Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil Carbon Characteristics of a Fluvisol Affected by Aggregates from Two Tillage and Crop Regimes

We investigated soil carbon characteristics of a Fluvisol as influenced by different ped sizes and crop types for a period of 10 years in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. The experimental design was a split-split plot arranged in a randomized complete block design, with tillage technique serving as main plot; crop regime was the split plot and NPK fertilizer as split – split plot. Tillage techniques used were conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) while maize and soybean were used as crop types. Soil samples were collected at 20 cm depth with soil auger while core samples with cores partitioned 0 – to 10 – and 10 – to – 20 cm depth intervals were used to obtain soil samples for bulk density determinations. Routine laboratory analysis were conducted on soil samples and obtained data on crop and soil were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using least significant differences (LSD) at P < 0.05. Aggregate size distribution was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by tillage and crop type at 0 – 10 cm depth and soil carbon varied significantly (P < 0.05) with aggregate–size forms, tillage technique and crop species. Prediction of carbon behaviour in floodplain soils should take into consideration variability in ped forms, tillage method and crop types. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage . June, 2012, Vol. 16 (2)174 - 179
© 2012 Landes Bioscience. Do not distribute. Saccharomyces cerevisiae STR3 and yeast cystathionine β-lyase enzymes The potential for engineering increased flavor release

*Correspondence to: Chris Curtin;Email: christopher.curtin@awri.com. auAddendum to: Holt S, Cordente AG, Williams SJ,Capone DL, Jitjaroen W, Menz IR, et al.Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae ToRelease 3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol duringFermentation through Overexpression of an S.cerevisiae Gene, STR3, for Improvement of WineAroma. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:3626–32.http://dx.doi. orghttp://dx.doi. org/10.1128/AEM.03009-10
Postoperative Complications Following Gingival Grafts: A Prospective Cohort Study

Aim : Treating gingival recessions (GRs) is a challenge for the practitioner who must take into consideration objective clinical factors, subjective symptoms and also factors related to the patient’s expectations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative complications associated with connective tissue graft (CTG) plus coronally advanced flap (CAF) and free gingival graft (FGG) used to cover GRs and to compare post-operative morbidities for the two groups of procedures. Material and Methods: A total of 17 patients diagnosed with GRs ≥2mm were treated using CTG plus CAF or FGG. Post-operative complications were evaluated with a questionnaire given to the patients at 14 days follow-up visit. The study used a 1 to 10 visual analogic scale (VAS) and the levels of outcomes were classified as “none to minimum” “moderate” and “very important/severe”. Results : A total of 21 procedures, 10 CTG plus CAG and 11 FGG were included in the analysis. No palatal bleeding and no severe pain or swelling were recorded. The patients experienced more pain in the grafted area than in the donor area, for both surgical techniques, with a mean value of 3.09 (1.3 sd) versus 2.27 (1.4 sd) for CTG plus CAF group and of 3.7 (2.21 sd) versus 2.9 (1.7 sd) for FGG group, respectively. CTG plus CAF generated significantly higher scores of tumefaction than FGG, the mean values being 2.45 (0.93 sd) and 4 (2.21 sd) (t value 2.12, p<0.05) respectively. Conclusion : The complications associated with the two periodontal surgical approaches seem manageable and clinically acceptable.
A Resorbable Device for Ligation of Blood Vessels Development, Assessment of Surgical Procedures and Clinical Evaluation

