Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing farmers' adoption of adaptation measures towards climate change and variability in distress prone districts of Vidarbha

This paper analyses the various factors that had influenced the adoption of adaptation measures by the farmers in response to climate change and variability in distress prone districts of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. The data used in the analysis were obtained through face to face interviews of 300 farmers in 10 villages scattered over 5 tahsils of 2 highly farmers' suicide prone districts in 2012. Influence of 27 independent variables on the adoption of adaptation measures (dependent variable) was studied. The results of regression analysis indicated that the t- value for partial b of adaptive capacity (3.098) was significant. All the 27 variables fitted in a regression equation accounted for 75.30% (R2 = 0.753) variation in adoption of adaptation measures. Regression analysis further revealed that annual income, perception towards climate change, extension contact, farming experience and social participation were the major factors influencing adoption of adaptation measures. Use of different adaptation measures significantly increase for farmers under study area with more access to these factors. Designing policies that aims to improve these factors for small holder farming systems have great potential to improve farmers' adaptation to changes in climate and variability in the region.
Microbial surface-active substances as antiadhesive agents

Surfactants synthesized by microorganisms (MS) are widely used in different branches of industry. The applying of microbial surfactants in biology and medicine as an alternative to synthetic disinfectants or drugs is promising due to their antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties. MS are amphiphilous compounds that lower the surface and interfacial tension in liquids. Due to the advantages of MS over their synthetic analogues (biodegradability, lack of toxicity, stability of physicochemical properties in a wide range of temperatures and pH), as well as their unique biological properties, these substances keep attracting more and more interest [1]. Thus MS have already been tried and shown promise in petroleum production and mining, in chemical and food industries, in agriculture, and in nature-friendly technologies for environmental remediation [2]. In 2011, a review of practical applying of MS for biology and medicine [3] analyzed their antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal) and anti-adhesive activities, as well as the possibility of using these products of microbial synthesis for therapeutic purposes. In 2014, Mulligan et al. published a monograph [4] summarizing the information on microbial biosurfactants, including their anti-adhesive properties. Since 1990s, microbial biosurfactants have been massively studied as alternatives for the preparations that disrupt biofilms on various materials used in medicine and in food industry. Microorganisms colonizing surfaces are known to be a fairly dangerous phenomenon, resulting in spoilage of food and facilitating the spread of infectious diseases. Many studies proved the possibility of using inorganic (for example, silver [5]) and other chemical substances (ellagic acid, esculetin, fisetin [6]) to prevent adhesion, antibiotics and bacteriophage therapy [7] to fight various infections. However, emergence of resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics and other biocides, and the high costs of methods of adhesion prevention and biofilm disruption stimulated the search of new substances with necessary properties. Compared to accepted anti-adhesive agents, MS have a range of advantages [1–4]: – they do not pollute the environment, since they are biodegradable; – they do not induce allergic reactions, because are non-toxic;; – because they are can be used in various environmental conditions due to stable physicochemical properties; – their highly specific mechanisms of action prevent the emergence of resistant microorganisms. UDC 759.873. 088.5:661.185 http://dx.doi. org/10.15407/biotech9.03. 007
A quantitative morphologic study on age changes in the histologic structures of the human submandibular gland

: One hundred and nine samples of human submandibular glands were studied by quantitative morphometric methods. All of the samples in this study were removed during operations. According to the age distribution of patients, 109 samples were divided into the young (less than 25 years), the adult (25-44 years), the elderly (45-59 years) and the aged (greater than or equal to 60 years). The results had shown that the amount of the proportional volume of parenchymal cells, comparing with that of the young, decreased 23 percent in the aged, the proportional volume of acini tissue decreased 31.2%, the proportional volume of the fat and fibrous tissues increased 2.0 and 0.8 times, respectively. The relationship between aging and changes of the proportional volume of parenchymal cells, duct cells, fat and fibrous tissues in human submandibular glands were discussed.
Nitrogen Fertilization Strategies for the ‘Hass’ Avocado that Increase Total Yield Without Reducing Fruit Size

