Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of systemic resistance in chickpea against Fusarium wilt by Bacillus strains

Abstract Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains Rb29 (B. amyloliquefaciens MF352007), Bs1 (B. subtilis MF352017) and Bt1 (B. tequilensis MF352019) were tested for growth promotion and for their ability to induce systemic resistance against Fusarium wilt, a vascular disease of chickpea, using two methods that include whole plant and a split-root system. Bacillus strains and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC) were inoculated on separate halves of roots of chickpea seedlings at the same time and then planted in separate pots either in superposition or one side of the other. All Bacillus strains systemically induced resistance against FOC, and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the wilt disease by 98–100%. Application of Bacillus strains effectively enhanced plant growth, leading to increased plant height, root length, a fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. These results help to explain the role of strains of Bacillus in growth promotion and biological control of Fusarium wilt in chickpea. This is the first report of systemic-induced resistance against Fusarium wilt in chickpea obtained by application of Bacillus strains to a root system spatially separated from the FOC-inoculated root.
EFEITO DA TERMORRETIFICAÇÃO NA QUALIDADE DE COLAGEM DE LÂMINAS DE MADEIRA PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE COMPENSADO

Plywood is a wood panel that can be used both in the furniture industry and in construction due to its structural use. However, to be used in construction, it needs to be resistant against wood decay agents and water, without compromising its mechanical properties. The heat treatment is an alternative treatment which improves the wood resistance to fungi and improves its dimensional stability. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the heat treatment with three different temperatures, 160, 180 and 200°C in the wettability of wood veneers and the shear strength in the bond line of the plywood produced with them. To do so, it was carried out the wettability testing using digital goniometer in the treated veneers at three temperatures and for the control specimen. Besides, it was carried out the shear strength in the bond line test, for testing the quality of bonding according to ABNT NBR ISO 12466-1 (2006). Because of the results obtained, it could be seen that the surface of the treated wood became more hydrophobic with increasing temperature, and this also resulted in a decrease in shear strength in the bond line, once the adhesive used (phenol-formaldehyde) is water based, however, the regulatory requirements have been met.
Costs and benefits of non‐random seed release for long‐distance dispersal in wind‐dispersed plant species

The dispersal ability of plants is a major factor driving ecological responses to global change. In wind-dispersed plant species, non-random seed release in relation to wind speeds has been identified as a major determinant of dispersal distances. However, little information is available about the costs and benefits of non-random abscission and the consequences of timing for dispersal distances. We asked: 1) to what extent is non-random abscission able to promote long-distance dispersal and what is the effect of potentially increased pre-dispersal risk costs? 2) Which meteorological factors and respective timescales are important for maximizing dispersal? These questions were addressed by combining a mechanistic modelling approach and field data collection for herbaceous wind-dispersed species. Model optimization with a dynamic dispersal approach using measured hourly wind speed showed that plants can increase long-distance dispersal by developing a hard wind speed threshold below which no seeds are released. At the same time, increased risk costs limit the possibilities for dispersal distance gain and reduce the optimum level of the wind speed threshold, in our case (under representative Dutch meteorological conditions) to a threshold of 5–6 m s–1. The frequency and predictability (auto-correlation in time) of pre-dispersal seed-loss had a major impact on optimal non-random abscission functions and resulting dispersal distances. We observed a similar, but more gradual, bias towards higher wind speeds in six out of seven wind-dispersed species under natural conditions. This confirmed that non-random abscission exists in many species and that, under local Dutch meteorological conditions, abscission was biased towards winds exceeding 5–6 m s–1. We conclude that timing of seed release can vastly enhance dispersal distances in wind-dispersed species, but increased risk costs may greatly limit the benefits of selecting wind conditions for long-distance dispersal, leading to moderate seed abscission thresholds, depending on local meteorological conditions and disturbances.
Response of soil arthropods population to different farming systems under cotton integrated with groundnut and pigeonpea crops

