Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient Uptake in Container-grown Impatiens and Petunia in Response to Root Substrate pH and Applied Micronutrient Concentration

The objective was to quantify the effect of substrate pH and micronutrient con- centration on tissue nutrient levels in Petunia ×hybrida Hort. Vilm. -Andr. and Impatiens wallerana Hook. F. Plants were grown in 10-cm-diameter pots for 4 weeks in a 70% peat : 30% perlite medium amended with fi ve lime rates to achieve substrate pH values ranging from pH 4.4 to 7.0. Plants were irrigated with (in mg·L -1 ) 210N-31P-235K-200Ca-49Mg. Micronutrients were applied as an EDTA (ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid) chelated micronutrient blend (C111), at 1×, 2×, and 4× concentrations of 0.50Fe-0.25Mn-0.025Zn- 0.04Cu-0.075B-0.01Mo. Patterns of tissue concentrations across substrate pH differed from nutrient solubility in the medium, particularly with regard to Mn. Foliar N content decreased slightly as substrate pH increased, whereas foliar Ca, Mg, and S increased. Although foliar P and K varied with pH, there was no consistent trend between species. Foliar total Fe, ferrous Fe, and Cu decreased as substrate pH increased, whereas foliar Zn increased. Foliar Mn content decreased for both species as pH rose to 6.0, and then increased from pH 6.0 to 7.0. In contrast, Mn level in the substrate, measured in a satu- rated medium extract using deionized water as the extractant, decreased as pH increased from pH 4.4 to 7.0. Chlorophyll content decreased when the ratio of tissue Fe to Mn was 42 µg·g -1 . Increasing C111 increased foliar Cu, total Fe and ferrous Fe in both species, and B for impatiens, and partly compensated for reduced nutrient solubility at high pH.
Sweet Corn Crop Nitrogen Status Evaluation by Stalk Testing

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) growers evaluating new practices for N management, such as the presidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT), are interested in relating observations about crop performance at time of harvest to their N fertility program. For this purpose, the concentration of nitrogen (N) in the lower portion of sweet corn stalks was examined on the day of harvest as a basis for evaluating the crop N status. Sweet corn stalk tissue was collected from N-rate experiments by cutting a stalk section at 15 and 35 cm aboveground and removing leaf material from the resulting 20-cm segment. Samples were dried and analyzed for total Kjeldahl N. Relationships between crop yield and stalk N concentration indicated that concentrations <11 g·kg -1 are N deficient and underfertilized; N concentra- tions between 11 and 16.5 g·kg -1 are marginally deficient; and between 16.5 and 21 g·kg -1
Biocontrol of Chestnut Canker in Albania

Since 1967, when chestnut blight ( Cryphonectria parasitica ) was observed for the first time in Albania, several field surveys have been ca rried out in chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) stands and have emphasized the widespread presence of the disease. About 30% of surveyed trees showed different stages of decline. Different proportions of C. parasitica morphotypes (normal/orange, intermediate, white) were detected when isolates were grown on agar media in the laboratory. About 57% of isolates showed normal pigmentation suggesting virulence, while 42% showed intermediate morphology. Less than 1% (or five isolates) was identified as hypovi rulent based on detection of dsRNA of virus. Five European vegetative compatibility (vc) groups, EU-1, EU-2, EU-3, EU-10 and EU-12 were identified in four districts (Pogradec, Tropoja, Tirana and Librazhd) with dominant chestnut forests. EU-12 was the dominant vc type making up 39% of isolates studied. Transmission of dsRNA between virulent and hypovirulent isolates was successful in laboratory conditions. Biological con trol using hypovirulent strains to inoculate virulent cankers on chestnut trees in the field yielded between 46 and 84% of heavily calloused cankers, while around 30% of heal thy trees that had not been inoculated produced heavily calloused cankers, sugg esting natural spread of hypovirulence.
Lotmaria Passim As Third Parasite Gastrointestinal Tract of Honey Bees Living in Tree Trunk

Abstract Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) inhabiting trees in forests are not managed by humans or treated for pathogens; therefore, many researchers and beekeepers believe that viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases may lead to their decline. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of L. passim and Nosema spp. in feral colonies by real-time PCR. This study was performed on twenty-six samples of honey bees inhabiting tree trunks in north-eastern Poland. One sample consisted of sixty worker bee abdomens collected from hollow trees. Honey bees were sampled only from naturally colonized sites. Amplicons of the three evaluated pathogens were detected in twenty of the twenty-six tested samples. A significant correlation was observed between infection with three pathogens (N. apis, N. ceranae, L. passim) (r = 0.84) compared to infection with only two pathogens (N. apis and N. ceranae) (r = 0.49). N. ceranae was the predominant pathogen, but infections with various severity caused by L. passim were also noted in fourteen of the twenty-six tested samples. In view of the general scarcity of epidemiological data concerning coinfections with Nosema spp. and L. passim in honey bees in tree trunks in other countries, further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogenic infections on the decline of bee colonies.
Adaptation of the mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera : Tephritidae) to artificial rearing

