Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of genetic variability and association among different physiological traits related to biotic stress (Fusarium oxysporum L.) in chickpea.

ABSTRACT Experiment was conducted to assess genetic differences among chickpea genotypes under normal and biotic stress(inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum L.) conditions, to estimate the relationship among different biotic stress relatedtraits and to identify suitable parental material to be used in breeding programs for the development of genotypesresistant to fusarium wilt. The responses of 70 different chickpea genotypes were evaluated on the basis of differentphysiological traits by following principal component analysis (PCA). According to PCA, under normal and stressconditions out of eight only 4 PCs had more than one eigen value in each case and collectively contributed 71.50% and75.2% variability under normal and stress conditions respectively. Biplot analysis depicted that under normal conditionthe genotypes 1007, 60101, 7008, 405, PB91, B3008, 3013, 7002, 7012, 1217, 6011, BITAL98, 6028 and CH-8 werehighly diversified, whereas under stress condition, genotypes 7059, 4004, 6001, 7046, 1288 and 1143 proved resistantand presented the greatest diversity. Genotypes 6028, 7027, BRC236, 5028, 7056-1, 6010, 6003, 1217, 3013, 4028¸6017, 7010, 3019, PB2000, 5006, 6255, 4046, PB2008, B3008, 1159, 2009-1, and 6011 were found with least diversityand declared as susceptible because of poor performance.Key words: Chickpea, Fusarium wilt, Biplot, PCA and Correlation.
ChemiCal Control of the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea oPerculella (Zeller) on tobaCCo

VANEVA-GANCHEVA, T. and Y. DIMITROV, 2013. Chemical control of the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) on tobacco. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 19: 1003-1008 For the purpose of assessing the potential of chemical compounds belonging to different groups (acetamiprid, deltamethrin, imidacloprid and chlorpyrifosethyl + cypermethrin – registered to be used on tobacco in Bulgaria and also indoxacarb and chlorantraniliprole – not registered) to control the attacks of the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) on tobacco, their ovicidal and larvicidal effects have been established under laboratory conditions. Their biological efficiency has also been assessed under field conditions by controlling the extent of the damages caused to the tobacco. Depending on the degree of influence on the eggs, the analyzed substances rank as follows: chlorpyrifosethyl+cypermethrin > deltamethrin > acetamiprid > indoxacarb > imidacloprid > chloranrhaniliprole. Chloranrhaniliprole, chlorpyrifosethyl+cypermethrin and deltamethrin demonstrate the fastest and the strongest effect on the young larvae of the potato tuber moth > 90% mortality. Indoxacarb and acetamiprid also achieve a high mortality rate of > 90% but the effect is slower. Imidacloprid demonstrates the weakest larvicidal effect during the laboratory testing. In accordance with the effectiveness, which is based on the control over the extent of damages under field conditions, the active substances rank as follows: chlorantraniliprole > indoxacarb > deltamethrin > chlorpyrifosethyl+cypermethrin > acetamiprid > imidacloprid. Chlorantraniliprole and indoxacarb provide the most effective and the longest control on the potato tuber moth but, unfortunately, they have not been registered on tobacco. Of all the active compounds registered to be used on tobacco, deltamethrin and chlorpyrifosethyl+cypermethrin can be successfully applied during the attacks of the potato tuber moth and to exercise mutual control over tobacco pests. Acetamiprid and imidacloprid can be applied together to control tobacco pests and also during the attacks of the potato tuber moth in the initial stages after planting, i.e. as the period of protection of the tobacco plants is extended, the extent of damages increases.
MIT Open Access

The coupling between subsurface ﬂow and geomechanical deformation is critical in the assessment of the environmental impacts of groundwater use, underground liquid waste disposal, geologic storage of carbon dioxide, and exploitation of shale gas reserves. In particular, seismicity induced by ﬂuid injection and withdrawal has emerged as a central element of the scientiﬁc discussion around subsurface technologies that tap into water and energy resources. Here we present a new computational approach to model coupled multiphase ﬂow and geomechanics of faulted reservoirs. We represent faults as surfaces embedded in a three-dimensional medium by using zero-thickness interface elements to accurately model fault slip under dynamically evolving ﬂuid pressure and fault strength. We incorporate the effect of ﬂuid pressures from multiphase ﬂow in the mechanical stability of faults and employ a rigorous formulation of nonlinear multiphase geomechanics that is capable of handling strong capillary effects. We develop a numerical simulation tool by coupling a multiphase ﬂow simulator with a mechanics simulator, using the unconditionally stable ﬁxed-stress scheme for the sequential solution of two-way coupling between ﬂow and geomechanics. We validate our modeling approach using several synthetic, but realistic, test cases that illustrate the onset and evolution of earthquakes from ﬂuid injection and withdrawal.
Comparison of low dose Dhaka regimen of magnesium sulphate with standard pritchard regimen in eclampsia

