Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Potato Yellow Vein Virus (PYVV) infection using remotely sensed data

Potato Yellow Vein Virus (PYVV) threatens potato production in South America. Visual field monitoring is commonly used to detect PYVV on potato crops but the disease is generally detected only after significant damage has occurred to photosynthetic tissues. Therefore, a method for detecting the disease before yields are severely affected would be useful. Remotely sensed multispectral reflectance, based on the reflectivity and propagation of light radiation inside plant tissues, was tested for the detection of PYVV infection in potato plants grown indoors. A visual assessment of disease symptoms in both virus-infected and virus-free plants was compared to monitoring based on spectroradiometry and multispectral photographic images of the same plants, recorded during their growth and development. Results showed that changes in reflectance in certain regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, indicative of disturbances in light reflection by vascular tissues in infected plants, measured with an spectroradiometer, as well as derived spectral Vegetation Indices such as NDVI, SAVI, and IPVI, provide early detection of viral infection, long before symptoms of chlorosis can be detected by the trained eye.
Effect of extremely severe winters on under-ice phytoplankton development in a mesotrophic lake (Eastern Poland)

The research was carried out in a mesotrophic and dimictic lake during winters with ice cover. In the last forty years, the development of phytoplankton was analyzed in five extreme winter seasons. The studies of phytoplankton characteristics in the water column took into account values of biomass, concentration of chlorophyll-a and species composition, including dominant species. Differences in the vertical distribution of flagellate and non-flagellate species belonging to cyanobacteria and algae were analyzed in the gradient of light and thermal conditions. The phytoplankton biomass was low and vertically differentiated, with the lowest values at the deeper part of the water column. Flagellate species from the group of Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and Dinophyceae were most abundant. Species biodiversity was low but every winter the dominant species represented different taxonomic groups. In some periods, larger non-motile phytoplankton species from green or blue-green algae dominated. The research proved that the development of phytoplankton under the ice cover was limited mainly by light and, to a lesser extent, by temperature.
Predicting the potential distribution of a riparian invasive plant: the effects of changing climate, flood regimes and land‐use patterns

Climate change is likely to affect plants in multiple ways, but predicting the consequences for habitat suitability requires a process‐based understanding of the interactions. This is at odds with existing approaches that are mostly phenomenological and largely restricted to predicting the effects of changing temperature and rainfall on species distributions at a coarse spatial scale. We examine the multiple effects of climate change, including predicting the effects of altered flood regimes and land‐use change, on the potential distribution of the invasive riparian species lippia (Phyla canescens) across a 26 000 km2 catchment in eastern Australia. We determined habitat suitability for lippia by combining process‐understanding of experts and an eco‐physiological bioclimatic model within a Bayesian belief network. The bioclimatic model predicted substantial changes in habitat suitability by 2070 under both a wetter (Echam Mark 3) and drier (Hadley Centre Mark 2) climate change scenario, but only the more likely drier scenario reduced suitability in our test region. The area suitable for lippia was predicted to increase at least threefold with increased flooding under a wet climate scenario, although this would be partially negated by land‐use change to cultivation. The region would become unsuitable to lippia with reduced flooding under a drier scenario irrespective of land‐use changes, although existing populations would persist if grazing persisted. Independent field validation verified model structure and parameterization, and therefore the opinion of experts, but identified site‐scale deficiencies in the available environmental data layers. Model predictions suggest that adaptation options for managing lippia will be greatly reduced under a drying scenario, but identify potential restoration opportunities under either scenario. This work highlights the value of predictive models that incorporate process‐understanding at sufficiently fine spatial resolution to capture the important processes underpinning habitat suitability.
INTRINSIC FACTORS CAUSING QUALITATIVE CHANGES IN POPULATIONS OF PORTHETRIA DISPAR (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE)

