed in a wider context with regard to environmental sustainability, markets and further development of organic aquaculture.
Visuospatial working memory in addiction

Objectif : Le but de ce travail est d’evaluer l’effet d’images liees a la cigarette en comparaison a d’autres images sur la memoire de travail visuospatiale de sujets fumeurs. Methodologie : Questionnaire d’evaluation de la dependance (CDS12) et tâche de memoire visuospatiale sur une cohorte de trente sujets fumeurs. Resultats : Nos resultats montrent que les performances de memoire visuospatiale sont meilleures avec des stimuli lies a la cigarette qu’avec des stimuli neutres, mais ce n’est par contre pas le cas lors de stimuli non-neutres (nourriture, nature). Nous avons en outre trouve une correlation significative entre la dependance et les performances de memoire pour les sequences avec des images liees au tabac mais uniquement pour les sequences les plus complexes (7 images a la suite). Conclusion : Ce travail permet de montrer que la memoire visuospatiale n’est pas forcement deficitaire dans tous les domaines chez les addicts: au contraire, leur performance est augmentee pour des stimuli en lien avec leur addiction compare a des stimuli neutres.