Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BRINJAL (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.)

Twenty one genotypes of brinjal were studied for genetic diversity. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters irrespective of geographic divergence, indicating no parallelism between geographic and genetic diversity. Cluster I was very large comprising of 15 genotypes, while cluster III to VI were solitary clusters. The maximum inter cluster distance was obtained between clusters II and V followed by those between clusters IV and V as well as Ill and V which may serve as potential genotypes for hybridization programme. Fruit length, fruit girth, number of branches per plant and plant height played in important role in divergence between the populations.
The Influence of Food on Cold Hardiness of Insects

There is ample evidence that many plants overwintering in cold regions undergo a hardening process in the fall that enables them to survive lower temperatures than they otherwise could (Levitt, 1941). It is generally assumed by entomologists that a similar acquisition of cold hardiness protects those insects that require it. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the evidence that insects develop cold hardiness, and to present new evidence regarding its acquisition and loss.
Durum wheat quality in high-input irrigation systems in south-eastern Australia

Abstract. To extend the production base of durum wheat in Australia, field trials were conducted on seven registered durum varieties across four seasons and six sites in locations where irrigation was supplied during crop growth. The purpose was to determine if the quality of the grain produced met the requirements for good milling and pasta-making quality and to understand the genotype, environment and their interaction in affecting yield and technological quality of the grain and derived pasta. High grain yields and grain protein were obtained, producing large grain weights, low screenings and low percentage of hard vitreous kernels. Yellow colour of semolina and pasta was reduced marginally but dough and other pasta technological characteristics were similar to typical dryland durum production, with some exceptions. Varieties were identified with potential for production under irrigation.
NUTRITIONAL AND COMPOSITIONAL CHANGES IN DEHYDRO-IRRADIATED SHRIMP

Nutritional and compositional changes in dehydro-irradiated shrimp have been studied and compared with those in samples processed by conventional procedures. No changes in proximate constituents are observed due to radiation treatment, though blanching causes some loss in total proteins. Losses in B vitamins due to radiation are much less than those due to blanching and partial drying. Radiation-induced losses can be minimized by packing the samples in vacuum or nitrogen atmosphere prior to irradiation. A progressive loss up to 22% of B vitamins is observed in processed shrimp during 3 months storage at ambient temperature. No losses in total amino acids or in available lysine are observed in irradiated samples, while thermal treatment results in some losses. In vitro enzymic digestibility of shrimp protein is increased by radiation treatment.
Evolutionary assessment of Artemia tibetiana (Crustacea, Anostraca) based on morphometry and 16S rRNA RFLP analysis

