Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Planting Date and Nitrogen Effects on Fusarium Head Blight and Leaf Spotting Diseases in Spring Wheat

Cultural management practices play important roles in minimizing losses caused by Fusarium head blight (FHB) and leaf spotting diseases (leaf-spot) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A field experiment was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, for 3 yr (2003-2005) in two sites representing clay loam and sandy loam soils to examine the effects of planting date and N management on the incidence and severity of FHB and leaf-spot {tan spot, Septoria leaf blotch and Stagonospora nodorum blotch) in spring wheat. The cultivar AC Brio was seeded at three dates at approximately 10-d intervals starting in the last week of April. The five N treatments included 0, 60, and 100 kg N ha -1 applied as starter; 60 + 40 kg N ha -1 (starter + top-dress at boot stage); and 60 + 40 kg N ha -1 (starter + foliar spray at boot stage). Generally, incidence of FHB and severity of leaf-spot were greater in the heavy-textured soil than in the light-textured soil. Across site-year, the incidence of FHB ranged from 13 to 45%, and severity varied from 14 and 52%. On both soils, planting date had a consistently greater effect on the incidence and severity of FHB: the later the planting date beyond 9 May, the greater the incidence of FHB. The late-planted wheat also had the greatest severity of leaf-spot. Planting after 9 May also significantly reduced grain yield by 15 to 45%. Wheat grown without added N had the greatest incidence of FHB and leaf-spot severities than that supplied with adequate N, especially in the heavy-textured soil. The effect of N on FHB was not consistent over site-years, but leaf-spot was significantly reduced with a starter application of N at 100 kg ha Our data indicate that environmental variation induced by different planting dates or by different growing seasons and site appeared to have greater effects on FHB and leaf-spot in wheat than N application. The results suggest that the incidence of FHB and severity of leaf-spot in spring wheat can be minimized through early planting combined with adequate starter N application.
Development of a quantitative ‘bioassay’ approach for ecosystem mapping

A map of ecosystem distribution is an essential reference for assessing ecosystem services. We suggest that a map of the natural distribution of species assemblages is an ecosystem map and that multiple ecological niche models can be used to create it. As the biogeographical context is understood to be a driving force of the character of a landscape, the need of using it as a key criterion for landscape classification is widely accepted. For example, the ‘Map of Biogeographical Regions’ (EEA 2008) is used as a fundamental framework for the European Commissions Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and is being taken as a reference to assess the coherence of the European-wide nature protection system. Because of its large scale – Germany is divided into only three regions – it is of limited use for planning at the landscape level. Landscape planners need access to more detailed, sub-regional characteristics and environmental conditions to address local ecological and conservation issues. The biogeographical regionalisation approach proposed by the authors allows for zooming in to a more useful scale for planning purposes and is transparent, repeatable and transferable. The current article describes the conceptual thrust of the methodology and some examples of its application to a variety of landscapes in Germany. In conclusion, we discuss some of its limitations and potentials, including its potential to map probable spatial shifts of ecosystems induced by climate change.
Antibiotic resistance in the bacteria of a remote upland river catchment

The incidence of antibiotic resistance was determined in a total of 183 heterotrophic bacteria of non‐faecal origin isolated from the catchment of a remote upland stream. Some 40% were sensitive to each of the eight antibiotics tested while more than 35% were resistant to at least two compounds. Three isolates each carried seven resistance determinants. Unsuccessful attempts were made, using two curing techniques, to demonstrate that resistance was plasmid‐borne. The high incidence of antibiotic resistance, particularly amongst pseudomonads, in an environment virtually free from anthropogenic influence is surprising, and has implications for the assessment of the spread of antibiotic resistance amongst populations of environmental bacteria.
Estrogen receptor‐α and neural circuits to the spinal cord during pregnancy

