Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How to Select Potential Sites of Community Importance to the Natura 2000 Network: The Issue of Criteria

Abstract Tworek S. , Makomaska-Juchiewicz M. , Cierlik G. : How to select potential sites of community importance to the NATURA 2000 network: the issue of criteria. Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 33, No. 2, p. 127-137, 2014. In this paper, on the basis of experience gained at the elaboration of the Proposal of Natura 2000 network in Poland, we analyse the usefulness of criteria recommended in Annex III of the Habitats Directive (HD) for selecting proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCI), i.e. potential Special Areas of Conservation. These are sites important for conservation of habitat types and species (except for birds), listed in Annexes I and II of the HD. The recommendations should allow arriving at the estimates of relative value of the selected areas vis-a-vis the national resources of each habitat type and species. These are, however, neither objective and quantified nor easy to apply criteria; because most of them rely on best expert judgement, which is subjective to a great extent. Moreover, the practical usefulness of the criteria is related to the level of knowledge of the distribution and size of resources of the habitat types and species of European importance. Our experience of selecting pSCI at national level indicates that this stage of work calls for more precise criteria than these recommended in the HD. We present our proposal of domestic criteria, which make easier the preliminary selection of pSCI that were tested in work with local experts responsible for regional proposals of sites to the Natura 2000 network in Poland. Because of the far-reaching consequences entailing the designation of Natura 2000, we would like to encourage a widespread discussion on criteria for selecting pSCI.
Etude fonctionnelle et structurale du régulateur floral LEAFY d'Arabidopsis thaliana

La proteine LEAFY (LFY) est un regulateur cle du developpement floral. L'augmentation graduelle de son expression conduit a la transition florale, phenomene tres soudain, suite a laquelle LFY intervient dans la mise en place des organes floraux par l'activation directe de l'expression des genes homeotiques APETALA1 (AP1), APETALA3, et AGAMOUS (AG). Selon des theories de l'evolution, LFY serait egalement l'acteur majeur a l'origine de la naissance des plantes a fleur (Angiospermes). Malgre l'abondance des donnees genetiques concernant LFY, les bases moleculaires relatives au mode d'action de la proteine sont tres peu comprises. LFY est l'unique membre d'une famille de facteur de transcription specifique au regne vegetal et sa sequence ne ressemble a nulle autre. Mon travail de these, marque par l'obtention de la structure 3-D du domaine de liaison a l'ADN de LFY (LFY-C) d'Arabidopsis thaliana lie aux sequences regulatrices d'AP1 et AG, fournit une importante source de comprehension du mode de fonctionnement de cette proteine originale. LFY-C adopte un nouveau repliement globulaire a 7 helices ! et forme des contacts base-specifiques avec le petit et le grand sillon de l'ADN. Apres avoir montre par approche biochimique classique que LFY-C liait l'ADN de facon cooperative sous forme de dimere, la structure du complexe LFY-C/ADN revele que ce mecanisme resulte de contacts entre les monomeres de LFY-C mettant en jeu deux residus basiques. Cette cooperativite pourrait en partie expliquer la capacite de LFY a declencher la transition florale. Les donnees cristallographiques indiquent egalement des similarites structurales inattendues avec les proteines HTH comme les facteurs de transcription a homeodomaine ou paired impliques dans le developpement animal. Enfin, en permettant d'etudier sous un nouvel angle les orthologues de LFY tout au long du regne vegetal, ces donnees alimentent l'espoir de parvenir un jour a comprendre comment sont apparues les fleurs sur Terre.
Unpeeling the Language Policy and Planning Onion in Rwanda

Language Policy and Planning is a complex endeavor that requires the intervention of different participants at different levels. In the onion metaphor which they use to represent language policy and planning, Ricento and Hornberger compare these participants and levels to onion layers. These levels together with the processes in which the policy is made permeate and interact with each other to varying degrees. They include legislation and political processes, states and supranational agencies, institutions and classroom practitioners. This desk-based research article discusses these â€˜layersâ€™ and the different roles which they play in language policy and planning in Rwanda, with a focus on the 2008 language-in-education policy. The article points to a unidirectional top-down approach, to lack of coordination in the way the layers work and interact and to a very limited role of classroom practitioners and practices in the language policy and planning process in Rwanda. These practitioners are conceptualized as mere implementers of policies decided on higher offices, which has negative effects on the effectiveness of the policies and their implementation.
Study on isolation and characterization of rhizospheric Bacillus spp. for plant growth promoting activities