A study was carried out to know the response of organic, integrated and conventional farming systems on the diversity of soil meso and macro arthropod populations in the cotton inter cropped with groundnut and pigeonpea at MARS, UAS, Dharwad during kharif -2015-16. The organic farming system has recorded highest meso and macro arthropod population of 21.35 per 100 g of soil and 42.00 per pitfall trap respectively. Cotton intercropped with groundnut has recorded higher population of meso and macro arthropods (15.50 /100 g of soil and 41.26/ pitfall trap, respectively). The seasonal abundance of soil arthropods was high in October (25.89/100g of soil) and least in December (5.78/ 100g of soil) months. The diversity of soil arthropod populations assessed on the Shannon’s index of below ground arthropod populations recorded was highest in organic farming (0.61) and least in conventional farming (0.51) system. Hence, the organic farming system increases abundance and diversity of soil organisms and soil fertility, and it adds large amounts of organic residue inputs, which in turn increases the biological activity in soil.
Indigenous knowledge about the greater long-nosed armadillo, Dasypus kappleri (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae), in northeastern Peru

Indigenous knowledge is a potentially important source of natural history information about unstudied species of large Amazonian mammals. The Matses, a Panoan-speaking tribe that lives in the basin of the Río Yavarí in northeastern Peru and western Brazil, retain intact traditional knowledge of the local fauna and flora. Our interviews with Matses hunters provide a rich source of original observations about Dasypus kappleri, the greater long-nosed armadillo, which we analyzed for accuracy and content by comparing items of Matses natural history information with the scientific literature. Of 66 items about this species gleaned from eight interviews, only 14 items (21%) overlapped substantively with information in the literature, which corroborated the accuracy of 13 items (93% accuracy, as assessed by this method). On the single point of disagreement between the literature and our interview results, it seems highly likely that the literature is incorrect. The remaining 52 Matses observations about the natural history of D. kappleri contain novel information about many aspects of the behavior, diet, and predators of this large and abundant but hitherto virtually unstudied xenarthran species.
ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS AND APOE GENE POLYMORPHISM IN DEMENTED SAUDI POPULATION

To determine the possible associations between antioxidant serum markers and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes in an elderly demented Saudi population. There were 80 subjects included in this study classified according to cognitive function as two groups control and demented patients. Antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation were measured using spectrophotometric analysis. APOE genotypes were determined using restriction enzyme analysis. Correlations of serum levels of antioxidant capacity and lipidperoxidation with APOE genotypes were assessed. Serum antioxidant capacity was significantly reduced in patients group in comparison to the control (p-value= 0.0125< 0.05). Also, lipid peroxidation level showed significantly higher concentration on patient compared to control group (p-value=0.0167˂0.05). For APOE, three alleles (E2, E3 and E4) and four genotypes (E2/3, E3/3, E3/4 and E4/4) were identified in present study. There was a significant different between alleles and genotypes distribution in the study groups as the frequency of E4 was higher in the subjects with dementia compare toin control (p-value=0.0168˂0.05) and (p-value=0.0447˂0.05), respectively. However, no association was found between APOE status and serum levels of antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, no correlation between antioxidant capacity or lipid peroxidation levels and APOE genotypes. They are independent risk factors for dementia in the Saudi population. in age, antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation level between different genotype groups.
Lipase production from Bacillus subtilis with submerged fermentation using waste cooking oil

Bacterial lipase has been developed lately because of its advantage to produce with large scale. Culture of Bacillus subtilis was grown to produce lipase in Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) using submerged fermentation (SmF) method. The enzyme activity of the culture was improved by using different concentration of inoculum, substrate, nitrogen source, inducer, and Ca2+ ion at 30°C for 84h fermentation. Lipolytic activity of crude lipase was determined using titrimetric method with hydrolysis reaction. Maximum activity of lipase (4.96 U/mL) was found at 5% (v/v) inoculum, 4% (v/v) WCO, 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.25% (v/v) olive oil, and 10 mM Ca2+ that present in medium culture. Later, the crude lipase has been dried with spray dryer and resulting 17.33 gr of dry lipase powder per 500 mL crude lipase.
Notes on the distribution of the genus Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Paraguay