Abstract Evidence is presented to suggest that the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar (L.), is numerically self-regulating through a shift in the quality of individuals induced by changes in nutrition. This qualitative change affects dispersal, behavior, developmental rate, and fecundity, and this provides P. dispar with the ability to respond to intrinsic and extrinsic factors faster and more efficiently than if dependent on selection. Adaptability is further facilitated because the change in quality can be induced either in the previous generation by the amount of nutrient reserves provided the eggs, or during the current generation by hunger, crowding, or cool temperature. This change is best characterized by an increase in the number of larvae with additional instars. In these larvae, a prolongation of instar I and a shift in behavior increases their potential for dispersal. The similarities and differences between P. dispar and Malacosoma pluviale (Dyar) are discussed.
Differential Response of Chickpea Genotypes Under Salt Stress

The study was carried out to study the effect of salt stress on the total ascorbate, reduced glutathione, proline and protein contents in salt tolerant (SKUA-06, SKUA-07) and salt sensitive (SKUA-04, SKUA-05) genotypes of chickpea. Fifteen-day-old plants were treated with different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50 and 100 mM). Observations were recorded on the 1st, 3rd and 5th days after treatment. Significant genotypic variation was observed in response to different salt concentrations. In salt-tolerant genotypes the total ascorbate, reduced glutathione (GSH), proline and protein contents increased with the increase in salt concentration; whereas in salt-sensitive genotypes there was significant reduction in all these parameters under high salinity except in proline, which did not show any change when compared to control. The salt tolerance could be attributed to the increase in non-enzymatic antioxidants, proline and protein content.
Comparisons of Protected and Grazed Mountain Rangelands in Southwestern Montana

Adequate management of any range cannot be achieved without a thorough understanding of the condition of vegetation and the trend in composition, vigor, and amount of cover. The application of condition and trend principles has consequently received increasing emphasis during the last decade (Humphrey 1949, Dyksterhuis 1949, and Ellison, et al. 1951). Factual data which relate the kind and rate of change to various grazing treatments, however, are scarce for most grassland types. Likewise, few comparisons have been made to ascertain objectively which responses are useful as criteria to guide range management. Perhaps as a consequence, evaluation of specific ranges has often been in terms of generalized concepts ("climax, subclimax, etc.") that might, but often do not, apply in a particular case. Also, for want of specific data, long-term successional trend concepts are too often applied to short-term management situations-a questionable process at best. Hanson (1938, 1950) has reviewed the literature on grassland ecology, including grazing response, and Dyksterhuis (1949) has thoroughly treated the subject of range condition from the successional viewpoint. A brief review of the kinds of changes relative to grazing treatment is given here only to point up those most pertinent to this study. Wright and Wright (1948) compared vegetal cover on protected and grazed ranges in southcentral Montana. They reported that in the fescue type, Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda),' and certain shrubby species such as big sagebrush (Artemnisia tridentata), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), and snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) were more abundant under grazed conditions than in a non-grazed graveyard used for comparison. The possibility of fire having been an influence in the cemetery was not mentioned. Daubenmire (1940) classified bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) as decreasers under grazing, while frequency of Sandberg bluegrass was considered as being scarcely affected, being neither an "increaser" nor a decreaseer" Pickford
The Changing Roles of Industry and Country Effects in the Global Equity Markets

Abstract This paper examines the roles of country and industry effects on international equity returns using a comprehensive database covering 50 industry groups and 34 countries over the period 1992 to 2001. The study focuses on the evolving process of those effects over time and on geographical differences. The main results are as follows: although the country effects still dominate the industry effects in the full sample period, there has been a major upward shift in industry effects since 1999. The degree of this shift varies across regions and is prominent in Europe and North America, while in Asia Pacific and Latin America, country effects still dominate. The increasing industry effects are not found to be confined to the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sectors and thus are not considered a temporary phenomenon. The above developments have implications for international portfolio diversification.
Uptake and Accumulation of Cadmium by Ophryotrocha diadema (Polychaeta)