Over the last few years, molecular-based assays in the genus Artemia have considerably enriched prior systematic assessments based on morphometry. For the first time, morphometric and 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP analyses on all type-locality bisexual species of the genus have been employed here. Emphasis was put on the Asian species (Artemia urmiana, A. tibetiana, A. sinica) where patterns of divergence and reproductive isolation are rather discrete, and especially on A. tibetiana for which recent reports have questioned its specific status. Discriminant analysis of morphometric characters has shown significant differentiation among species. Classification scores were 99.4 and 100% for males and females, respectively. Mitochondrial DNA RFLP patterns have given indications for lower, albeit similar patterns of differentiation compared with those obtained by morphometry. Artemia tibetiana and A. urmiana are mitochondrially indistinguishable which is suggestive of recent ancestry. Our data, in conjunction with past evidence, are supportive of a significant amount of divergence between A. tibetiana and A. sinica. Morphometric and molecular assays can be reciprocally informative provided theory and patterns of speciation are incorporated into systematic assessments. Resume Ces dernieres annees, les outils moleculaires utilises dans l’etude du genre Artemia ont considerablement enrichi les analyses systematiques anterieures basees sur la morphometrie. Pour la premiere fois, des analyses morphometriques et des analyses PCR-RFLP de l'ARN ribosomique 16S ont ete effectuees pour toutes les especes amphigoniques d’Artemia venant des localites types. Dans cette etude, nous nous sommes concentres sur les especes asiatiques (A. urmiana, A. tibetiana, A. sinica), qui presentent des traits de divergence et un isolement reproductif assez singuliers, et tout particulierement sur l’A. tibetiana dont le statut d'espece a part entiere a ete mis en doute dans de recentes etudes. Une analyse discriminante des caracteristiques morphometriques a revele une differenciation importante parmi les especes. Pour les mâles et les femelles, les scores de classification etaient respectivement de 99,4% et 100%. Les profils RFLP de l'ADN mitochondrial ont montre une differenciation similaire a celle observee grâce a l'analyse morphometrique. L'ADN mitochondrial de l’A. tibetiana est indifferenciable de celui de l’A. urmiana, ce qui suggere que ces deux especes ont recemment diverge. Nos donnees, combinees a celles recueillies par le passe, indiquent une grande divergence entre l’A. tibetiana et l’A. sinica. Les analyses morphometriques et moleculaires peuvent se completer a condition de tenir compte de la theorie de la speciation et des modeles de speciation durant les analyses systematiques.
Effects of soil moisture and soil sterilization on vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and growth of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Nonmycorrhizal little-bluestem plants grown in sterile soil and mycorrhizal plants grown in unsterilized soil were experimentally subjected to varied soil moisture conditions that ranged from saturation for 12 h followed by drainage for 48 h to allowing soil to dry to permanent wilting point and returning it to field capacity 72 h later. Nonmycorrhizal plants produced significantly (p < 0.05) greater root and shoot biomass, had lower root/shoot ratios, and produced more flowering culms than mycorrhizal plants. However, mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher tissue concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, aluminum, and sodium and lower concentrations of potassium amd manganese. There was a decrease in percent colonization as soil water availability decreased.
Population biology of the crab Armases angustipes (Crustacea, Decapoda, Sesarmidae) at Brazilian tropical coast

The semi terrestrial crabs are important elements of the fauna of coastal regions. The aim of this study was to analyze the population structure of Armases angustipes (Dana, 1852) at estuaries of the Ariquinda River, considered a non impacted area, and Mamucabas River, considered a few impacted area, on the south coast of state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The species occurred in all months of the year. The number of individuals per month varied, being higher in the months of transition between the seasons. This is probably due to significant seasonal variations of air and burrow temperature and burrow salinity. There was no sexual dimorphism in size of A. angustipes in the mangrove of Ariquinda River, but males were larger than females in the mangrove of Mamucabas River. In both estuaries, the sex ratio did not differ from Mendelian proportion, but showed a deviation for females. The analysis of temporal variation in sex ratio showed significant differences in some months of the year. These variations are due to cyclical events that act distinctly on each sex. In both estuaries, size classes of carapace width were equally represented by both sexes. The ovigerous females of A. angustipes occurred only in some months of the year, especially in summer, in both estuaries. Probably the high phytoplankton productivity observed in summer favors the reproductive activity, since these algae serve as food for the larvae. Specimens of the population of Rio Ariquinda are largest and wider than those of Mamucabas River. This fact, associated with the low abundance of crabs and the lower frequency of ovigerous females observed in Mamucabas River, is an indication that this population may be influenced by the environmental impacts that this estuary has received.
Metabolism of nitric oxide by Pseudomonas stutzeri in culture and in soil

