Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arbuscular mycorrhizal responsiveness of in vitro tomato root lines is not related to growth and nutrient uptake rates

Variability in growth and nutritional dynamics of in vitro tomato hairy root lines and their relationship with responsiveness to mycorrhizal colonization were studied. Four tomato cultivars were transformed with three Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains to obtain several hairy root lines, which were compared for growth and receptivity to Glomus intraradices. Four transformed hairy root lines were further characterized and compared with excised roots of the nontransformed tomato cultivar 'Cobra' and with Ri-T-DNA carrot hairy roots. Lines were compared during 4 months on minimal medium in terms of growth, nutrient uptake, and mycorrhizal colonization. In a subexperiment, the cultures were grown on a modified minimal medium to assess the contribution of initial inorganic phosphate concentration in mycorrhizal susceptibility of the three initially nonreceptive lines. On minimal medium, growth and nutrient uptake rates were highly correlated, but both were unrelated to mycorrhizal receptiveness. All the lines su.
Development successes and issues for the future in deriving and applying selection indexes for beef breeding

Research and development to provide systems for effective derivation and use of selection indexes has been conducted for the Australian beef industry since the late 1980s. This paper reports on development successes and presents evidence of increasing rates of industry genetic gain in beef production profitability. Key factors in success are identified and include the ability of the index development process to capture the full context of selection. The level of performance recording in many cases is the primary limitation to effective index use. Issues that will be more important in future applications of indexes are discussed. They include the need for more specific selection for environments, for extending the breeding objective to encompass additional industry sectors and aims, for greater account of industry supply and demand flow-on effects, and for combining gene marker tests with other criteria in indexes of economic merit. The critical role of selection indexes in targeting multiple-trait economic merit is likely to increase further with the availability of new gene marker test information.
The malkarid spiders of New Zealand (Araneae : Malkaridae)

Abstract. This paper addresses the systematics of the New Zealand spiders of the family Malkaridae. Malkarids are small araneoid spiders that live primarily in the leaf litter and mosses of temperate and tropical wet forests in Australia and New Zealand, with the exception of a single species in southern South America and another in New Caledonia. We treat the New Zealand species of Malkaridae that are not members of the subfamily Pararchaeinae, a monophyletic group of 11 new species that we classify in 2 new genera (Tingotingo, gen. nov. and Whakamoke, gen. nov.) and a new subfamily (Tingotinginae, subfam. nov.). We describe, diagnose, illustrate and map the distribution of specimen records of these 11 new species of New Zealand Malkaridae: Tingotingo porotiti, sp. nov., T. pouaru, sp. nov., T. tokorera, sp. nov., T. aho, sp. nov., Whakamoke orongorongo, sp. nov.; W. tarakina, sp. nov.; W. guacamole, sp. nov.; W. hunahuna, sp. nov.; W. paoka, sp. nov.; W. heru, sp. nov.; and W. rakiura, sp. nov. We also treat the phylogenetic relationships of Malkaridae and use the results of our previous work on the molecular phylogeny of Araneoidea as the bases for the classification of the family. Tingotingo, gen. nov. and Whakamoke, gen. nov. are sister clades. Tingotinginae, subfam. nov. is the sister group of the Malkarinae plus Pararchaeinae clade. We further hypothesise and discuss the morphological synapomorphies of Malkaridae, Tingotinginae, subfam. nov. and the two new genera.
Effects of carbofuran and metsulfuron-methyl on the benthic macroinvertebrate community in flooded ricefields

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito do inseticida carbofurano e do herbicida metsulfuron-methyl na abundância e diversidade de macroinvertebrados bentonicos em campo de arroz irrigado. METODOS: Para isto, dois tratamentos com agrotoxicos [o inseticida carbofurano (IC) e o herbicida metsulfuron-methyl (HM)] e um controle (Co), tratamento sem pesticida, foram aplicados em uma area experimental no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Amostras de solo foram coletadas em triplicatas em cada tratamento 30 dias antes (DBA) e 1, 10 e 51 dias apos a aplicacao dos pesticidas, posteriormente a macrofauna foi identificada. RESULTADOS: Vinte e um (21) taxa foram identificados, entre esses Trichoceridae esteve presente apenas em Co, enquanto que Hydroptilidae foi coletado apenas em IC, e Corixidae em HM. Em Co e IC, o grupo mais abundante foi Annelida, e em HM foi Diptera (Chironomidae) que prevaleceu. Diferencas significativas foram observadas entre Co e IC, na densidade de Odontoceridae (Co>IC) e Hydrophilidae (Co HM) e Hirudinea (Co<HM). CONCLUSAO: Entretanto, apesar dos possiveis efeitos negativos dos pesticidas sobre a comunidade bentonica verificados nos primeiros dias apos a aplicacao, verificou-se que de forma geral a comunidade recuperou-se rapidamente.
The Experiences and Identity Structures of Teacher-Researcher Hybrid Professionals in a Primary School Mathematics Context