Maintaining haemostasis during surgery is vital for a successful outcome. The objectives of this thesis were to develop a resorbable device, which would enable safe ligation and less surgical stress than the conventional method. For manufacturing of the device, the resorbable polymer polydioxanone was injection moulded. The device was constructed as a flexible band attached to a self-locking mechanism. The band formed a loop around the tissue, the end of the band was inserted into the locking mechanism and was pulled through until the loop was closed. The design allowed complete closure of the loop and the device resisted ligature slip-off from renal arteries at 10 N. Tissue reactions and surgical stress responses to ligation with the device were studied in healthy dogs subjective to elective neutering. For evaluation of haemostatic efficiency the ovarian pedicles of 14 dogs were ligated bilaterally (9) or unilaterally (5). All pedicles were successfully ligated, but one device first after being further tightened. The dogs were examined by ultrasound for up to twelve months with no adverse observations recorded. In two dogs histological examinations revealed local and transient tissue reactions around the devices. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were registered during ligation of ovarian pedicles bilaterally in nine dogs and unilaterally in five dogs using the device and in 26 dogs using conventional techniques. In 16 of the 26 dogs laparoscopic and open abdomen techniques were compared and in the remaining 10 dogs ligation of the two ovaries was compared. Plasma vasopressin was analysed in the latter study. The increase in systolic blood pressure was greater in the open abdomen group compared to the laparoscopic group and the device-group. Ligation of the first ovarian pedicle caused a greater cardiovascular response than ligation of the second pedicle. However, plasma vasopressin concentration changed in synchrony with systolic blood pressure and the combination may be useful for evaluation of surgical stress. In conclusion, a resorbable device which efficiently ligated both single vessels and ovarian pedicles was successfully constructed. Whether use of the device enables less surgical stress than a conventional ligation technique remains to be clarified.
Do Hedge Funds Supply or Demand Immediacy

In this paper, we study whether hedge funds supply or demand immediacy in the stock market. Regressing hedge funds’ returns on a measure of the returns from providing immediacy, we find that hedge funds typically supply immediacy in the stock market. In the cross-section, hedge funds with stable investor base, large funds, and funds with long lock-up periods have a higher propensity to supply immediacy than other funds. There is also time-variation in hedge funds’ supply of immediacy. We find that hedge funds reduce their supply of immediacy during periods when investors withdraw capital from the hedge fund or the mutual fund industry, or when there is large uncertainty regarding either firms’ fundamental values or future capital flows. Finally, we find that increases in the amount of hedge funds’ speculative capital improve market liquidity and reduce the liquidity premium, the amount of short-term return reversals and volatility.
Biochemie und Funktion von biogenen Aminen im Zentralnervensystem

Fur die normale Funktion des Nervensystems sind einige Amine von hervorragender Bedeutung; daruber hinaus bestehen zahlreiche Beziehungen zwischen bestimmten Erkrankungen des Nervensystems und dem Stoffwechsel dieser Amine. Am Beispiel der biogenen Amine Noradrenalin, Serotonin und Histamin soll eine Vorstellung von den Moglichkeiten und Wegen der biochemischen Forschung vermittelt werden, die zur Klarung der physiologischen und pathologischen Vorgange im Nervensystem beitragen. Der Aufsatz zeigt, das wir mit unseren Kenntnissen uber die Funktionsweise des Nervensystems selbst auf einem so gut untersuchten Gebiet wie dem der Erregungsubertragung an Synapsen noch am Anfang der Entwicklung stehen.
Influence of School Leaders on Student Achievement: How Can School Leaders Make a Difference?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the means by which principals achieve an impact on student achievement. Research Design: Through the application of structural equation modeling, a mediated-effects model for school leadership was tested, using data from 97 secondary schools in the Netherlands. Findings: The results showed a small positive effect of school leadership on the mean promotion rate in schools, mediated by a development-oriented school organization and favorable classroom practices. The promotion rate may be considered as a measure of efficiency. No indications of direct positive effects of school leader activities on student achievement were found. This might be the result of the relatively small differences in overall student achievement and school leader behavior between the schools studied. Conclusions: The results underline the important role school leaders play in school effectiveness and offer valuable insight in how school leaders actually can make a difference. School leaders were found to have a strong influence on development orientation in schools, which shows similarities with the idea
Giemsa C-banded karyotypes of eight species of Alstroemeria L. and some of their hybrids.