When both sexes of wild Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were used to start a new laboratory colony, the following numbers of generations were required to reach measurements similar to a strain adapted to artificial rearing for about 5.5 yr (60-70 generations): four for survival, more than six for fecundity and fertility, about five for larval development speed, one to two for pupal recovery and size, two for adult emergence, and about four for adult Hightability. When the laboratory-adapted strain was partly renewed by crossing its females with wild males, no substantial differences from the laboratory-adapted strain were observed during the first six generations.
Functional response of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica

Different concentrations of 14C radiolabeled cultures of the prymnesiophyte Isochrysis galbana (5.5 µm in size), the prasinophyte Tetraselmis suecica (9.5 µm), and the chlorophyte Chlorella sp. (3.5 µm) were offered as food to groups of 2–5 Oikopleura dioica to determine the response of clearance (CR) and ingestion (IR) rates to food concentration (FC). At high FCs of I. galbana, IR and CR of O. dioica decreased with age of the house. Aging had little effect on the functional response (FR) because most of the decrease in IR and CR occurred during the initial 10% of the house lifespan. The FR resembled a type II model for the IR and presented saturation and inhibition at high FC (>100 µg C L−1)of I. galbana. Fits of FR curves of the IR of animals weighing ca. 3 µg C ind−1 to a Michaelis Menten model yielded Imax (maximum IR) of 198 ± 28, 498 ± 171, and 489 ± 150 ng C ind−1 h−1 and Km (half saturation FC) of 38 ± 21, 225 ± 177, and 290 ± 205 µg C L−1 for the prey I. galbana, T. suecica, and Chlorella sp. , respectively. The Km values are high and in two of three cases exceed the maximum concentration of ingestible particles found in the natural habitat, which suggests that O. dioica is adapted to high phytoplankton concentrations. In contrast with classical FR models, CR remained nearly constant for all concentrations. Particles cleared from suspension by O. dioica are ingested and transformed into fast‐sinking fecal pellets at low FC, while they are mainly accumulated into slow to fast‐sinking filter houses at high FC, which implies considerable shifts in the biogeochemical role of these animals with changing particle concentrations.
Conservation of transposon structures in soil bacteria

The presence of Class II transposon genes related to Tn21 and Tn501, and their structural arrangements have been determined in a collection of 124 mercury resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Seventy-five of the 124 isolates contained a tnpA (transposase) gene related to Tn21 and Tn501 and in all 64 isolates that contained both tnpA genes and plasmids, the tnpA gene was plasmid borne. The relative orientation of the tnp genes and the mer operon (encoding mercury resistance) was also studied and revealed the presence of two distinct structural groups. The merC gene was present in 44 isolates. Five isolates were found to carry integrase genes and these contained inserted gene cassettes varying in size from 1.1 kb to 4.5 kb. The structural arrangement of the tnpA and tnpR (resolvase) genes within the isolates was determined. Sixty-nine of the 75 tnpA containing isolates had an arrangement of tnpA and tnpR genes similar to that found in the Tn21 subgroup of transposons. Four strains did not produce a PCR product using tnpR primers. The remaining two isolates had undetermined arrangements of tnpA and tnpR genes. No Tn3-like arrangements of tnpA and tnpR genes were present in these isolates, despite being detected in DNA extracted directly from the isolation sites. This suggests that Tn3-like arrangements of tnpA and tnpR genes are not commonly associated with mercury resistance genes in these environments. It was also apparent that the recombination events which have previously been observed in these strains have not significantly affected the diversity of the transposon structures within the isolates.
Temporal and spatial changes in golden eagle reproduction in relation to increased off highway vehicle activity

We used >40 years of data on golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting in southwestern Idaho, USA, to assess whether the proportion of territories and pairs producing young has changed over time, and whether territories in areas where off highway vehicle (OHV) use has increased significantly were less likely to be productive than those in areas that continued to have little or no motorized recreation. The proportion of territories that produced young was similar across southwestern Idaho from the late 1960s to 1999. After a dramatic increase in OHV use from 1999 to 2009, occupancy and success of territories in close proximity to recreational trails and parking areas declined, and the proportion of these territories producing young differed significantly from territories not impacted by OHVs. We could not pinpoint which types of motorized activity are most disturbing, nor could we identify disturbance thresholds at which eagles abandon their eggs, their young, and finally their territory. Timing, proximity, duration, and frequency of disturbance could all play a role. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Quality Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Compost