Estrogen receptor immunoreactivity and mRNAs are present in spinal cord neurons in locations that are associated with sensory and autonomic innervation of female reproductive organs. The present study was undertaken to examine the expression of estrogen receptor‐α in the spinal cord during different stages of pregnancy and to determine whether estrogen receptor‐α‐expressing neurons are related to uterine afferent nerves bringing information to the spinal cord at parturition. Immunohistochemistry showed estrogen receptor‐α‐immunoreactive neurons in the dorsal one‐half of the spinal cord, i.e., dorsal horn, dorsal intermediate gray areas (dorsal commissural nucleus), and around the central canal and sacral parasympathetic autonomic nucleus of the lumbosacral spinal cord. Neurons in these areas corresponded topographically to the distribution of central processes of visceral primary afferent neurons (e.g., containing calcitonin gene‐related peptide and substance P) that innervate and activate second‐order spinal cord neurons (evidenced by their expression of Fos) at parturition. Western blots showed that estrogen receptor‐α increases in the spinal cord, with a peak at day 20 of gestation, followed by a slight decrease by 2 days postpartum. These studies show that estrogen receptor‐α is expressed by neurons in autonomic and sensory areas of the lumbosacral spinal cord that have connections with the female reproductive system and that the level of estrogen receptor‐α changes over the course of pregnancy, which may follow profiles of steroid hormones. Many of these neurons may be involved in processing information related to reproductive organ function, changes during pregnancy, and relays to other CNS centers. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relating Weed Size, Crop Soil Cover and Soil Moisture with Weed Harrowing Efficacy on Papaver rhoeas and Other Dicotyledoneous Weeds in Mediterranean Conditions

ABSTRACT Twelve field trials were conducted in Catalonia (North-Eastern Spain) between 1998 and 2003 on different winter cereal fields highly-infested with Papaver rhoeas L. or, in two cases, with mixed dicotyledoneous weeds. Trials were conducted in semi-arid conditions in order to find out which are the real limitations of harrowing in those circumstances. A tine harrow was used in a single pass as the only weed control method at 4–6 km h−1 and on four occasions again later in post-emergence. Weed size, crop soil cover and climatic conditions were significantly correlated with initial efficacy so that small weeds, low crop soil cover allowing good harrowing and dry conditions enhanced weed control. Despite soil moisture not being significantly correlated with initial efficacy, it was significantly related to other factors like weed size, thus having an indirect influence on initial control. Initial efficacy ranged between 18 and 93% and was not correlated with final weed control at crop elongation, which was highly related to natural weed mortality. Efficacy increases in time were significant in four cases but decreases due to new germination flushes were not significant. Repeating harrowing later in post-emergence does not seem to be generally convenient as efficacy did in fact not decrease but increased only in one out of four cases. The results show how initial efficacy is highly dependent on small weeds, which are at the same time related to dry soils, dry climatic conditions and low crop soil cover. As harrowing was conducted as soon as possible in the trials, the real main limitation was thus climatic, i.e. having dry soils. Later natural weed mortality can increase significantly initial weed control but this did not occur in all cases. Thus, in Mediterranean conditions, harrowing should be conducted as early as possible as wet winter periods can also impede correct timing.
Equilibrium and Kinetic Folding of a α-Helical Greek Key Protein Domain: Caspase Recruitment Domain (CARD) of RICK

We have characterized the equilibrium and kinetic folding of a unique protein domain, caspase recruitment domain (CARD), of the RIP-like interacting CLARP kinase (RICK) (RICK-CARD), which adopts a α-helical Greek key fold. At equilibrium, the folding of RICK-CARD is well described by a two-state mechanism representing the native and unfolded ensembles. The protein is marginally stable, with a ΔGH2O of 3.0 ± 0.15 kcal/mol and an m-value of 1.27 ± 0.06 kcal mol-1 M-1 (30 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8, 1 mM DTT, 25 °C). While the m-value is constant, the protein stability decreases in the presence of moderate salt concentrations (below 200 mM) and then increases at higher salt concentrations. The results suggest that electrostatic interactions are stabilizing in the native protein, and the favorable Coulombic interactions are reduced at low ionic strength. Above 200 mM salt, the results are consistent with Hofmeister effects. The unfolding pathway of RICK-CARD is complex and contains at least three non-native conformati.
Cytogenetics, biogeography and biology of Santolina ageratifolia Barnades ex Asso (Asteraceae: Anthemideae)

