Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Barley-Legume Intercrop and Major Nutrients on Disease Frequency in an Organic Farming System

The effect of barley-legume intercrop in an organic farming system on disease incidence was investigated over two years. Two barley varieties were intercropped with lupin, faba bean or pea. Several diseases were observed: ascochyta blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes) on pea, brown leaf spot on lupin and chocolate spot (Botrytis) on bean. On barley net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), brown rust (Puccinia hordei) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) (in order of incidence) were detected. A general reduction in disease was observed in all intercrop systems compared to the corresponding monocrop, but the reduction was only statistically significant in the cases of brown leaf spot on lupin, ascochyta blight on pea and net blotch on barley. The above monocrop and intercrop systems were also grown with 50 kg N added as urea and monitored under the same field conditions. While the effects of the intercrop on disease were similar regardless of nitrogen application, the presence of added nitrogen increased disease levels. Subsequently glasshouse experiments on the effect of the availability of N, P or K disease resistance mechanisms were set up. Barley was grown under different nutrient conditions (minus N, P or K). Plants were infected with powdery mildew at the third leaf stage. Initial results showed that plants depleted of nitrogen had increased resistance to the fungus (effective at penetration). Absence of phosphorous appeared to increase penetration of powdery mildew but the resulting colonies were smaller than control. Depletion of K appeared to increase fungal penetration
Whole Grains and the Gluten-Free Diet

INTRODUCTION Grains, the edible portions of cereal grasses in the Gramineae family, have been an indispensable source of food for millennia (Table 1). Botanically, grains are complete fruits, containing both the fruit and seed of the plant. The term whole grain is generally used to refer to a grain or grain product that contains all three of its main parts (endosperm, bran and germ), either intact, or in the same relative proportion as the original grain. The outer protective layer of the grain, known as the bran, contains fiber and a large percentage of the B vitamins. The germ is actually the embryo of the seed and contains unsaturated fat, vitamin E, some protein, minerals and B vitamins. The endosperm is designed to function as the food supply for the germ and therefore is made up mostly of carbohydrate and protein with some B vitamins. Since the bran and most of the germ are removed during the refining and milling of grains, the majority of fiber, mineral and vitamin content are lost. Other beneficial phytonutrients such as lignans, phytoestrogens and phenolic compounds are removed as well. Historically, the invention of the roller mill allowed for more efficient separation of the germ, bran and THE CELIAC DIET, SERIES #2
The effect of stage of cycle, oestrous synchronisation method and large follicles on superovulatory response in Merino ewes.

Superovulatory response to a single injection of PMSG (300ui) and of oFSH (3.6mg Ovagen®) given at either day 11, 16 or 18 after ovulation and a 7 day CIDR-G® or 30mg FGA sponge treatment was studied in Merino ewes. Follicle populations just before the administration of exogenous gonadotrophin and total ovarian response to treatment at day 5 of the next cycle were determined using transrectal ultrasound and laparoscopy respectively. The stage of the cycle had no significant effect on follicle population at the time of superovulation treatment or superovulatory response. Compared to FGA sponges, CIDR-G treatment reduced the number of 4-5mm follicles (2.83 ± 0.89 vs. 1.0 ± 0.3, P<0.05), the incidence of ewes with follicles •4mm (100% vs. 50%, P<0.05) and tended to increase superovulatory response (6.3 ± 3.7 vs. 10.3 ± 3.5, P<0.1). Ewes were classified according to the absence (n=4) and the presence (n=17) of a large follicle (•4mm diameter) at the time of superovulation treatment. Ewes without a large follicle had higher superovulatory response (13.8 ± 2.7 vs. 5.0 ± 1.3, P<0.05) and tended to have lower numbers of anovulatory follicles (0.5 ± 0.7 vs. 1.8 ± 0.3, P<0.1). These results suggest that the presence of a large follicle at the time of exogenous gonadotrophin treatment reduces superovulatory response in ewes and that the incidence of such follicles may be reduced by the use of a 7 day CIDR-G treatment.
Mechanical performance of adhesively bonded repairs in honeycomb composite sandwich structures

This paper describes the static performance of adhesively bonded repairs on sandwich panels made with carbon-epoxy composite skins and a Nomex core. First, the mechanical behavior of pristine and repaired panels under tensile loading was studied. All tests were conducted under room temperature conditions. Then finite element analyses were performed to predict the repaired panel’s behavior. Two material models were developed for the adhesive film: one is linear elastic and the second is elastic-plastic with a shear failure criterion. For the composite skins, an orthotropic linear elastic model was used. Numerical model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. It was found also that the strength recovery of the repaired structure increases with the decrease of the scarf angle.
Herbivory affects patterns of plant reproductive effort and seed production

