Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactions between root restriction, irrigation and rootstock treatments on ‘Queen Cox’ apple trees: Effects of soil and plant water relations

Summary The purpose of this research was to determine if established, orchard-grown apple trees that were con®ned in root-restricting membranes received adequate water for growth when irrigated. Previous data had shown positive effects of root restriction on reducing shoot extension growth in apple. Soil matric potential (Ψsm), leaf stomatal conductance (g) and leaf water potentials (Ψl) were measured over daily cycles during the period of maximum tree water use (July and August). Measurements were also made of the Ψsm and fruit size throughout the growing season. Daily and seasonal Ψsm showed that the soil within the root restricting membranes (+R) when irrigated (+I) remained closed to field capacity (<100 HPa), which was not the case for unirrigated soil within the membranes (-I +R). Ψl measured before dawn, showed that similar levels of drought stress were evident between irrigated and restricted (+I +R) and unrestricted (+I -R and -I -R) trees. The Ψsm, and Ψl for trees with roots within restricting membranes were significantly more negative, in the absence of irrigation (-I +R). Measurement of g showed that root restricted trees were transpiring at similar rates in the presence of irrigation (+I +R) as unrestricted trees (+I -R) with or without irrigation. Stomatal closure could not explain the increased Ψl observed for the restricted irrigated (+I +R) treatment compared with unrestricted (-R) trees. A reduced stomatal aperture was the most likely explanation for the reduction in growth previously observed with the restricted unirrigated trees. Fruit size was also affected by root restriction and the effect became greater as the roots became more restricted with tree age. Similarly, there was also a negative effect, in one year, of root restriction on fruit size at harvest, even in the presence of irrigation. Data show that reductions in soil water availability, Ψl and g, for the root-restricted trees (+I +R), were unlikely to be the causes for the previously observed reductions in shoot growth (tree size). These results imply that other factors were in operation, among which root-synthesized chemical regulators of shoot growth are the most likely candidates.
Interacting determinants of interspecific relative growth: Empirical patterns and a theoretical explanation

AbstractThis paper discusses the ways in which physiology, morphology and biomass partitioning interact to determine interspecific patterns of relative growth rate (RGR). We measure the correlations between RGR and six growth components based on above-ground and below-ground plant attributes, and use these results to propose a general model of how these interacting growth components combine to determine RGR based on the assumption of balanced growth. The data come from 28 wild herbaceous angiosperm species grown in hydroponic sand culture for 40 days under controlled standardised conditions in a growth chamber, with 16 hours daily of 550 µmol/m−2s −1 PAR. Interspecific variation in RGR was largely a result of variation in unit leaf and unit root rates. Variation in specific leaf areas, leaf weight ratios, specific root areas and root weight ratios were of secondary importance in explaining the differences in RGR. These components of growth were not independent of each other. Leaf attributes were negativel.
Trade in non-native amphibians and reptiles in Texas: lessons for better monitoring and implications for species introduction.

—In the United States, trade is monitored at different levels of government and state level insight requires combining federal, state, and local sources of information. Trade in wildlife and their products has implications on wild populations of species involved and introduction of non-native vertebrates, especially amphibians and reptiles, is linked to the commercial trade in these animals. We used: (1) federal databases; (2) surveys of pet owners at live animal expositions; (3) observations of sales at live animals expositions; and (4) data collected from dealers on the Internet to quantify imports, exports, and use of exotic herptiles traded in Texas. We recorded 1,192 unique taxonomic entities of amphibians and reptiles in commercial trade in Texas. A total of 949,901 live specimens were imported to Texas from 2002 to 2008. The top 16 imported taxa made up 73.36% of the trade. Internet and exposition-based trade was dominated by few species of common pets, with others represented in small numbers. Much trade persists in known invasive species and others that must have the potential to become invasive. We documented trade in 36 known invasive species, three of which are invasive in Texas. Our approach could serve as a template for assessing trade in non-native species at regional scales. Modifications to national databases would allow exports to be distinguished from re-exports, and adoption of standardized taxonomy would improve understanding of impacts of trade on species. State level management changes should be consistent across all 50 states to add continuity to laws governing non-native amphibians and reptiles kept as pets.
Biotic and abiotic factors associated with Fusarium ear rot of maize caused by Fusarium verticillioides