Denitrification of nitrate with glucose as electron donor was measured in Pseudomonas stutzeri in batch culture and after inoculation into sterile soil. In closed culture, denitrification of 4 mM nitrate, NO and N2O with maximum concentrations of 2.2 mM, 126 nM and 169 nM, respectively. Denitrification experiments in soil were done in a flow-through system in which the soil was continuously flushed with N2. Denitrification of about 80 μg nitrate-N g−1dw soil (= 67mM) resulted in the intermediate accumulation of about 3–6 μg nitrate-N g−1dw soil (= 2.5–5.0 mM. The produced NO and N2O whcih were flushed out of the system amounted to 37–61% and 2–6% of the reduced nitrate, respectively. Both glucose and nitrate were required for denitrificatiom and for release of NO and N2O. NO consumption wasm studied in nitrate-exhausted soil using the flow-through system. NO consumption followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The apparent Vmax was about 15–42 amol NO h−1 cell−1, and the apparent Km was about 0.92 ppmv NO equivalent to 1.5 nM NO in the soil aqueous phase. At high soil water content (60–75% WHC), O2 mixing ratios between 0 and 20% in the gas phase had no short-term effect on the Vmax of NO consumption. At low soil water contents (10–30% WHC) however, the aerobic Vmax reached only about 20% of the aneorobic control. At high soil water contents only prolonged incubation (up to 96 h) under 20% O2 resulted also in decreased Vmax being about 30% of the anaerobic control The Km of NO consumption was unaffected by all these treatments. The NO reductase activity of P. stutzeri appeared to be relatively resistant towards O2 when the bacteria had been inoculated into soil, and was sufficient to explain NO uptake in oxic soils.
Characterization of a Unique Genetic Variant in the β1-adrenoceptor Gene and Evaluation of its Role in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract The genetic factors that underlie idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) have not yet been elucidated. Since β 1 -adrenoceptors are downregulated in patients with IDCM, and since β-blocker therapy is consistently beneficial in this setting, we hypothesized that genetic variation in the β 1 -adrenoceptor might affect susceptibility to and/or severity of IDCM. As no intragenic polymorphism was available, a systematic screening of the gene was first performed. The organization and sequence of the human β 1 -adrenoceptor gene were established using polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing. The gene comprises 1434 bp and no intron was observed. We found a unique and frequent polymorphism (C1165G) which predicts an Arg389Gly substitution. The association of this polymorphism with IDCM was then analysed using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in the CARDIGENE population, a clinically well-characterized population of IDCM. Genotypic distribution was in agreement with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. There were no differences in the β 1 -adrenoceptor allele frequencies between IDCM ( n =426; C/G=0.76/0.24) and age- and sex-matched control subjects ( n =395; C/G=0.78/0.22). Within the patient group, no association was observed with the severity of the disease. In conclusion, the genomic organization of β 1 -adrenoceptor is described here for the first time. We found a unique and frequent polymorphism in the coding sequence of the gene. No association was observed between IDCM and the genetic variant. Its possible involvement in other cardiac diseases related to the β 1 -adrenoceptor remains to be analysed.
Continuous Application of Biochar Inoculated with Root Nodule Bacteria to Subsoil Enhances Yield of Soybean by the Nodulation Control using Crack Fertilization Technique

Abstract Crack fertilization is a soybean cultivation technique for nodulation control in which midterm subsoiling is used to supply fertilizing materials to deep soil just before the flowering stage. This study examined the effects of fertilizing materials and the continuous application of nodulation control, on soybean yield enhancement in two field experiments. The survival of nodule bacteria in deep soil was also evaluated by a bioassay of nodule bacteria in a root box. When the nodule bacteria on biochar were continuously applied without any other chemical fertilizers for three successive years, seed weight was significantly heavier being up to 1.34 times that of the control. The application of nodulation control in the previous year but not in the experimental year did not have residual effects on seed weight. The enhancement of seed weight in a farm field converted from a paddy was much lower. This may be partly attributed to the midterm tillage practice, whichdestroys the crack structure after the nodulation control, together with soil water status and cultivar differences. Nodule growth and nitrogen fixation activities significantly increased in the soybean plants grown on the soil collected from the subsoil to which nodule bacteria on biochar had been applied the previous year. This suggests that nodule bacteria in the subsoil survived in the biochar habitat for at least a year after application. These results indicate that nodulation control by the crack fertilization technique leads to yield enhancement when nodule bacteria on biochar are continuously applied.
CARACTERIZACIÓN MOLECULAR Y GERMINACIÓN DE SEMILLAS DE MAÍCES CRIOLLOS AZULES CON ENVEJECIMIENTO ACELERADO

