Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C4 photosynthesis at low temperatures

Abstract. C4 plants grown in optimum conditions are, by comparison to C3, capable of higher maximum dry-matter yields and greater efficiencies of water and nitrogen use, yet they are rare outside the subtropics. Both latitudinal and altitudinal limits of C4 distributions correlate most closely with a mean minimum temperature of 8-10°C during the period of active growth. The possibility that the C4 process is inherently incapable of functioning at low temperatures is examined. The reversible effects of chilling on the quantum efficiency of C4 photosynthesis and the functioning of the individual steps in the C4 cycle are examined. Chilling also produces an irreversible loss of capacity to assimilate CO2 which is directly proportional to the light received during chilling. It is suggested that the reversible reduction in capacity to assimilate CO2 and the lack of an alternative pathway for the utilization of lightgenerated reducing power may make C4 species more prone to chilling-dependent photoinhibition. Laboratory studies and limited field observations suggest that this damage would be most likely to occur during photosynthetic induction at the temperatures and light levels encountered on clear, cool mornings during the spring and early summer in cool climates. Even those C4 species occurring naturally in cool climates do not appear fully capable of tolerating these conditions; indeed their growth patterns suggest that they may be adapted by avoiding ‘rather than enduring’ such conditions.
Expressão do gene da leptina e seu receptor Ob-Rb no parênquima mamário de novilhas leiteiras

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a diet with high level of energy and protein, combined with bST injections, on leptin and leptin-receptor (Ob-Rb) gene expression profile in the mammary parenchyma of dairy heifers. Mammary parenchyma samples from 32 Holstein heifers, randomly assigned to one of four treatments (n=8), were utilized: high or low energy and protein diet, with or without bST injection. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks and arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Total RNA was extracted from tissue samples and gene expression profile was tested in qRT-PCR, against glucuronidase β as a control, using the 2-ΔΔCt method. Animals receiving the diet with high level of energy and protein had higher leptin mRNA expression, with an increase of 56%, and lower leptin receptor Ob-Rb mRNA expression, with a decrease of 18%. On the other hand, bST injection decreased leptin mRNA and receptor Ob-Rb mRNA expression in 74% and 23%, respectively. There was no interaction between diet and bST injection. The increase in leptin expression can explain, at least in part, the detrimental effects caused by diets rich in energy and protein, offered during the prepubertal period, in future milk production of dairy heifers.
PROTEIN CONSERVATION IN FEMALE CARIBOU (RANGIFER TARANDUS): EFFECTS OF DECREASING DIET QUALITY DURING WINTER

Abstract Female caribou subsist primarily on lichens and some senescent browse during winter when demands for fetal growth add to costs of thermoregulation and mobility. Lichens, although potentially high in digestible energy, contain less protein than required for maintenance by most north-temperate ungulates. To understand the adaptations of caribou to the nutritional constraints of their primary food resource, we fed captive female caribou a sequence of 3 diets designed to resemble decreasing quality of forages during early, mid-, and late winter, respectively: high energy–high protein (HIGH), medium energy–low protein (MEDIUM), and low energy–low protein (LOW). In vitro digestibility of dry matter declined from 94% (HIGH) in November, to 66% (MEDIUM) in December and January, and to 53% (LOW) from February to April. Dietary protein averaged 19.8% in November and 4.3% from December to April. We used measures of body condition, stable isotopic signatures, and concentrations of nitrogen (N) metabolites to define protein dynamics in the animals. Subcutaneous rump fat declined between October and April from 2.3 cm ± 0.3 SE to <0.5 cm as intake of digestible energy declined from 44.0 ± 2.0 MJ/day to 16.3 ± 3.2 MJ/day. In erythrocytes, increasing enrichment of carbon (13C) throughout winter suggested that caribou reused body lipids, and increases in 15N during January and February indicated that they also recycled amino-N. Urinary N was primarily urea with an isotopic signature that tracked dietary 15N through late winter. Plasma urea-N declined from 44.0 ± 2.6 mg/dl to 8.5 ± 1.2 mg/dl as nitrogen intake declined from 91.5 ± 5.3 g N/day to 14.1 ± 0.9 g N/day. Examination of these data suggests that caribou catabolized dietary C and N in preference to endogenous fat reserves and body protein. Female caribou appear to tolerate low intakes of protein and energy in winter by minimizing net loss of body protein and reapportioning body reserves to support fetal growth.
Using a Systematic Review to Explore Single-Subject Design Use Within Special Education Over Time