Insect floral herbivory can dramatically reduce plant reproductive success. Thus, plants should have evolved mechanisms that minimize the effect of insect herbivores, particularly in monocarpic species that must maximize fitness in a single flowering year. Tolerance is one such mechanism; however, few experiments to date evaluate underlying mechanisms of plant tolerance under natural conditions. We compared plant seed production by the monocarpic Cirsium canescens (Platte thistle) in control (undamaged) plants versus plants with damage imposed upon the apical, flower head. We hypothesized that C. canescens would tolerate damage to its large, early, apical flower head by increasing reproductive effort in subsequent flower heads, compensating for potential fitness loss under herbivore pressure during its final, fatal, flowering season. In addition, we examined the consequences of each damage treatment in plants with versus without experimentally reduced subsequent floral herbivory. We found that plants under ambient herbivory (unprotected subsequent heads) undercompensated for the loss of apical seed production; total plant seed set was lower when the large apical flower head was damaged. However, when insect herbivory was reduced on the later flower heads, significant compensation for apical seed loss occurred. The compensation reflected greater seed maturation by later flower heads, rather than greater subsequent flower head production, indicating that the total number of flower heads was constrained. These results provide the first analysis of plant mechanisms that reduce the effects of insect floral herbivores on C. canescens, a well-studied species in which the local
New symbiotic associations involving polynoids (Polychaeta, Polynoidae) from Atlantic waters, with redescriptions of Parahololepidella greeffi (Augener, 1918) and Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae (Fauvel, 1913)

Britayev, T.A. , Gil, J., Altuna, Á. , Calvo, M. and Martín, D. 2014. New symbiotic associations involving polynoids (Polychaeta, Polynoidae) from Atlantic waters, with redescriptions of Parahololepidella greeffi (Augener, 1918) and Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae (Fauvel, 1913). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 71: 27–43. Different circumstances such as sampling methodology, sample sorting or taxa distribution among different experts often lead symbiotic associations to remain hidden and the mode of life of the involved partners are either not defined or directly reported as free living. This was apparently the case of Parahololepidella, a genus proposed by Pettibone (1969) to include Hololepidella greeffi Augener, 1918, reported as free-living from shallow waters off São Tomé and Cabo Verde Islands (W Africa). In this paper, we report for the first time the symbiotic status of P. greeffi (Augener, 1918), which lives in association with the antipatharian Tanacetipathes cf. spinescens (Gray, 1857), based on new materials collected in São Tomé Island. In addition to the originally described features, the species is characterized by a variable presence of cephalic peaks and by an irregular distribution of elytra from segment 32-33, which may be asymmetrical (within the same individual) and differ between individuals. A list of all known polychaete species associated with antipatharian corals is also provided. We also report new findings of Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae (Fauvel, 1913) from deep waters of the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, living in association with the octocorals Candidella imbricata (Johnson, 1862) (first report for the Spanish waters) and Corallium niobe Bayer, 1964. The diagnosis of Gorgoniapolynoe is emended and we suggest that G. corralophila (Day, 1960) should be referred to a different genus and that G. pelagica Pettibone, 1991a should be considered as nomen dubium. The Iberian G. caeciliae fits well with the re-description by Pettibone (1991a), except for the presence of clavate papillae on dorsal cirri, which were neither mentioned nor figured in previous descriptions.
Agronomical, genetical and developmental characterization of fs6.4: a Quantitative Trait Locus controlling melon fruit shape 1

The genetic control of melon fruit shape is complex. Recently, several Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) affecting melon fruit shape have been identified using an introgression line population derived from the cross between a Cucumis melo 'Piel de Sapo' cultivar and the Korean accession PI 161375 'Songwan Charmi' (SC). One of these QTLs, fs6.4, was selected for further genetical and developmental characterization. The SC allele of fs6.4 induces round fruit by limiting the longitudinal development of the fruit. Its mode of gene action is largely additive, showing low interactions with environment, genetic background or when combined with other fruit shape QTLs. Its chromosomal position could be narrowed to the central part of Linkage Group VI, breaking the linkage with a fruit weight QTL located in the same linkage group. Flower development analysis showed that the QTL determines the fruit shape in the very first stages of the flower development, just few hours after the appearance of the flower bud. These results set up the basis for the molecular characterization of the gene underlying fs6.4.
A comprehensive and quantitative comparison of text-mining in 15 million full-text articles versus their corresponding abstracts