There is frequently a substantial disconnect reported between educational research and classroom practice. It has been proposed that individuals operating at the intersection of research and practice can potentially strengthen the relationship between the two communities through transcending institutional boundaries. The current study involved semi-structured interviews with three such ‘hybrid professionals’, who were all currently working as teachers in Australian primary schools and had completed PhDs in mathematics education. The purpose of the interviews was to gain insight into their experiences, and associated professional identity structures. Thematic analysis revealed that all participants were motivated to pursue higher-degree research to enhance their practice through the opportunity to specialise and work with an expert in their field. Consequently, rather than the proposed disconnect, there was evidence that at least some researchers within primary mathematics education were viewed as exemplifying expert practice. By contrast, participant professional identity structures did not converge, but remained idiosyncratic. In particular, participants varied in relation to the complexity of their researcher identity when in the classroom teacher role. Several possible directions for future research are outlined.
Chest X-rays findings in COVID 19 patients at a University Teaching Hospital - A descriptive study

Objective: To analyze Chest X-ray findings in COVID 19 positive patients, presented at corona filtration center, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, based on CXR classification of British Society of Thoracic Imaging (BSTI). Methods: In this study, all RT-PCR COVID-19 positive patients screened at corona filtration center, Benazir Bhutto hospital Rawalpindi from 20th March 2020 to 10th April 2020 were included. Mean age of the cohort with age range was calculated. Presenting complaints & Co-morbid were analyzed and tabulated in frequencies and percentages. Portable CXR findings were classified according to BSTI classification and documented in frequencies and percentages. Results: Mean age of the patients was 44 years. Presenting complaints were cough 20 (67%), fever 18 (60%), shortness of breath 11 (37%), sore throat six (20%), loss of sense of taste and smell four(13%). Main co-morbid was hypertension six (20%). Two (7%) patients had normal and seven (23%) had classical COVID CXRs. 21 (70%) patients were in indeterminate group with only one (3%) having unilateral lung disease. Three (10%) patients had diffuse lung involvement and 18(60%) had peripheral lung involvement. Majority of patients 19 (63%), had bilateral middle and lower zonal involvement. Conclusions: In this study, COVID-19 CXRs generally manifested a spectrum of pure ground glass, mixed ground glass opacities to consolidation in bilateral peripheral middle and lower lung zones. BSTI CXR reporting classification of COVID-19 is valid in our patients with addition of middle zonal involvement in classical COVID-19 criteria as opposed to just lower zone involvement.
TYPOLOGIE DE LA PÊCHE SUR LE LAC FAÉ (CÔTE D’IVOIRE) ET IMPLICATIONS POUR UNE GESTION RATIONNELLE DES RESSOURCES HALIEUTIQUES

Cette etude realisee en septembre 1996 dans le cadre du Projet d’Etude Participative AISA/IDESSA a permis de faire l’historique des activites halieutiques et la typologie de la peche sur le lac Fae. La peche dans ce reservoir est artisanale et de type individuel. Demarree en 1980 avec l’implantation des pecheurs etrangers originaires du Mali, cette activite est pratiquee par deux types d’acteurs : les professionnels (etrangers) et les occasionnels (Bakwes). Les engins de peche sont ceux classiquement utilises dans les pecheries continentales de Cote d’Ivoire : filets maillants, mono et multifilaments, nasses (grillagees, en filets ou en bambou) et pieges en bambous de Chine. La densite des pecheurs artisans sur le lac Fae est de 6,4 pecheurs/km2 , soit trois fois superieure a la norme optimale de 2 pecheurs/km2 admise par la legislation ivoirienne Par consequent, des mesures de gestion devraient etre prises par la Direction de la Production Halieutique (DPH) pour controler le flux migratoire des pecheurs vers cette retenue, afin d’inflechir la densite observee. Le maintien ou l’accroissement de celle-ci pourrait engendrer une surexploitation rapide des stocks, et constituer une source potentielle de conflits entre etrangers et autochtones. A cet effet, des recommandations pour une pratique durable de la peche sur cette retenue sont proposees.
Self- and cross-incompatibility in Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus densiflorus cv. Sprengeri

