Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis (JN032305) biofungicide to control chilli anthracnose in pot controlled conditions

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) causing anthracnose is a potent pathogen of chilli resulting in significant yield loss. The in vitro root colonisation study showed an increase in root bacterial count by 10 × 105 colony forming units/cm root for Bacillus subtilis after 15 days of germination. Population level of the antagonist was stable in talc till the 180th day (30°C – 1.6 × 108; 4°C – 1.9 × 108) and in lignite till the 150th day (30°C – 1.5 × 108; 4°C – 1.3 × 108). Combined application of B. subtilis and carbendazim enhanced all biometric parameters with reduction in disease incidence. Soil, seed, root dip and foliar spray treatment significantly enhanced the growth parameters of chilli in B. subtilis inoculated treatments in comparison to the untreated control. Seed application resulted in highest plant fresh weight (76.84 g) and dry weight (34.17 g) compared to the untreated control (50 g and 21 g fresh and dry weight, respectively). Highest plant height ranging from 70 cm (soil application) to 77 cm (dip treatment) with Bacillus inoculation was comparable with carbendazim treatment (61 cm with soil application) and 78 cm (dip treatment) and significantly higher than the untreated control (58.2 cm with soil and 61 cm with application, respectively). Dip treatment resulted in significant increase in root length with B. subtilis (33 cm) and carbendazim (32.5 cm) in comparison to untreated control (15 cm). Co-inoculation of pathogen with B. subtilis (singly and with carbendazim) not only reduced the disease incidence but also improved all the biometric parameters in comparison to challenge inoculation. Root dip application was effective in promoting growth while seed application was effective in disease control.
Nutrient dynamics in a tritrophic system of ants, aphids and beans

The interactions between ants (Lasius niger), aphids (Aphis fabae) and plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) were studied in a laboratory experiment with the following treatments: application of N‐fertilizer for plants, supply of mealworms or sugar solution or their combination as alternative food sources for ants. Three main questions were studied: (1) Do ants reduce tending to honeydew‐producing aphids when an alternative sugar or protein resource was available? (2) Is aphid predation/protein consumption by ants higher when additional carbon is offered to maintain the carbon/protein balance? (3) Does fertilizer treatment propagate in the food web? For the experimental analysis stable isotope techniques were applied. δ15N served as a marker for the pathway from plants to higher trophic levels. Low δ15N‐value of fertilizer spread from plant shoots to aphids and ants. To trace which sugar‐/protein source was consumed by ants, the different 13C/12C‐ratios of C3‐ and C4‐plants were used with aphids feeding on C3‐plant material, while mealworm food and sugar solution originated from C4‐plant material. Fertilizer application had no effect on biomasses of plants, consumers or microflora. Ant biomass was significantly higher when additional sugar solution was offered. Higher contents of 13C indicated a high incorporation rate of additional sugar. Additional protein had no effect on colony biomass and no increasing predation on aphids could be observed when carbon was in excess. However, due to the lack of queens and newly produced larvae, protein requirements of experimental colonies were lower than in natural systems. Ants positively affected aphid populations, but reduced tending, whilst having access to an alternative sugar resource. When sugar/protein was offered to ants, the host plant had an increased root/shoot ratio. This indicates that decreasing aboveground activity of ants could lead to reduced plant growth of aphid‐infested plants, presumably due to higher fungal attack on shoots.
Cognitive Effects of Greek Affiliation in College: Additional Evidence

Previous research published in this journal found broadbased negative effects of Greek affiliation on standardized measures of cognitive development after 1 year of college. Following the same sample, and employing essentially the same research design and analytic model, the present study found that the negative effects of Greek affiliation were much less pronounced during the second or third years of college.
Changes in peroxidase activity and lignin content of cultured tea cells in response to excess manganese