Santolina ageratifolia Barnades ex Asso is a natural autohexaploid (2n = 6x = 54, 54 + 1B), endemic to Teruel Province, Spain and inhabits a substrate derived from sandstone, red limolite and quartzite. Three chromosome formulae are found: 30m + 12sm + 12st, present in 52% of the descendants (52 metaphase), 24m + 5m-1sm + 18sm + 6st in 39% of the descendants (39 metaphase) and 24m + 5m-1sm + 18sm + 6st + 1B in 9% of the descendants (9 metaphase). Chiasmata are mostly interstitial rather than terminal, giving rise to the formation of cruciform structures. The predominance of bivalent configurations in the meiosis and the exclusively bivalent formation in four individuals indicate that this species has a strong tendency towards diploidization. Secondary association of bivalents is observed in the number of 2, 4–6 chromosomes associated, the average being 4.21 ± 1.20 chromosomes. The variation in the chromosomal characteristics suggests chromosome translocation and/or inversions. This species is partially sterile, with a mean pollen fertility of 40.56% and a mean fructification of 34.24%. The frequencies of multivalents and pollen fertility have a strongly significant effect on fructification percentage. Phenotypic variation in habits is not correlated with karyotype characteristics. The cytogeography of the polyploid taxa of the Santolina rosmarinifolia aggregate is discussed. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157, 797–807.
PENGARUH ETOS KERJA, BUDAYA ORGANISASI, DAN BEBAN KERJA TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI DI DINAS PEKERJAAN UMUM MINAHASA SELATAN

Dunia disibukkan dengan persaingan di berbagai aspek tak terkecuali persaingan antar sumber daya manusia. Kemajuan teknologi saat ini masih belum mampu menggeser posisi manusia sebagai sumber utama dalam segala aktivitas kehidupan. Sumber daya manusia akan menjadi lebih berkualitas jika berada dalam lingkungan organisasi yang baik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh Etos Kerja, Budaya Organisasi, Dan Beban Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Di Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian asosiatif, lokasi penelitian di Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan yaitu penelitian kuantitiatif dengan menggunakan analisis regresi berganda. Hasil studi menunjukan bahwa etos kerja, budaya organisasi, dan beban kerja secara simultan memiliki pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Etos kerja, budaya organisasi, dan beban kerja secara parsial memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai di Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan. Pimpinan Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan sebaiknya lebih meningkatkan etos kerja serta budaya organisasi yang baik agar kinerja pegawai mengalami peningkatan. Kata kunci : etos kerja, budaya organisasi, beban kerja, kinerja kerja
Purification of Lysozyme from Hemolymph of Tobacco Cutworm, Spodoptera litura

ABSTRACT Lysozyme is one of the components of the innate immunity of the insects. The lysozyme has been isolated by heat treatment, cation exchange, and reversed‐phase chromatography from immunized hemolymph of last instar larvae of Spodoptera litura. The hemolymph immunized with the insect nonpathogen, Escherichia coli was collected 2 days after the abdominal injection. The molecular weight of Spodoptera lysozyme was estimated to be about 15 kDa by SDS‐PAGE and it is great similarity with Agrius lysozyme, which recently purified from larval hemolymph of Agrius convolvuli.
The anti-ulcer activities of leaf extracts of combretum racemosum (Family: combracaceae)

