Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cultural and morphological variability among the Isolates of Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, incitant of fruit rot of chilli

Cultural and morphological variability studies on seven different media viz. , potato dextrose agar, host leaf extract agar, host fruit extract agar, oatmeal agar, Richards' agar, Czapek's Dox agar and Rose Bengal agar revealed considerable variation among the isolates of A. alternata indicated the existence of variability in the pathogen. Moreover, Oatmeal agar and potato dextrose agar were found as an excellent media to support the growth and spore formation of isolates of A. alternata , respectively. In case of isolates, Ahmedabad isolate (Aa-7) (61.90 mm) and Rajkot isolate (Aa-8) (61.71 mm) were at par in supporting the mycelium growth and Anand isolate (Aa-1) supports the sporulation abundantly. Among eight isolates of A. alternata , distinct differences in terms of conidial length, breadth, beak length and number of septa were recorded. The average conidial length varied from 16.93 to 59.24 μm and breadth ranges from 6.90 to 14.98 μm with beak length of 3.25 to 44.07 μm. The transverse and longitudinal septa varied from 2 to 10 and 0 to 4, respectively. In the present studies, glaring differences in conidial size were noticed among the isolates even when same medium was used for the growth of the isolates. It can be assumed that variation in the isolates may be inherent since isolates were collected from diverse agroclimatic zones of Gujarat. Hence, these variations in the conidial size indicated the existence of variability in this pathogen.
Coordinated activities of chromatin modifying complexes in DNA regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ii Preface . iv Table of Contents . vi List of Tables . x List of Figures . xi List of Abbreviations . xiii Acknowledgements . xv Dedication . xvii Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Chromatin Structure . 2 1.2 Histone Chaperones in Nucleosome Assembly and Disassembly . 4 1.2.1 Asf1 Histone Chaperone . 6 1.3 Nucleosome Positioning . 7 1.4 Modifications of the Chromatin Structure . 9 1.4. 1 Post-Translational Modification of Histones . 10 1.4. 2 ATP-Dependent Chromatin-Remodeling Complexes . 12 1.4. 3 Histone Variants . 13 1.5 Coordinated Activities of Chromatin-Modifying Factors . 15 1.5. 1 SWR1-C Structure and Function . 17 1.5. 2 NuA4 Structure and Function . 18 vii 1.5. 3 H2A.Z at the Intersection between SWR1-C and NuA4 . 20 1.6 Conservation of NuA4 and SWR1-C in Mammals . 23 1.7 Summary . 24 Chapter 2: Maintenance of Heterochromatin Boundary and Nucleosome Composition at Promoters by the Asf1 Histone Chaperone and SWR1-C Chromatin Remodeler in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . 26 2.1 Introduction . 26 2.2 Materials and Methods . 30 2.2.1 Yeast Strains and Plasmids . 30 2.2.2 Growth and Genotoxic Sensitivity Assays . 34 2.2.3 RT-qPCR . 34 2.2. 4 ChIP-qPCR and ChIP-on-chip . 37 2.3 Results . 38 2.3. 1 ASF1 Genetically Interacted with Genes Encoding for Subunits of SWR1-C . 38 2.3. 2 ASF1 and YAF9 were Required for Maintaining Heterochromatin-Proximal Gene Expression . 39 2.3. 3 Cooperative Regulation of SIR Occupancy by Asf1 and Yaf9 was TelomereSpecific . 42 2.3. 4 Asf1 and SWR1-C Affected Heterochromatin-Proximal Gene Expression through Different Mechanisms . 45 2.3. 5 Dysregulation of Heterochromatin Boundaries in asf1Δ yaf9Δ was not the Underlying Cause of the Severe Growth Defects . 47
Illumina Sequencing of Fungal Assemblages Reveals Compositional Shifts as a Result of Nutrient Loading Within Cave Sediments

