Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pleurotus pulmonarius cultivation on amended palm press fibre waste

In the last few decades, rapid global demand for edible oils has resulted in a significant increase in the land area of oil crop cultivation. In the process of extraction of palm oil from oil palm fruit, biomass materials such as palm pressed fibre (PPF) are generated as waste products. This research was undertaken to evaluate the use of palm pressed fibres as the substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius which currently use sawdust. Seven different substrates (A to G) were prepared from saw dust, palm press fibre (PPF), palm press fibre ash (PPFA), distilled water and Hoagland solution either alone or in combinations. These substrates were combined to investigate a probable effect of substrate combination on yield of P. pulmonarius. The highest yields were observed from substrates D (comprising 50% PPF, 50% PPFA and water with a mean fresh weight of 95.0 g) and substrate F (comprising of 50% PPF, 50% PPFA and Hoagland solution with a mean fresh weight of 89.20 g). The performance of substrate combination of PPF, PPFA and water however compare favourably with that of PPF, PPFA and Hoagland solution combination under all growth and yield parameters investigated. Therefore, this study has revealed that with optimum use of the biomass generated from the palm waste, prevention of environmental pollution problems and conversion of low quality waste biomasses into a valuable high protein food can be achieved. Key words : Pleurotus pulmonarius , substrates, palm pressed fibre, palm press fibre ash, Hoagland solution.
Effects of photon irradiance on the growth of shoots and roots, on the rate of initiation of mycorrhizal infection and on the growth of infection units in Trifolium subterraneum L.

SUMMARY The effects of photon irradiance on the growth of young plants (up to three weeks old) of Trifolium subterraneum L. and on the development of mycorrhizal root systems were studied with plants grown in a soil/sand mixture inoculated with Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe. Total plant growth was lower when photon irradiance was 100 μmol m−2 s−1, compared with 450 μmol m−2 s−1. Fresh weight of shoots was unaffected, but the fresh weight/dry weight ratio was increased at the lower irradiance in shoots, but not in roots. The main effect of decreased irradiance on the growth of the root system was a reduction in the numbers of first- and second-order lateral roots initiated. The average rate of extension of axial and lateral roots was only slightly reduced. The fraction of the root length infected was lower at the lower irradiance, particularly in the first two weeks. Development of infection was analyzed in terms of the role of formation of mycorrhizal entry-points (A) and the average rate of growth of infection units (B). Reduction in the fraction of the root length infected was found to be due to a reduction in A. B was remarkably constant at the two irradiances and in the different root subsystems. Thus both roots and infection units respond by making fewer units of unaltered rate of growth.
Disponibilidade de nutrientes e teor de matéria orgânica em função de sistemas de cultivo e de manejo de solo

Cropping systems and soil managment can change soil chemical properties. Soil fertility characteriscs were assessed after eight years (1985 to 1993) on a typical dystrophic red latosol located in Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Four soil management systems - 1) no-tillage, 2) minimum tillage, 3) conventional tillage using a disk plow plus disk harrow, and 4) conventional tillage using a moldboard plow plus disk harrow - and three cropping systems [I (wheat/soybean), II (wheat/soybean and common vetch/corn), and III (wheat/soybean, common vetch/corn and white oat/soybean)] were evaluated. A randomized complete block design, with split-plots and three replicates, was used. The main field plots (4 x 90m) were formed by soil management systems, while the subplots (4 x 10m) consisted of crop systems. The pH and concentration of exchangeable Al, exchangeable Ca + Mg, soil organic matter, extractable P, and exchangeable K were affected by soil management and cropping systems. Higher contents of soil organic matter, extractable P, and exchangeable K were observed in the 0-5cm layer for the conservation tillage systems (minimum tillage and no-tillage), as compared to the conventional tillage systems (disk plow and moldboard plow). The values of soil organic matter, P, and K were higher in the 0-5 cm layer, when compared to the ones observed in the 15-20cm layer, in all soil management and cropping systems.
Isolation of Trichoderma and Evaluation of their Antagonistic Potential against Alternaria porri