Fusarium ear rot, caused by Fusarium verticillioides, is one of the most common worldwide diseases of maize, causing yield and quality reductions as well as contamination of grain by fumonisins and other mycotoxins. Drought stress and various insects have been implicated as factors affecting disease severity. Three separate field studies were conducted during 2002 and 2003. The first field study was conducted in Woodland, CA during 2002 and 2003, to evaluate the relative influence of 1) drought stress at different stages of crop development, and 2) ear infestation by two species of insects, upon severity of Fusarium ear rot disease and fumonisin B1 contamination of commercial maize hybrids. In each year, plots of three commercial hybrids varying in partial resistance to Fusarium ear rot were sown on three planting dates and subjected to four irrigation regimes that resulted in differing levels of drought stress in the plants. A foliar-spray insecticide treatment (sprayed vs. unsprayed) also was imposed. Populations of thrips (Frankliniella spp.) and damage by corn earworm (Helicoverpa zeae) in open-pollinated hybrid ears were assessed following pollination for all treatment combinations. Fusarium ear rot symptoms were assessed on mature grain subsamples, which were then analyzed to quantify fumonisin B1. For all hybrids, there were significant effects of planting date, insecticide treatment, and drought stress on Fusarium ear rot symptoms and fumonisin B1 contamination, and these factors also had significant interacting effects. The hybrids displayed their expected differences in susceptibility to Fusarium ear rot, and the more susceptible hybrids often had higher fumonisin B1 levels and thrips populations, depending on planting date. Later planting dates typically had higher thrips populations, more Fusarium ear rot, and higher levels of fumonisin B1. Plots treated with insecticide generally suffered lower levels of ear rot symptoms and fumonisin B1
Atlas of exocrine pancreatic tumors : morphology, biology, and diagnosis with an international guide for tumor classification

Gross Anatomy of the Pancreas. - Microanatomy and Fine Structure of the Pancreas. - Serous Cystadenoma. - Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumors, Non-Invasive and Invasive. - Mucinous Cystic Tumors, Non-Invasive and Invasive. - Solid Cystic Tumors. - Serous Cystadenocarcinoma. - Ductal Adenocarcinoma. - Mucinous (Noncystic) Adenocarcinoma, Including Signet-Ring Carcinoma. - Adenosquamous Cell Carcinoma. - Squamous Cell Carcinoma. - Anaplastic (Undifferentiated) Carcinoma. - Acinar Cell Carcinoma. - Pancreatoblastoma. - Small Cell Carcinoma. - Preneoplastic Lesions of the Exocrine Pancreas. - Pathology of Metastatic Patterns of Pancreatic Cancer. - Tumor Spread and the Factors Influencing Prognosis in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Carcinoma. - Staging for Carcinoma of the Pancreas: Japanese Stage Classification Compared to UICC Stage Classification. - Molecular Biology. - Sampling Method for Pancreatic Tissue Examination. - Authors' Affiliations.
The influence of water extracts from Galium aparine L. and Matricaria maritima Subsp. inodora (L.) Dostal on germination of winter rye and triticale

During the research, it was assessed how water extracts from Galium aparine and Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora affect the germination energy and capacity, as well as the length of the seedling root and the first leaf of the Dankowskie Zlote cultivar of Secale cereale and of the Janko cultivar of Triticale rimpaui. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions, with the use of Petri dishes. The influence of three concentrations of water extracts prepared from the dry and fresh mass of the plant's above-ground parts was examined. Petri dishes watered with distilled water constituted the control treatment. Water extracts prepared from the Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora dry and fresh mass and Galium aparine fresh mass reduced the germination capacity and energy of rye and triticale in direct proportion to the increase of concentration. Higher concentrations of water extracts reduced, to a significantly larger extent, the growth of the seedling roots of both species. Lowest-concentration water extracts from the Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora dry and fresh mass and from the Galium aparine fresh mass stimulated the growth of seedling root of the cereals under study. Higher concentrations of water extracts prepared from the Galium aparine and the Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora dry mass reduced, to a significantly larger extent, the growth of the first leaf.
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and Heart Rate Reactivity Moderate the Relationship Between Racial Discrimination and Anxiety