This study compared fungal communities in two southern Appalachian caves: Carter Saltpeter Cave (CSPC, an anthropogenically-impacted cave) and Daniel Boone Caverns (DBC, a near-pristine cave). The impacted cave had an order of magnitude greater cell numbers estimated via qPCR, significantly greater ACE and Chao1 diversity and was dominated by Ascomycota common in early phase decomposition, likely due to carbon input from shallow soil sources. Fungal assemblages in more pristine DBC samples were dominated by Basidomycota found in deeper soil horizons or in late phase decomposition in other studies, suggesting more oligotrophic conditions. Average fungal to bacterial ratios (0.004 and 0.007, calculated as gene copy numbers per gram wet weight via qPCR) were roughly an order of magnitude below those reported for soils, likely due to nutrient-limitation. In situ carbon addition resulted in growth of fungal mycelia followed by increased Mn(II)-oxidation. A comparison of the fungal communities before and after the 10 week manipulation indicated that Mn(II) oxide enrichment both increased the quantity of fungal and bacterial cells (estimated via qPCR) and decreased overall fungal diversity. Overall, results demonstrate that anthropogenic carbon sources can dramatically influence the diversity and quantity of fungi, impact microbial community function, and can stimulate Mn(II)-oxidation.
Thifensulfuron and Imazethapyr Interaction at the ALS Enzyme in Sulfonylurea-Tolerant Soybean (Glycine max)

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine if the synergistic injury to sulfonylurea-tolerant soybean (STS soybean) caused by applications of thifensulfuron plus imazethapyr involves an interaction between the herbicides at the ALS enzyme. In vitro ALS from STS soybean (Asgrow 3200) was 10 times more tolerant to thifensulfuron than ALS from non-STS soybean (Williams 82). In vivo ALS was 30% of maximum activity 6 HAT in STS soybean treated with 4.4 g ha−1 thifensulfuron, but 0% of maximum in similarly treated non-STS soybean. Increasing thifensulfuron from 4.4 to 141 g ha−1 did not increase in vivo ALS inhibition in STS soybean, indicating a highly resistant ALS isozyme. Both cultivars responded similarly to imazethapyr in terms of visual injury, in vitro ALS inhibition, and in vivo ALS inhibition. Soybean injury and in vivo ALS inhibition increased with imazethapyr rate in both cultivars. The relationship between imazethapyr inhibition of ALS in vivo and soybean injury was curvilinear. In vitro ALS assays revealed no synergistic interaction between thifensulfuron and imazethapyr at the enzyme level. In vivo ALS activity was reduced to 7 and 10% of controls 24 and 48 HAT by the tank mixture compared to 56 and 84% for thifensulfuron alone and 20 and 28% for imazethapyr alone. These data show that the synergistic increase in soybean injury caused by tank mixing thifensulfuron with imazethapyr results from the cumulative inhibition of ALS, not a synergistic inhibition of the enzyme.
Neo-nicotinoids: A biorational approach for managing sucking insect-pests of Groundnut

The bio-efficacy of three neo-nicotinoids viz., imidacloprid 17.8 SL, acetamiprid 20 SP and thiamethoxam 25 WG was determined against leafhoppers and thrips compared with two organo-phosphates; profenofos 40 EC and monocrotophos 36 SL, and a carbamate insecticide, carbosulfan 25 EC. The treatments were imposed as one or two sprays at 30 days after emergence (DAE) and at 30 and 45 DAE, respectively. A modified sweep net method was followed to record the population of leafhopper and thrips. Single spray of neonicotinoids, acetamiprid 20 SP @ 0.5 g L−1 or imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.4 mL L−1 or thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.4 g L−1 at 30 DAE was found effective in reducing leafhopper population whereas, two sprays of any of the three neo-nicotinoids at 30 and 45 DAE was found effective in reducing thrips population.
On the Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: Uromastycinae) - Resurrection of the Genus Saara Gray, 1845

We assessed the taxonomic relationships within the genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 using morphologi- cal and genetic methods, resulting in the resurrection of the genus Saara Gray, 1845 for Saara hardwickii, S. as- mussi and S. loricata and in changes of the taxonomic rank of Uromastyx nigriventris, U. aegyptia leptieni and U. shobraki. A synopsis of all taxa considered to be valid is provided, including differential diagnosis, description and data on their respective distribution. A key for the species of Saara and Uromastyx is presented.
Genetic variability in yard long bean {Vigna unguiculata sub sp. Sesquipedalis (L.) verdcourt}