Abstract The present study was undertaken to identify the effects of manganese (Mn) on the activity of peroxidase (PO) and the amount of ascorbic acid (AsA) and lignin, as well as the cell viability of suspension-cultured tea cells (Camellia sinensis L. cv. Yabukita). Cells were grown in B5 medium (containing 0.06 mmol L−1 Mn) and cultured for 24 h in medium with a Mn concentration of 0.9 mmol L−1 as an excess treatment. No significant difference was observed between cellular growth and the viability of the cultured tea cells after treatment with excess Mn compared with cells grown under control conditions, although the content of Mn in cells in the excess Mn treatment was 12-fold higher than that of the control cells. The amount of total AsA was also not affected by the Mn treatment. The activity of ionically wall-bound peroxidase (IPO) increased in the presence of excess Mn, unlike the content of lignin. Conversely, the activities of soluble PO and covalently wall-bound PO decreased with excess Mn. These findings suggested that IPO might contribute to Mn tolerance in tea cells. However, its role in the mechanism(s) of Mn tolerance has not been elucidated.
Oral BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: a review of DEFINE and CONFIRM

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system involving inflammation, chronic demyelination and axonal loss. MS affects more than 2 million people worldwide. Areas covered: This article aims to summarize the findings from two pivotal 2-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III studies of BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) for relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS): DEFINE (Determination of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Fumarate in RRMS) and CONFIRM (Comparator and an Oral Fumarate in RRMS). Results from both studies demonstrated that BG-12 provides clinical and radiological efficacy over 2 years across a range of outcomes. These results were apparent as early as 12 weeks and sustained over the course of both studies. BG-12 was found to have an acceptable safety profile, with a similar overall incidence of adverse events across all treatment groups. Expert opinion: The combination of robust efficacy, ease of administration and established safety profile is unique to a new therapy in MS. Findings from the pivotal Phase III studies support BG-12 as a potential initial oral treatment for patients with RRMS or as an alternative to other currently available therapies.
New records of Nitidulidae and Kateretidae (Coleoptera) from New Brunswick, Canada

Th e Nitidulidae (sap beetles) and Kateretidae (short-winged fl ower beetles) from New Brunswick are surveyed. As a result of recent fi eld work and a survey of museum specimens, 46 species have now been recorded in the province, 32 of which are newly recorded in New Brunswick. Epuraea obliquus Hatch is removed from New Brunswick’s faunal list. Th e distribution and bionomics of newly recorded species are summarized. Th e New Brunswick fauna consist of 33 Nearctic species, four Holarctic species, and nine adventive species. Historical early dates of detection of all nine adventive species found in the province are provided.
Seasonal dynamics of molluscan assemblages associated with littoral soft bottoms of the NW Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract Molluscan assemblages inhabiting subtidal soft bottoms in the northwestern Alboran Sea were studied to analyse temporal changes in structure and composition. A total of 117 samples were collected seasonally using a small rock dredge at 10 sampling stations, yielding 210 mollucan species. The assemblages occurring on the different soft bottoms were well-sorted fine sands assemblage (SFBC), mixed coarse sands assemblage (MX), muddy bioclastic sands assemblage (DE) and coastal bioclastic sands assemblage (DC), and all displayed high species richness values throughout the year. Different seasonal dynamics were observed and ecological indices were influenced by dominant species, especially the bivalve Spisula subtruncata at the shallow stations and the gastropods Calyptraea chinensis and Nassarius reticulatus at the deeper stations. SFBC displayed maximum abundance (N), species richness (S) and Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′) in autumn, DE and MX displayed maximum N and S in spring but maximum H′ in autumn (DE) and winter (MX), and finally DC displayed stable values of ecological indices throughout the year with minima in spring. Seasonal changes in the deep assemblages (25 m) were not significant and therefore less acute than those of shallower ones (5, 15 m), probably due to a lower influence of the environmental conditions and a higher habitat complexity. Seasonal patterns were somewhat different from those observed in more northern areas of Europe, where maximum abundance and species richness is usually concentrated at the end of summer. This original information will provide a baseline to understand the dynamics of benthic communities in this area.
Morphometric differences among Africanized and European honey bees and their F1 hybrids (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Discriminant analysis procedures were applied to morphometric data from Africanized and European honey bees and their F1 hybrids. Functions were developed to allow the correct classification of 10-bee samples from all three groups. Samples that are a mixture of bees can be evaluated using the classification of individual bees based on individual-bee discriminant functions, which are available.
Sintomas de deficiência nutricional em mudas de Acacia holosericea em resposta à omissão de macronutrientes