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of altitude on severe preeclampsia and eclampsia and subsequent perinatal outcome. Methods: This prospective study was carried out during 1st March 2011 to 29th February 2012 in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kamla Nehru State Hospital for Mother and Child, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla situated at a height of 2200m from sea level. All the subjects with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia were included in the study and their perinatal outcome was noted. Results: There were a total of 5897 deliveries. There were 423 cases of PIH making an incidence of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia 15.4% and 7.3% among PIH, respectively. Majority of cases (60.4%) belonged to age group 18-25 year with mean systolic blood pressure in eclampsia was 184.3±18.6 mm of Hg and in severe preeclampsia was 171.5±13.9 mm of Hg. Mean diastolic blood pressure was 125.8±12.6 mm of Hg in eclampsia and 118.6±4.3 mm of Hg in severe preeclampsia. Various other complications in eclampsia and severe preeclampsia cases included IUGR (35.1%) cases, abruptio placentae (15.9%), HELLP syndrome (9.6%) cases, spontaneous preterm labour (21.3%) and intrauterine death (6.4%). Live births were 85.1%; fresh still births were 8.5%. Mean birth weight was 2192.5±572grams. Respiratory distress syndrome was seen in 21.3% neonates, Hyperbilirubinemia was seen in 26.2% neonates intracranial bleeding was seen in 7.5% neonates. Perinatal mortality was 27.7% which constitute14.9% still birth neonatal deaths. Conclusions: Efficacy of MgSO4 in prevention and treatment of eclamptic convulsions is time tested and supported with a variety of studies. Since its narrow therapeutic and toxicity is major concern, the use of low dose MgSO4 protocols is a viable alternative to standard dose therapy. However, because of small study design further studies on the larger scale are required to support routine clinical use of low dose protocols.
Estimating Population Density of Amazonian Titi Monkeys (Callicebus discolor) via Playback Point Counts

We describe a new method for estimating population density of vocally responsive animals, which is based on playback calls coupled with auditory point transect sampling. The method yielded, for red titi monkeys (Callicebus discolor), better estimates than traditional line transect surveys. We propose it as an effective alternative for sampling certain cryptic, but vocally responsive animal species.
Effects of Black Carbon Aerosols on the Indian Monsoon

Abstract A six-member ensemble of twentieth-century simulations with changes to only time-evolving global distributions of black carbon aerosols in a global coupled climate model is analyzed to study the effects of black carbon (BC) aerosols on the Indian monsoon. The BC aerosols act to increase lower-tropospheric heating over South Asia and reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface during the dry season, as noted in previous studies. The increased meridional tropospheric temperature gradient in the premonsoon months of March–April–May (MAM), particularly between the elevated heat source of the Tibetan Plateau and areas to the south, contributes to enhanced precipitation over India in those months. With the onset of the monsoon, the reduced surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and over India that extend to the Himalayas act to reduce monsoon rainfall over India itself, with some small increases over the Tibetan Plateau. Precipitation over China generally decreases due to.
Unlikely Democrats: Economic Elite Uncertainty Under Dictatorship and Support for Democratization