Racial discrimination may be conceptualized as a unique, chronic stressor that impacts the lives of Black individuals with multiple associations to negative mental and physical health outcomes. High rates of racial discrimination are typically associated with increased anxiety symptomology. The present study was designed to examine if this relation may be moderated by intraindividual differences in autonomic reactivity of Black undergraduate students, as reflected by cardiac regulation. Participants completed an online questionnaire to estimate lifetime experiences of racial discrimination and current anxiety symptomology. In a subsequent laboratory visit, electrocardiogram data were collected during a task designed to mimic a real-life encounter with racial discrimination. Heart regulation responses to this challenge were measured as change from baseline estimates of heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (heart rate reactivity and ΔRSA). Multiple regression analyses showed that both heart rate reactivity and ΔRSA moderate the relationship between reported frequency of racial discrimination and anxiety symptomology, even after controlling for the effects of age, gender, and parental education. Results also demonstrated that a high baseline heart rate can account for the same relation all by itself, as it overcomes the moderating effects of autonomic regulation. These results suggest that attention to processes of physiological regulation should be central to research aimed at identifying Black emerging adults most physically and mentally affected by racial discrimination throughout development.
The evolution of mating systems in black scavenger flies (Diptera: Sepsidae)

Black scavenger flies are characterized by sexual behaviours that are very unusual in insects. I have studied two of the most remarkable elements of their mating systems: the timing of copulations immediately after an oviposition bout (post-oviposition matings) and the males' escorting of ovipositing females. In a study of the patterns of sperm precedence in one sepsid species, I found that the sepsids' peculiar timing of matings is not associated with unusual patterns of sperm precedence: sepsid males displace rival sperm and achieve a large last male advantage, which is the most common outcome of sperm competition in insects. I discuss the potential significance of sperm transfer mechanisms for the sepsids' timing of matings, and I consider factors that may favour the maintenance of postoviposition matings in sepsid populations. In a survey of sepsid mating patterns, I found that post-oviposition matings are typical of many black scavenger flies and that mating systems characterized by the absence of copulations with gravid females may have arisen early in the family's evolutionary history. In several black scavenger flies, ovipositing females are commonly accompanied by an escorting male, and in all but one of the species I have studied, escorting is pre-copulatory. In several species, I found pronounced
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FRESH AND FROZEN THAWED SEMINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF STALLIONS

The present study was undertaken with the objective to study and compare the seminal parameters of fresh and frozen thawed semen of stallions of Indian breeds viz., Marwari, Manipuri and Zanskari. Semen was collected from nine apparently healthy stallions (three stallions from each breed) aged between 4 to 6 years. A total of 54 ejaculates (6 ejaculates from each stallion) were evaluated on the basis of colour, consistency, total volume, gel free volume, pH, progressive sperm motility, sperm concentration, live sperm count, sperm abnormality, hypoosmotic swelling test, acrosomal integrity test and DNA integrity test. Post thaw evaluation of each semen sample was done on the basis of post thaw motility, live sperm count, hypo osmotic swelling test, acrosomal integrity test and DNA integrity test. It was observed that for the fresh semen evaluation parameters the stallions, but not breeds were found to be significant source of variation, for total semen volume (P<0.05); gel free volume (P<0.05); progressive sperm motility (P<0.05); total sperm concentration (P<0.01); live sperms percentage (P<0.05), HOST (P<0.05); acrosomal integrity test (P<0.05). For the post thaw seminal parameters the stallions and breeds both were found to be significant source of variation.
Prefledging survival of Mute Swan Cygnus olor cygnets in the Lothians, UK

