Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of some mould inhibitors and herbal plants on mycotoxins production by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticilloides in vitro and in stored corn grains

Clove oil, clove extract and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) completely suppressed the growth of both Fusarium verticilloides and Aspergillus flavus isolates. Black cumin and thyme extracts were more suppressive on F. verticilloides than A. flavus. Antitox-Plus (AP) had no effect on the growth of both the pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test revealed that A. flavus was more sensitive to Fix-A-Tox (FAT) and AP than F. verticilloides. In the growth media, all the tested substances, completely suppressed the production of aflatoxins by A. flavus and significantly reduced fumonisins production by F. verticilloides, particularly clove oil and extract. Treatment of immature grains with the tested mould inhibitors prior to inoculation with A. flavus and F. verticilloides significantly reduced mycotoxins production at the end of the storage period; moreover, highest reduction rates were realised by BHA and FAT. Complete or highly significant suppression of aflatoxins in mature grains were obtained by all the tested herbal and synthetic mould inhibitors. Ground clove buds contained the highest carvacrol content, whereas thymol content was higher in thyme extract. Clove oil was rich in eugenol. Alpha-tocopherol content was higher in ground black cumin (BC), followed by BC oil. Unsaturated fatty acid content was higher in thyme extract and ground BC than saturated fatty acids. Linolenic acid was the most predominant fatty acid in BC oil and extract, whereas behenic and arachidic acids were detected only in BC oil. Stearic acid was the main fatty acid in clove oil and extract, whereas oleic acid was the prevailing fatty acid in thyme extract.
Transfer Learning Method Based on Adversarial Domain Adaption for Bearing Fault Diagnosis

At present, most of the intelligent fault diagnosis methods of rolling element bearings require sufficient labeled data for training. However, collecting labeled data is usually expensive and time-consuming, and when the distribution of the test data is different from the distribution of the training data, the diagnostic performance will decrease. In order to solve the problem of unlabeled cross-domain diagnosis of bearings, this paper proposes an adversarial domain adaption method based on deep transfer learning. The short-time Fourier transform is used to transform the original data into a time-frequency image. The feature extractor is used to extract its deep features. The maximum mean discrepancy and domain confusion function are used for domain adaptation to extract domain-invariant features between two domains for cross-domain fault diagnosis. Experiments on two bearing datasets are carried out for validations. The results prove that the method in this paper is superior to other deep transfer learning methods. It shows the advantages of the improved method and can be used as an effective tool for cross-domain fault diagnosis.
Dual-Band Beams Generation with Metasurface based on the EFIE

This paper investigates the generation of dual-band beams by modulated metasurface antennas. The developed technique combines a semi-separable model dependence of the sheet impedance (with respect to frequency and patch parameters) with the resolution of the electric field integral equation (EFIE). This allows us to express the impedance modulation at one frequency as a function of the modulation at the second frequency. Then, we can formulate the EFIE at both frequencies while referring to the surface impedance at a single frequency, still fully taking into account the frequency dispersion of the substrate. The method is illustrated through the synthesis of a circularly polarized conical beam and a broadside pencil beam at two different frequencies. Numerical validation with two different Method of Moments (MoM) codes is provided.
The Impact of Probiotic Administration on Clinical, Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Pregnant Sows

In general actual trend to avoid the use of antibiotics in order to stimulate the productivity in swine, the use of probiotics appears to be the most effective procedure with positive metabolic nutritional implications. The study was carried out on 125 pregnant sows divided in a Control Group, that received probiotic-free diet, and an Experimental Group, that received the same diet supplemented with Bioplus 2B probiotic. The high performance saws were raised in the same conditions of a closed farm. Blood samples were collected from each animal, at 80th (before experiment), 90th and 110th day of gestation for hematologic and biochemical test. The results laid out a slight increase in white blood cell count and important changes in serum globulins, alkaline phosphatase, immunoglobulin and lysozyme, indicating probiotic stimulated the immunity. Other important metabolic changes in the Experimental Group were: a significantly increasing in serum total protein, HDL cholesterol and a decreasing in serum cholesterol, total lipid and triglycerides. No serious hematologic changes were registered in sows after diet with Bioplus 2B. The positive metabolic nutrition impact of probiotic administration on pregnant sows is demonstrated by all these hematological and biochemical results.
Water Distribution Networks Model Identification using Artificial Neural Networks

