Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infection of alfalfa pollen by Botrytis cinerea

A microscopic study proved that pollen grains of alfalfa are susceptible to infection by Botrytis cinerea, an important pathogen for blossom blight of alfalfa in western Canada. Pollen grains were inoculated by mixing pollen with drops of a B. cinerea spore suspension on glass slides. Infection occurred by direct hyphal penetration of the pollen cell walls without the formation of appressoria. Infection through the germ pores was observed more frequently than through other parts of the pollen walls. Plasmolysis of the plasma membrane and destruction of the cytoplasm occurred as a result of intensive growth of hyphae in the cell lumen of infected pollen grains. The impact of pollen infection by B. cinerea on the epidemiology of blossom blight of alfalfa is discussed.
Nutritional status of lactating mothers and their children 6-23 months of age in pre- and post-harvest seasons in two agro-ecological zones of rural Ethiopia

Title Nutritional status of lactating mothers and their children 6-23 months of age in preand post-harvest seasons in two agro-ecological zones of rural Ethiopia Author(s) Roba, Kedir Teji Publication date 2016 Original citation Roba, K. T. 2016. Nutritional status of lactating mothers and their children 6-23 months of age in preand post-harvest seasons in two agro-ecological zones of rural Ethiopia. PhD Thesis, University College Cork. Type of publication Doctoral thesis Rights © 2016, Kedir T. Roba. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Resolved Observations of Transition Disks

Abstract Resolved observations are bringing new constraints on the origin of radial gaps in protoplanetary disks. The kinematics, sampled in detail in one case-study, are indicative of non-Keplerian flows, corresponding to warped structures and accretion which may both play a role in the development of cavities. Disk asymmetries seen in the radio continuum are being interpreted in the context of dust segregation via aerodynamic trapping. We summarise recent observational progress, and describe prospects for improvements in the near term.
Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer, Vermicompost and Bio-Fertilizer on Quality, Content and Uptake of Nutrients in Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata)

The field experiment was carried out at college farm, Department of Agronomy, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, India during rabi season (NovemberFebruary) of 20152016. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three factors with two levels of inorganic fertilizer @ 75% RDF, 100 % RDF, three levels of vermicompost @ 0 t/ha, 2.0 t/ha, 4.00 t/ha and two levels bio fertilizers control and Azospirillum + PSB respectively. The quality parameter viz., protein content in grain and fodder as well as total sugar content were significantly affected due to various levels of inorganic fertilizers. The maximum protein content in grain and fodder as well as total sugar content were recorded with 100% RDF (F2) which was found significantly differ from the 75% RDF treatments. Nutrient content was significantly influenced due to various level of inorganic fertilizers. The maximum N, P and K content in grain and fodder were recorded in 100% RDF (F2) which was found significantly differ from the 75% RDF treatments. The quality parameter viz., protein content in grain and fodder as well as total sugar content were significantly affected due to various levels of vermicompost. The maximum protein content in grain and fodder as well as total sugar content were recorded in vermicompost @ 4.0 t/ha (V2). Nutrient content was significantly influenced due to various level of vermicompost. The maximum N, P and K content in grain and fodder were recorded in vermicompost @ 4.0 t/ha (V2). Application of biofertilizer had non-significant effect on most of the crop growth parameter, yield attributes.
Antioxidant effect of the Egyptian freshwater Procambarus clarkii extract in rat liver and erythrocytes

The present study aims to evaluate the curative activity of freshwater crustacean extract (FCE) from freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii and silymarin on oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rat liver and erythrocytes. The degree of treatment in this activity has been measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total protein as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) in liver tissue and erytheocyte hemolysate. The FCE and silymarin produced significant antihepatotoxic effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes and MDA level, and increasing the serum total protein, GSH levels and the activities of GST and CAT in liver and erytheocyte hemolysate. From these results, it was suggested that FCE could ameliorate the liver and erythrocytes injuries perhaps, by its antioxidative effect, hence eliminating the deleterious effect of toxic metabolites from CCl4.
Sensitization of human colorectal cancer cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by inhibition of MEK / ERK pathway is caspase-4 dependent