of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application times and rates on ‘Hass’ avocado ( Persea americana ) yield and fruit size were determined to resolve whether a single dose of soil-applied N [1x N (25 lb/acre)] at each of the ﬁve key stages of tree phenology (January, April, July, August, and November) (control) was as efﬁcacious as soil-applied 2x N (50 lb/acre) at one or two key stages or soil- or foliar-applied 3x N (75 lb/acre) at only one stage. All trees received soil-applied N at 125 lb/acre as ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) annually; trees receiving 2x or 3x N received the remaining N divided evenly at the same phenological stages (months) as trees receiving ﬁve 1x N applications. The importance of supplying N during the summer, when June drop, exponential fruit growth, vegetative shoot growth, and ﬂoral initiation occur, was determined by testing soil-applied 0.8x N in July plus August only (40 lb/acre N as NH 4 NO 3 annually). Application time proved an important determinant of total yield. Yield of commercially valuable size (CVS) fruit was correlated with total yield ( r = 0.80, P < 0.0001). Four-year cumulative total yields were equal for trees receiving soil-applied 1x N at ﬁve key phenological stages and trees receiving soil-applied 2x N in April and 18.75 lb/acre N at the four other stages (months). However, trees receiving soil-applied 2x N in April plus November and only 8.3 lb/acre N in the three other months, in particular July and August, had signiﬁcantly lower 4-year cumulative total yields ( P = 0.0362). Additional evidence of the importance of meeting avocado tree N demand in the summer is that trees
Molecularly Diagnostic of Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus Isolated from Nuts

Aflatoxigenic fungi like Aspergillus spp. , commonly contaminants food, which has different methods to detect their presence. The early detection of food contaminants is quite significant to prevent the hazard on the human health and economic. This study aims to detect the isolation and diagnosis of the companying fungi from some nuts that are available in local markets of Babylon province (Iraq) and explore their ability to produce aflatoxins. The Aspergillus spp. , was the most common, followed by each of the Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. The results from isolation and diagnosis of this study showed that Aspergillus flavus was the most visible fungus in all kinds of examined nuts. The highest rate of appearance for this fungus was in pistachios, reaching 70%, whereas the rest of kinds of nuts ranged between 60-10%. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique was utilized for the diagnosis of A. flavus by using a special primer. In this study, the PCR technique was used for the detection of Aflatoxigenic A. flavus and ammonia chemical detection was used to compare this technique.
Assessment of weed and crop fitness in cover crop residues for integrated weed management

Cover crop residues are not widely used for weed control because, as a stand-alone tactic, they do not effectively suppress all weeds and their duration of weed control is too short. Field experiments were conducted in 1995 and 1996, under both irrigated and rainfed conditions, to quantify Amaranthus spp. , Setaria spp. , and soybean emergence and growth in residues of fall-planted, spring-killed barley, rye, triticale, wheat, and hairy vetch. For both weed species, seedling emergence was reduced 3 wk after soybean planting by rye and wheat residues (≥ 2, 170 kg ha−1) in 1996. In 1996, Amaranthus spp. canopy volume was reduced 38 to 71% by residues 3 wk after planting. Likewise, Setaria spp. canopy biomass was reduced 37 to 97% in residues 5 wk after planting over both years. The response comparison index was used to identify frequency by which weed growth was placed at a disadvantage relative to soybean growth. Amaranthus spp. and Setaria spp. growth suppressions 3 to 5 wk after planting indicate potential times for intervention with other integrated weed management tactics such as reduced postemergence herbicide rates and interrow cultivation.
Numerical and RAPD Analysis of Eight Cowpea Genotypes from Nigeria

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp is one of the world’s main legumes and is an important source of plant protein in human diet as well as a good cover crop. The wealth of any germplasm is measured in terms of the genetic variability. Hence, numerical tools such as single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) have been used to determine the extent of variability. This study was conducted to determine the performance, character contribution as well as variation pattern in eight cowpea genotypes collected in Nigeria. Field evaluations were carried out in June and September, 2015 and also molecular studies. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple range test was used to separate significant means at 5% probability level. Molecular data were subjected to NTSYS-pc software. Genotype IT98K-573-1-1 had the highest 100-seed weight (26.06g) and seed weight per plant (36.00g). The first three PCA had eigen values greater than one and accounted for 75.48% cumulative variance. Pod length, 100-seed weight and seed weight per plant contributed significantly to the overall variation observed in the genotypes. The agro-morphological and molecular dendrograms grouped the genotypes into four and three groups, respectively with genotype IT98K- 73-1- 1 clearly distinguished by the molecular dendrogram. Knowledge of the character contribution as well as variation pattern will assist plant breeders in the choice of parents for hybridization in future breeding programmes. Key words : cowpea, genotype, dendrogram, PCA, SLCA
Bird composition of oak ecosystem fragments in an urbanized setting: The influence of adjacent coniferous forest fragments1