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are naturally occurring soil bacteria that aggressively colonize plant roots and can enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. Bacteria are the most abundant among different rhizospheric microbes. Among Plant growth promoting bacteria, Bacillus is one of the most potential genera due to their spore forming ability, thereby increasing the adaptation of Bacillus strain to commercial formulation and field application In the present study, an attempt was made to isolate, screen and select different isolates of Bacillus and subjected to different test to identify their morpho-physiological, biochemical and In vitro characterization to study their plant growth promoting activities. The Rhizospheric soil samples were collected from different plants i.e. Triticumaestivum (wheat), Cynodondactylon (doobghas), Cicerarietinum (chana), Trifoliumamoenum (bersin) and from different locations of Dehradun and processed to isolate different isolates of Bacillus on nutrient agar medium. A total of 50 Bacillus isolates were isolated from the 22 soil samples. Interestingly, in the present study 17 isolates out of 50 were formed endospores, 5 isolates recorded as capsulated, 35 isolates were reduced the nitrate and all were recorded positive for IAA production. 6 isolates were found to be positive for siderophore production Biochemical characterization revealed that 12 isolates belonged to genus Bacillus belonging to five different species. Isolates NAB-1 seems to be B. alvei. Isolates NAB-8, NAB-11 and NAB-22 seem to be B. laterosporus. Isolates NAB-18, NAB-48, seems to be B. subtillis. Isolates, NAB-20, NAB-21 and NAB-25 seem to be B. larvae. Isolates NAB-23, NAB-43, NAB-44 seem to be B. alcalophilus.
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) pass the bioindicator scorecard

Invertebrates are increasingly being used as biological indicators of land restoration success, land degradation, the conservation value of tracts of land, and much more. They are either used as indicators of the health and functioning of the environment (ecological and environmental indicators) or as surrogate indicators of the overall diversity or assemblage composition of other groups within an area (biodiversity indicators). In both cases, the particular taxonomic group that is used tends to be related to the preference of the researcher or to currently favoured taxa. This paper summarises the findings from two field studies that evaluated how well a series of invertebrate taxa performed as environmental or biodiversity indicators in regard to each other, and also to vertebrates and plants. These studies were performed on restored bauxite and mineral sand mines in Western Australia. At the bauxite mine, assemblage composition of spiders, true bugs (Hemiptera) and beetles tracked biophysical changes in the environment more faithfully than did birds, although the performance of plants was the best, and terrestrial vertebrates and ants were intermediate. Assemblage composition of ants, and to a lesser extent true bugs, beetles, and spiders all reflected trends in the composition of other groups to a greater extent than did plants, terrestrial vertebrates and birds. In terms of data-yield per hour spent in field and laboratory, most invertebrate groups represented a better return for effort than did terrestrial vertebrates, but not plants. Trends were similar at the Iluka mineral sand mine. Overall, taking into account the data-yield per hour of effort, and the problem of dealing with immature forms in the case of spiders and true bugs, we conclude that ants perform moderately well as environmental, and extremely well as biodiversity indicators. The applicability of these results to other regions of the world and to other land-uses is discussed.
THLADIANTHA DUBIA BUNGE (CUCURBITACEAE), NEW ALIEN SPECIES IN CROATIAN FLORA

Alegro, A. , Bogdanovi}, S. , Re{etnik, I. & Bor{i}, I. : Thladiantha dubia Bunge (Cucurbitaceae), new alien species in Croatian flora. Nat. Croat. , Vol. 19, No. 1, 281–286, 2010, Zagreb. Thladiantha dubia Bunge (Cucurbitaceae) is native to northern China, cultivated in Europe from the second half of the 19th century, then escaped from cultivation and established more or less naturalized populations in Central and SE Europe. In Croatia it was found for the first time in the part of the city of Zagreb called Savica – an area of old backwaters of the Sava River, in nitrophilous, ruderal habitats i. e. antropogenically strongly disturbed stands of floodplain forests of willows and poplars (Salicion albae Soo 1940).
Evaluating surrogates for Cryptosporidium removal in point‐of‐use systems