This paper proposes a novel scheme for model identification of water distribution networks (WDNs) based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). Generally, a model consisting of a set of the non-linear equations is iteratively solved to determine the hydraulic parameters of the WDNs and the process is computationally cumbersome. In this work, ANNs are used to enable the determination of hydraulic parameters at less complex computations. The dataset for the training of the ANNs is generated by means of hundreds of hydraulic simulations based on the pressure driven model. The dataset is then sorted into two categories implying that 2 different ANNs structure has to be defined. The demands and the pressure heads at the nodes are used as the inputs and outputs respectively to the first ANN model. In the second, the flows in the co-tree branches of the graph are used the output to the ANN structure. The results in this work show that both types of defined ANNs may be used to identify the model of the water distribution network. However, the first ANN model has a better estimation capacity at high training requirement.
Controle genético da resistência à mancha-de-Phaeosphaeria em milho

The Phaeosphaeria leaf spot, of ample occurrence in Brazil, has been causing an expressive reduction in the corn yield in the country. Thus, the development of resistant hybrids to this disease is one of the main objectives of corn breeding programs. Information about the genetic control of resistance to the disease is necessary so that the programs can be efficient. The main goal of this study was to determine the genetic control of resistance to the Phaeosphaeria leaf spot in maize through the assessment of the generation means from two crossing between a resistant inbred line (DAS95 or DAS72) with a susceptible line (DAS21) under natural infection conditions of the disease. The experiment was carried out in Indianopolis (MG) in two sowen dates, October and November, 2000. The randomized blocks design with three repetitions was utilized. The evaluation to resistance was performed thirty days after the flowering using a diagrammatic scale of percentage of the total foliar tissue of the plant affected by the disease. Disease severity means of parental lines and generations F1, F2, RCP1 and RCP2 were analysed according to the model by MATHER & JINKS (1971). Genetic variation due to additive effects varied from 73% to 84% whilst dominant effects ranged from 13% to 23%. In both studied population, the predominance of gene additive over dominant effects was evidented. The inheritance values were high, varying from 61% to 88%. These results indicate favourable conditions to develop new resistance lines to Phaeosphaeria leaf spot with the studied populations.
Effect of Inoculum Density of Meloidogyne incognita and Plant Age on the Severity of Root-Knot Disease in Tomato

The influence of three initial inoculum densities (2000, 4000, 6000 of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita) and plant age on rootknot disease of tomato were studied in greenhouse. Significant reduction in the plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root was observed as initial inoculum level was increased. Comparatively little effect was observed on five weeks old nursery transplanted plants as compared to those 3 and 4 weeks old, where heavy losses to plants were observed. With the increase of initial inoculum densities, number of galls and egg masses increased.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING SELENITE REDUCTION BY A MIXED CULTURE

This study presents the results of batch experiments investigating selenite reduction by an enriched anaerobic mixed culture as a function of several environmental factors, including pH, temperature, different electron donors and acceptors, as well as initial selenite concentrations. The initial selenite reduction was a zero-order reaction and was inhibited at higher selenite concentrations (>33 mg Se/L). The optimal temperature/pH for microbial reduction occurred at 30°C and pH 7.2. Selenite reduction was affected in the presence of high concentrations of sulfate [45 times the Se(IV) molar concentration], significantly affected by nitrate [105 times the Se(IV) molar concentration], and completely inhibited by chromate and oxygen. Ethanol was the preferred carbon source for selenite removal, followed by acetate, citrate, lactate, and glucose. The selenite-acclimated culture also reduces selenate without any lag period.
New Approach Evaluating Peatland Fires in Indonesian Factors

Until 2018, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was used as an explanation for fires in Indonesia’s peatlands. However, when the 2019 fires occurred independently of El Niño, more suitable indicators and methods were required to (a) analyze, (b) evaluate and (c) forecast peatland fires. In this study, we introduced the OLR–MC index—one of the rain-related indices derived from OLR (outgoing longwave radiation) in MC (maritime continent) area in Indonesia. This index showed stronger correlation with active peatland fires than the conventional ENSO index, and is likely to be able to respond to heat and dry weather supposed to be under climate-change conditions. We then analyzed peatland fires in the top six fire years from 2002 to 2018 and showed that peatland fires occurred in three stages—surface fire, shallow peatland fire and deep peatland fire. To explain each stage, we proposed a one-dimensional groundwater level (GWL) prediction model (named as MODEL-0). MODEL-0 predicts GWL from daily rainfall. Analysis using MODEL-0 showed the GWL thresholds for the three fire stages were between -300 mm and -500 mm; peatland fire activities during the three fire stages were dependent on these GWL values. The validity of MODEL-0 was shown by comparison with the measured values of GWL in the top three fire years.
Taxonomy and phylogeography of Cardamine impatiens and C. pectinata (Brassicaceae)