Abstract: Bird composition of habitat fragments in urban areas is expected to be associated with adjacent landscape and with smaller-scale factors within fragments. This study investigated the bird assemblage of coastal oak (Quercus garryana) fragments in British Columbia, Canada adjacent to either coniferous forest or urban development. Effect of habitat type (oak, conifer, urban) and local habitat differences (tree volume, shrub cover, grass cover) on the composition of the bird assemblage was also determined. During the 2000 breeding season, birds were surveyed in a 50-m fixed-radius point count at stations along two transects within each habitat type. Bird assemblages were most different between forest and urban habitat. The bird composition of oak fragments fell in between. Within oak, most birds fell into one of three groupings: 1) associated with conifer trees within oak fragments adjacent to coniferous forest, 2) associated with oak, an invasive alien shrub (Cytisus scoparius), and grass, within oak fragments adjacent to coniferous forest, and 3) associated with snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) in oak fragments adjacent to urbanization. The results indicate that the type of adjacent habitat and tree composition in oak fragments are significant factors associated with oak bird assemblages. Future shifts in species composition are possible as the region becomes more urbanized and coniferous trees encroach into remaining oak habitat.
Genetic polymorphism of HSP70, LHR, LEPR genes and selective minerals status in postpartum anestrous buffaloes

Title of thesis : Genetic polymorphism of HSP70, LHR, LEPR genes and selective minerals status in postpartum anestrous Buffaloes Name of the degree holder : Dr. Rajesh Kumar Admission number : 2009V97D Title of degree : Doctorate of Veterinary Sciences Name and address of Major Advisor : Dr. Meenakshi Gupta , Professor & Head Department of Veterinary Physiology LLRUVAS, Hisar 125004, Haryana, India Degree awarding University : Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Year of award of degree : 2013 Major subject : Veterinary Physiology Minor subject : Animal Production Physiology Total number of pages in thesis : 64+xii+V Number of words in the abstract : Approximately 720
The Hubbard model description of the TCNQ related singular features in photoemission of TTF-TCNQ

In this paper we use the pseudofermion dynamical theory (PDT) to study the singular spectral features due to one-electron removal within the one-dimensional Hubbard model. The PDT reveals that in the whole (k, ω)-plane such features are of the power-law type and correspond to well defined lines of three types: charge singular branch lines, spin singular branch lines and border lines. One of our goals is the study of the momentum and energy dependence of the distribution of the spectral weight in the vicinity of such lines. We find that the charge and spin branch lines correspond to the main tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) peak dispersions observed with angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in the quasi-1D organic conductor tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ). Our expressions refer to all values of the electronic density and on-site repulsion U. The weight distribution in the vicinity of the singular spectral lines is fully controlled by the overall pseudofermion phase shifts. Moreover, the shape of these lines is determined by the bare-momentum dependence of the pseudofermion energy dispersions.
Fungal wood decomposer activity induces niche separation between two dominant tree species seedlings regenerating on coarse woody material

Decomposition subsystems have an essential role in forest dynamics but few studies demonstrate the effect of microbial decay traits on seedling regeneration. In the present study, we focused on seedling regeneration on coarse woody material (CWM), which is an important regeneration site for forest tree species, and the effects of wood decay type according to fungal decay preference for wood structural components on seedling colonization. Effects of log properties including wood decay type and other environmental variables on seedling density were evaluated by ordination methods and generalized linear models. In total, 22 woody species were recorded as seedlings on Pinus densiflora logs. By ordination analysis, white rot in heartwood and brown rot in sapwood, as well as canopy openness and log diameter, showed significant association with seedling communities. The factors selected for a generalized linear model for explaining seedling densities of the two dominant seedling species Cryptomeria japonica and .
CURRENT CONCEPTS / CONCEPTS COURANT

The dogma that the adult brain produces no new neurons has been overturned, but the critics are still asking, so what? Is adult neurogenesis a biologically relevant phenomenon, or is it perhaps harmful because it disrupts the ex - isting neuronal circuitry? Considering that the phenomenon is evolutionarily conserved in all mammalian species exam- ined to date and that its relevance has been well documented in non-mammalian species, it seems self-evident that neurogenesis in adult mammals must have a role. In birds, it has been established that neurogenesis varies dramatically with seasonal changes in song production. In chickadees, the learning behaviour related to finding stored food is also correlated with seasonal adult neurogenesis. Such studies are still nonexistent in mammals, but the related evidence suggests that neurogenesis does vary seasonally in hamsters and shows sexual differences in meadow voles. To promote studies on natural populations asking fundamental questions of the purpose and function of neurogenesis, we organized a Workshop on "Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Natural Populations" in Toronto in May 2000. The Workshop high- lighted recent discoveries in neurogenesis from the lab, and focused on its functional consequences. The consensus at the Workshop was that demonstration of a role for neurogenesis in natural behaviours will ultimately be essential if we are to understand the purpose and function of neurogenesis in humans.
Establishing an association between molecular markers and sheath blight ('Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn') resistance in rice