Acacia holosericea is a leguminous species that has been extensively used in land reclamation programs. The knowledge of its nutritional symptoms allows the identification and correction of deficiencies in individuals planted in degraded substrates. The aim of this work was to characterize the behavior of seedlings of A. holosericea submitted to different nutritional solutions with absence of macronutrients. The treatments consisted of seven nutritional solutions: 1) Complete solution (SC); 2) SC - N; 3) SC -P; 4) SC -K; 5) SC -Ca; 6) SC -Mg; 7) SC -S. Treatments -N and -Mg were the ones that most affected biomass production. Decrease in biomass production occurred in the following order: -N = -Mg > -K > -S > -Ca > SC > -P. The -N treatment plants formed nodules in their roots, showing higher concentrations of N than those of the SC treatment. Except for the SC and -P treatments, all the other treatments showed nutritional deficiency symptoms. The absence of S has led to a change in the natural disposition of new leaves of A. holosericea.
Determinants of Bank Profitability—Evidence from Vietnam

ABSTRACT This article investigates the determinants of bank profitability in Vietnam covering the period from 2006 to 2014. Employing a number of econometric panel data methods with a unique dataset, the findings of the article indicate that bank size, capital adequacy, risk, expense, and productivity have strong impacts on profitability. We also find that bank industry characteristics and macroeconomic variables affect bank profitability. However, we find that the direction of causality is not uniform across profitability measures.
Um simulador dinâmico do crescimento de uma cultura de cana-de-açúcar

Este trabalho descreve a primeira versao de um simulador matematico-fisiologico do crescimento diario de uma cultura de cana-de-acucar (SIMCANA) em resposta as condicoes do ambiente durante a estacao de crescimento. SIMCANA resume a maior parte das informacoes disponiveis concernentes aos processos fisiologicos da cultura de cana-de-acucar. Esta sua versao nao inclui os processos degerminacao e florescimento, havendo necessidade de especificar as condicoes da cultura no primeiro dia de simulacao. Em funcao das condicoes diarias de radiacao solar global, temperatura maxima e minima, umidade relativa do ar, SIMCANA calcula as taxas de fotossintese, respiracao e crescimento da cultura, as taxas de senescencia das folhas e raizes, a massa seca das folhas, colmos e raizes, e o indice de area foliar. Embora varias relacoes empiricas tenham sido usadas, SIMCANA parece ser capaz de simular o crescimento da cultura de cana-de-acucar.
Effect of anionic micelles on speciation of L-glutamine in presence/absence of metals

Abstract Protonation equilibria of L-glutamine and speciation of its complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) have been studied in 0–2.5% w/v SLS–water media using pH-metric method. The protonation constants and binary stability constants have been calculated with the computer program MINIQUAD75. Selection of the best fit chemical models is based on standard deviation in stability constants and residual analysis using crystallographic R-factor and sum of squares of residuals in all mass-balance equations. The trend in the variation of stability constants of the complexes with mole fraction of the medium is attributed to the compartmentalisation of complexation equilibria. Distribution of species and effect of influential parameters on chemical speciation have also been presented.
Carbonic anhydrase in eukaryotic algae: characterization, regulation, and possible function during photosynthesis

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) speeds up the equilibrium between CO2 and HCO3 n at physiological pH values and has been detected in almost every species of the animal and plant kingdoms. Among eucaryotic micro- and macro-algae the enzyme is widely distributed and plays an important role in photosynthetic CO2 fixation. In some cases, different forms of carbonic anhydrases located extracellularly and intracellularly have been found to occur in the same cell. The expression of the genes encoding these CA isoforms are under the control of the inorganic carbon concentration in the medium, as the activities increase with decreasing the inorganic carbon content. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in isolating and characterizing the various forms of carbonic anhydrases on a biochemical and molecular level. Most of the data have been collected for microalgae like Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Dangeard), while the situation in macroalgae is still descriptive. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent development with an emphasis on microalgae carbonic anhydrases.
Effects of Filtered Lake Water on Colony Formation and Growth Rate in Microcystis aeruginosa of Different Physiological Phases