AbstractNine isolates of Trichoderma were collected from Assiut Governorate,Egypt, as leaf surface and endophytic fungi associated with onion ﬂorastalks. Four isolates were identiﬁed as Trichoderma harzianum, while ﬁveisolates were belonging to Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The antagonisticactivity of these isolates against onion purple blotch pathogen Alternariaporri was studied in vitro using dual culture assay. All tested Trichodermaisolates showed mycoparasitic activity and competitive capability againstthe mycelial growth of A. porri. Mycoparastic activity of Trichoderma wasmanifested morphologically by the overgrowth upon the mycelial growthof the pathogen and microscopically by production of coiling hyphaearound pathogen hyphae. Isolates of T. harzianum exhibited high abilityto compete on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium causing the maximumrate of pathogen inhibition (73.12%), while isolates of T. longibrachiatumshowed inhibition rate equalling 70.3%. Chitinase activity of Trichodermawas assayed, and T. harzianum Th-3013 showed the maximum value con-tributing 2.69 U/min. Application of T. harzianum Th-3013 to control pur-ple blotch disease in vivo under greenhouse conditions caused diseasereduction up to 52.3 and 79.9% before and after 48 h of pathogen inocu-lation, respectively, while the fungicide Ridomil Gold Plus caused diseasereduction comprising 56.5 and 71.7%, respectively. This study proved thatT. harzianum Th-3013 as a biocontrol agent showed signiﬁcant reductionin onion purple blotch disease compared with the tested fungicide.IntroductionPurple blotch disease, caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis)Cif. , is one of the most serious diseases that wide-spread in many parts of the world, restricted to Alliumspp. and more prevalent in warm and humid environ-ments (Cramer 2000; Suheri and Price 2000). Purpleblotch disease caused signiﬁcant reduction in bulband seed yield of the onion crop (Gupta and Pathak1988). The disease is more severe on seed crop ascompared to bulb crop causing sometimes 100% loos-ing of the seed production (Singh et al. 1992;Schwartz 2004). Although chemical control of onionblotch had been practised and its success depends lar-gely on high frequency of spraying, but today, thereare strict regulations on chemical fungicide use due tocarcinogenic effects, residual toxicity problems, envi-ronmental pollution and development of fungicide-resistant strains (Benitez et al. 2004; Rial-Otero et al.2005). Therefore, there are a large number of studiesthat have been devoted to apply a biological control asnature-friendly alternative method (Siameto et al.2010; Soria et al. 2012). The potential of Trichodermaspecies as biocontrol agents of plant diseases was ﬁrstrecognized in the early 1930s (Weindling 1932), andsince then, there have been extensive efforts in thecommercial production of them for disease control ina number of crops (Harman 1996; Gardener and Frav-el 2002). Recently, several investigation proved thatTrichoderma have been used to control many foliar
Some aspects on the biology of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) from Veraval in Gujarat

The length weight relationship of Nemipterus japonicus from Veraval waters is derived to be Log W= -4.7338 + 2.9902 Log L (r =0.9786). Mature females appear in the fishery at 140 mm. The size at first maturity was estimated at 183 mm. Spawning occurs mainly from November to December and in February. The females marginally dominated the fishery and the sex ratio between males and females was 1:1.01. The fecundity ranged from 14212 to 46387 and it increased depending upon the size of the fish. Fishes with empty stomach occurred in high percentage. This species is a carnivore and feeds on Acetes spp. , penaeid prawns, crabs, squilla, squids, juvenile fishes and fish larvae in the order of preference.
Proteomic analysis identifies that 14-3-3ζ interacts with β-catenin and facilitates its activation by Akt