-Our previous studies have shown that paclitaxel induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Inhibition of MEK/ERK pathway sensitized CRC cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by down-regulation of GRP78. In here, we report that induction of apoptosis by paclitaxel when GRP78 is down-regulated involves activation of caspase caspase-3, caspase-4, and caspase-9. Caspase-4 seemed to be the apical caspase in that caspase-4 activation occurred before activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Coimmunoprecipitation studies revealed that GRP78 is physically associated with caspase-4 before and after treatment with paclitaxel. Taken together, these results indicate that GRP78 might be a novel mechanism underlying resistance of CRC cells to microtubule-targeting drugs by binding to and inhibition of caspase-4. Combination of compounds capable of suppressing GRP78 might be a golden approach for improving the effectiveness of taxanes in treatment of CRC. Key-Words: Colon Cancer, Paclitaxel, UPR, GRP78, Apoptosis.
Visual Analytics on Large Displays: Exploring User Spatialization and How Size and Resolution Affect Task Performance

Large, high-resolution displays (LHRDs) have been shown to enable increased productivity over conventional monitors. Previous work has identified the benefits of LHRDs for Visual Analytics tasks, where the user is analyzing complex data sets. However, LHRDs are fundamentally different from desktop and mobile computing environments, presenting some unique usability challenges and opportunities, and need to be better understood. There is thus a need for additional studies to analyze the impact of LHRD size and display resolution on content spatialization strategies and Visual Analytics task performance. We present the results of two studies of the effects of physical display size and resolution on analytical task successes and also analyze how participants spatially cluster visual content in different display conditions. Overall, we found that navigation technique preferences differ significantly among users, that the wide range of observed spatialization types suggest several different analysis techniques are adopted, and that display size affects clustering task performance whereas display resolution does not.
Diurnal variations of Titan's ionosphere

of � 700 cm �3 below � 1300 km. Such a plateau is a combined result of significant depletion of light ions and modest depletion of heavy ones on Titan’s nightside. We propose that the distinctions between the diurnal variations of light and heavy ions are associated with their different chemical loss pathways, with the former primarily through ‘‘fast’’ ion-neutral chemistry and the latter through ‘‘slow’’ electron dissociative recombination. The strong correlation between the observed night-to-day ion density ratios and the associated ion lifetimes suggests a scenario in which the ions created on Titan’s dayside may survive well to the nightside. The observed asymmetry between the dawn and dusk ion density profiles also supports such an interpretation. We construct a time-dependent ion chemistry model to investigate the effect of ion survival associated with solid body rotation alone as well as superrotating horizontal winds. For long-lived ions, the predicted diurnal variations have similar general characteristics to those observed. However, for short-lived ions, the model densities on the nightside are significantly lower than the observed values. This implies that electron precipitation from Saturn’s magnetosphere may be an additional and important contributor to the densities of the short-lived ions observed on Titan’s nightside.
The Neo-Fisher Effect: Econometric Evidence from Empirical and Optimizing Models

This paper assesses the presence and importance of the neo-Fisher effect in postwar data. It formulates and estimates an empirical and a New Keynesian model driven by stationary and nonstationary monetary and real shocks. In accordance with conventional wisdom, temporary increases in the nominal interest rate are estimated to cause decreases in inflation and output. The main finding of the paper is that permanent monetary shocks that increase the nominal interest rate and inflation in the long run cause increases in interest rates, inflation, and output in the short run and explain about 45 percent of inflation changes. (JEL E12, E23, E31, E43, E52)
Occurrence and control of plant-parasitic nematodes in irrigation water - a review.