ABSTRACT Lake water, which contained an abundance of zooplankton, was passed through a 0.15 μm membrane filter, and 20 ml were immediately added to 80 ml suspensions of Microcystis aeruginosa in either exponential or late stationary growth phase. In the control system, 20 ml of BG-11 medium were added. After two days, colony formation was observed in the treatment of the exponential growth phase M. aeruginosa, whereas no colonies were formed in the control. The mean number of cells per unit of M. aeruginosa increased significantly compared with that in the control (P<0.05). However, late stationary phase M. aeruginosa populations, both in the control and in the treatment, were strongly dominated by unicells and paired cells, and no colonies were formed. As a consequence, no significant difference in the mean number of cells per unit was detected between the control and the treatment (P≫0.05). However, no significant difference in the growth rate was detected between the control and the treatment (P>0.05), regardless of growth phase. These results indicated that any chemicals released from zooplankton had no influence on the growth of M. aeruginosa, and the inducible colony formation in M. aeruginosa was related to physiological phase.
Performance and welfare of broilers as affected by stocking density and zinc bacitracin supplementation

The influence of stocking density (16, 20 and 24 birds/m 2 ) and zinc bacitracin (0 or 100 mg/kg) on the performance, carcass characteristics and some indirect welfare indicators of broilers were examined in a 35-day trial. The weight gain, feed intake, liveability and carcass characteristics of broilers grown at densities of 16, 20 and 24 birds per m 2 were similar (P > 0.05). Over the whole trial period, however, feed per gain of birds at the highest density (24 birds/m 2 ) was higher (P < 0.05) than those at the other two densities. Litter quality was poorer at high population densities, but there were no welfare implications as indicated by the lack of effect of density on gait scores and the incidence of hock and fat pad burns. Inclusion of zinc bacitracin improved weight gains and feed intake of broilers over the 35-day trial period at all three stock- ing densities tested. Zinc bacitracin supplementation had no influence on the feed per gain of birds reared at densities of 16 and 20 birds/m 2 , but improvements were observed at a density of 24 birds/m 2 . The relative weights of lymphoid organs (spleen and bursa) were lowered (P < 0.05) with increasing density, suggesting a greater degree of stress on the birds. Zinc bacitracin supplementation had no influence on bursa weights of birds reared at densities of 16 and 20 birds/m 2 , but increased the bursa weights of birds reared at a density of 24 birds/m 2 . Overall, these data indicate that, with the removal of in-feed antibiotics in the future, care should be taken when considering population densities of greater than 20 birds/m 2 .
Efavirenz

Treatment of HIV infection is typically carried out using a combination of at least three drugs. Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that acts by non-competitive inhibition of the viral enzyme. Efavirenz-based regimens have performed favorably compared with protease inhibitor-based therapies either in naive patients or as simplification strategies in pretreated subjects. Efavirenz is administered once-daily and its simple dosing schedule improves adherence to therapy allowing for durability of the virologic and clinical responses. In the case of viral rebound, K103N is the most commonly efavirenz-selected viral mutation. As non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors have a distinctive adverse-event profile, protease inhibitor-sparing regimens may reduce the risk of metabolic complications, insulin resistance and peripheral fat redistribution.
Sex-Investment Ratios in Ants: Has Female Bias Been Systematically Overestimated?