β-Catenin is a central effector of Wnt signaling in embryonic and stem cell development and in tumorigenesis. Here, through a mass spectrometric analysis of a β-catenin protein complex, we identified 12 proteins as putative β-catenin interactors. We show that one of them, 14-3-3ζ, enhances β-catenin-dependent transcription by maintaining a high level of β-catenin protein in the cytoplasm. More importantly, 14-3-3ζ facilitates activation of β-catenin by the survival kinase Akt and colocalizes with activated Akt in intestinal stem cells. We propose that Akt phosphorylates β-catenin, which results in 14-3-3ζ binding and stabilization of β-catenin, and these interactions may be involved in stem cell development.
Hemicriconemoides Communis N. Sp. and H. Litchi N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae), From Uttar Pradesh, India

Two new species of Hemicriconemoides viz. H. communis and H. litchi are described. H. communis n. sp. associated with several hosts belonging to diverse families is distinguished from the close relative H. cocophillus (Loos) in having more than 110 body annules, vulva on the 8th-9th annule from terminus and in the presence of males. H. litchi n. sp. found in soils close to roots of Litchi chinensis is distinct from the closely related H. mangiferae Siddiqi, 1961 in having smaller number of body annules (128-133), shorter spear (59-65 μ), vulva and anus on eleventh-twelfth and seventh-eighth annules respectively from terminus, and in having males with lip region set-off and tail longer than the spicules.
Effect of age and gender on QT interval

Background: The sudden cardiac death syndrome has a large preponderance in men compared to women and that too in older age group. Various population studies have demonstrated four- to seven-fold increase of sudden cardiac death among men compared with women. As coronary event risk increases in post-menopausal women, sudden cardiac death risk increases proportionately. Corrected QT interval measurements may predict the chances of increased risk of sudden cardiac death in an apparently healthy individual. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to find any independent association between age and gender on the QT-corrected interval. Materials and Methods: This study included 48 healthy men and 32 healthy women between 17 and 68 years age divided into three groups: Young (60 years). Standard supine 12 lead electrocardiographic was done in these subjects, and statistical analysis was done. The cutoff points for QTc were ≤450 ms (normal), 451 to 470 ms (borderline), and >470 ms (prolonged), in case of women, and ≤430 ms (normal), 431 to 450 ms (borderline), and >450 ms (prolonged) for men. Results: QTc was found to be 374.9 ± 31 (ms) in the young group, 386.3 ± 14.8 (ms) in middle-aged group, and 414.5 ± 11.8 (ms) in the elderly group. Males had longer QTc than the females in the young- and the middle-age groups. Conclusion: Age significantly correlated (r = 0.475) with QT and QTc interval in healthy subjects. Gender was a poor predictor of QT interval.
An investigation of needle endophyte colonization patterns with respect to height and compass direction in a single crown of balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

All branches of a balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. ) were removed and twenty 3-year-old needles from each branch were surface sterilized and placed on 2% malt extract media. There was a trend for obtaining more isolates of endophytic fungi at the bottom of the crown than at the top (r2 = 0.87). Phyllosticta sp. and Leptostroma sp. were isolated most often and were the most prominent by virtue of having more isolates for each branch sampled. No significant difference was found between compass directions for the four most frequently isolated species.
Water stress and watertable depth influence yield, water use efficiency, and nitrogen recovery in bell pepper: lysimeter studies