The extent of genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for 24 biometric characters in 30 diverse genotypes of yard long bean was studied. Genetic analysis revealed existence of considerable genetic variability among the genotypes. PCV and GCV were highest for pod yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for pod yield per plant, pods per kg, inflorescence per plant, pod weight and keeping quality of pods indicating scope of selection for improvement of these characters. The genotypes, VS 15, VS 21, VS 14, VS 20, VS 13 and VS 19 superior for pod yield and its components can be used in further breeding programmes.
The Effect of Temperature Acclimation and Adrenaline on the Performance of a Perfused Trout Heart

Cardiac performance was examined with in situ perfused trout hearts at two acclimation temperatures, 5 C and 15 C. In series I, adrenaline-free perfusion and a cumulative dose response up to 1 μgmol adrenaline · L⁻¹ was examined. In series II, tonic adrenergic stimulation (5 nmol · L⁻¹) and a cumulative dose response up to 50 nmol · L⁻¹ was examined Tonic adrenergic stimulation was important for chronotropic and inotropic stability, especially at5 C. Heart rate and maximum cardiac output were significantly higher at 15 C than at5 C. Maximum stroke volume at 5 C was the same as or greater than the maximum stroke volume at 15 C Adrenergic stimulation produced quantitatively different positive chronotropic and inotropic effects at both temperatures and partially compensated for the direct efect of temperature; the chronic Q10 values for heart rate and maximum cardiac output were 1.30-1.40. Trout acclimated to 5 C had a relatively larger ventricle mass, which permitted a higher absolute stroke work at 5 C than at 15 C
Silent infections with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are highly unlikely in multitransfused seronegative hemophiliacs [see comments]

We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the frequency of silent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections in seronegative high-risk individuals with hemophilia who had been exposed to contaminated blood products more than 3 years previously. In a cross- sectional study of a cohort of 57 prospectively followed seronegative hemophiliacs who received multiple transfusions before 1986, HIV-1 proviral DNA was found transiently in only one patient. These data suggest that the rate of HIV infection among high-risk antibody negative individuals with hemophilia is very low to absent, in the range of 0% to 2%. These findings should provide considerable reassurance to seronegative persons with hemophilia and their sexual partners.
Consciousness of attention and expectancy as reflected in event-related potentials and reaction times

The effects of conscious expectancies and attention on event-related potentials (ERP) and choice reaction times (RT) and their modulation by stimulus sequence were studied. Subjects retrospectively reported their expectancy of, and attention to, the terminal tones of short series. ERPs and RTs showed the usual sequential effects that were modulated by practice. As ratings were affected by only a few of the stimulus sequence, conscious access to sequence-based expectancy or attention appears to be fragmentary. Increased P300 amplitude with attention indicates conscious access to processing capacity. RTs and P300 latencies suggest stimulus processing time to decrease with sequence-based and consciously accessible expectancy. Differential effects of stimulus sequences and conscious expectancies on P300 amplitude indicate influences of two varieties of expectancy. Language: en
Status of organic farming in India.

A survey was made on certified organic farms in the country to ascertain the real benefits and feasibility of organic farming in terms of the production potential, economics and soil health in comparison to the conventional farms. The study revealed that organic farming, in spite of the reduction in crop productivity by 9.2%, provided higher net profit to farmers by 22.0% compared to conventional farming. This was mainly due to the availability of premium price (20-40%) for the certified organic produce and reduction in the cost of cultivation by 11.7%. In cases, where such premium prices were not available and the cost of cultivation was higher primarily due to purchased off-farm inputs, organic farming was not found economically feasible. However, there was an overall improvement in soil quality in terms of various parameters, viz. physical, chemical, biological properties, availability of macro- and micronutrients, indicating an enhanced soil health and sustainability of crop production in organic farming systems.
Special-Needs Adoption: A Study of Intact Families