Garden asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L. (off), is dioecious and reproductively isolated from a related ornamental, monoecious Asparagus densifiorus (Kunth) Jessop cv. Sprengeri (spr). Since the latter is a potentially valuable source of germplasm, a study was initiated to identify hybridization barriers. Intra- and inter-specific crosses were made using 32 plants of two commercial cultivars of off and 17 plants of three introductions of spr. Part of the pollinated pistils were fixed and examined via fluorescence microscopy. In some combinations of genotypes, incompatibility reactions were detected: (i) off × off: in the stigmatic tissue, (ii) spr × spr: on the stigmatic surface and in the style, and (iii) spr × off: on the stigmatic surface, in the stigmatic tissue, and in the style. Although pollen tubes reached the ovules in most combinations of genotypes, seeds were only produced in intraspecific crosses. It is concluded that two types of internal barriers are acting: cross-incompatibility at the po.
Improving the Quantity and Quality of Biogas Production in Tehran Anaerobic Digestion Power Plant by Application of Materials Recirculation Technique

Tehran anaerobic digestion power plant has been built on the eastern margin of the urban district by the purpose of processing the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. One of the most suitable methods for the treatment of organic matter is the use of anaerobic digestion (AD) process, which in addition to significant reduction of organic solid wastes, will produce valuable energy. Contributing to maintain the environment, improve urban health, saving on fossil fuels and producing rich fertilizer for agricultural use are important advantages of anaerobic digestion. The plant has been set up in 2014 with a nominal acceptance capacity of 300 tons of organic solid wastes per day and the nominal power generation of 2000 kWe. This system has been faced with considerable challenges in terms of quantity and quality of biogas during operation. The high concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in produced biogas and the lack of appropriate technologies in the plant for biogas refining are critical for the biogas generator engine deployed in the complex. The purpose of this article is to investigate the factors affecting the quality and quantity of Tehran's AD plant biogas using various H2S reduction approaches and selection of appropriate implementing technologies. The results showed that the recirculation of the digester slurry increased the methane content by more than 30% and reduced H2S by more than 98%. ©2020. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved
A multidisciplinary approach to understanding the recent and historical occurrence of the freshwater plant, Littorella uniflora

SUMMARY 1. The vulnerability of softwater, oligotrophic lakes to eutrophication has caused the disappearance of many, if not most, of the unique isoetid plant communities. We tested whether the presence or disappearance of the isoetid Littorella uniflora (L.) could be predicted from environmental parameters, soil types and land use in the catchment area, and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. 2. We found that the topographic catchment area of a lake was an irrelevant unit to study effects of soil type and land use. Instead, using a GIS-generated buffer zone around the lakes it proved feasible to classify 472 lakes into historical (if L. uniflora had disappeared) or recent (if L. uniflora was still present) Littorella lakes, based on soil type and land use. Our analysis showed that aeolian sand deposits and heath in the buffer zone favoured the presence of L. uniflora, whereas moraine clay and agriculture were strongly linked to the disappearance of L. uniflora. 3. However, in order to understand fully the presence or disappearance of L. uniflora, environmental data were needed in addition to soil types, land use and nitrogen deposition, and the use of discriminant analysis allowed us to classify 96% of the investigated lakes correctly into recent or historical sites. Alkalinity, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, aeolian sand deposits and heath were the most important parameters explaining the presence or disappearance of L. uniflora. Our analysis also indicated that eutrophication, rather than acidification, has likely caused the disappearance of L. uniflora from 218 of the 472 lakes investigated. 4. Our findings have widespread implications for the conservation or restoration of isoetid habitats and we recommend applying a wide buffer zone around lakes, with restrictions on farming and traditional forestry activities. In addition, our buffering concept may prove a useful tool for aquatic ecologists to investigate relationships between catchment features and organisms (plants, insects and amphibians) with aquatic as well as terrestrial life forms.
migratory behaviour of the thornback ray, raja clavata, in the southern north sea

although depleted throughout the european continental shelf, the relatively high density of thornback rays raja clavata, in the thames estuary (uk) makes it an important stock centre and potential focus for species management. to describe spatial and temporal distribution, 197 thornback rays were tagged with electronic data storage tags (dsts) and released in the thames estuary in october 1999 and 2000, and 100 rays tagged with conventional tags in 2000. fifty-one per cent of dsts and 48% of conventional tags were returned. fishery-independent estimates of position (‘geolocations’) between the time of release and recapture using the tidal location method were possible using 75 individual data records of between 31 and 423 days. ninety-six per cent of rays were recaptured within the thames estuary. the rays were located in water of 20–35 m depth during the autumn and winter, then migrated into shallower water (<20 m depth) during the spring. fishery-independent analysis of distribution demonstrated that the rays were more widely distributed in the southern north sea during the autumn and winter. the range contracted in spring, when the fish moved into the inner thames estuary. no gross behaviour differences were observed between males and females. displacement and dispersion coefficients calculated from geolocation data demonstrated clear annual cycles, indicative of migration. these movements were not apparent from the mark–recapture data, a fishery-related effect. the extent of migration as determined from experiments with dsts was approximately three times greater than that suggested by conventional tagging data alone.
Critérios para a determinação da dose de nitrogênio a ser aplicada no tomateiro em ambiente protegido