The use of multiple regression analysis to validate molecular markers associated with sheath blight resistance was carried out in 73 germplasm accessions of rice. Data on disease reaction was recorded as lesion size and used for calculation of AUDPC (Area Under Disease Progress Curve) and Percent Disease Index (PDI). A variation in AUDPC ranging from 217.78 to 793.33 with a mean value of 532.51 was recorded for the genotypes infected with sclerotia. PDI ranged from 28.89 to 84.44 with the mean values of 55.40 for infected lines. The AUDPC and PDI values for resistant check Tetep were found to be 432.70 and 45.22, respectively. Higher AUDPC and PDI values serve as an indication for susceptibility towards the disease reaction. The PIC value for the SSR loci varied from 0.225 to 0.743 with an average value of 0.47. Markers RM336, RM209, RM251 and RM224 were most informative on the basis of their high PIC values. UPGMA clustering based on molecular data and AUDPC were found to be in good agreement with each other. Twenty five germplasm accessions were grouped as common in cluster I of dendrogram generated by all alleles, cluster I of dendrogram constructed by Tetep specific alleles, and clusters I and II of the AUDPC dendrogram. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the two markers RM251175 and RM257150 may be considered as markers for association with low disease index (resistance to sheath blight) in rice. Amongst the germplasm accessions, IC383396 and IC426017 behaved as potentially resistant to sheath blight.
Research article MYCOPARASITISM OF TRICHODERMA SPP. ON RHIZOCTONIA BATATICOLA, THE CAUSAL AGENT OF DRY ROOT ROT OF CHICKPEA

Mode of parasitism between Trichoderma and Rhizoctonia bataticola was examined under a microscope. Formation of several loops and coiling around the hyphae of pathogen, forming a thick compact rope like structure followed by rupturing, twisting and leakage of hyphal protoplasm, air bubbling inside the cytoplasm, breaking of cytoplasmic continuity, aggregation of cytoplasm within cell leading to severe vacoulation were observed at later phase of interaction.
Ionization of sputtered material in a planar magnetron discharge

Emission spectra in the visible and near ultraviolet have been recorded for the magnetron sputtering of titanium by argon at pressures between 0.5 and 100 Pa. Intense emission lines from both atomic and ionic material were detected, and comparison of line intensities yielded an ionization fraction of over 10% and an electron temperature of the order of 1 eV for the sputtered material. The ionization fraction decreased with increasing magnetron power, and an optimal operating pressure was found for maximum ion content of the sputtered flux. Scaling laws of emission line intensity with magnetron power indicated the incomplete thermalization of sputtered metal with the sputtering plasma, and spatially resolved measurements of ionization profiles were used to investigate the transport and collisional ionization of sputtered material. Penning ionization of sputtered titanium by metastable argon was found to be the dominant ionization process, and the effect of diffusion of metastable argon was noted. Control of ion content in sputtered fluxes is of interest for the deposition of thin films and for metallization of semiconductors.
Efficacy of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens SH2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens RH43 isolates against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in kiwifruit

The Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. , are parasites of many crops and orchards, including kiwifruit trees. The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the leading kiwifruit producers in the world and M. incognita has been found as the dominant species responsible for severe loss of this crop. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of antagonistic bacteria on larval mortality, number of galls per plant and egg masses of nematode reduction, fifty local bacterial strains were isolated from root surrounding soils of kiwifruit plants in the northern production areas in Iran. Bacterial antagonists were characterized by morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular methods. Two representative strains, showing the best nematicidal activity, were identified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens (isolate Sh2) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (isolate Rh43). They increased the percentage of larval mortality to 56.38% and 54.28% respectively in assays in vitro and showed excellent performance also in vivo with consistent reduction of number of galls (67.31% and 55.63%, respectively) and egg mass (86.46% and 84.29%, respectively) in plants. This study indicates that Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens isolate Sh2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate Rh43 are good potential biocontrol agents for containing root-knot nematodes in kiwifruit trees.
Bacterial β-glucan exhibits potent hypoglycemic activity via decrease of serum lipids and adiposity, and increase of UCP mRNA expression

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived β-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, 40% of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with 0% (high-fat control group), 1%, or 5% bacterial β-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet (11.7% fat). Supplementation with bacterial β-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial β-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the β-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by 5% bacterial β-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of 5% bacterial β-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.