The taxonomic position of Cardamine pectinata, a controversial taxon treated either as infraspecific to C. impatiens or as a separate species, was studied. Forty-nine populations were sampled and used in multivariate morphometric and molecular (amplified fragment length polymorphism) analyses. Our results showed that C. impatiens and C. pectinata represent two well-differentiated taxa in terms of both molecular and morphological data, and should be treated as two separate species. We present the taxonomic conspectus for both species, including the list of synonyms, information on type specimens, morphological descriptions, ecological characteristics, and distribution area. Type specimens for several names are designated here. The detailed geographical distribution of C. pectinata is presented based on the survey and revision of herbarium material. It covers the area from the Balkans through Turkey and the Caucasus to Iran. As an introduction to the phylogeography of both species, the distribution of genetic diversity within and between the studied populations and geographical regions was assessed. In C. pectinata, the highest genetic diversity was observed in northern Turkey, suggesting the location of glacial refugia along the Black Sea coast. Populations in Bulgaria were less diverse, and this area has most probably been colonized postglacially. C. impatiens, on the other hand, did not display clear phylogeographical structure, most probably as a result of the efficient spread and mixing between different colonization routes. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 152, 169–195.
In Vivo and In Vitro Analysis of Baculovirusie-2 Mutants

ABSTRACT Upon transient expression in cell culture, the ie-2gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) displays three functions: transactivation of viral promoters, direct or indirect stimulation of virus origin-specific DNA replication, and arrest of the cell cycle. The ability of IE2 to trans stimulate DNA replication and coupled late gene expression is observed in a cell line derived fromSpodoptera frugiperda but not in a cell line derived fromTrichoplusia ni. This finding suggested that IE-2 may exert cell line-specific or host-specific effects. To examine the role of ie-2 in the context of infection and its possible influence on the host range, we constructed recombinants of AcMNPV containing deletions of different functional regions within ie-2 and characterized them in cell lines and larvae of S. frugiperda and T. ni. Theie-2 mutant viruses exhibited delays in viral DNA synthesis, late gene expression, budded virus production, and occlusion body formation in SF-21 cells but not in TN-5B1-4 cells. In TN-5B1-4 cells, the ie-2 mutants produced more budded virus and fewer occlusion bodies but the infection proceeded without delay. Examination of the effects of ie-2 and the respective mutants on immediate-early viral promoters in transient expression assays revealed striking differences in the relative levels of expression and differences in responses to ie-2 and its mutant forms in different cell lines. In T. ni and S. frugiperda larvae, the infectivities of the occluded form ofie-2 mutant viruses by the normal oral route of infection was 100- and 1,000-fold lower, respectively, than that of wild-type AcMNPV. The reduction in oral infectivity was traced to the absence of virions within the occlusion bodies. The infectivity of the budded form of ie-2 mutants by hemocoelic injection was similar to that of wild-type virus in both species. Thus,ie-2 mutants are viable but exhibit cell line-specific effects on temporal regulation of the infection process. Due to its effect on virion occlusion, mutants of IE-2 were essentially noninfectious by the normal route of infection in both species tested. However, since budded viruses exhibited normal infectivity upon hemocoelic injection, we conclude that ie-2 does not affect host range per se. The possibility that IE-2 exerts tissue-specific effects has not been ruled out.
Comparison of Different Cropland Classification Methods under Diversified Agroecological Conditions in the Zambezi River Basin