Capsule Survival rates 1981–98 were quantified between four growth stages, and related to habitat type and altitude Aims To investigate variability in Mute Swan productivity in relation to habitat type and altitude. Methods Cygnets were studied and categorized as they developed from small size through medium and large to fledged. Natal territory was classed as river, canal or still water, and altitude of each site established. Results Of 2576 cygnets studied, 69% fledged. Fledging rate varied from 57% on low altitude still waters to 78% on mid-altitude still waters, and from 72% on rivers to 82% on canals. Survival was lower between the early growth stages. Of the pairs that bred, 72% produced at least one small cygnet and 61% fledged at least one cygnet. Pairs that nested on rivers suffered the greatest loss of complete clutches or broods of newly hatched cygnets and 41% failed to raise at least one small cygnet. The breeding population increased annually by 7% from 15 pairs to 69 pairs between 1978 and 1998 and consequently the number of cygnets fledged increased annually by 7%. Productivity was higher than in other populations at 2.6 cygnets fledged per breeding pair; ranging from 2.1 on rivers to 3.6 on mid-altitude still waters. Conclusions Cygnet survival was lower during the early growth stages across all habitats. Survival was consistently poorer on low altitude still waters, probably due to inadequate diet. Although survival in the Lothians varied with habitat type and altitude, productivity was higher than in other areas of Britain.
Pemahaman bacaan bahan Bahasa Melayu dalam kalangan remaja

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meneliti strategi pemahaman membaca bahan bahasa Melayu dalam kalangan kumpulan remaja. Dalam kajian ini, pengkaji mengkaji 60 orang remaja di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (Model Khas) Batu Kikir, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Mereka ialah pelajar tingkatan 1, 2 dan 3. Kaedah eksperimen ujian pra dan pasca ditadbir ke atas ketiga-tiga kumpulan remaja. Kriteria keberhasilan kemampuan memahami teks semua kumpulan remaja (13, 14 dan 15 tahun) meningkat selepas mengikuti pembelajaran yang menerapkan strategi meta kognitif PQ4R. Analisis aras kognitif menunjukkan bahawa soalan yang banyak dijawab dengan betul ialah soalan tahap literal, dengan sumber jawapan yang jelas diperoleh daripada teks. Soalan ini hanya memerlukan pembaca mengecam-mengingat maklumat dalam teks.Sebanyak 2 kategori soalan sukar dijawab oleh semua kumpulan remaja. Kategori pertama ialah soalan tahap inferens yang melibatkan keperluan untuk berfikir dan mencari maklumat di luar kandungan teks. Kategori kedua ialah soalan interpretasi dengan yang melibatkan pandangan serta alasan yang wajar berhubung isu yang dibangkitkan.Kajian ini menerangkan juga pemilihan langkah-langkah strategi PQ4R dalam pemahaman membaca dalam kalangan subjek kajian. Selepas aplikasi strategi PQ4R, secara purata, pengkaji mendapati bahawa peratus penggunaan langkah-langkah strategi meta kognitif adalah dalam lingkungan 71% - 85%. Tahap keaktifan pemahaman membaca semua kumpulan remaja ditentukan berdasarkan pemerhatian guru Bahasa Malaysia di sekolah, tempat kajian dijalankan. Secara umum, tahap keaktifan pemahaman membaca kumpulan remaja menurutklasifikasi standard pelaksanaan strategi meta kognitif PQ4Radalah tinggi berbanding dengan kaedah konvensional. Inventori kesedaran meta kognitif direka sebagai alat untuk membantu pengkaji mengesan penggunaan meta kognitif dalam kalangan remaja semasa membaca. Secara keseluruhan, tafsiran skor daripada ketiga-tiga kumpulan menunjukkan bahawa mereka memilih strategi Penyelesaian Masalah. Pemilihan ini sesuai dengan matlamat sebenar strategi pemahaman membaca yang pada akhirnya bergerak ke tahap penyelesaian masalah secara sedar.
Complementarity of Fundamental and Technical Analysis of JSE-Listed Stocks: An Empirical Appraisal

Extant studies on fundamental and technical analysis frequently focus on analysing each of the valuation techniques independently. This study constructs a hybrid of the two to determine whether this model can have a superior explanatory power to models based on each of the valuation techniques in isolation. The results confirm the complementarity of fundamental and technical analysis with the hybrid model delivering superior performance. Further, fundamental variables that play a significant role in explaining stock price movements of JSE listed stocks are noted to be the book value, cash flow, earnings and dividends per share.
Barn Owl Tyto alba

The Barn Owl has nearly world-wide distribution,bei ng absent from only the high Latitudes. It has been introduced int o some Pacific islands for rat control and is provided nest boxes in Malaysian palm nut groves for the same purpose. While the barn owl is found all over the US, its numbers are particularly high in Califo rnia and the Southwest. Farmers and ranchers are increasingly at tracted to the barn owl's ability to control rodents better than t raps,poison,or cats and at no cost.
Interactive effects of ethyl [2E,4Z]-2,4-decadienoate and sex pheromone lures to codling moth: apple orchard investigations in Bulgaria