A literature study was carried out to determine what is currently known about the contamination of irrigation water with plant-parasitic nematodes, and what control measures are currently available. Contamination sources of irrigation water with plant-parasitic nematodes were investigated, including wells, boreholes, collected rainwater, ponds, lakes, dams, rivers, municipal water, runoff water, irrigation canals and drainage water in soilless culture. Only when the origin of irrigation water was a capped borehole was the risk of contamination with plant-parasitic nematodes low. The plantparasitic nematodes of economic importance to grapevine reported to be found in irrigation water were Meloidogyne spp. , Xiphinema spp. , Tylenchulus semipenetrans, Trichodorus sp. , Criconemoides xenoplax and Pratylenchus spp. The different sampling techniques used for the detection and monitoring of plant-parasitic nematodes and the sampling time and location are listed. The survival and infection potential reported for each species of plant-parasitic nematode found in irrigation water was noted. Serious nematode parasites of grapevines, such as Meloidogyne javanica, can survive for 16 to 32 days, M. incognita, for up to 14 days, Pratylenchus, for up to 70 days, T. semipenetrans, for up to 128 days, and X. index, for up to 13 days in irrigation water. All reported techniques used for the management of nematodes in irrigation water are listed and possible future research into the control of plant-parasitic nematodes in irrigation water is discussed. From this review, substantial evidence was obtained of the danger of introducing plant-parasitic nematodes to grapevine production sites by means of irrigation water.
Umbilical Artery Resistance Index in the Surveillance of Pregnancies at Risk of Fetal-Maternal Hemodynamic Disorders in Lomé (Togo)

Objective: Evaluate the role of umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound in the surveillance of pregnancies at risk of vascular disorders in Lome. Study Method: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out in the department of radiology of Campus teaching hospital over a period of 6 months. This study was based on the measurement of the resistance index of the umbilical artery in pregnant women presenting vascular risk and other pregnant women without vascular risk. The correlation between the pathological index and the at-risk pregnancies was assessed by the Odds Ratio as well as the correlation between the resistance index and the Apgar score at birth. Results: The resistance index was measured in 209 at-risk pregnant women and in 425 pregnant women without vascular risk. The average age of pregnant women was 26.31 years for “the at-risk pregnant” versus 25.38 years for the “pregnant-witnesses”. The association between the pathological resistance index (RI) and the gestational pathologies studied, had been positive and significant with an odds ratio of 1.57 for a 95% confidence interval of [1.07 - 2.20]. A pathological RI is a risk factor for the occurrence of a pathological Apgar score at birth because this association was positive and significant for “pregnant-cases” as for “pregnant-witnesses”. Conclusion: Measuring the index of resistance is not a common practice in our communities. However, it could be an important tool in the surveillance of at-risk pregnancies for diseases such as malaria, pre-eclampsia, and maternal anemia.
Eelgrass survival in two contrasting systems: role of turbidity and summer water temperatures

Eelgrass Zostera marina L. distribution patterns in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA have shown complex changes, with recovery from losses in the 1930s varying between the coastal lagoons and Chesapeake Bay. Restoration efforts in the coastal bays of Virginia introduced Z. marina back to this system, and expansion since 2005 has averaged 66% yr �1 . In contrast, Chesapeake Bay has experienced 2% expansion and has undergone 2 significant die-off events, in 2005 and 2010. We used a temperature-dependent light model to show that from 2005 to 2010 during daylight periods in the summer, coastal bay beds received at least 100% of their light requirements 24% of the time, while beds in the lower Chesapeake Bay only met this 6% of the time. Summer light attenuation (Kd) and temperatures from continuous monitoring at 2 additional Chesapeake Bay sites in 2010 suggest that the greater tidal range and proximity of the coastal bays to cooler ocean waters may ameliorate influences of exposure to stressful high water temper- ature conditions compared to Chesapeake Bay. A temperature difference of 1°C combined with a Kd difference of 0.5 m �1 at 1 m depth results in a 30% difference in available light as a proportion of community light requirements. These differences are critical between survival and decline in these perennial populations growing near the southern limits of their range. Without an increase in available light, Chesapeake Bay populations may be severely reduced or eliminated, while coastal bay populations, because of their proximity to cooler Atlantic waters, may become the refuge populations for this region.
Results of Taking Master Amino Acid Pattem @ as a Sole and Total Substitute of Dietary Proteins in an Athlete During a Desert