Abstract There are more than 522 towns and cities in Bangladesh, which generate thousands of tons of solid waste known as Municipal Solid Waste. Low collection coverage and disposal facilities are responsible for unsatisfactory waste management. The composting technology is a good alternative method for managing MSW. The present study was conducted to assess the quality of the MSW compost produced from the solid wastes of Mymensingh Pourashava. For quality assessment physical, chemical and biological properties of prepared compost namelye bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, moisture content, pH, organic matter content, C:N ratio, NPKS content, buffering capacity, soluble salts content, heavy metal content and the presence of harmful organisms in the MSW compost were studied. The results indicated that the MSW compost was matured and stable having pH 7.3 and buffering capacity of the MSW compost were good but the organic matter content and C : N (14.5) ratio were low. The N, P, K and S content of the MSW compost were 0.9, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.45 percent of the total volume. The soluble salts content and heavy metal content of the compost were found to be within the permissible limits. The MSW compost contained no E. coli and Salmonella. From the results, it can be concluded that, the composting could produce acceptable quality of compost, which can be used as fertilizer or soil amendment.
The dynamics of theories of economic growth: An impact of Unified Growth Theory

Abstract The aim of this paper is to examine a complex pattern of mutual interdependence between Unified Growth Theory (subroutine) and the evolution of the entire field of economic growth theories (main routine) from a philosophical and methodological perspective. The analysis utilises the recently introduced concept of research routine (and respectively, subroutine) aimed at an explanation of the evolution of scientific research. The study identifies the influence of the subroutine (and its specific concept of demographic transition) on the core concepts of the main routine: human capital, population growth and learning. The results are based on network analyses of extensive bibliometric evidence from Scopus and the Web of Knowledge.
Influence of feed processing on the efficacy of exogenous enzymes in broiler diets

The use of commercial exogenous enzymes in poultry diets is now a common practice. Broilers are predominantly fed pelleted diets; of the various unit operations in the production of pellets, grinding and conditioning are the components that can influence the efficacy of exogenous enzymes. The aim of this paper was to review the feed processing factors that influence the efficacy of exogenous enzymes in broiler diets. Recent studies have shown that the efficacy of exogenous enzymes is influenced by the degree of grinding. Available data suggest that enzyme responses on intestinal viscosity are more pronounced in feeds subjected to high conditioning temperatures. The issue of enzyme stability during conditioning and pelleting therefore becomes relevant and new enzyme technologies are being developed to overcome the high thermal processing issues. However, the effects of steam conditioning practices on enzyme stability have received less attention and need to be explored in future studies.
Varieties of abstract concepts and their grounding in perception or action

Abstract For a very long time, theorizing in the cognitive sciences was dominated by the assumption that abstract concepts, which lack a perceivable referent, can only be handled by amodal or verbal linguistic representations. In the last years, however, refined grounded cognition theories emphasizing the importance of emotional and introspective information for abstract concepts, in addition to verbal associations and sensorimotor information, have received increasing support. Here, we review theoretical accounts of the structure and neural basis of conceptual memory and evaluate them in light of recent empirical evidence with regard to the processing of concrete and abstract concepts. Based on this literature review, we argue that abstract concepts should not be treated as a homogenous conceptual category, whose meaning is established by one single specific type of representation. Instead, depending on the feature composition, there are different subgroups of abstract concepts, including those with strong relations to vision or action, which are represented in the visual and motor brain systems similar to concrete concepts. The reviewed findings with regard to concrete and abstract concepts can be accommodated best by hybrid theories of conceptual representation assuming an interaction between modality-specific, multimodal and amodal hub areas.
Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) at Molecular Level using ISSR Markers

In the present investigation, twenty eight genotypes of grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) were evaluated for their genetic divergence at molecular level. The analysis of morphological variance exhibited significant differences among the genotypes for all the eight characters indicating the presence of substantial degree of variability. Fifteen Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers amplified a total of 61 bands of which 53 bands (86.88%) were polymorphic. None of the band was unique and 8 bands were monomorphic in their profile. Similarity index ranged from (0.55–0.97) with moderately wide diversity. In dendrogram all the genotypes studied were distinguished from each other and five broad clusters were observed with Suvarna and SKGPA26 forming most distinct individual genotype clusters. Though there was considerable inter-group variation, however extent of variation within the groups was low. Divergence results observed in dendrogram analysis were reflected in 2D PCO scatter plot analysis. When morphological data was correlated with molecular divergence data, grouping to limited extent was observed with yield per plant, stem girth and inflorescence for traits. Intercluster crossing could be used for further widening of genetic variability in grain amaranth breeding programme.
Establishing a protocol for the selection of zircon inclusions in garnet for Raman thermobarometry