While teachers and researchers of students with disability are commonly interested in individual students and their progress towards individualised goals, traditional approaches to educational research that aim to illustrate generalisation between cause and effect are still commonly used. Traditional approaches, such as group-comparison designs, are used to demonstrate improved performance for the average student; however, they also obscure individual student data. Within special and inclusive education, single-subject designs may provide more appropriate conclusions to particular types of questions than traditional research methods as they allow for the examination of a functional relationship between the dependent and independent variables and rely on the participant serving as their own control. This article provides a summary of the use of single-subject designs within the field of special education over time and the findings of a systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA statement are presented. Through this systematic review, published articles from 7 prominent special education journals that involved intervention for school-aged students with disability were examined. In addition, a sample of exemplar studies that have employed single-subject designs are discussed.
Landscape heterogeneity and farming practice influence biological control

Summary We measured the impact of natural enemies on the population development on the bird cherry-oat aphid ( Rhopalosiphum padi ) on conventional and organic farms. By pairing farms with similar landscape features but different farming systems, we were able to separate the effects of farming practice and landscape features on the influence of natural enemies on R. padi abundance. Natural enemies had a greater impact on R. padi establishment on organic farms than on conventional farms. Irrespective of farming system, landscapes with abundant field margins and perennial crops were associated with low R. padi establishment. After establishment, there was no difference in ground-living enemy impact on R. padi population growth rate between farming systems, but impact was greater in landscapes where arable land was contiguous. Wir untersuchten die Wirkung naturlicher Feinde auf die Populationsentwicklung der Haferblattlaus (Rhopalosiphum padi) in konventionell und organisch bewirtschafteten landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben. Indem wir Betriebe paarten, die ahnliche Landschaftseigenschaften aber unterschiedliche Betriebsformen aufwiesen, konnten wir die Wirkung der Bewirtschaftung und der Landschaftseigenschaften auf den Einflus der naturlichen Feinde auf die Abundanz von R. padi trennen. Die naturlichen Feinde hatten in organisch bewirtschafteten Betrieben eine grosere Wirkung auf die Ansiedlung von R. padi als in konventionell bewirtschafteten Betrieben. Unabhangig von der Bewirtschaftungsform waren Landschaften mit zahlreichen Feldrainen und perennierenden Feldkulturen mit einer geringen Ansiedlung von R. padi verbunden. Die Wirkung bodenlebender Feinde auf die Wachstumsrate der Populationen von R. padi nach der Ansiedlung unterschied sich nicht zwischen den Bewirtschaftungsformen. Die Wirkung war jedoch in Landschaften groser, die zusammenhangende Ackerflachen aufwiesen.
An Evaluation of the Levels of Subclinical Malaria Infection and Haemolysis among Residents of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the levels of subclinical malaria infection and haemolysis among the residents of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross sectional study design was used. The subjects were grouped into males and females and comparisons were made between positive and negative subjects of the same gender and positive subjects of different gender. Place and Duration of Study: The study area was Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Nigeria. The study was carried out within August 2 nd to August 26 th , 2019 and a total of 89 apparently healthy subjects were recruited, 35 males and 54 females, aged between 16 – 70 years. Methodology: Malaria parasite identification was done by thick and thin film using Giemsa’s stain, packed cell volume was by microhaematocrit method, plasma haemoglobin concentration and whole blood haemoglobin concentration was determined by cyanmethaemoglobin method. Original Research Article Eze et al.; IJTDH, 41(3): 54-62, 2020; Article no.IJTDH. 56163 55 Results: The result revealed a total of 24.72% positivity and 75.28% negativity for malaria parasite infection. Among the males, 17.14% positivity and 82.86% negativity for malaria parasite infection were observed while that of the females was 20.37% positivity and 79.63% negativity. In comparison of the studied parameters made between females infected with malaria parasites and those that were not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference at p<0.05 in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. In comparison of the studied parameters between males infected with malaria parasites and those not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. On gender based comparison, there was also no statistical significant difference in level haemolysis. Conclusion: The study has revealed a prevalence rate of 24.72% for subclinical malaria infection and the percentage haemolysis of red blood cells in malaria infected subjects residing in Opobo Town compared to subjects without malaria parasite was not statistically significant. Based on gender difference, males were affected more than females, but the level of red blood cell haemolysis was not statistically significant after comparison.
Effect of citric acid and acetic acid on the performance of broilers