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of accelerated aging on seeds of blue corn landraces. The study was conducted in the laboratorie s of National Polytechnic Institute and National University of Mexico. See ds of four blue corn landraces (Cuijingo, Cocotitlan, Puebla and Oaxaca), were subjected to accelerated aging treatments: humid heat (HH, 41°C, 72 h, and 100% r. h.), and dry heat (DH, 60°C, 48 h. The parameters measured were: radicle protrusion (RP) in at 0 to 72 h of imbibition, and after seven days of incubation at 25°C, normal seedlings (NS ), abnormal seedlings (AS ), and dead seeds (DS) were counted. The molecular characterization by RA PD was also performed and the respective dendrograms were constructed. In normal seedlings obtained from seeds without accelerated ageing, the varie tie s Oaxaca and Puebla were significantly superior. Seedling dry weight diminished with deterioration, being minimum under dry heat. The number of abnormal seedlings increased under both deterioration treatments, in the order Oaxaca, Puebla, Cocotitlan and Cuijingo. Differentiation of the band profiles among control and deteriorated seeds occurred in the sequence: Oaxaca (31,6%), Cocotitlan (25,8%), Puebla (19,6%) and Cuijingo (18,6%). These similarity values were inversely related to seed vigour, and irectly related to the presence of abnormalitie s in seedlings.
Lessons from a Volvocacean jackpot

Abstract: Mud collections made from a small reservoir in southern China while pursuing a rare Volvocacean, Platydorina caudata, produced an unusual wealth of other Volvocaceae but no Platydorina. Nine different Volvocacean lineages were obtained, identified by morphology, physiological traits, and nuclear rRNA transcribed spacer sequence comparisons. They probably represented progeny of zygotes formed upstream and washed into the inlet of the reservoir. Similar reservoir sites have increased in abundance in recent years worldwide, which invites further collecting.
Structures of the triglycerides of cows' milk, fortified milks (including. infant formulae), and human milk

The positional distributions of fatty acids in triglycerides from cows' milk, cows' milk enriched in linoleic acid by dietary means, and two commercial infant formulae fortified with vegetable fats have been determined for comparison with human milk. The results are discussed in terms of the digestibility of the fats and of the requirements of the human infant for linoleic acid.
Systematic Revision of Tropical Brazilian Scelidotheriine Sloths (Xenarthra, Mylodontoidea)

ABSTRACT The analysis of recently recovered ground sloth remains from Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Piauí (Brazil) results in a major reinterpretation of the Scelidotheriinae and Megalonychidae of tropical Brazil. Among the specimens collected from Lagoa Santa (Minas Gerais) by Lund during the first half of the 19th century are skeletal elements attributable to two scelidotheriine species, as Lund himself determined and Winge corroborated. This is in contrast to the interpretation of these remains as representing a scelidotheriine and the postcranial remains of a peculiar megalonychid, as most authors, following Hoffstetter, have believed. A new combination is proposed here for one of the species. Another scelidotheriine recently described from Piauí by Guérin and Faure is a synonym of this species.
Biological Effect of Synthetic Methyl Sterculate on the Fatty Acid Distribution in the Yolks of Chicken eggs

Abstract Naturally occurring sterculic acid triglycerides, cyclopropenoid compounds found in cottonseed oil feeds and oil extracts of various plant seeds, have been found to have important biological effects on chickens (Phelps et al., 1965). In general, these effects are changes in growth, egg storage characteristics, laying habits, degeneration of various organs, and a composition disturbance in the egg (Phelps et al., 1965, and Altschul et al., 1958). One specific effect is a shift in the distribution of fatty acids in egg yolk. There is a decrease in the concentration of the unsaturated oleic fatty acid and an increase in the saturated stearic acid (Evans et al., 1961). Various explanations of inhibition of enzymes or molecule functional groups in fatty acid metabolism, have been advanced for producing this effect (Kircher, 1964). A synthetic methyl sterculate has been made in our laboratory (Schlosser et al., 1968). Feeding chickens with this synthetic material was .
Impacts of Crop Production Factors on Fusarium Head Blight in Barley in Eastern Saskatchewan