The Leaf extracts of Combretum racemosum has a high folkloric reputation as an ant-ulcer agent. We investigated the effects of the aqueous and hexane extracts of the leaf of the plant on three ulcer models induced in albino rats (wistar) and compared the protective value of the extracts given at a dose of 400mg/kg body weight of the animal with that produced by 100mg/kg (BW) of cimetidine. 3% Tween-85 served as the positive control drug. Hospital strains of 7 micro-organisms consisting of gram positive bacteria and fungi were challenged with 10mg/ml of the extracts. The zones of inhibition produced were compared with those produced by 5mg of Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin. The result showed high protective values against peptic ulcer by both extracts ranging from 47-64% using standardized ulcer index. This protection compared favourably with the protection produced by Cimetidine on the different ulcer models. The results of the antimicrobial activity investigation showed that the extracts have significant but varied levels of inhibition of the growth of cultures of S.aureus, S.typhi, B. subtilis and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. The potential anti-ulcer value of the extracts is enhanced by their antimicrobial activity on both gram negative and positive bacterial cultures. The results of the acute toxicity test indicate a potentially safe agent of a natural origin. The water and Hexane extracts of C. racemosum may yield a double action anti-ulcer ingredient(s). Keywords : Extracts, Combretum racemosum, antiulcer, antimicrobial activities Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 9-14
Tomato peel drying and carotenoids stability of the extracts

Summary Tomato peels were firstly dried by different methods (hot air, freeze-drying, and fluidized bed drying) to evaluate the recovery of lycopene, β-carotene and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Comparison of the results showed that hot air drying at 50 °C was a suitable method and alternative to freeze-drying to preserve carotenoids compounds and antioxidant activity in tomato peels. Then, ethanol/ethyl acetate (1:1) extracts from tomato peel, previously dried at 50 °C by hot air, were submitted to heat (100 °C) and light treatment (1000 lumen) to evaluate their stability as natural food dyes. Heating of the extracts caused a progressive reduction of total carotenoids, up to about 30% after 250 min of treatment, whereas the colour at the end of heat treatment showed small changes, with an overall colour difference (∆E) equal to 7. Fluorescent lighting treatment showed an almost total degradation of carotenoids in the extracts after 48 h combined with a fading colour.
Germination of Orobanche crenata seeds, as influenced by conditioning temperature and period

The effects of conditioning temperature and length of the conditioning period on germination of seeds of the parasitic weed Orobanche crenata were investigated in vitro. Seed samples from Syria and Egypt, collected in various years, were compared. Optimum temperature for conditioning was 15–20 °C for Syrian seeds and 20 or 15–20 °C for Egyptian seeds. At 20 °C a conditioning period of 18 days was required for maximum germination. When conditioning at 20 °C was prolonged beyond 7 weeks, germination decreased. This effect was more pronounced for Egyptian seeds than for Syrian seeds. Germination of Syrian seeds was strongly reduced after conditioning for more than 4 weeks at 15 or 10 °C. A stepwise decrease in temperature during conditioning did not enhance this effect. The results of a tetrazolium test indicated that the seeds most probably did not die but developed secondary dormancy. Key words: Orobanche, germination, conditioning, temperature, dormancy.
Sampling Methods to Estimate Foliage and Other Characteristics of Individual Trees

The total foliar area or mass of a tree is difficult to measure, as is its bark or cambial area, and various other components of aboveground biomass. A variety of sampling methods is proposed and estimators of these characteristics are presented. Based on probability precepts, all estimators are unbiased. An unbiased estimator of variance for each estimator also is presented. The basis in probability rather than a fitted regression equation provides some important safeguards, and is a useful alternative when fitted re- gression functions are unavailable for a particular species and physiographic condition.
Oxidative Stability of Fish Oil Included in a Microemulsion