We evaluated the effect of criterions based on soil nitrate level, the expected fruit yield and previous experiments results to recommend nitrogen fertilizer rate to be applied in the tomato plants in unheated greenhouse. Two experiments were carried out, one in soil previously leached with water (Experiment 1) and the other without leaching (Experiment 2), aiming to simulate high and low soil nitrate level conditions. Six treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete-block design with four replicates. The treatments were based on the criterions: 1) fruit expected yield and soil and fertilizer contributions (PESF); 2) expected N amount in fruit and soil contribution (QECS); 3) expected N amount in fruit (QENF); 4) 280 kg ha-1 of N, the experimental recommended rate drip applied every 14 days (DRCO); 5) same as the prior treatment, but all N furrow applied at the transplant time (DRTR); 6) without nitrogen fertilizer application (TEST). The N rates varied from 0 to 570.8 kg ha-1. In both experiments the total and marketable fruits yield did not differ significantly among treatments which received N. Higher yields were obtained using the PESF criterion. In a general way, the N use, utilization and agronomic efficiency decreased as N applied amount increased in the two experiments. The PESF and DRTR criterions provided higher tomato yield and N fertilizer recovery efficiency.
Effect of IFN-β on human glioma cell lines with temozolomide resistance

Human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) is known to exhibit pleiotropic biological activities including antitumor effects. On the other hand, temozolomide (TMZ), an oral bioavailable alkylating agent with excellent tolerability, has demonstrated efficacy and has become a key therapeutic agent in patients with malignant gliomas; however, its survival benefit remains unsatisfactory. More recent studies have indicated that there might be favorable therapeutic interactions between IFN-beta and TMZ, although the therapeutic advantages of such a combination have not yet been fully explored. The main aim of the present study was to determine whether an antitumor effect could be potentiated by a combination of IFN-beta and TMZ. The antitumor effect of and cell sensitivity to IFN-beta and TMZ and the synergistic potential of IFN-beta and TMZ in combination were evaluated in six malignant glioma cell lines. Correlations among the MGMT methylation status, quantitative level of MGMT mRNA, MGMT protein expression and the antitumor effect of these agents were also evaluated, since one of the most prominent resistance mechanisms to TMZ involves the DNA repair protein MGMT. The cell growth inhibitory effects of IFN-beta and TMZ on all tumor cell lines were observed in a dose-dependent manner, and the human malignant glioma-derived cell lines differed in their sensitivity to TMZ. The MGMT status, including promoter hypermethylation, quantitative mRNA expression and protein expression, was strongly correlated with TMZ sensitivity. A synergistic cell growth inhibitory effect and down-regulated MGMT mRNA levels were significantly observed when a clinically achievable CNS dose of IFN-beta was combined with TMZ, as compared to treatment with IFN-beta or TMZ alone in TMZ-resistant T98G cells. Furthermore, significant amounts of endogenous IFN-beta protein were detected in TMZ-treated T98G cells by ELISA. These results suggest that the clinical therapeutic efficacy of TMZ might be improved by a combination with IFN-beta in malignant gliomas unmethylated at the MGMT gene. The data provide an experimental basis for future strategies in TMZ chemotherapy, although further studies are needed to determine the detailed role of combined IFN-beta and TMZ chemotherapy in increasing tumor sensitivity.
spatial variation in the seed ecology of a woodland herb (primula vulgaris) in relation to light environment

Patches of Primula vulgaris occur across a range of light conditions within forests. To understand how light affects the stages of the life cycle involved in reproduction and recruitment, several fecundity-related variables (flower and capsule production, seed set, seed germination and seedling establishment) were studied in eight populations across a range of light conditions. The mean number of seeds per plant varied greatly, from seven to 136, and the percentage of seedling establishment varied from 0.4 to 17.2%. These variables, as well as the number of flowers per plant and fecundity, were positively correlated with the light conditions. Primula vulgaris populations establish in newly opened gaps. How this species colonizes new clearings was investigated by looking at seed survival in the soil and seed removal by potential dispersers, in particular rodents and ants. After 14 months in the greenhouse, only three P. vulgaris seedlings were observed germinating from 200 soil samples taken from two populations. Germination of retrieved seeds from buried samples was generally lower than 10%. This suggests that only a small number of seeds remain viable in the soil for long periods of time. Seed removal was high in the populations studied (more than 70% in 10 days). Rodents harvested a greater proportion of seeds than ants. Seed dispersal by ants is known to occur within short distances but rodents may be long-distance dispersers, which may be important for the long-term persistence of P. vulgaris in a site because it allows seeds to reach newly opened gaps.