Influential recent scholarship assumes that authoritarian rulers act as perfect agents of economic elites, foreclosing the possibility that economic elites may at times prefer democracy absent a popular threat from below. Motivated by a puzzling set of democratic transitions, we relax this assumption and examine how elite uncertainty about dictatorship -- a novel and generalizable causal mechanism impacting democratization -- can induce elite support for democracy. We construct a noisy signaling model in which a potential autocrat attempts to convince economic elites that he will be a faithful partner should elites install him in power. The model generates clear predictions about how two major types of elite uncertainty -- uncertainty in a potential autocratic successor's policies produced by variance in the pool of would-be dictator types, and uncertainty in the truthfulness of policy promises made by potential autocratic successors -- impact the likelihood of elite-driven democratization. We demonstrate the model's plausibility in a series of cases of democratic transition.
Relation between Surfactant Protein-D level and cardiovascular complications in chronic Kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem that is estimated to affect many individuals worldwide. It is associated with a very high risk of premature cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) expression was observed originally in the lung but it has been found also in several extra pulmonary tissues, including the kidney. Circulating SP-D levels are strongly predictive of future risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, independent of well established risk factors. The study aimed to evaluate the relation between serun SP-D and cardiovascular complications in CKD. The study was conducted on 90 participants, 60 patients with various degrees of CKD as well as 30 healthy volunteers as a control group. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); Group1 included 20 patients with eGFR ˃ 60 ml/min/1.732, Group 2 included 20 patients with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.732, and Group 3 included 20 patients with eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.732. Serum SP-D levels were measured in all subjects using the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. As a marker of atherosclerosis, the carotid artery intima media thickness (CA IMT) was measured in all patients in addition to echocardiographic assessment of the cardiac dimensions and functions. The study showed a significant increase in the mean serum SP-D in CKD patients compared to that of the control group (6±1.36 ng/ ml vs.2.46±0.31, P=0.02) and also among groups 1, 2 and 3 CKD patients (2.38±0.34 vs. 5.63±1.84 vs. 9.98±3.51respectively, P<0.05). The study showed also a significant positive correlation between SP-D level and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the platelet count and smoking among CKD patients, while there was a significant negative correlation between SP-D level and serum albumin. There was no significant correlation between SP-D level and CA IMT and echo parameters among CKD patients. Serum SP-D is significantly elevated in patients with CKD. There was no significant correlation between SP-D and CA IMT as a marker of atherosclerosis and echocardiographic parameters of cardiac dimensions and functions.
Low Grade Inflammation in Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose TissueOriginated from Adipose Derived Stem Cells in Experimental Model of Obesity inRats under Influence of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Interaction

Objective: Aim of our study was to examine if pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment of the adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) originating from differently localized adipose tissue, affects the pro-inflammatory cytokines and resistin release dependently on age, gender and used diet. Methods: Cultures of ADSCs originated from pups and adult animals of both gender grown on low fat ( LF) and high fat (HF) diet for 21 days of obesity inducing time, after which the adipose tissue and blood samples for serum were collected. ADSCs cultures were exposed to PEMF (7 Hz, 30 mT) thrice, 4 h per day. Proinflammatory cytokines and resistin levels were determined by ELISA. Results: The serum level of TNFα and IL-6 cytokines in HF diet female and male adults was significantly higher as compared to LF diet serum level. HF diet also caused changes in resistin serum level. ADSCs of PEMF exposed LF diet female pups released more TNFα than unexposed ones. IL-6 level in ADSCs cultures of PEMF exposed female pups was higher than in controls. PEMF exposure of ADSCs of both genders of HF diet pups caused increased secretion of TNFα. On the other hand IL-6 release by ADSCs of female pups upon PEMF treatment was diminished. PEMF exposure of ADSCs of both genders of LF diet pups caused increased secretion of resistin. Different results were obtained in case of HF diet pups ADSCs. ADSCs cultures after PEMF exposure originating from male and female adults produced more resistin. Conclusion: We found that PEMF exposure can modify metabolic activity of ADSCs.
Arsenite and Arsenate Adsorption on Ferrihydrite: Kinetics, Equilibrium, and Adsorption Envelopes

Because of its toxicity, arsenic is of considerable environmental concern. Its solubility in natural systems is strongly influenced by adsorption at iron oxide surfaces. The objective of this study was to compare the adsorption behavior of arsenite and arsenate on ferrihydrite, under carefully controlled conditions, with regard to adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and the influence of pH on adsorption. The adsorption reactions were relatively fast, with the reactions almost completed within the first few hours. At relatively high As concentrations, arsenite reacted faster than arsenate with the ferrihydrite, i.e., equilibrium was achieved sooner, but arsenate adsorption was faster at low As concentrations and low pH. Adsorp tion maxima of approximately 0.60 (0.58) and 0.25 (0.16) molAs molFe-1 were achieved for arsenite and arsenate, respectively, at pH 4.6 (pH 9.2 in parentheses). The high arsenite retention, which precludes its retention entirely as surface adsorbed species, indicates the likel.
Brit. J. Anaesth. (1968), 40, 415 EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE BREAKDOWN OF EPONTOL: DETERMINATION OF PROPANIDED IN HUMAN SERUM

The concentration of propanidid in human serum was determined and was found to depend on the rate of injection. None was found 25 minutes after injection over a 20^second period. Propanidid passed the placental barrier, the umbilical vein concentration depending on the dose injected. Serum cholinesterase was inhibited by propanidid both in vivo and in vitro; the red-cell esterase was also inhibited. The concentration in umbilical vein blood was highest in mothers with reduced cholinesterase activity. The duration of anaesthesia appears to be influenced by serum cholinesterase activity. In vitro, enzymatic hydrolysis in human serum was slow but occurred rapidly in purified concentrated cholinesterase. When suxamethonium was injected after Epontol the period of apnoea was increased and this is ascribed to enzyme inhibition. The e.e.g. was useful in determining the duration of anaesthesia. Prolongation of anaesthesia in subjects with low enzyme activity corresponded with the e.e.g. findings. Propanidid is bound to plasma proteins and it is recommended that a dose of 3-4 mg/kg of Epontol is sufficient for induction of anaesthesia in high-risk patients.
Variability of leaf characteristics in different pedunculate oak genotypes (Ouercus robur L)