Study results show that a 51-year-old female athlete, while taking the Master Amino acid Pattern (MAP@) as a sole and total substitute for dietary protein, and performing physical activity, experienced (1) increased body muscle mass, strength, and endurance; (2) decreased body fat mass; (3) greater increase in performance of the nonprevailing muscles compared to the prevailing muscles; (4) improved cardiorespiratory performance; and (5) increased red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit parameters. Itwas concluded, confirming previous findings, that use of MAP as a sole and total substitute for dietary protein, in conjunction with physical activity, provides safer, unprecedented optimization of the body's protein synthesis, thereby improving anthropometric characteristics and physical and physiologic performance.
The Fountain of Apollonia in Illyria, A Comparative Study

: The fountain – houses were important structures in the Greek cities. This article proposes the typological study of the Apollonia’s fountain, in order to understand if it had a particular shape, like the researchers often say, or has been influenced and similar to any other fountain. This objective was achieved through the chronological and comparative study of well known examples of Greek fountains, highlighting their altimetry and plan composition shape. The study, conclude that Apollonia´s fountain shows clear compositional similarities to a few of the 4 th -3 rd Century B.C. Greek fountains, and it was among the most sophisticated types in the evolution time.
Effect of Liquidity Risk on Financial Performance of Insurance Companies Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

Many people think the possibility of an insurance company running into difficulties over liquidity issues is a remote prospect. After all, there is no leveraging of loans as with the banks, and the reserves are backed by good solid assets. However, this is not the case, and liquidity risk (sometimes associated with fraud) has been a source of some historic insolvencies. This study was aimed at establishing the liquidity risk and its effect of financial performance of Listed Insurance Companies in Kenya. The risks to be studied included operational risk, market risk and credit risk. The six listed insurance companies comprised of the target population for the period 2012-2015. The study was descriptive in nature. The financial statements of these companies were studied and comparisons made on the return on equity and net premiums earned for those years. It was found out that operational, market and credit risks has negative effect on the financial performance if these companies. The researcher recommended that measures should be put into place to hedge these risks and hence maintain a healthy financial performance.
Sodic Calcareous Soil Reclamation as Affected by Different Amendments and Crops

Sodium leaching efficiencies (moles of Na removed per unit leachate volume) were measured and compared from four noncropped and four cropped treatments applied in duplicate to 1.0 m deep sodic calcareous silt loam in lysimeters. Treatments included a check, gypsum, chopped alfalfa (Medicago saliva L), fresh manure, alfalfa, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), sudan grass (Sorghum sudanese) hybrid (which will be called sorghum hybrid for simplicity), sorghum hybrid + leaching, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L). The sorghum hybrid + leaching treatment soil was leached with tap water until 0.5 pore volume of leachate was collected from lysimeter bottoms, and then sorghum hybrid was planted. Sorghum hybrid was the most efficient treatment in reclaiming Na-affected soil. All four noncropped soils eventually became dispersed in the lower part of the profile and hydraulic conductivity became very low. Cropped treatments continued to conduct water at a satisfactory rate for reclamation; however, due to low water use, cotton treatment produced a low total Na removal. Sorghum hybrid shows promise as a crop that could be used to speed reclamation of sodic calcareous soils. The treatments producing the highest sodium removal efficiencies also produced the highest soil atmosphere CO2 concentrations. By selecting crops, amendments, and water application rates and timing, calcareous sodic soil reclamation can very likely be accomplished faster and more economically than in the past.
Global impacts of tropospheric halogens (Cl, Br, I) on oxidants and composition in GEOS-Chem