Having updated knowledge of cropland extent is essential for crop monitoring and food security early warning. Previous research has proposed different methods and adopted various datasets for mapping cropland areas at regional to global scales. However, most approaches did not consider the characteristics of farming systems and apply the same classification method in different agroecological zones (AEZs). Furthermore, the acquisition of in situ samples for classification training remains challenging. To address these knowledge gaps and challenges, this study applied a zone-specific classification by comparing four classifiers (random forest, the support vector machine (SVM), the classification and regression tree (CART) and minimum distance) for cropland mapping over four different AEZs in the Zambezi River basin (ZRB). Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 data and derived indices were used and synthesized to generate thirty-five layers for classification on the Google Earth Engine platform. Training samples were derived from three existing landcover datasets to minimize the cost of sample acquisitions over the large area. The final cropland map was generated at a 10 m resolution. The performance of the four classifiers and the viability of training samples were analysed. All classifiers presented higher accuracy in cool AEZs than in warm AEZs, which may be attributed to field size and lower confusion between cropland and grassland classes. This indicates that agricultural landscape may impact classification results regardless of the classifiers. Random forest was found to be the most stable and accurate classifier across different agricultural systems, with an overall accuracy of 84% and a kappa coefficient of 0.67. Samples extracted over the full agreement areas among existing datasets reduced uncertainty and provided reliable calibration sets as a replacement of costly in situ measurements. The methodology proposed by this study can be used to generate periodical high-resolution cropland maps in ZRB, which is helpful for the analysis of cropland extension and abandonment as well as intensity changes in response to the escalating population and food insecurity.
Breeding for FHB Resistance via Fusarium Damaged Kernels and Deoxynivalenol Accumulation as Well as Inoculation Methods in Winter Wheat

FHB is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat. Resistance testing depends strongly on inoculation methods, and on measured traits. Therefore a four-year (2009-2012) study was performed using spray inoculation + polyethylene (PE) bag cover, spray inoculation + mist irrigation, and spawn method supported by mist irrigation on 40 genotypes, 20 from Hungary and 20 from IFA Tulln, Austria. Each year four isolates were used in artificial inoculations except the spawn method where stalk debris served the inoculum. Visual Fusarium head blight (FHB) scores, Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination were checked. 7680 FHB and FDK, as well as 3840 DON analyses served as the background for the statistical evaluation. The most reliable method used was the spray + polyethylene (PE) bag; the other two were significantly poorer being valid for all traits. The FHB scores were the least reliable, whereas the FDK was much more consequent and the DON gave the best results. The FDK gave much better predictions for DON contamination than FHB. The cultivars responses correlated well at different epidemic severities. The presence of the kernel resistance was confirmed and a new trait as extra kernel susceptibility was described. Presence of DON resistance was confirmed again, and extra DON susceptibility was described as a new trait. DON performance varied on the most sensitive cultivar between 0.32 and 143 mg/kg (mean 17.52 mg/kg) and on the most resistant genotype between 0.00 and 18.19 mg/kg (mean 1.87 mg/kg). Correlations between stability and resistance level are r = 0.85 for FHB, 0.78 for FDK, and 0.88 for DON, all at a significance level of p = 0.001. The very close correlation between FDK and DON contamination (r = 0.81, p = 0.001) proves that control of DON contamination needs appropriate resistance. In the breeding program evaluation of FDK is the most important, and then DON will be decided. Variety registration must be updated; otherwise no improvement on the field will occur.
Characterization of hepatitis C virus infection of hepatocytes and astrocytes

s: Liu Z, He JJ. Cell-cell contact-mediated hepatitis C virus infection and its requirement for HCV receptors. The 31 Annual American Society for Virology Meeting, Madison, 7/217/25, 2012. Zhan J, Ding B, Ma R, Ma X, Su X, Zhao Y, Liu Z, Wu J, Liu H. Extensible Logic Circuits in Bacteria. The 4 International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition, Boston, Nov, 2007.
Variação espacial da estrutura da comunidade arbórea de um fragmento de floresta semidecídua em Piedade do Rio Grande, MG, Brasil

A survey of the tree community, topography and soils of a fragment of tropical semideciduous forest was carried out with the objective of assessing alleged correlations between the variations in community structure and species composition and variations in edge effect and soil water regime and chemical fertility. The fragment (30 ha of area) is situated at 21o29'03" S and 44o06'05" W, in Piedade do Rio Grande, Minas Gerais State, SE Brazil. A topographic survey and a detailed soil classification were accomplished in the forest area. Individual trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 5 cm were sampled in 30 plots with 400 m2, 12 of which were placed at the forest edges and 18 in the forest interior. Samples of surface soil (0-20 cm of depth) were collected from each plot for analyses of chemical and textural properties. The survey registered 1,778 individuals belonging to 174 species, and three soil subgroups. Tree density and species diversity was higher in edge than in interior plots, but no difference was found for basal area. An interactive canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the patterns emerging from the environmental variables, spatial variables and species abundances indicated that these are distributed in the fragment under a strong influence of spatial proximity, edge effects, soil water regime expressed by topographical elevation and soil chemical fertility expressed by the bases saturation.