Abstract Karyotype analysis of Alstroemeria angustifolia ssp. angustifolia, A. aurea, A. inodora, A. ligtu spp. ligtu, A. magnifica ssp. magnifica, A. pelegrina, A. philippii and A. psittacina using Feulgen-staining and Giemsa C-banding techniques revealed for each species a characteristic chromosome morphology and C-banding pattern. These characteristics could be used to identify many individual chromosomes in diploid interspecific hybrids. Besides interspecific variation, some degree of intraspecific variation in C-banding pattern was observed within A. angustifolia ssp. angustifolia, A. aurea, A. ligtu ssp. ligtu, A. magnifica ssp. magnifica and A. philippii . All species had large chromosomes (2 n =2 x =16) and asymmetric karyotypes. In many species the short arms of the acrocentric chromosomes were darkly stained upon Giemsa C-banding. These telomeric bands seemed satellites. B-chromosomes were observed in one species, A. angustifolia ssp. angustifolia . A variable number of large intercalary and telomeric C-bands was present in the Chilean species, whereas the Brazilian species showed only small C-bands. The differences in karyotypes suggest an early separation of the Chilean and Brazilian species, after which speciation followed different evolutionary pathways. In Alstroemeria the Giemsa C-banding technique can be valuable to plant taxonomists for unravelling species relationships.
Perkinsosis in molluscs: A review

The genus Perkinsus includes protistan parasites infecting marine molluscs throughout the world, some of which are associated with mass mortalities. Life cycle involves vegetative proliferation within the host, by which a cell named trophozoite undergoes successive bipartitioning. Other stages have been observed in vitro or in vivo, depending on the species: hypnospore, zoosporangium and zoospore. Molecular taxonomy supports a close affinity be- tween dinoflagellates and Perkinsus spp. Six species of Perkinsus are currently considered valid: P. marinus, P. olseni, P. qugwadi, P. chesapeaki, P. andrewsi and P. mediterraneus. Histology and, above all, incubation of host tissues in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) are classic diagnostic methods. In addition, more sensitive and quicker molecular diagnostic techniques based on either immunoassays or PCR have been developed for Perkinsus spp. Epi- zootiological studies have shown a marked influence of water temperature and salinity on P. marinus infection in oys- ters Crassostrea virginica, thus determining parasite geographical range and temporal disease dynamics (seasonality). In vitro cultures have been established for four Perkinsus spp. Immune response to infection varies depending on host and involves phagocytosis or encapsulation of the parasite cells by host haemocytes. A polypeptide is secreted by clam Tapes philippinarum haemocytes that could kill the parasite. In vitro cultured P. marinus cells secrete proteases that are likely involved in degradation of host tissues. P. marinus can suppress the toxic oxygen radicals produced by host haemocytes. In addition to host death, sublethal effects caused by Perkinsus spp. (reduction of fecundity, growth, and condition) may have significant ecological and economic implications. Various strategies have been assayed to mitigate the consequences of P. marinus epizootics on the oyster industry: modifications of management/culture procedures, selective breeding to obtain resistant oyster strains, and the use of triploid oysters and allochthonous oyster species. Some chemotherapeutants have been proved to inhibit or kill parasite cells in vitro.
Population structure and regeneration of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in flood control ditches in the depression wetland (Żuławy Wiślane, Northern Poland)

The population structure of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. was ex- amined in seven categories of overgrowing flood control ditches, differing on time which had elapsed from the last clean-up. Density, biomass, frequency of development stages, as well as the size and habit of the shoots, were determined in the populations. Site conditions in the ditches and the proportion of the common reed in the total biomass of plants were also examined. The rate at which populations in cleaned ditches regenerate is very quick. Three years after the maintenance works in ditches the reed population is already fully regenerated. Well developed reed rushes, which biomass is about 650 g d.w. m -2 , are domi- nant. Its density amounts to 76 ± 25 shoots m -2 . Flowering and fruiting shoots are the most nu- merous. The first signs of population regression were observed in the ditches left without clean- ing for more than 5 years. Population density is gradually lower, the proportion of generative shoots is reduced, and the reed is lighter and has smaller assimilation area. In the 11-year-old and older ditches the reed is replaced by other plant species, mainly grasses and shrubs.
Phylogeny and zoogeography of the Sericini in the Himalayan region