Four species of Pseudopaludicola, Pseudopalud­icola boliviana , P. falcipes , P. mystacalis and P. ternetzi, are usually cited for Paraguay. However, after analyzing 407 specimens assigned to this genus in herpetological collections of the country, we conclude that there are no specimens of P. falcipes in Paraguayan collections or vouchers cited in the literature, and almost all individuals referred to P. ternetzi are most probably P. ameghini . At the same time, a recently described species, P. motorzinho , is recorded for the first time in the country. Information on the distribution of these and the remaining species of Pseudopaludicola in Paraguay ( P. boliviana and P. mystacalis ) is provided.
Patterns of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation in the wide elevation range of the alpine plant Arabis alpina

Local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity are two important characteristics of alpine plants to overcome the threats caused by global changes. Among alpine species, Arabis alpina is characterised by an unusually wide altitudinal amplitude, ranging from 800 to 3,100 m of elevation in the French Alps. Two non‐exclusive hypotheses can explain the presence of A. alpina across this broad ecological gradient: adaptive phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation, making this species especially useful to better understand these phenomena in alpine plant species. We carried out common garden experiments at two different elevations with maternal progenies from six sites that differed in altitude. We showed that (1) key phenotypic traits (morphotype, total fruit length, growth, height) display significant signs of local adaptation, (2) most traits studied are characterised by a high phenotypic plasticity between the two experimental gardens and (3) the two populations from the highest elevations lacked morphological plasticity compared to the other populations. By combining two genome scan approaches (detection of selection and association methods), we isolated a candidate gene (Sucrose‐Phosphate Synthase 1). This gene was associated with height and local average temperature in our studied populations, consistent with previous studies on this gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Synthesis. Given the nature of the traits involved in the detected pattern of local adaptation and the relative lack of plasticity of the two most extreme populations, our findings are consistent with a scenario of a locally adaptive stress response syndrome in high elevation populations. Due to a reduced phenotypic plasticity, an overall low intra‐population genetic diversity of the adaptive traits and weak gene flow, populations of high altitude might have difficulties to cope with, e.g. a rise of temperature.
Amylolytic ability of bacteria isolated from termite (Coptotermes sp.) gut

BSR 2, BSR 3, BSR 8, and BSR 9, different bacteria isolated from the termite gut, have been shown to possess cellulolytic activities, but their amylolytic ability has heretofore been unknown. This study attempted to fill in this knowledge gap. The formation of a clear zone using the iodine test showed that the bacteria were able to produce and secrete amylase. Based on the results, the best cultivation times for strains BSR 2, BSR 3, BSR 8, and BSR 9 were 6, 3, 2, and 2 d, respectively, yielding amylase activities of 2.59 ± 0.13 U/mg, 2.00 ± 0.08 U/mg, 1.67 ± 0.10 U/mg, and 1.55 ± 0.12 U/mg, respectively. BSR 2 had the highest amylase activity compared with the other bacterial isolates. The optimum ph for bacterial amylase activity of BSR 2 was 7.0, and the optimum temperature was 40°C. The molecular characterization of isolates BSR 2, BSR 3, BSR 8, and BSR 9 was based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Isolates BSR 8 and BSR 9 were thus identified as Brevibacillus parabrevis and Brevibacillus sp. With similarities amounting to 92.48% and 95.91%, while the BSR 3 isolate was identified as Pseudomonas alcaligenes with a similarity of 94.29%, and the BSR 2 isolate could not be identified yet.
A new nondestructive method for measuring eggshell thickness using a non-ferrous material thickness gauge