Abstract. We present a simulation of the global present-day composition of the troposphere which includes the chemistry of halogens (Cl, Br, I). Building on previous work within the GEOS-Chem model we include emissions of inorganic iodine from the oceans, anthropogenic and biogenic sources of halogenated gases, gas phase chemistry, and a parameterised approach to heterogeneous halogen chemistry. Consistent with Schmidt et al. (2016) we do not include sea-salt debromination. Observations of halogen radicals (BrO, IO) are sparse but the model has some skill in reproducing these. Modelled IO shows both high and low biases when compared to different datasets, but BrO concentrations appear to be modelled low. Comparisons to the very sparse observations dataset of reactive Cl species suggest the model represents a lower limit of the impacts of these species, likely due to underestimates in emissions and therefore burdens. Inclusion of Cl, Br, and I results in a general improvement in simulation of ozone (O3) concentrations, except in polar regions where the model now underestimates O3 concentrations. Halogen chemistry reduces the global tropospheric O3 burden by 18.6 %, with the O3 lifetime reducing from 26 to 22 days. Global mean OH concentrations of 1.28 × 106 molecules cm−3 are 8.2 % lower than in a simulation without halogens, leading to an increase in the CH4 lifetime (10.8 %) due to OH oxidation from 7.47 to 8.28 years. Oxidation of CH4 by Cl is small (∼ 2 %) but Cl oxidation of other VOCs (ethane, acetone, and propane) can be significant (∼ 15–27 %). Oxidation of VOCs by Br is smaller, representing 3.9 % of the loss of acetaldehyde and 0.9 % of the loss of formaldehyde.
On caryopsis crease and endosperm cavity in wheat and Brachypodium distachyon

Studies of breeding systems in many plants proved that the level of autoor allogamy may vary in terms of time and space and can be recognized as flexible. Any conclusions on the genetic structure of cultivated or wild populations cannot be made without the knowledge regarding the plant’s breeding system. Wheat is considered as an autogamic plant; however, its mating system depends on a species, ecotype and location of cultivation. Percival’s data on wheat blooming in England, in the oceanic climate, showed that natural hybridization is rare, but Meister’s observations from Saratov, in the continental climate, presented a large number of hybridization events between wheat and rye (Vavilov 1949/50). Wheat, being a self-pollinated plant, frequently expresses chasmogamy during early morning up to noon hours (Fig. 1A), which opens the possibility of geitonogamic mating, or close outcrossing as it was evidenced by Waines and Hedge (2003). Low or very high temperatures and rains restrict chasmogamy and, thus, closed flowers are cleistogamic. Cleistogamy can be also determined by a structural mutation, e.g., of lodicules (Fig. 1B; Kosina 2010). Keydel (1972, 1973) proved great differences in the level of chasmogamy and production of pollen grains for many cultivars of winter wheat cultivated in Bavaria, Germany.
Microbial reduction of structural Fe3+ in nontronite by a thermophilic bacterium and its role in promoting the smectite to illite reaction

Abstract The illitization process of Fe-rich smectite (nontronite NAu-2) promoted by microbial reduction of structural Fe3+ was investigated by using a thermophilic metal-reducing bacterium, Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus, isolated from the deep subsurface. T. ethanolicus was incubated with lactate as the sole electron donor and structural Fe3+ in nontronite as the sole electron acceptor, and anthraquinone-2, 6- disulfonate (AQDS) as an electron shuttle in a growth medium (pH 6.2 and 9.2, 65 °C) with or without an external supply of Al and K sources. With an external supply of Al and K, the extent of reduction of Fe3+ in NAu-2 was 43.7 and 40.4% at pH 6.2 and 9.2, respectively. X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed formation of discrete illite at pH 9.2 with external Al and K sources, while mixed layers of illite/smectite or highly charged smectite were detected under other conditions. The morphology of biogenic illite evolved from lath and Flake to pseudo-hexagonal shape. An external supply of Al and K under alkaline conditions enhances the smectite-illite reaction during microbial Fe3+ reduction of smectite. Biogenic SiO2 was observed as a result of bioreduction under all conditions. The microbially promoted smectite-illite reaction proceeds via dissolution of smectite and precipitation of illite. Thermophilic iron reducing bacteria have a significant role in promoting the smectite to illite reaction under conditions common in sedimentary basins