Because of their small size, Cryptosporidium oocysts cannot be easily filtered from water. This study evaluated the use of surrogates for measuring the microbial treatment performance of two point‐of‐use devices incorporating filtration with electrostatic charge interaction mechanisms. Both systems were challenged with Cryptosporidium oocysts (4‐6 μm), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) spores (~1.2 μm), polystyrene latex (PSL) beads (~ 3 μm), Escherichia coli, and MS2 bacteriophage. The target biological contaminants were more effectively removed than the PSL beads, and the smaller B. subtilis spores mimicked Cryptosporidium oocyst removal more closely than the ~ 3‐μm PSL beads. Thus, surface charge appears to be an important factor for microorganism attachment, and B. subtilis spores should be considered a more appropriate surrogate than PSL beads for evaluating Cryptosporidium movement through charged media. For noncharged devices, PSL beads may still be useful as a surrogate for Cryptosporidium.
Treatments with antibiotics or with Anti-Endotoxin serum before calving: effects on milk yield and fertility

Riassunto Trattamenti con antibiotici o con Siero Anti-Endotossine prima del parto: effetti sulle performance produttive e riproduttive – 31 bovine pluripare sono state divise in 3 gruppi omogenei: ANT (iniezione i.m. di antibiotici per 3 giorni), STEG (un’iniezione i.m. di un Siero Anti-Endotossine) e CTR (nessun trattamento). I trattamenti sono stati eseguiti 3 giorni circa prima del parto. ANT ha mostrato la maggior produzione di latte a 305 d, mentre STEG ha raggiunto il picco più elevato, nonostante un calo di BCS più contenuto. I risultati di STEG sono giustificati dalla minore incidenza di patologie nel post-parto sia rispetto ad ANT che a CTR. Anche a livello riproduttivo STEG ha evidenziato la minor incidenza di problemi (es. cisti, metriti ecc.) e le migliori performance. Tuttavia a livello ematico non sono emerse differenze di rilievo tra i gruppi. In generale, la presenza di patologie nel post-parto non sembra aver influenzato il livello produttivo, mentre ha ridotto la fertilità. Circa i trattamenti pre-parto, essi non hanno eliminato la presenza di patologie nella fase iniziale della lattazione, il siero Anti-Endotossine sembra aver mitigato la risposta allo stress da malattia, migliorando in particolare l’attività riproduttiva delle bovine.
Adaptive segmented attenuation correction for whole-body PET imaging

Adaptive segmented attenuation correction using the local thresholding technique (adaptive LTS) has been developed for whole body PET imaging using short (2-3 minutes), post-injection transmission scans. Optimal threshold is derived at every scan position to provide appropriate segmentation on the transmission images, which are forward-projected into the attenuation sinograms. The entire computation of the new attenuation sinograms of a single bed position (47 slices) on ECAT EXACT takes as little as 6 minutes. So far, the technique has found been very successful in 30 /sup 18/FDG whole-body oncologic studies without user interaction. The resulting emission data quantitatively matches and qualitatively surpasses those using the standard method. This method can increase scanner throughput without sacrificing the quality and accuracy of whole-body imaging. <<ETX>>
Glycoconjugates in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry

Glycoconjugates in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry Hiroshi Hirano Department of Anatomy, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611 Glycoconjugates constituting cells and tissues are known to play important roles in a variety of indispensable functions of living organisms such as cellular recognition and others. Recent progress in histoand cytochemistry enables to determine and locate glycoconjugates in situ. Cytochemical aspects of glycoconjugates can be visualized under the microscope employing appropriate probes. At present, lectins, specific antibodies, and cationized ferritin are the most commonly used probes for the detection of sugar residues of cells and tissues. Usually binding specificity of probes is cautiously examined using blotting techniques in parallel with the conventional immunostaining procedures. Nowadays, not only glycoproteins but also glycolipids are included within the scope of histoand cytochemisty. Accessibility of labeled probes to intraand intercellular target structures is facilitated with the combined use of the preand postembedding methods including cryosectioning techniques. Light microscopy screening test can identify each binding site even at the organellar level on the basis of general fine structures established by electron microscopy. At the same time, with the aid of high resolution electron microscopy, detailed distribution and localization pattern of binding sites is to be precisely visualized in situ at the organellar and suborganellar level and also at the level of cellular domain and microdomain. These probes are also useful as a powerful ligand. Changes in bindings, endocytosis, release reaction, etc., are caused as a result of administration of labeled probes, and can be clearly detected under the microscope. In addition to conventional light and electron microscopy, backscattered electron imaging and high voltage electron microscopy can be employed to pursue the destination of internalized binding sites. As is well known, lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin. Recently, in addition to so-called "exogenous lectins" as above, much attention has been paid to "endogenous lectins", in particular, animal lectins, with special reference to their expression and also possible roles. Endogenous animal lectins and their complementary sugars have been found to be involved in fundamental and key roles playing in cells and tissues. Glycosyltransferases have been extensively studied in histoand cytochemistry as well. We already succeeded, for example, in the in situ detection of changes in localization of galactosyltransferases at the organellar and subborganellar level in differentiating embryonic tissues and malignant tissues. Thus, not only detailed location but also processing of biosynthesis, intraand intercellular translocation and expression of glycoconjugates have been successfully visualized by means of histoand cytochemistry. Histoand cytochemical achievements should contribute much in eluciation in situ of function and significance of glycoconjugates. SI-1
Nitrogen Source Effects on Growth and Tissue Content of Selected Foliage Plants

Nine nitrogen fertilizer treatments composed of 25% NH4:75% NO3, 50% NH4:50% NO3, 75% NH4:25% NO3, 25% urea:75% NO3, 50% urea:50% NO3, 75% urea:25% NO3, 100% NH4, 100% urea, and 100% NO3 were applied to Aglaonema Schott, × Silver Queen, Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd.) G. Don ‘Camille’, Aphelandra squarrosa Nees ‘Dania’, Chamaedorea elegans Mart. , Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott. ‘Florida Ruffle’, Peperomia obtusifolia (L.) A. Dietr. , and Philodendron scandens oxycardium (Schott) Bunt. Growth and grade of Dieffenbachia and Nephrolepis were not influenced by N source, whereas Aglaonema and Philodendron were improved when they received N sources containing 25% to 100% NH4-N or 100% urea-N. Aphelandra, Chamaedorea, and Peperomia responded to N source, but differences were of no commercial significance.
Thermal biology and behaviour of two predatory Phytoseiid mites : Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari:Phytoseiidae) and Phytoseiulus longipes (Evans) (Acari:Phytoseiidae)

Amblyseius swirskii and Phytoseiulus longipes are targeted as biological control agents for the horticultural pest Tetranychus urticae. This study applies a standardised protocol to evaluate the risk of establishment of introduced species and investigates temperature related behavioural thresholds for all three species. Laboratory results demonstrate a low level of cold tolerance in A. swirskii and no diapause. Field studies recorded 100% mortality within two weeks of outdoor winter exposure. Amblyseius swirskii has a higher activity threshold temperature than it’s target prey T. urticae. Amblyseius swirskii lacks cold tolerance and is unlikely to establish outdoors and thus can be considered a ‘safe candidate’ for release. Laboratory results demonstrate that P. longipes can not diapause yet is more cold tolerant than A. swirskii. Field studies report 100% mortality after 73 days of winter exposure. Phytoseiulus longipes demonstrates mid-range cold tolerance yet is unlikely to survive an entire winter outdoors. Phytoseiulus longipes has lower activity threshold temperatures than T. urticae. Further studies are required on other factors attributable to establishment potential before it can be classified a ‘safe candidate’. As a consequence of the findings of the present study A. swirskii was granted a license for release into the UK in 2006.
The Impact of Antibiotics on the Gut-Brain Axis