ABSTRACT Sources of measurement error using analog thickness gauges include differences in eggshell thickness at the points of measurement, imperfections in the micrometer within the limits specified by the manufacturer, imperfections or contamination of the eggshells, and human error in applying and reading the (analog) instrument. The errors due to using a mechanical instrument can be avoided by using an instrument such as the Magna-Mike 8600 or the MiniTest 7200 FH Hall-effect thickness gauges (HETG), which perform nondestructive measurements of non-ferrous materials by precisely measuring the distance between a small steel reference ball (min 1.59 mm) and a magnetic probe. The difference corresponds to the thickness of the eggshell and membrane (if present) to the nearest 0.001 mm and provides a precise and accurate digital measurement. Measurements at the equator of eggs using the HETG were similar to measurements using the Starrett thickness gauge (i.e., correlation coefficient = 0.946) measuring the same parts of the eggshells but generally measured 0–9% thicker, and overall variation in measurements was similar (coefficient of variation for 750 measurements of 150 eggshells was 15.5% using the HETG and 16.3% using the Starrett). When HETG measurements were compared to literature-reported pre-DDT-era eggshells of Clapper Rails (Rallus longirostris) and Forster's Terns (Sterna forsteri), the HETG measurements were about 12% thicker. Measurements thinner than published values may be due to measurements taken from museum eggshells, which are usually blown-out eggs, so only a small area around or across from the blow-out hole was measured with the analog gauges, whereas the entire eggshell thickness around the equator was measured using the HETG. Each eggshell was measured twice with a Starrett and HETG (using slightly different methods) to determine which measurement provides the most precise, and therefore most repeatable, measurement. I found the HETG to be a useful device that provides accurate and precise measurements without many of the measurement errors of analog mechanical devices, and it can also measure smaller more fragile eggs without damage to the eggshells.
Evaluation of Brassica Juncea Germplasm through heritability estimation and correlation analysis

The experiment was conducted to estimate genetic parameters of heritability and correlation for yield traits of indigenous Brassica juncea genotypes. RCB design with three replications was used to sow 20 Brassica genotypes. Highly significant genetic variations were obtained among studied parameters. Days to half flowering revealed positive associations with primary branches per plant (r= 0.337**). Primary branches per plant was positively correlated with pod length (r= 0.407**), seed per pod (r= 0.418**) seed yield per plant (r= 0.479**). Similarly, pod length showed positive correlation with seed per pod (r= 0.324*) and seed yield per plant (r= 0.331**), while seed per pod was positively correlated with seed yield per plant (r= 0.878**). Highest broad-sense heritability was recorded for seed yield per plant (0.97), while lowest heritability was estimated for primary branches per plant (0.46).
reactIDR: Evaluation of the statistical reproducibility of high-throughput structural analyses for a robust RNA reactivity classification

Motivation Recently, next-generation sequencing techniques have been applied for the detection of RNA secondary structures called high-throughput RNA structural (HTS) analy- sis, and dozens of different protocols were used to detect comprehensive RNA structures at single-nucleotide resolution. However, the existing computational analyses heavily depend on experimental data generation methodology, which results in many difficulties associated with statistically sound comparisons or combining the results obtained using different HTS methods. Results Here, we introduced a statistical framework, reactIDR, which is applicable to the experimental data obtained using multiple HTS methodologies, and it classifies the nucleotides into three structural categories, stem, loop, and unmapped. reactIDR uses the irreproducible discovery rate (IDR) with a hidden Markov model (HMM) to discriminate accurately between the true and spurious signals obtained in the replicated HTS experiments. In reactIDR, IDR and HMM parameters are efficiently optimized by using an expectation-maximization algorithm. Furthermore, if known reference structures are given, a supervised learning can be applicable in a semi-supervised manner. The results of our analyses for real HTS data showed that reactIDR achieved the highest accuracy in the classification problem of stem/loop structures of rRNA using both individual and integrated HTS datasets as well as the best correspondence with the three-dimensional structure. Because reactIDR is the first method to compare HTS datasets obtained from multiple sources in a single unified model, it has a great potential to increase the accuracy of RNA secondary structure prediction at transcriptome-wide level with further experiments performed. Availability reactIDR is implemented in Python. Source code is publicly available at https://github.com/carushi/reactIDRhttps://github.com/carushi/reactIDR. Contact kawaguchi-rs@aist.go. jp Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at online.
STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS AND FOLIAR FEEDING OF UREA ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BER CV. GOLA (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk)