1) To determine the phylogenetic position of the Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), cladistic analyses were performed. The taxa included in the analysis represent most the "traditional" subfamilies of coprophagous and phytophagous Scarabaeidae, with emphasis on the Sericini and melolonthine lineages. Several poorly studied exoskeletal features have been examined including the elytral base, posterior wing venation, mouth parts, endosternites, coxal articulation, and genitalia. The results of the analysis strongly support the monophyly of the "orphnine group" + "melolonthine group". This clade was identified as the sister group to the "aphodiine line" including Aphodius + Copris. The "melolonthine group" is comprised in the strict consensus tree by two major clades, with the included taxa of Euchirinae, Rutelinae, and Dynastinae nested together in one of the clades ("melolonthine group I"). Melolonthini, Cetoniinae, and Rutelinae are strongly supported as being monophyletic, while Melolonthinae and Pachydemini appear as paraphyletic. Sericini + Ablaberini were identified in the analysis to be sister taxa nested within the "melolonthine group II" clade. As this clade is distributed primarily in the southern continents, one could assume that Sericini + Ablaberini are derived from one of these southern lineages. It is plausible that the ancestors of Sericini + Ablaberini and Athlia were separated by a vicariance event, such as the separation of the African plate from the rest of Gondwana, while Sericini and Ablaberini likely diversified during early Tertiary, with dispersal of some basal Sericini to South America. 2) The Sericini constitute a monophyletic group based on the following apomorphies: (1) vestigial (9th) sternite in the spiculum gastrale absent; (2) cranial process of the spiculum gastrale filiform, very slender and circular in cross section; (3) glandulae accessoriae with left and right glandulae (1+2) having a common duct to the vagina; (4) basal ostium of phallobase small; and (5) metacoxa enlarged. 3) To explore the diversification patterns of Sericini in the Himalaya, eight monophyletic groups have been analysed using cladistics, including Anomalophylla, Calloserica, Lasioserica/ Amiserica, Maladera (subgenus Omaladera), Maladera (subgenus Cycloserica), Serica, Sericania, and Xenoserica gen. n. / Nipponoserica. The Himalayan region has been treated as unit embracing the complex system of nearly parallel mountain ranges, from North Burma in the east to nearly Afghanistan in the west (approximately between 72° and 91° E and 27° and 36°N). 4) All Himalayan sericine taxa belong to a distal sericine lineage ("modern" Sericini), sharing the following apomorphic characters states: the presence of a carina from the craniolateral margin of the mesosternum to the mesofurcal arm and the acutely bent anterior anal vein (AA). 5) The phylogenies found show a congruent pattern in groups with similar vertical and/or horizontal distribution. Patterns of vertical and/or horizontal distribution are shown to be of…
C-Biomass of Bacteria, Fungi, and Protozoan Communities in Arctic Tundra Soil, Including Some Trophic Relationships

The ecology of tundra terrestrial environments has gained increasing attention due to potential major changes resulting from global warming and climate change. However, the composition of terrestrial microbial communities and their role in the biogeochemical carbon cycle are less well studied. This is the first report of the C-biomass of bacteria, fungi, and representative protozoa (heterotrophic nanoflagellates, naked amoebae, and testate amoebae) in Alaskan tundra soil samples, and the effects of glucose solution enrichment in labo- ratory studies simulating release of soluble organic compounds as may occur during permafrost melt and increased plant root exudates due to global warming. The data for three moss-rich surface samples, two in spring and one in summer (2011), are reported for C-supplemented (8,000 µg glucose-C) and non-supplemented treatments in laboratory culture. Seven days after supplementation, fungal C-biomass in the glucose-treated and untreated samples were similar in the range of 5 to 11 mg g -1 soil dry weight, the highest values in the summer samples. The bacterial C-biomass was the next highest in the range of 20 to 120 µg g -1 soil dry weight, followed by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (2 to 14 µg g -1 soil dry weight). The naked amoebae (0.13 to 0.94 µg C g -1 soil dry weight) and testate amoebae (2 to 20 ng C g -1 soil dry weight) contributed the least C-biomass. All of the bacterial and protozoan treatments showed increased biomass with glucose supplementation. Based on size, and C-biomass estimates, the phagotrophic protozoa appear to be organized in a classical bacterial-based trophic hierarchy (i.e. bacteria - nanoflagellates - naked amoebae - testate amoebae, in ascending order). Correlations of the C-biomass of bacteria to each of the protozoa, provided further evidence of a trophic pyramid; bacteria vs. nanoflagellates (r = -0.986), indicating top-down control by predatory flagellates, bacteria vs. naked amoebae (r = -0.361) and bacteria vs. testate amoebae (r = -0.131), each of decreasing magnitude as would be predicted for higher level consumers. Estimates of bacterial predation indicated strong predatory pressures on bacteria by the protozoa, greater with C-supplementation compared to the non-supplemented treatments.
Results of Supracondylar “V” Osteotomy for the Correction of Genu Valgum Deformity