Fusarium head blight (FHB) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is well established in the eastern Canadian Prairies and appears to be moving westward. A survey of 192 barley crops in eastern Saskatchewan was conducted to determine the impact of agronomic practices on FHB (1999-2002) and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) (2000-2001). The most common species isolated from spikes and kernels were F. sporotrichioides, F. avenaceum, and F. graminearum, followed by F. poae and F. culmorum. Disease tended to be higher under minimum-till compared with conventional- or zero-till. Fusarium sporotrichioides was favored by a previous cereal crop, whereas F. avenaceum was higher after a pulse crop, and F. graminearum decreased after a pulse but not an oilseed crop. The latter two pathogens were also more prevalent after diversified cropping sequences than after two cereal crops. Summer fallow, or summer fallow alternated with cereals, decreased FDK. Previous glyphosate (Group 9 herbicides) use was associated with increased infection by all Fusarium spp. , whereas Group 1 herbicides were associated with increased infection by F. poae and F. sporotrichioides. Effects of both herbicide groups depended on tillage system. Number of previous glyphosate applications was also correlated with FHB caused by F. avenaceum and F. graminearum. We concluded that in eastern Saskatchewan, barley grown under minimum-till where glyphosate had been sprayed and following diversified cropping sequences would sustain the greatest damage due to FHB and FDK caused by F. avenaceum and F. graminearum.
Assessment of Trichogramma species for biological control of forest lepidopteran defoliators

In a laboratory study, we determined the potential of three Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species, T. brassicae Bezdenko, T. minutum Riley and T. nr. sibiricum Sorokina, for biological control against six species of forest lepidopteran pests, black army cutworm, hemlock looper, eastern spruce budworm, western spruce budworm, white‐marked tussock moth, and gypsy moth. Females of each parasitoid species were offered eggs from each of the six host species. Parasitization and the effect of the host species on the emerging progeny were examined and recorded. Trichogramma minutum had the broadest host range and successfully parasitized four host species out of the six offered. Trichogramma nr. sibiricum had the narrowest host range and parasitized only two species of hosts. Of the six host species, black army cutworm was the most preferred by all three Trichogramma species; white‐marked tussock moth and gypsy moth were not parasitized by any parasitoids. There was a positive correlation between the size of female offspring and their corresponding egg complement in all three parasitoid species. The developmental time of parasitoids from egg to adult was influenced by both the parasitoid and host species. Our results suggest that T. minutum has the greatest potential for biological control against various forest lepidopteran pests and that the black army cutworm may be the best target candidate for further study.
EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS IN VOLVOX (CHLOROPHYTA) 1

The volvocine green algal genus Volvox includes ∼20 species with diverse sizes (in terms of both diameter and cell number), morphologies, and developmental programs. Two suites of characters are shared among distantly related lineages within Volvox. The traits characteristic of all species of Volvox—large (>500) numbers of small somatic cells, much smaller numbers of reproductive cells, and oogamy in sexual reproduction—have three or possibly four separate origins. In addition, some species have evolved a suite of developmental characters that differs from the ancestral developmental program. Most multicellular volvocine algae, including some species of Volvox, share an unusual pattern of cell division known as palintomy or multiple fission. Asexual reproductive cells (gonidia) grow up to many times their initial size and then divide several times in rapid succession, with little or no growth between divisions. Three separate Volvox lineages have evolved a reduced form of palintomy in which reproductive cells are small and grow between cell divisions. In each case, these changes are accompanied by a reduction in the rate of cell division and by a requirement of light for cell division to occur. Thus, two suites of characters—those characteristic of all Volvox species and those related to reduced palintomy—have each evolved convergently or in parallel in lineages that diverged at least 175 million years ago (mya).
Characterization of Defectiveness of Human Adenoviruses in Green Monkey Kidney Cells.∗

Summary In the absence of foreign helper viruses, human adenoviruses are defective in simian cells, but the degree of effectiveness varies with the adenovirus. Adenovirus 2 initiates an infection in the simian cells but there is no increase in virus titer. When simian cells are infected with adenovirus 7, a small amount of infectious virus is produced but the amount never exceeds the input level. Each cell in the population produces a small amount of virus. The increase in infectious virus is dependent upon DNA synthesis. The simian cells therefore appear to be “leaky” for some human adenovirus serotypes.