The experiment entitled "Study on the effect of plant, growth regulators and foliar feeding of urea on yield and quality of ber cv. 'Gola' (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk)" was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, B.A.Col lege of Agriculture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand, during the year 1991-92. Five years old trees of uniform growth and vigour were selected as experimental materials. The treatments viz., GA-, 20 ppm, NAA 30 ppm, urea 2 per cent, GA^ + urea, NAA + urea and control (Tap water spray) were given at two stages of the fruit growth, mustard, stage and at marble stage (one month later of the first spray) in factorial randomised block design, which was replicated four times. Fruit retention, yield, yield attributes and quality aspects were studied. Results of the experiment revealed that GA„ 20 ppm was found significantly superior for fruit retention, fruit yield, weight of the fruit, volume of the fruit, length of the fruit and breadth of the fruit, while urea 2 per cent for reducing stone weight of the fruit.
The choice of the environmental covariate affects the power to detect variation in reaction norm slopes

Many traits are phenotypically plastic, i.e. the same genotype expresses different phenotypes depending on the environment. Individuals and genotypes can vary in this response to the environment and this individual (IxE) and genetic variation in reaction norm slopes (GxE) can have important ecological or evolutionary consequences. Studies on variation in plasticity often fail to show IxE or GxE; this can indicate a genuine absence or simply a lack of power. There is, however, another factor that could potentially affect the power to detect IxE or GxE: the choice of the environmental variable included in the analysis. Identifying the genuine environmental driver of phenotypic plasticity will mostly be impossible and hence only a proxy is included in the analysis. However, if this proxy is too weakly correlated with the real driver of plasticity, this will bias IxE and GxE downwards, could lead to spurious negative results and invalid conclusions. As the mean phenotype in a given environment captures all environmental effects on the phenotype, using it as ‘environment’ in the analysis should increase the power to detect IxE or GxE. Using simulations I here showed that using weakly correlated proxies indeed biased estimates downwards but that when using the environment-specific means this was not the case. Using environment-specific means as a covariate has been commonly used in animal and plant breeding but rarely used outside these fields despite its potential usefulness as ‘yardstick’ to test whether IxE or GxE is present or absent in the phenotype of interest.
The use of brood pheromones and feeding substitutes in the stimulation of honey bee Apis mellifera L.(Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The study was conducted at the Apiary site of the College of Agriculture University of Baghdad to evaluate the effect of brood pheromone (Superboost) and feeding substitutes on stimulation of colony growth brood and honey area, building wax foundation and quantity of pollen collected. Results showed that was a significant difference on the amount of change in brood area between treatments. The synthetic pollen patty was given the highest brood area of 234.142 inch, followed by treatment of superboost brood pheromone, synthetic pollen patty+ superboost brood pheromone, artificial mesquite patty+ superboost brood pheromone and mesquite patty treatment which reached192.857,179.571, 169 and 114.714 inch respectively, compared with 77.285inch for the control treatment. Results of the speed of building wax foundation were showed no significant differences within 24 hour for all the treatments. Within 120 hour The highest average of 272 inchwas recorded on colonies treated with superboost pheromone only and synthetic pollen patty+ superboost brood pheromone , followed by 180, 150 , 120 inchfor the treatment of artificial pollen patty , superboost + mesquite patty and mesquite patty. The highest pollen weight of 41.1gm was observed on colonies treated with super boost only compared with 10.454 , 9.172 and 1.2 gm for other treatments of synthetic pollen patty+ superboost, pollen patty and control treatments . The results of using superboost brood pheromone with locally feeding substitutes for increasing the pollination activating and efficiency of honey bee colonies also discussed. Keyword— Brood pheromones, honey bees, Apis mellifera, Superboost, feeding substitutes. * Part of Msc. Thesis for the first author