Cadmium uptake by the deposit-feeding polychaete Ophryotrocha diadema is a non-linear process related to exposure time and metal concentration in the ambient seawater (20°C; 31 OjmS). Maximum body loads of 1700ppm Cd were found in adult worms (up to 0.1 mg dry weight) after 64-day exposure to 1OOOppb Cd. Distinct saturation of absorption was not reached d u r ~ n g this time. Accumulation factors decreased exponentially with increasing contamination levels. Accumulation factors were 7900 to 1700, calculated on a dry weight basis, corresponding to 3400 to 660 estimated on a theoretical volume basis of single worms in levels of 10 to lOOOppb Cd. Cd content of 62to 116-day-old worms of three consecutive generations subjected to permanent contanl~nat~on did not increase from the Pto the F,-generat~on. A linear correlation exists between Cd absorption of newly deposited egg masses and experimental Cd concentrations. Cd loads of egg masses were extremely low (12 to 280ppm Cd dry weight in 50 to lOOOppb Cd contamination) compared with parental organisms. Cd content of the egg masses also did not increase within consecutive generations. It is, therefore, assumed that parentally accumulated Cd loads are not transferred to the offspring. Contamination of egg masses probably occurred after spawning, due to sorption of the metal by the mucoid layer encapsulating the eggs, since similar results were noted for Cd sorption by food part~cles (fragmented spinach).
TMDL reevaluation: reconciling internal phosphorus load reductions in a eutrophic lake

Abstract Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) are assigned to impaired waterbodies and provide a prescription for recovery. It is implicit that both the existing conditions and targets identified in a TMDL are based on credible and accurate information, ensuring that management actions directed to recovery are appropriate and effective. We evaluated the TMDL for phosphorus in Bear Lake, Michigan, to assess if the prescribed reduction was appropriately based on existing annual internal loads. We developed 5 different annual internal load scenarios based on phosphorus release rates from laboratory-based sediment incubations and diel dissolved oxygen measurements, ranging from very conservative to very liberal estimates of phosphorus release. The most realistic scenarios indicate that the previously established TMDL for internal phosphorus loading is 3–7 times greater than what actually occurs in Bear Lake. Based on our assessment, Bear Lake is likely already meeting the TMDL internal loading target, without the implementation of any management action. Thus, management efforts aimed at reducing the water column phosphorus concentration to reach the TMDL target should instead be directed at controlling the external phosphorus load.
Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O104:H4 in patients with diarrhea in Northern Lebanon and characterization of fecal E.coli producing ESBL and carbapenemase genes

Background. While most strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) are harmless, some are causing intestinal infections of varying severity. Then Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)/ enterohemorrhagic E. coli strains can be associated with fatal clinical manifestations. Of these E. coli Serotypes O157: H7 and O104: H4 were responsible for worldwide epidemics causing thousands of intestinal infections and dozens of deaths.The aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence of E. coli O157: H7 and O104: H4 in the diarrheal stools of 242 Lebanese patients.Materials and methods. This study includes 242 E. coli strains isolatedfrom fecal specimens of patients with diarrhea between February2013 and May 2014 in the microbiology department of Nini HospitalLaboratory in Tripoli - North Lebanon. All specimens were inoculatedon sorbitol MacConkey agar. Sorbitol negative strains were investigated for detection of stx1, stx2 and eae genes using real-time PCR. All carbapenem-resistant strains and ESBL producers were investigated by PCR for presence of KPC, IMI, NMC-A, EMS, GHG, VIM, NDM, IMP,OXA-48, blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaGES and blaPER.Results. A total of 14 sorbitol negative strains were detected. The search for stx1, stx2 and eae genes showed the presence of a single positive strain for E. coli O157: H7. Out of 242 E.coli strains, 48 (19.8%) were ESBL-positive, 4 (1.6%) were resistant to ertapenem, and all were negative for stx2 genes, The blaCTX-M gene was the most frequentamong ESBL positive strains (85%), followed by the blaTEM gene (50%). One strain had the blaNDM-1 gene, another had the blaOXA-48 gene and 2 strains were probably resistant due to impermeability.Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate rarely presence of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, but shows the frequent presence of multidrug resistant E.coli in the intestinal flra of North Lebanese patients. Therefore, it is important to search for MDR E.coli in the intestinal flra of patients who are going to be treated with major operations or those admitted to intensive care units
BACTERIAL INFLUENCE UPON GROWTH AND HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION OF THE GREEN ALGA BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII 1