Lysimeters of size 1.5 by 1.5 by 1.5 m, containing a loamy soil, were used to study the effects of both water stress during the reproductive stage and underground water supply on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Continuous water stress treatments were obtained providing irrigation equal to 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 120% of maximum evapotranspiration (ET), evenly applied from flowering to end of the season. Another set of treatments involved a transient drought stress imposed by withholding 80 mm of irrigation, based on ET, beginning at 2 growth stages (early fruit set, or mid fruit growth). A well-watered control (irrigated restoring the entire ET) was included for comparison. The underground water supply treatments involved 3 permanent watertable depths (0.40, 0.70, and 1.10 m below soil surface) and one variable depth increasing from 0.40 to 1.30 m. Continuous water stress significantly reduced total fresh weight of fruit, which was linearly related to the water consumption. The highest marketable yield was found at irrigation of 120% ET; the lowest at 40% ET. Marketable yield did not differ among 60%, 80%, and 100% ET. Withholding water during early fruit set restricted fruit yield significantly, whereas plants undergoing drought later in fruit growth yielded as well as the well-watered control. Total fruit yield with a shallow watertable (0.40 m depth) was comparable to above-ground irrigation restoring 100% ET, but marketable yield was significantly reduced. Highest marketable yield was obtained with watertable at 0.7 m depth, but was reduced by lowering watertable depth. The lower yield observed in water shortage conditions was generally due to a reduced fruit number. In most cases, water use efficiency decreased with increasing water consumption, but was not affected by transient drought stress. Crop nitrogen content was the highest when irrigation provided 100% and 120% ET restoration. It was significantly reduced only by both 40% ET and watertable irrigated treatments. Generally, a shallow watertable allowed less nitrogen rescue than a deeper one. The critical period for water was identified between the beginning of fruit set and first maturing fruits when soil water potential should be maintained above –0.02 MPa.
Transmission and scanning electron microscopic examination of intracellular organelles in freeze-substituted Kloeckera and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Cells

The application of the conventional double-fixation method (glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide) to whole yeast cells is difficult because the thick cell wall of the yeast prevents the penetration of osmium tetroxide. However, this problem was solved by using the freeze-substitution fixation method. Therefore, it was possible to examine the intracellular structures of the yeast cells without digestion of the cell wall. In the present method, specimens for transmission electron microscopy and for scanning electron microscopy were prepared simultaneously. By scanning electron microscopic observation, three-dimensional information about internal structures was obtained. In the cytological analysis of the yeasts, intracellular structures were well preserved by using the freeze-substitution fixation method. On the outer leaflet of the nuclear envelope, many ribosomes were attached. The rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were clearly seen in the yeast cytoplasm. The Golgi stack appeared to consist of smooth membranes, and small vesicles were present beside it. The details of other structures such as the nuclear division apparatus, actinlike filaments, and viruslike particles were also revealed. The present technique can be applied to most species of yeast cells. With this new information, the previous model of a yeast cell was modified.
Redirected Touching

In immersive virtual environments, virtual objects cannot be touched. One solution is to use passive haptics—physical props to which virtual objects are registered. The result is compelling; when a user reaches out with a virtual hand to touch a virtual object, her real hand touches and feels a real object. However, for every virtual object to be touched, there must be an analogous physical prop. In the limit, an entire real-world infrastructure would need to be built and changed whenever a virtual scene is changed. Virtual objects and passive haptics have historically been mapped one-to-one. I demonstrate that the mapping need not be one-to-one. One can make a single passive real object provide useful haptic feedback for many virtual objects by exploiting human perception. I developed and investigated three categories of such techniques: 1. Move the virtual world to align different virtual objects in turn with the same real object 2. Move a virtual object into alignment with a real object 3. Map real hand motion to different virtual hand motion, e.g., when the real hand traces a real object, the virtual hand traces a differently shaped virtual object. The first two techniques were investigated for feasibility, and the third was explored more deeply. The first technique (Redirected Passive Haptics) enables users to touch multiple instances of a virtual object, with haptic feedback provided by a single real object. The second technique (The Haptic Hand) attaches a larger-than-hand virtual user interface to the non-dominant hand, mapping the currently relevant part of the interface onto the palm. The third technique (Redirected Touching) warps virtual space to map many differently shaped virtual objects onto a single real object, introducing a discrepancy between real and virtual hand motions. Two studies investigated the technique's effect on task performance and its potential for use in aircraft cockpit procedures training. Users adapt rather quickly to real-virtual discrepancy, and after adaptation, users perform no worse with discrepant virtual objects than with one-to-one virtual objects. Redirected Touching shows promise for training and entertainment applications.
The micropylar plate of the eggs of Phasmida, with a survey of the range of plate form within the order