ABSTRACT Handling and storage of polyunsaturated lipids is a difficult problem due to oxidation. Oxidation products cause reduction in sensoric quality and can also have negative physiological effects, all of which obstruct the use of otherwise nutritionally important compounds. Therefore it is important to find techniques to prevent this quality deterioration. It is shown in this work that the oxidation of a fish oil can be decreased if the oil is transformed into a microemulsion with ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol used as antioxidants. Tocopherol will be localized in the hydrocarbon chain region whereas ascorbic acid is accumulated in the polar parts of the microemulsion. “Packaged” in this way the oxidation of the oil is retarded. The peroxide and anisidine values are both drastically decreased when compared to a pure fish oil, which has been demonstrated by keeping samples at 40°C for 18 days. Furthermore an improved effect was seen when ascorbic acid was solved in glycerol instead of in water.
Normal Hemogram of Yak (Bos grunniens)

Abstract Barari, S.K. , Biswas, D. and Pal, R.N. 1995. Normal Hemogram of Yak (Bos grunniens). J. Appl. Anim. Res., 7: 99–103. Haematological values in 13 healthy yaks (body temp.101.IF, pulse rate 54/min, respiration 55/min) reared on winter pasture (2750m above msl; average ambient temperature −0.3 to 12.3C; humidity 30–100 per cent) were determined. Total RBC, WBC, Hb, PCV and ESR were found to be 5.20 x 106/μl, 9.9 x 103/μl, 10.2 g/dl, 25.37% and 0.54 mm/h. DLC revealed 30.0, 53.8, 10.1, 5.5 and 0.5% of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils respectively. MCV (fl), MCH (pg) and MCHC (g/dl) were 49.3, 20.0 and 41.0 respectively.
Physiological characteristics and mycotoxins of human clinical isolates of Fusarium species

Thirty-three strains of Fusarium species from clinical sources including F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforne, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. chlamydosporum were examined for their physiological characteristics and mycotoxin production. Of this collection 29 exhibited growth at 37°C and 21 were resistant to cycloheximide. Two strains of F. moniliforme and two strains of F. proliferatum produced fumonisins. No strains in this collection produced detectable amounts of trichothecenes. All 18 strains of F. solani tested produced the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A. The cyclosporin A-producing ability of clinical isolates of F. solani may influence their pathogenic potential.
Purification and Properties of Particulate Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Acetobacter aceti

Particulate alcohol dehydrogenase of acetic acid bacteria was purified to homogeneous state from Acetobacter aceti IFO 3284. The enzyme was purified about 70-fold with an overall yield of 55 % from the cell homogenate by solubilization and extraction of the enzyme with Triton X-100 and subsequent fractionations on column chromatography. The purified enzyme was revealed of its properties as fiavo-cytochrome complex and was composed of four different subunits having a molecular weight of 63,000, 44,000, 29,000 and 13,500. A tightly bound cytochrome component was not alcohol dehydrogenase itself and had a function as an electron acceptor in vivo. The first subunit which reacts with ethanol was shown to be a flavoprotein of the particulate alcohol dehydrogenase complex. Catalytic properties of the enzyme were also examined and the data that the enzyme is a representative as the vinegar fermenter were obtained .
Comparison of Growth Response of Chicks to Virginiamycin and Other Antibiotics

Abstract IT HAS been reported that continuous use of antibiotics for growth promotion of chicks resulted in a decrease in their effectiveness (Waibel et al., 1954; Libby and Schaible, 1955; Sherman et al., 1959). McGinnis et al. (1958) reported that erythromycin thiocyonate and oleandomycin phosphate improved growth of chicks while other antibiotics which had been used for several years failed to do so. Similarly, Wiese and Petersen (1959) observed that chicks responded much better to erythromycin and spontin than to penicillin. Heath and Bird (1962) on the other hand, found no long term changes in growth response of chicks to procaine penicillin or the tetracyclines during the period 1950 to 1961. Moreover, Creek and Schumaier (1960) obtained significant chick growth responses from oxytetracycline, penicillin, zinc bacitracin and oleandomycin as well as from erythromycin, spontin and tylosin. Teague (1962) also failed to demonstrate a consistent decrease in the effect of chlortetraclycine in…