The kairomone, ethyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate, a potent attractant of both males and females of Cydia pomonella in regions of the USA, was tested alone and together with the synthetic sex pheromone in apple orchards of Bulgaria in 2002 and 2003. No female moths were caught in any trap containing kairomone as a lure or lure component. Furthermore, traps baited with kairomone caught only low numbers of males. Greatest numbers of male moths were caught in traps baited with the “combined-lure,” comprised of pheromone and kairomone together.
Intranuclear Localization of EGFP-mouse PPARγ1 in Bovine Fibroblast Cells

Objective: The aim of this study was to clone PPARγ1 cDNA in an appropriate mammalian expression vector, with a chimeric cDNA form, encompassing PPARγ with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cDNA. This recombinant plasmid will be used for further analyses to investigate the molecular mechanism of PPARγ1 for neural differentiation process. Moreover, the nuclear localization of the PPARγ1 protein linked to EGFP marker was chased by using transient transfection of a constructed plasmid into bovine fibroblast cells. Materials and Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the fatty tissue of an adult mouse. Using specific pair primers, PPARγ1 cDNA was synthesized and amplified to produce the entire length of ORF. RT-PCR products containing PPARγ1 cDNA were treated by enzymatic digestion and inserted into the pEGFP-C1 downstream from EGFP cDNA. The constructed vector was used for transformation into bacterial competent cells. Positive colonies which showed inserted PPARγ1 cDNA were selected for plasmid preparations and additional analysis was performed to ensure that PPARγ1 cDNA was inserted properly. Finally, to confirm the intracellular localization of EGFP-PPARγ1, bovine fibroblast cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid. Results: Our results from enzymatic digestion and sequencing confirmed, as expected, that PPARγ1 cDNA was amplified and cloned correctly. This cDNA gene encompassed 1428 bp. The related product was entered into the nucleus of bovine fibroblasts after transfection of its cDNA. Conclusion: PPARγ1 cDNA was cloned and sorted into nuclear compartments of bovine fibroblast cells upon transfection.
Distribution of fingerprint patterns among medical students

The word “Dermatoglyphics” indicates the study of epidermal ridge pattern on fingers, palm, and soles. Dermatoglyphics are constant and individualistic and form the most reliable criteria of identification. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the fingerprint patterns in medical students at Sikkim-Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok. Fingerprint patterns were studied in 110 students, 55 males and 55 females. Dermatoglyphic prints of the fingertips were taken using the ink method. Distribution of dermatoglyphic fingertip patterns were studied in both hands among males and females and compared.
Diallelic analysis in assessing the potential of maize hybrids to generate base-populations for obtaining lines

Doze hibridos comerciais de milho foram intercruzados, conforme um dialelo completo. Esses genotipos e tres testemunhas foram avaliados em latice triplo na regiao Centro-Sul do Parana, nos municipios de Laranjeiras do Sul, Guarapuava e Cantagalo. Os dados referentes a producao de espigas despalhadas, altura de planta e altura de espiga foram submetidos a analise dialelica conjunta, segundo o metodo 4 de Griffing, em que foram avaliados apenas os F1. Foi verificado efeito significativo da capacidade geral de combinacao (CGC), da capacidade especifica de combinacao (CEC) e da interacao ‘CGC x locais’ para todos os caracteres. A interacao ‘CEC x locais’ foi nao significativa para as caracteristicas avaliadas. Os hibridos P30F53 e AS1575 apresentaram estimativas positivas e elevadas da CGC para peso de espigas despalhadas e alta produtividade, mostrando-se promissores para geracao de populacoes com bom potencial para obtencao de linhagens superiores no melhoramento intrapopulacional. Os hibridos P30F44 e 2B688 apresentam potencial para a geracao de populacoes para melhoramento interpopulacional, pois apresentaram elevada media da produtividade de espigas despalhadas, estimativas positivas da CGC e da CEC, alem de estimativas favoraveis para altura de espiga.