The objective of this study was to determine genotype influences on pedunculate oak's leaf traits: leaf area, specific leaf area (leaf area per unit of leaf mass), concentration of photosynthetic pigments, rates of photosynthesis and respiration, and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and sodium). Leaf samples were taken from seventeen Q. robur genotypes originating from clonal seed orchard Banov Brod (Srem, Vojvodina, Serbia). Leaf area of the studied genotypes ranged from 248.4 to 628.8 cm2, SLA from 109.4 to 160.7 cm2 dry matter-1, rates of photosynthesis and respiration from 6.98 to 20.32 and from 6.73 to 14.65 µmol O2 m-2 s-1, respectively. The leaves of genotype 35 contained the highest concentration of photosynthetic pigments, while the lowest were recorded in genotype 29. The following pattern of nutrient concentrations was obtained for the studied genotypes: N>Ca>K>P>Na. Genotype variability of P K, Ca, and Na concentrations was more pronounced when compared with nitrogen. Estimated quantitative differences are the consequence of interaction of certain genotype and common environmental conditions for all trees. These results will provide information on intraspecific variation of the studied leaf characteristics.
Flavonoid dynamic responses to different drought conditions: amount, type, and localization of flavonols in roots and shoots of Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Flavonoids accumulate in plants in response to water deficit. Changes in amount, type, and localization of flavonoids under different drought conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana have not been well investigated. Therefore, in this study flavonoid patterns were investigated under water potentials of -0.2, -0.5, and -0.9 MPa at 0, 24, 48, 120, and 192 h after drought induction. Determination of amount and type of flavonoids was performed by HPLC and spectroscopy. In addition, localization of flavonoids was detected by DPBA staining and a fluorescent microscope. Only quercetin and kaempferol were detected in hydrolyzed extracts of roots and shoots. The maximum amounts of the above-mentioned flavonols were detected under severe drought stress. Under all drought conditions, there was more kaempferol than quercetin. Moreover, amounts of both flavonols and total flavonoids were greater in roots than in shoots. Different fluorescence intensities of the flavonoid-DPBA complex were observed in all seedlings from shoots to root tips. The results of this study suggest that flavonoid responses of Arabidopsis to drought stress are dynamic, and intensity and duration of drought stress could play a key role in determination of type, amount, and localization of flavonoids in response to different levels of water deficit.
Symposium : Food Fortification in Developing Countries The Economics of Food Fortification 1

This paper summarizes some of the literature on the cost effectiveness and cost benefit of food fortification with selected micronutrients most relevant for developing countries. Micronutrients covered include iron, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc. The main focus is on commercial fortification, although home fortification and biofortification are mentioned. Fortification with iron, vitamin A, and zinc averts significant numbers of infant and child deaths and is a very attractive preventive health-care intervention. Fortification with iron, iodine, and potentially zinc provides significant economic benefits and the low unit cost of food fortification ensures large benefit:cost ratios, with effects via cognition being very important for iron and iodine. Fortification will not reach all individuals and is most attractive as an investment where there is a convenient food vehicle, where processing is more centralized, and where either the deficiency is widespread or the adverse effects are very costly even though only a small group is affected. J. Nutr. 136: 1068–1071, 2006.
Isolation and description of keratinase producing marine actinobacteria from South Indian Coastal Region

A unique standard starch casein medium has been implemented for the isolation of actinobacteria from the south Indian marine sediments. A combination of techniques, morphological, physiological and biochemical tests provided the evidence for the isolated actinobacteria. All the 56 isolates were inoculated on milk agar and soya meal agar plates for the primary proteolytic screening and the proportional study was made by ANOVA. Among the 56 isolates, nine showed proteolytic activity in terms of making clear zone around their colony on the plates. Then, nine isolates were subjected to the secondary screening on feather broth where three isolates (IS -1, 2 and 18) showed degradation of feather between seven and ten days. The keratinolytic characters of crude enzymes were scrutinized by feather keratin as substrate and the protein concentration was determined. Then, the isolates were identified at molecular level by 16S rRNA gene amplification technique. Key words: Actinobacteria, keratinase, milk agar, soya meal agar, 16S rRNA gene amplification.