Batch cultures of the hydrocarbon‐rich alga Botryococcus braunii, Kütz. (axenic strains, non‐axenic strains, associations with selected microorganisms) were examined with regard to total biomass and hydrocarbons at the onset of the stationary phase. Pronounced variations, related to the origin of the strains and to growth conditions, were observed with axenic cultures. It also appeared that the presence of microorganisms is not essential for high hydrocarbon production. Nevertheless, numerous bacteria were shown to exert considerable influence, antagonistic or beneficial, on B. braunii growth yield and hydrocarbon production. Such effects were strongly dependent on the species involved and on culture conditions. The presence of various microorganisms can influence not only the quantity of hydrocarbons produced, but also their level in the algal biomass and their relative abundance. However, their chemical structure is not affected. Intricate relationships were observed in B. braunii‐bacteria systems and numerous factors (including, in some cultures, large positive effects due to bacterially produced CO2) were implicated. Accordingly, specific associations should provide appropriate conditions for renewable hydrocarbon production via B. braunii large scale cultures.
Effects of opossum browsing on northern rata trees in the Orongorongo Valley, Wellington, New Zealand

Browsing damage caused by opossums (Trickosurus vulpecula) was assessed visually, against a simple index, on 24 northern rata trees (Metrosideros robusta A. Cunn.) every 2 months from November 1969 to November 1974. All 24 trees showed some damage, and 3 died as a result of continued heavy browsing; 7 of 26 other rata trees in the study area have died similarly since 1969. When opossums were excluded from 5 previously browsed trees, all recovered. Stick insects (Phasmatidae) contributed about 3% to the total damage, but with other defoliating insects may be more important in other parts of New Zealand.
A STUDY ON KARYOTYPIC EVOLUTION OF THE GENUS SPALAXGÜLDENSTAEDT, 1770 (MAMMALIA: RODENTIA) IN TURKEY

The subterranean Spalacidae probably originated from a muroid-<:ricetoid stock in Asia Minor or vicinity, in Oligocene times, about 30-40 Ma, and adaptively radiated underground in the Balkans, steppic Russia, and Middle East, extending into North Africa (Savic and Nevo, 1990). Nevo et al. (1994) have tested the longitudinal north-south Israeli evolutionary model, proposed by Nevo (1991), of positive association of diploid chromosome number (2n) and genetic diversity with aridity stress in Spalacidae in Turkey. They showed that in Turkish Spalax, speciation and adaptation, revealed in Israel by 2n and heterozygosity, H, positively carreiate with aridity stress and climatic unpredictability. 2n values and H increase toward the ecologically harsh, arid, climatically unpredictable, and geologically young central Anatolian Plateau from the west, north, south, and east, repeating from all directions the pattem seen in Israe1. However, while variation in the Israeli speciational trend involves only four chromosomal species, ranging from north to south (Nevo, 1991), chromosomal speciation in Turkey is centripetal, involving about 30 taxonomic groups ofspecific rank defined by a combination of chromosome number,
The impact of puerperal diseases in sows on their fertility and health up to next farrowing

Investigations utilizing a total number of 3998 farrowings from 1558 sows on two farms have shown a frequency of puerperal diseases (periparturient hypogalactia syndrome=PHS) of 32·7% and 27·0% respectively with significant differences between gilts and sows. Sows without PHS after farrowing (farm A) had a lower frequency of animals without oestrus after weaning of the piglets (0·3 V. 1·1%), a lower rate of late onset of oestrus (3·4% V. 5·9%, P P P P P >0·05; farm B: 10·44 V. 10·80, P
Chemical Mechanisms of Staining Methods: Von Kossa's Technique: What von Kossa Really Wrote and a Modified Reaction for Selective Demonstration of Inorganic Phosphates