I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS JH ABREVIATIONS hjb TABLE OF CONTENTS hgj LIST OF FIGURES juhjkh STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTORS mjhkhk 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The Gut-Brain Axis 1.2 The Gut Microbiota 1.3 Composition and Diversity of the Microbiome 1.4 Methods Used to Study the Gut-Brain Axis 1.4. 1 Germ-Free Mice Studies 1.4. 2 Antibiotic Studies 1.5 Gut Microbiota and the Immune System 1.6 Gut Microbiota and Metabolism 1.7 Thesis Objectives 2.0 Methods Study #1 – Rx1 2.1 Animals 2.2 Ethics 2.3 Experimental Design iv vi vii ix xii xiv 1 1 1 2 4 5 8 9 11 15 18
Efektifitas Augmented Reality (AR) dalam Komunikasi Arsitektur 3D sebagai tantangan Revolusi Industri 4.0

Di era Revolusi Industri (RI) 4.0 yang serba digital ini, teknologi komunikasi arsitektur saat ini mengalami perkembangan yang sangat pesat. Teknologi menjadi alat yang mampu membantu arsitek dalam berkarya dan berkomunikasi. Kemampuan arsitek dalam mengkomunikasikan karya arsitektur menentukan apakah suatu karya diterima atau tidak oleh klien. Melalui digitalisasi dokumen karya arsitektur dapat lebih mengurangi penggunaan kerta (paperless) dan memudahkan dalam berkomunikasi arsitektur kepada klien salah satunya dengan memanfaatkan teknologi Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) adalah salah satu capaian dalam teknologi komunikasi arsitektur untuk menyederhanakan distribusi ide konsep dan perancangan kepada khalayak, terutama dalam memberikan pemahaman suatu karya, terutama dalam konteks 3 dimensional meskipun objek fisik karya arsitektur belum terbangun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keefektifan metode komunikasi arsitektur menggunakan teknologi Augmented Reality (AR). Metode penelitian ini yaitu simulasi dengan memanfaatkan teknoloogi AR terhadap klien atau masyarakat yang cukup dengan menggunakan smartphone. Simulasi dimulai dari menentukan tracking objek arsitektur yang tercetak pada sebuah kertas atau media visual lainnya, dengan menggunakan aplikasi yang sudah tersedia dan sudah terinstal dalam smartphone. Efektifitas pemanfaatan teknologi AR dalam komunikasi arsitektur dapat mempermudah klien memahami gambar 3 dimensi produk arsitektur tanpa harus berhadapan langsung dengan arsiteknya, selain itu dapat mempersing waktu presentasi, lebih ringkas, dan mengurangi penggunaan kertas (paperless). Kekurangan dari penggunaan AR adalah: (1) Arsitek memerlukan akun premium dari aplikasi pihak ketiga; (2) Tidak semua klien atau penerima informasi menggunakan Smartphone; (3) Smartphone membutuhkan hardware yang mumpuni dalam menampilkan gambar yang kompleks. Kata Kunci: Augmented Reality (AR), Komunikasi Arsitektur, Presentasi 3D, Revolusi Industri (RI) 4.0,
Novel algorithms for structural alignment of non-coding RNAs

OF THE DISSERTATION Novel Algorithms for Structural Alignment of Non-coding RNAs by Diana Lynn Kolbe Doctor of Philosophy in Biology and Biomedical Sciences (Computational Biology) Washington University in St. Louis, 2010 Sean Eddy and Gary Stormo, Co-Chairmen Non-coding RNAs are biologically important molecules, with a variety of catalytic and regulatory activities mediated by their secondary and tertiary structures. Base-pairing interactions, particularly at the secondary structure level, are an important tool for identifying and studying these structural RNAs, but also present some unique challenges for sequence analysis. Probabilistic covariance models are effective representations of structural RNAs, with generally high sensitivity and specificity but slow computational speed. New algorithms for dealing with structural RNAs are developed to address some of the practical deficiencies of covariance models. A new model of local alignment improves accuracy for fragmentary data, such as found in direct shotgun sequencing and metagenomic surveys. A separate and alternative model of local alignment is used as the basis for a structural search filter. This is combined with other filtering techniques and high-performance implementations to increase the practical speed of high-sensitivity search. As a whole, these improvements provide a foundation for and point toward future improvements in noncoding RNA homology search.