Seven hundred ninety-nine parents who adopted children with special needs responded to a mailed questionnaire probing child behavior, parent-child relationship, school performance, helpfulness of social work and other services, and the impact of the adoption on the family. About three-quarters of the parents reported positive impact; most were also positive in their assessments of social work services. Latency-age and adolescent adoptees, but not preschool children, demonstrated substantial behavioral problems. Acting-out, aggressive behavior as contrasted with withdrawn, inhibited behavior was strongly related to the impact of the adoption. Results are promising for minority children, for less wealthy and less educated adoptive families, and for adoptions by single parents and foster parents.
Weight-Density Relationships in Ramet Populations of Clonal Perennial Herbs, with Special Reference to the -3/2 Power Law

(1) The 3/2 power law relates the logarithms of mean plant weight and plant density through time as a population undergoes thinning. It describes the growth of populations of a wide variety of species with genets as their basic population units. In populations of clonal perennial herbs, however, ramet density is restricted by environmental controls and controls internal to the plant, and thinning of ramets does not occur as a direct result of their growth. The 3/2 power law, therefore, is not applicable to the ramet populations of clonal perennial herbs, and several sets of data are presented to illustrate this fact. (2) The sets of data fall, with one exception, into three families of curves. Most relationships follow the model curve presented by Hutchings & Barkham (1976), or exhibit a cyclic form returning to approximately the same position on the graph at 12-month intervals. In the former type, cohorts of shoots are completely separated in time, whereas in the latter type cohorts overlap, so that the site is continuously occupied by shoots. Species exhibit a range of types of behaviour between these two extremes. (3) Genet populations with efficient utilization of biological space self-thin along an 'ultimate' thinning line with a gradient of 3/2. At maturity, most clonal perennial herbs closely approach this thinning line, but do not transgress it. This is an efficient strategy incorporating maximum utilization of environmental resources and high production of biomass without self-thinning. (4) It is suggested that the 3/2 power law may have operated to determine the optimum relationship between shoot number and biomass for each site when it has achieved a steady state with constant biomass from year to year.
Item Content Versus Item Wording: Disentangling Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity

Rizzo, House, and Lirtzman's (1970) Role Ambiguity Scale and Role Conflict Scales assess ambiguity with 6 negatively worded items and conflict with 8 positively worded items, respectively. This methodological confound between item wording and content precludes unambiguous interpretation. In the present study, confirmatory factor analysis of these 2 scales and Beehr, Walsh, and Taber's 0976) Role Overload Scale (which has positively and negatively worded items) was used to disentangle this confound. Across 2 independent samples (N= 767 and N= 363), a 3-factor model consistent with conceptual definitions of role ambiguity, conflict, and overload fit the data better than models with (a) one general role-stress factor, (b) a general role-stress and a method (item wording) factor, or (c) two method (positive and negative wording) factors. These results support the construct validity of Rizzo et al.'s (1970) scales; the consistency of the results across 2 independent samples suggests their generalizability.
Population fluctuations of voles in North Fennoscandian tundra : contrasting dynamics in adjacent areas with different habitat composition

During 1991-1996. we studied population fluctuations of microtine rodents (primarily Clethrionomys rufocanus). of their winter food plants, and of their predators in a low arctic habitat complex, dominated by unproductive lichen dwarf-birch tundra. More productive habitats occurred patchwise throughout the landscape. On a south-facing slope, productive scrubland habitats prevailed, and luxuriant habitats were locally abundant. Our main method was live-trapping on 14 grids, representing typical lowland tundra (5 replicates), the productive slope (4 replicates) and barren high-altitude tundra (5 replicates). Within the slope vole populations were cyclic. In the lowland tundra. vole fluctuations were primarily seasonal, but the vole erash on the productive slope coincided with a phase of relatively low vole densities in the lowland. The highland was characterised by low vole densities. During the phase of rapid population growth, long-range dispersal occurred within the slope and from the slope to surrounding areas. Moreover, small mustelids which had initially been present only on the slope, started to move elsewhere, along natural dispersal corridors. Shoot mortalities of the main winter food plant. Vaccinium myrtillus. remained low. The observed scenario is consistent with the hypothesis that vole cycles represent a mustelid-microtine limit cycle, because cycles created by this mechanism should disappear when the productive habitats, capable of supporting resident predators, become fragmented and embedded in a vast unsuitable area.
Diet of a nesting pair of Long-eared Owls, Asio otus, in an urban environment in southwestern Turkey (Aves: Strigidae)