Across academia and industry, text mining has become a popular strategy for keeping up with the rapid growth of the scientific literature. Text mining of the scientific literature has mostly been carried out on collections of abstracts, due to their availability. Here we present an analysis of 15 million English scientific full-text articles published during the period 1823–2016. We describe the development in article length and publication sub-topics during these nearly 250 years. We showcase the potential of text mining by extracting published protein–protein, disease–gene, and protein subcellular associations using a named entity recognition system, and quantitatively report on their accuracy using gold standard benchmark data sets. We subsequently compare the findings to corresponding results obtained on 16.5 million abstracts included in MEDLINE and show that text mining of full-text articles consistently outperforms using abstracts only.
Study on fertilising capacity of frozen fowl spermatozoa as influenced by different treatments, period of semen storage and insemination time

White Leghorn hens were artificially inseminated at 13 and 16 hours with differently treated frozen semen stored over different periods. Lake's diluent with 11 per cent glycerol was effective for prolonged cryopreservation of fowl semen. The Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) with 4 per cent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) combination gave best total hatchability. Gentamicin supplementation is essential to improve the semen quality, fertility and hatchability. For optimal semen quality, fertility, hatchability, economy and simplicity the semen should be diluted 1:4, using modified BPSE with 4 per cent DMSO and gentamicin, stored upto 60 days and inseminated at 16 hours. Lake's diluent with 4 per cent DMSO and gentamicin could also be tried with equal efficiency and economy.
Adverse effects of tributyltin on reproduction of Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes (Special papers for organotin in aquatic environment organotin pollution has still been continued: summary of new findings organotin pollution: the remaining issues)

T ributyltin (TBT) is a typical endocrine disruptor that can induce imposex in mollusks and interfere with the reproduc- tion in bivalves and fish. Our group has been studied the toxic effects of TBT using Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism, and evaluated the effects on reproduction and behavior of medaka exposed to TBT. A series of our studies has demonstrated that TBT suppresses mating behavior in male and depresses fertility. We also observed that TBT exposure causes abnormalities in embryonic development, such as eye deformity, decreased hatchability and swim-up failure, but does not affect sexual development in the progenies from TBT-exposed fish. Furthermore, TBT alters not only the mating behavior but also other general, non-sexual, behaviors. Since behavioral abnormalities may influence individual survivability or populational structure, we believe that it is necessary to evaluate the effects of environmental pollutants on animal behaviors. In addition, the developmental toxicity of TBT was enhanced by co-exposure to PCBs, even when their exposure levels were below the no-ob- served-effect concentrations of the individual chemicals. Mixture toxicity of environmental contaminants is an emerging issue. It is quite important to emphasize and evaluate mixture toxicities of contaminants at environmentally relevant levels.
Spreading and Focal Contact Formation of Human Melanoma Cells in Response to the Stimulation of Both Melanoma-associated Proteoglycan (NG2) and α4β1 Integrin

Abstract In this study, we evaluated the potential role for a specific melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein, termed NG2, to collaborate with α4β1 integrin in focal contact formation in human melanoma cells. Although melanoma cells adhered to substrata coated with either the α4β1 integrin binding fibronectin synthetic peptide CS1-OVA or anti-NG2 mAbs, no spreading or focal contact formation was observed on either substratum. However, melanoma cells spread and formed focal contacts on “chimeric substrata” coated with CS1-OVA and the anti-NG2 mAb, 9.2. 27, indicating that engaging both adhesion receptors changes the adhesion phenotype of melanoma cells by reorganizing the cytoskeleton. The collaboration between the two receptors is specific to fibronectin, since cells adherent on substrata coated with low concentrations of either laminin and 9.2. 27 or type IV collagen and 9.2. 27 falled to spread, while cells adherent on low concentrations of fibronectin and 9.2. 27 exhibited a fully spread morphology. Two selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and herbimycin A, totally inhibited cell spreading on the substrata coated with CS1-OVA and 9.2. 27, indicating that tyrosine kinase(s) is important for cell spreading and focal contact formation. When cells were cultured on substrata coated with CS1-OVA and 9.2. 27, two proteins ( M r 130,000 and 120,000) were tyrosine phosphorylated in a genistein- and herbimycin A-sensitive fashion. These proteins were not immunologically related to pp125 FAK or α4β1 integrin. Importantly, when melanoma cells were cultured on substrata coated with CS1 and then stimulated with 9.2. 27-conjugated microsphere beads, formation of focal contacts and stress fibers was also observed, indicating that NG2 can collaborate with α4β1 integrin when each receptor is engaged on distinct and separate substrata. These results demonstrate that NG2 acts as a coreceptor for spreading and focal contact formation in association with α4β1 integrin in melanoma cells and suggest a model in which the NG2 core protein communicates to α4β1 integrin by an inside-out signaling mechanism.
A Dated Phylogeny Complements Macroecological Analysis to Explain the Diversity Patterns in Geonoma (Arecaceae)