AbstractIt is generally believed that in von Kossa's technique silver cations react with phosphates and carbonates in calcium deposits and are then reduced to black metallic silver by strong light. Perusal of von Kossa's paper showed that he was aware of significant differences between reactions of silver phosphate in vitro and in calcium deposits. He regarded only the yellow coloration of calcium deposits during early stages of the reaction as diagnostic for calcium phosphate and ascribed the blackening to organic matter. Efforts to prevent this blackening were unsuccessful. Von Kossa's experiments were reproducible in our hands. Further studies showed that bright light, generally regarded as essential for von Kossa's reaction, only causes the irreversible blackening of organic matter that masks the yellow silver phosphate. When the reaction is performed in subdued light, yellow to yellowish brown silver phosphate is visualized selectively. Silver carbonate dissolves in thiosulfate and cannot be demonstr.
Mixtures of Persian clover with Italian ryegrass or barley-Italian ryegrass for annual forage

In the interior of British Columbia, spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum var. italicum Beck.) are intercropped with fertilizer N as a 1-yr break before reseeding irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) was seeded with barley and ryegrass or only ryegrass to determine its effect on seasonal yield and forage nutritive value. All species mixtures were grown with and without a total of 200 kg ha−1 of N to compare N2 fixation by Persian clover with N fertilizer. Averaged over 2 yr, adding Persian clover to barley-ryegrass provided a total yield that was 96% of that obtained by adding fertilizer N to barley-ryegrass. Second cut yield averaged 58% more with clover than with N. However, the grasses yielded more than the grasses with added clover in the third cut. Adding clover to ryegrass provided 94% of the total yield of adding N fertilizer. Persian clover was higher in crude protein and in vitro digestibility of dry matter than r.
Effect of Predators on Growth and Reproductive Investment in Bluegills: Comparison of Populations with Differing Size and Age of Maturation

Abstract Growth rate and age of maturation are two important factors that control adult body size. Predators can also exert an influence on the size and age of maturation of their prey. We compared the growth, timing of maturation, and investment in gonad development of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus in ponds with and without largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides predators. In addition, we compared the response between bluegills from stunted (small size and early age of maturation) and nonstunted (larger size and later age of maturation) populations to determine whether predation could explain the occurrence of stunted body size in bluegills. For both males and females, we found that bluegills grew faster but matured at the same rate in the presence of predators. The investment in gonad development (measured by the gonadosomatic index) did not differ between individuals raised with predators and those raised without. Regardless of predator treatment, fish from the nonstunted population grew more than those.
γδ-T cell-receptor-positive lymphocytes inhibit human hematopoietic progenitor cell growth in HIV type 1-infected patients

ABSTRACT In severe HIV infection, the majority of patients exhibit signs of hematopoietic deficiency including anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Besides other pathophysiological mechanisms, the disturbed helper/suppressor ratio of T-lymphocytes suggests that alterations within T cell subpopulations may have a suppressive effect on HIV-associated hematopoiesis. Since a δTCS-1- and mostly CD-8-positive subpopulation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes expressing the γδ-receptor is increased in peripheral blood and bone marrow of HIV-infected persons, it was the aim of this study to investigate the role of γδ-positive cells in HIV-associated bone marrow deficiency. The number of bone marrow-derived pluripotent colony-forming units (CFU-GEMM), burst-forming units–erythrocyte (BFU-E), and colony-forming units–granulocyte–monocyte (CFU-GM) of HIV-1-positive patients was significantly (p < 0.05) increased after depletion of CD-8-positive, γδ-positive, and δTCS-1-positive T-lymphocytes. In contrast, the depletion .