An experiment was conducted with commercial broilers to investigate the effects of feeding citric acid, acetic acid and their combination on their performance and to determine the economic competence of using citric acid and acetic acid in broiler rations. A total number of 108 one day old straight run broiler chicks were distributed to four dietary treatments i.e. 0 % citric or acetic acid (A), 0.5% citric acid (B), 0.5% acetic acid (C) and their combinations 0.5% citric acid and 0.5% acetic acid (D). The birds were reared in cages. Body weight gains, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, dressing yield and carcass characteristics were recorded. The performance showed significant increase in body weight gain (P<0.05) when compared with the control during 0-5 weeks of age on 0.5% citric acid (B). Feed consumption increased (P<0.05) at 2 nd and 3 rd weeks of age on 0.5% citric acid (B). Feed conversion was found higher (P<0.05) during 0-5 weeks of age in treatment B when compared to those of the other treatments. Carcass characteristics were not affected by dietary treatments. The highest mortality was found in treatment A and treatment C due to excessive hot. It may be concluded that use of 0.5% citric acid in the diet of broilers may have better performance in respect of live weight gain and feed conversion. Keyword: Acetic acid; Citric acid; Broiler performance DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v6i2. 4828 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 6(2): 315-320, 2008
Regeneration and Management of White Ash in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

White ash natural regeneration and plantation performance were studied at several locations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Stump sprouts were an important component of the regeneration. Soil, shade, and competition conditions which appeared to favour seedling regeneration were tested in the greenhouse using wildlings. Partial shade, high lime content, high nitrate nitrogen, and freedom from competition were important requirements for successful regeneration. In this region, the northern limit of the ecological range of white ash, these requirements become critical. To encourage white ash regeneration and to increase the white ash component in mixed hardwood stands, a shelterwood system of silviculture is recommended. Narrow strip clearcutting as already tried in Nova Scotia, is worthy of further study.
Effects of Various Drying Methods on the Quantity and Quality of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Essential Oil

Background and Aim: The quality of medicinal plants could be affected by different factors such as drying methods. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), which is native to the Mediterranean region, is cultivated for food, pharmaceutical and perfumery uses throughout the world. The aerial part of peppermint contains essential oil, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and salicylic acid. Materials and Methods: The impact of the drying process on the essential oil of peppermint was evaluated in an experiment with a much-randomized design using four treatments (oven drying at 40 and 50oC, shade and semi-shade drying) and three replications. The measured parameters included dry weight and oil quality as well as quantity. Results: According to the results, different drying methods had remarkable impacts on the investigated parameters at P<1%. The results indicated that the highest dry weight and essential oil content were obtained from the semi-shade drying method. While drying at 50oC showed the maximum total menthol, the maximum p-Menthone, dl-Limonene, and Pulegone, Piperitone were obtained from the shade-drying method, and the maximum alpha-pinene, Sabinene, Menthofuran,1,8-Cineole, and trans-Caryophyllene were related to the shade-drying method, and the maximum β-pinene, menthyl acetate, and neo-Menthol were obtained from drying at 40oC. Conclusion: Overall, the results of the present experiment showed that the highest amounts of essential oil contents were obtained from shade and half-shade methods.
Photosynthetic Carbon Metabolism in Marine Algae

Products of short term and one hour light fixation of CO2 in marine algal members like Ulva /aftaea, Sargastum ilicifolittm, Enteromarpha tnbnlosat Spbaeelaria sp. , Padina tetraslromatica and Cbaetomorpha media were investigated. It was found that aspartate is the major initial product of CO2 incorporation. Besides aspartate there is a significant incorporation in the PEP-PGA fraction. These findings indicate that HSK pathway is operative in the marine algae. Label in PEP-PGA fraction is indicative of the simultaneous Operation of Calvin pathway in the marine algae. It was also found that the enzymatic machinery required for HSK and Calvin pathways is present and also operative in the marine algae. It is possible that the simultaneous Operation of both the types of CO2 fixation pathways may exist in the marine algae. Undcr saline conditions, there is Inhibition of malic dehydrogenase and hence there is absence of label in malate, an important short term product of HSK pathway. The marine algal members investigated so far have high label in aspartate \\hile no label in malate. This fact shows that these algal members belong to the aspartate formers group.
The far-right’s influence on Twitter during the 2018 Andalusian elections: an approach through political leaders

New technologies allow politicians to spread their messages omitting the role of mediators. In this context, the Internet has also promoted the emergence of a new actor, digital opinion leaders, who go beyond traditional politics and seek to set the public agenda. One of the main questions nowadays is whether social media, and in particular Twitter as a consolidated tool for political communication, is only used as a sounding board for their political statements, spurring the messages of populist forces. With this in mind, the main objective of this research is to explore the influence of the far-right in the public debate of political leaders on Twitter, analyzing the specific case of the Andalusian regional elections held in December 2018. These elections can be considered a political turning point, with an extreme right party winning seats in a Spanish regional election for the first time in 35 years. In this paper we analyze if Vox used a differentiated strategy via this social network compared to the candidates of the traditional parties: PSOE, PP, Ciudadanos, and Adelante Andalucia. Using content analysis on Twitter as a method, this research determines how Vox candidates worked as influencers of the digital political debate, despite being extra-parliamentary. Vox marked the agenda for the rest of the leaders, while generating great expectation among the audience.
CERES‐Maize Predictions of Maize Phenology under Nitrogen‐Stressed Conditions in Nigeria