Integrating phylogenetic data into macroecological studies of biodiversity patterns may complement the information provided by present‐day spatial patterns. In the present study, we used range map data for all Geonoma (Arecaceae) species to assess whether Geonoma species composition forms spatially coherent floristic clusters. We then evaluated the extent to which the spatial variation in species composition reflects present‐day environmental variation vs. nonenvironmental spatial effects, as expected if the pattern reflects historical biogeography. We also examined the degree of geographic structure in the Geonoma phylogeny. Finally, we used a dated phylogeny to assess whether species richness within the floristic clusters was constrained by a specific historical biogeographic driver, namely time‐for‐diversification. A cluster analysis identified six spatially coherent floristic clusters, four of which were used to reveal a significant geographic phylogenetic structure. Variation partitioning analysis showed that 56 percent of the variation in species composition could be explained by spatial variables alone, consistent with historical factors having played a major role in generating the Geonoma diversity pattern. To test for a time‐for‐diversification effect, we correlated four different species richness measures with the diversification time of the earliest large lineage that is characteristic of each cluster. In support of this hypothesis, we found that geographic areas with higher richness contained older radiations. We conclude that current geographic diversity patterns in Geonoma reflect the present‐day climate, but to a larger extent are related to nonenvironmental spatial constraints linked to colonization time, dispersal limitation, and geological history, followed by within‐area evolutionary diversification.
Towards understanding the role of temperature in apple fruit growth responses in three geographical regions within New Zealand

Summary The influence of temperature on growth of ‘Royal Gala’ apples on MM.106 rootstock was studied using trees from one site in each of three regions of New Zealand (Canterbury, Hawkes Bay and Nelson) over three consecutive seasons. Temperatures were recorded as hourly means over each season. Growing degree day accumulation with a base of 10°C (GDD10) and 5°C (GDD5) were calculated, commencing at pollination. Crop loads were established at bloom to a very low level to minimize competition between fruit and provide a clear response of fruit growth to environmental conditions. Some trees were shaded with 70% shadecloth for 7 d beginning either 60 d after pollination (DAP) or 90 DAP. In the third season, other trees were thinned to a medium crop load to compare their fruit growth with that from trees bearing low crop loads. There was a highly significant correlation between GDD10 at 30 DAP and time from pollination to harvest (r2 = 0.96). On the low crop load trees, fruit weight at 50 d was closely correlated with GDD10 accumulated over the 50 DAP (r2 = 0.71). Furthermore fruit weight at 50 DAP was also significantly correlated with fruit weight at harvest (r2 = 0.68). These results support an hypothesis that a potential maximum fruit size is set by about 50 DAP, determined by total fruit cell number, resulting from a temperature-responsive cell division growth phase. Under conditions of no limitations after the cell division phase, all fruit cells would expand to their optimum size to provide the maximum fruit weight achievable for that cell number. Factors which limited carbohydrate availability, such as higher crop loads and shading of trees, reduced final fruit size. In this study, shading for 7 d at 90 DAP did not reduce final fruit size and shading at 60 DAP reduced final fruit size only in some cases. Differences in fruit weight at harvest induced by low and high crop loads were expressed only at the sites that achieved large fruit weight in that season and experienced greatest early season GDD10 accumulation (Hawkes Bay, Nelson). In a cooler region (or season), represented by Canterbury in this example, a fruit weight response to crop load was much less apparent. Ideas towards developing a practical methodology for predicting fruit weight at harvest are discussed.
Observations on the exploitation of penaeid prawn resources in the Palk Bay off Mandapam during 1986 - '93

The penaeid prawns contributed to 16.70% of the total trawl landings at Mandapam during 1986-'93. Out of the ten species represented in the catch, four species namely Penaeus semisulcatus, Metapenaeopsis stridulans, Trachypenaeus pescadoreensis and Metapenaeus burkenroadi supported the fishery throughout the year. Contributing to over 50%, P. semisulcatus was the dominant species, followed by M. stridulans. Over the years a gradual decline of P.semisulcatus in the species percentage composition and a steady increase of that of M. stridulans was observed. The change in the species composition during 1986-'93 has been discussed. May to August was the peak season for the fishery. Two peak seasons, one during May-August and the other during November-December were observed for P. semisulcatus. The annual fishing effort fluctuated between 3,54,055 and 6,48,513 hours with an average of 4,90,361 hours. The annual prawn catch ranged from 561 to 1,065.8 t, the average annual catch being 703.5 t. The annual catch per hour ranged from 0.8 to 2 kg. The MSY and corresponding optimum fishing effort was 726.2 t and 5,61,415 hours respectively.