Abstract The structural and chemical properties of zircon inclusions in garnet megablasts from the Dora Maira Massif (Western Alps, Italy) were characterized in detail using charge contrast imaging, Raman spectroscopy, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The aim of this work is to determine to what extent the degree of metamictization, metamorphic recrystallization, inherent structural heterogeneity, chemical composition, and zoning, along with the elastic stress imposed by the host mineral, can influence the Raman peak position of the zircon inclusion and hence, the residual pressure estimated via Raman geo-thermobarometry. We show and confirm that metamictization and inherent structural heterogeneity have a major influence in the Raman spectra of zircon in terms of peak position and peak width. We suggest that, for spectral resolution of 2 cm–1, the peak width of the B1g mode near 1008 cm–1 of reliable grains must be smaller than 5 cm–1. The method can be applied to both inherited igneous and newly formed Alpine metamorphic crystals. By coupling structural and chemical information, we demonstrate that there are no significant diferences between the Raman spectra of zircon with oscillatory-zoned texture, formed during magmatic crystallization, and those formed by fluid-induced Alpine (re)crystallization. The discrimination between magmatic and metamorphic zircon based only on micro-textural constraints is not robust. Finally, our results allow establishing a protocol devoted to the selection of reliable buried zircon inclusions, relying only on Raman spectroscopic measurements, to use for elastic thermobarometry applications.
Diversity of soil bacteria complexes associated with summer truffle (Tuber aestivum)

Abstract This paper describes the quantitative and qualitative composition of bacteria isolated from soil in the selected sites in the Nida Basin, in places where mycorrhizae and ascocarps of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) were found, and in a control soil (without truffle). A classic growth culture method was used with Sanger DNA sequencing to obtain quantitative and qualitative measures of bacterial cultures. The obtained results showed differences in bacteriome composition between the case samples, in which summer truffle fructification was observed, and the control samples. Seven classes of bacteria were identified: Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Deinococci, Flavobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria. The most numerous bacterial genera were Pseudomonas (class Gammaproteobacteria) – 33%, Streptomyces (class Actinobacteria) – 29% and Bacillus (class Bacilli) – 15%. This research broadens the understanding of individual groups of bacteria accompanying truffles and their potential impact on the formation of summer truffle ascocarps.
An Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills amongst Business Students in Kuwait

Abstract Research Purpose. This article examined critical thinking skills amongst senior-level undergraduate students in a Middle East setting, Kuwait. In addition, the study investigated the gender differences. Methodology. The subjects involved in this study comprised a convenience sample of 90 graduating seniors. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of two motivational factors on the development of critical thinking skills. The analysis used the specific subsection about critical thinking skills, which is part of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). One factor relates the sense of entitlement that can arise in a welfare state, which heavily subsidises a wide range of things for citizens, including education. We examined differences between citizens and non-citizens, who do not have access to welfare benefits. Findings. The results supported the hypotheses that student groups have different levels of critical thinking skills. We found that expatriate students had more highly developed critical thinking skills than students who were Kuwaiti citizens. We also found that women had more highly developed critical thinking skills than men had. Practical Implications. The welfare state measures undertaken by the government of Kuwait may be counterproductive. The guaranteed employment of its citizens and generous monetary support whilst in school may discourage the development of critical thinking skills. Future research could focus on ways to motivate particular groups (e.g. Kuwaiti men) to enhance their critical thinking skills.
GENETIC PARAMETERS OF TEST-DAY SOMATIC CELL SCORES FOR THE FIRST THREE LACTATIONS OF POLISH HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE

Genetic parameters for somatic cell score in the first three lactations of Polish Holstein-Frie - sian cattle were estimated. A multiple-lactation model was applied with random herd-test-day effect, fixed regressions for herd-year and age-season of calving, and random regressions for the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The large data set was used that included over one million test-day records and more than 58 000 cows. Estimates of covariance components and genetic parameters were obtained by Bayesian methods using the Gibbs sampler. Average daily heritabilities of somatic cell score (SCS) in the first three lactations were 0.11, 0.12 and 0.14 for the first, second and third lactation, respectively. Estimates of daily heritabilities were rather independent of days in milk (DIM), with no serious abnormalities at the beginning or the end of lactation. Average genetic correlations between SCS on the same DIM were 0.68, 0.62 and 0.70 for first and second, first and third, and second and third parities, respectively, and did not exceed 0.77. The low level of heritability estimates and relatively low genetic correlations between lactations would suggest that selection based on the first lactation only could limit a response in mastitis resistance for later lactations.