Pellets were collected under an active Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) nest in the city centre of Denizli, Turkey. The nest was located in a conifer tree in a 5.7 ha urban park, centrally-located in the city of Denizli, with a human population of 577,000 people. During April-June 2014, a total of 64 pellets containing remains of 86 individual prey items was found. All prey were Passeriformes and consisted of two species belonging to Passeridae and Hirundinidae. 78 of the 86 prey items (90.7%) were House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the other eight (9.3%) were House Martin (Delichon urbicum). This is one of the first studies to indicate that the Long-eared Owl's nesting season diet consists entirely of birds. The main factor affecting this result is probably the fact that the owls live in an urbanised setting.
SARS-CoV-2 viral load peaks prior to symptom onset: a systematic review and individual-pooled analysis of coronavirus viral load from 66 studies

Background: Since the emergence of COVID-19, tens of millions of people have been infected, and the global death toll approached 1 million by September 2020. Understanding the transmission dynamics of emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 and other novel human coronaviruses is imperative in designing effective control measures. Viral load contributes to the transmission potential of the virus, but findings around the temporal viral load dynamics, particularly the peak of transmission potential, remain inconsistent across studies due to limited sample sizes. Methods: We searched PubMed through June 8th 2020 and collated unique individual-patient data (IPD) from papers reporting temporal viral load and shedding data from coronaviruses. We analyzed viral load trajectories using a series of generalized additive models, and the duration of viral shedding by fitting log-normal models accounting for interval censoring. Results: We identified 115 relevant papers and obtained data from 66 (57.4%) - representing a total of 1198 patients across 14 countries. SARS-CoV-2 viral load peaks prior to symptom onset and remains elevated for up to three weeks, while MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV viral loads peak after symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV had median viral shedding durations of 4.8, 4.2, and 1.2 days after symptom onset. Disease severity, age, and specimen type all have an effect on viral load, but sex does not. Discussion: Using a pooled analysis of the largest collection of IPD on viral load to date, we are the first to report that SARS-CoV-2 viral load peaks prior to -- not at -- symptom onset. Detailed estimation of the trajectories of viral load and virus shedding can inform the transmission, mathematical modeling, and clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and SARS infection.
The Recent Sedimentation History of Thingvallavatn, Iceland

The sediments in the Thingvellir lake basin have been successfully dated by tephra layers back to ca. AD 900, the time of Nordic Settlement in Iceland. Nine of the twelve tephra layers known to have been deposited within or near the Thingvallavatn area since that time have been identified in sediment cores, providing an excellent source of information on the rate of sedimentation in the lake basin. The rate of net sedimentation increases proportionally with water depth below a critical limit of 30 m water depth, indicating a hydrologically controlled sedimentation
A Quantitative Assessment of Reduced Protein Diets and Supplements to Improve Nitrogen Utilization

Abstract Several strategies are being developed to minimize nitrogen (N) pollution form poultry waste in areas with high concentrations of commercial poultry operations. This study looks at the effect of using reduced protein (CP) diets for broilers and layers housed under commercial conditions. Each of two broiler experiments involved 2400 birds; a layer experiment involved 1350 birds. The diets were based on practical ingredients, supplemented with commercially available lysine, methionine, tryptophan, and threonine. Results indicated that similar boiler and layer performance could be maintained on reduced-CP diets as on conventional diets, although body fat content increased in broilers. The reduction in dietary CP content resulted in a 10-27% reduction in the total amount of N excreted during the 6-wk broiler rearing period. With layers, there was a 30-35% reduction in daily N output. Reduction in dietary CP level was associated with an improvement in DM (dry matter) and N retention. Accurate information on the AA composition of the dietary constituents is necessary, as is the addition of supplements of the limiting AA. Successful reduction in dietary CP content is likely to have marked beneficial effects in terms of reducing the N output in waste from poultry operations.