Background Medial close wedge, lateral open wedge, dome and “V” osteotomies are the commonly to correct the genu valgum (GV) deformity. However, the ideal method for the correction of coronal plane deformity is controversial. This prospective study is to evaluate the functional and radiological result of supracodylar “V” osteotomy to correct GV deformity. Materials and Methods “V” osteotomy was done in all patients with clinically significant GV deformity and was fixed with crossed K-wires. Weight-bearing mobilization was started after radiological union. Patients were evaluated for correction in different clinical and radiological parameters. The function of the knee was assessed by Bostman’s score. The subjective score was used to assess the parent’s satisfaction after the procedure. Results 187 limbs with genu valgum deformity (47 males and 71 females) were included in this study. We observed a significant improvement in the mean intermalleolar distance, clinical and radiological tibiofemoral angle and lateral distal femoral angle, from 17.3 to 3.9 cm, 23.8°to–4.5°, 25.6° to 6.1°, 76.6° to 88.4°, respectively. The mean Bostman score improved from 20.6 to 28.1. The parent’s satisfaction assessed subjectively was 95.3 points. Conclusion This osteotomy along with the fixation with K-wires is a safe, effective, reproducible technique with a short learning curve and a procedure requiring no repeat surgery for implant removal, with good functional results, and without major complications.
Elicitation of Plants

ABSTRACT Elicitors are compounds stimulating any type of plant defense. This broader definition of elicitors includes both substances of pathogen origin (exogenous elicitors and compounds released from plants by the action of the pathogen (endogenous elicitors). Also elicitors could be used as enhancers of plant-secondary-metabolite synthesis and could play an important role in biosynthetic pathways to enhanced production of commercially important compounds. The increased production, through elicitation, of the secondary metabolites from plant cell cultures has opened up a new area of research, which could have important economical benefits for bio industry.
Characterization of Juvenile wood in Lodgepole Pine in the Intermountain West

Juvenile wood (core wood) is typically characterized as being less dimensionally stable and having lower mechanical properties than mature wood. Determination of the age of transition from juvenile wood to mature wood can provide basic information needed to assess dimensional stability and better utilize small-diameter trees growing in the intermountain west as solid-sawn products and as structural composites. While there is considerable information available on the variation of specific gravity with the age of the tree for westem conifers, specific gravity is not useful for predicting dimensional stability, and as a single predictor of mechanical properties only explains about 50o/o of the observed variation. Determination of the age of transition between juvenile wood and mature wood, and some of the factors that could effect this transition, is important when making judgments about utilization options for naturally occurring stands of trees in the intermountain west region of the United States. Lodgepole pine (trtinus contorta) trees were harvested from four different sites in the US intermountain west to include site variations affecting growth, such as elevation, precipitation, and growing seasons. Bolts were extracted from each tree and processed to extract a single, radial-sawn board from each bolt. From each board, longitudinallyoriented samples were taken for every 5th growth ring, measuring approximately 5 x 5 mm in cross section with lengths ranging from 125 to 350 mm. Longitudinal shrinkage was measured in each sample as it dried from green to oven dry conditions. Later, the average microfibril angle was determined for the same samples. A good correlation was found between longitudinal shrinkage and microfibril angle, suggesting that either method could be used to determine the juvenile wood transition in lodgepole pine. In addition, a significant difference in the juvenile wood transition period was found between sites. These results are useful for establishing parameters meaningful to the characteization ofjuvenile wood in the westem conifers when utilized as solid-sawn products and strucfural composites.