Eggs of Phasmida are characterized by the presence of a micropylar plate system. The nature of this plate is discussed and the relevance of differences in plate structure to the taxonomy of the order is considered. A survey is made of the range of plate structure throughout the order, covering the external plate structure of 384 species and the internal plate structure of 179 species in forty of the forty‐four subgroups of the order.
The green ribbon: Multiscale physical control of phytoplankton productivity and community structure over a narrow continental shelf

Chlorophyll concentration, phytoplankton biomass, and total and nitrate‐fueled primary productivity increase toward the coast over the 12‐km‐wide continental shelf of the southern portion of the Southern California Bight. These gradients are accompanied by changes in phytoplankton community composition: the outer shelf is characterized by offshore assemblages including pelagophytes and oligotrophic Synechococcus ecotypes while the inner shelf is dominated by diatoms, coastal Synechococcus ecotypes, and the picoeukaryote Ostreococcus. Across the small horizontal scale of the shelf, large changes in the vertical distribution and flux of nitrate maintain elevated productivity, driving variability in the vertical distribution of biomass and the integrated biomass and productivity of the entire shelf. Temporal variability from hours to days in chlorophyll fluorescence as measured by an autonomous profiling vehicle demonstrates that phytoplankton respond vigorously and rapidly to physical variability. The interaction of physical processes at different temporal and spatial scales is responsible for the observed biological gradients. These dynamics include: (1) vertical shear in the alongshore currents, (2) local wind forcing, (3) the internal tide, and (4) remote, large‐scale variability. Individually, these mechanisms rarely or never explain the phytoplankton community composition and metabolic rate gradients. These results and a reanalysis of historical data suggest that monitoring thermal stratification at the shelf break and the tilt of the thermocline across the shelf will augment our ability to predict phytoplankton productivity, community composition, and biomass, thereby improving our understanding of fisheries dynamics and carbon cycling in the coastal ocean.
Regional coherence of climatic and lake thermal variables of four lake districts in the Upper Great Lakes Region of North America

1. Within a region with common climatic conditions, lake thermal variables should exhibit coherent variability patterns to the extent to which they are not influenced by lake specific features such as morphometry and water clarity. We tested the degree of temporal coherence in interannual variability for climatic variables (air temperature and solar radiation) among four lake districts in the Upper Great Lakes Region. We also tested the degree of coherence of lake thermal variables (near-surface temperature, eplimnetic temperature, hypolimnetic temperature and thermocline depth) for lakes within these districts. 2. Our four lake districts included the Experimental Lakes Area in north-western Ontario, the Dorset Research Centre area north of Toronto, Ontario, the Northern Highland Lake District in northern Wisconsin, and the Yahara Lakes near Madison in southern Wisconsin. Seventeen lakes were analyzed for lake thermal variables dependent on stratification. Another five lakes were added for the analysis of near-surface temperature. 3. The analysis tested whether for monthly and summer means, the climate (air temperature and solar radiation) across the four lake districts was coherent interannually and whether variables which measure the thermal structure of the lakes were coherent interannually among lakes within each lake district and across the four lake districts. 4. Temporal coherence was estimated by the correlation between lake districts for meteorological variables and between lake pairs for lake thermal variables. Mean coherence and the percentage of correlations exceeding the 5% significance level were derived both within and between lake districts for lake thermal variables. 5. Across the four lake districts, summer mean air temperature was highly coherent while summer solar radiation was less coherent. Approximately 60–80% of the interannual variation in mean summer air temperature at a site occurred across the entire region. Less than 45% of the variation in solar radiation occurred across sites. 6. Epilimnetic temperature and the near-surface temperature were highly coherent both within and between lake districts. The coherence of thermocline depth within and between lake districts was weaker. Hypolimnetic temperature was not coherent between lake districts for most lake pairs. It was coherent among lakes within some lake districts. 7. The influences of local weather and differences among lakes in water clarity are discussed in the context of differences in levels of coherence among lake thermal variables and among lake pairs for a given variable.