Simulation models have the potential of greatly enhancing decision-making by farmers and researchers in Nigeria. These models however, need to be adapted before use. This study was conducted to test the phenology module of CERES-Maize model version 3.5 under varying N rates as a step toward adapting the model in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Data on seven late-maturing cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) grown under 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha - 1 in the field for two seasons were used for running the model. There was a linear relationship between N rates and days to silking and maturity with R 2 values of > 0.70 for most of the cultivars, indicating that N strongly influenced phenology. Predictions of days to silking at high N rates (90 and 120 kg N ha - 1 ) were close, with most prediction errors of <2 d. The highest deviations in the calibration results were 4 and 2 d for 90 and 120 kg N ha - 1 , respectively, while in the validation results, they were 1 and 2 d. Similarly, days to maturity were closely predicted by the model at high N rates with <2-d deviations for most predictions. At low N rates, however, there were greater deviations in model predictions. This shows that the CERES-Maize model can be reliably used for predicting maize phonology only under nonlimiting N conditions. Thus, a N stress factor needs to be incorporated into the model for more accurate phenology prediction in low-N tropical soils.
Energy Conversion by Phase Transformation in the Small-Temperature-Difference Regime

The discovery of alternative methods of producing electrical energy that avoid the generation of greenhouse gases and do not contribute to global warming is a compelling problem of our time. Ubiquitous, but often highly distributed, sources of energy on earth exist in the small-temperature-difference regime, 10–250°C. In this review, we discuss a family of methods that can potentially recover this energy based on the use of first-order phase transformations in crystalline materials combined with ferromagnetism or ferroelectricity. The development of this technology will require a better understanding of these phase transformations, especially ferroelectric/ferromagnetic properties, hysteresis, and reversibility, as well as strategies for discovering improved materials.
Spin‐up of UK Earth System Model 1 (UKESM1) for CMIP6

For simulations intended to study the influence of anthropogenic forcing on climate, temporal stability of the Earth's natural heat, freshwater, and biogeochemical budgets is critical. Achieving such coupled model equilibration is scientifically and computationally challenging. We describe the protocol used to spin‐up the UK Earth system model (UKESM1) with respect to preindustrial forcing for use in the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Due to the high computational cost of UKESM1's atmospheric model, especially when running with interactive full chemistry and aerosols, spin‐up primarily used parallel configurations using only ocean/land components. For the ocean, the resulting spin‐up permitted the carbon and heat contents of the ocean's full volume to approach equilibrium over 5,000 years. On land, a spin‐up of 1,000 years brought UKESM1's dynamic vegetation and soil carbon reservoirs toward near‐equilibrium. The end‐states of these parallel ocean‐ and land‐only phases then initialized a multicentennial period of spin‐up with the full Earth system model, prior to this simulation continuing as the UKESM1 CMIP6 preindustrial control (piControl). The realism of the fully coupled spin‐up was assessed for a range of ocean and land properties, as was the degree of equilibration for key variables. Lessons drawn include the importance of consistent interface physics across ocean‐ and land‐only models and the coupled (parent) model, the extreme simulation duration required to approach equilibration targets, and the occurrence of significant regional land carbon drifts despite global‐scale equilibration. Overall, the UKESM1 spin‐up underscores the expense involved and argues in favor of future development of more efficient spin‐up techniques.
Evidence for V H Gene Replacement in Human Fetal B Cells

Background: In contrast to evidences of Ig H chain receptor editing in transformed cell lines and transgenic mouse models, there has been no direct evidence that this phenomenon occurs in human developing B cells. Methods: VHDJH rearrangements were obtained from genomic DNA of individual IgM B cells from liver and IgMB cells from bone marrow of 18 wk of gestation human fetus by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Results: We found three examples of H chain receptor editing from IgM and IgMhuman fetal B cells. Two types of VH replacements were identified. The first involved VH hybrid formation, in which part of a VH gene from the initial VDJ rearrangement is replaced by part of an upstream VH gene at the site of cryptic RSS. The second involved a gene conversion like replacement of CDR2, in which another VH gene donated a portion of its CDR2 sequence to the initial VDJ rearrangement. Conclusion: These data provide evidence of receptor editing at the H chain loci in developing human B cells, and also the first evidence of a gene conversion event in human Ig genes. (Immune Network 2002;2(2):79-85)