The claim by Trivers and Hare (1976) and Nonacs (1986a) that the ratio of sexual investment in monogynous ants is as much female-biased as 3:1 on the average is argued to be untenable because of (1) bias in the gyne-to-male dry-weight cost ratios, as a result of increasingly diverging rates of respiration and fat accumulation with increasing sexual dimorphism; and (2) bias in the numerical sex ratios estimated from small samples. Partial regressions of the numerical gyne-to-male (f/m) sex ratio (S) on the individual dry-weight ratio (D) and sample size (N) appeared to be consistently present in the data sets for monogynous and polygynous ants, although significantly so only for the monogynous ants. These relationships were primarily interpreted as methodological artifacts, but possible biological explanations are also discussed. The alternative explanations, however, are less well supported by data and/or apply to only parts of the data set. Under the assumption that dry-weight cost ratios are unbiased only for species without sexual dimorphism, an approximate formula was derived to transfer dry-weight f/m cost ratios (D) into approximately energetic f/m cost ratios (C). The formula C = D0.7 was found to give a reliable quantitative prediction of the difference between the individual dry-weight ratio and the energetic-cost ratio in Lasius niger, which was earlier estimated empirically (Boomsma and Isaaks 1985). After adjustment for the assumed artifacts, the geometric-mean investment ratio across monogynous ants was estimated to be 1.82:1 in favor of gynes and to differ significantly from both 1:1 and 3:1. The adjusted pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that workers control the sex-allocation process throughout monogynous ants, but in a context of variable degrees of relatedness asymmetry because of the frequent occurrence of multiple mating and worker reproduction.
Behaviour and Ecology of the Dugong, Dugong Dugon (Sirenia): Observations in Shoalwater and Cleveland Bays, Queensland.

Dugongs (Dugong dugon) were studied in 2 bays in north Queensland from shore and small boats. Population in favoured areas of one bay was 5/km shoreline and 4 to 8% were juveniles. Feeding was the most common activity. The dugongs dived and grazed, apparently using their rostral disc to gouge a serpentine track through the bottom sediment. Removal of sea grass was calculated to be 78% from the tracks selected by observers or 59% from a random sample; both were thought to be underestimated. Dugongs tended to move on after 5 or 6 days when 30% of an area had been grazed. They left inshore sea grass beds before low tide to avoid being stranded, so their feeding was governed by the 25-h cycle of 2 high and 2 low tides daily. Inshore feeding was not restricted to hours of darkness. The most commonly eaten sea grasses were Zostera capricorni, Halophila decipiens and H. ovalis. From published work, it was thought that the dugongs specialized in whatever seagrass species were most readily available. Owing to opacity of the water, they could not be observed under water. Mean length of the 9 faecal pellets found on shore was 8.98 mm; the pellets included plant fibre.
Factors associated with species richness in a remnant calcareous grassland

2005). Xeric seminatural grassland on calcareous massifs ofsouthern Tuscany is currently disappearing and the remainingareas have become increasingly fragmented due to reducedgrazing pressure, changes in management practices andreforestation with fast-growing, exotic species (Maccheriniand De Dominicis 2003; Rocchini
Studies on the efficiency of mating in the sheep II. The effect of freedom of rams, paddock size, and age of ewes

A factorial experiment is described in which thirty-six aged and thirty-six maiden spayed crossbred ewes were used in four successive tests at intervals of 15 days in a study of factors affecting the detection of oestrus. Variates introduced into each test were: (a) freedom of rams (free or tethered); (b) size of mating paddock (17 acres or ⅕ acre); (c) age of ewe (maiden or aged); and (d) dose of oestrogen (oestradiol benzoate, ODB: 10·0, 15·6, 24·4 μg.). All ewes were primed with progesterone for 12 days prior to ODB injection and joining. The number of ewes detected in oestrus and the number and identity of rams which served each ewe were recorded. In the four successive tests 29, 33, 36 and 30 ewes were served. Significant main effects were: (a) freedom of rams—free 77, tethered, 51 (P < 0·001); (b) size of mating paddock—17 acres 49, ⅕ acre 79 (P < 0·001); (c) age of ewes—aged 57, maiden 71 (P < 0·05); and (d) dose of ODB—10·0 μg. , 20; 15·6 μg. , 41; 24·4 μg. , 67 (P < 0·001). Significant interactions were: (a) test number × age (P = 0·01), and (b) test number × dose of ODB (P < 0·05). The number of maiden ewes served increased and that of aged ewes decreased withsuccessive tests. There was a barely significant ohange in the slope of the ODB D/R line. Ewes showed no obvious preference for tethered rams of any particular breed. There was a positive correlation between the performance of rams when free and tethered.