Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Juvenile Settling and Drift Rates on Freshwater Mussel Dispersal

Abstract Freshwater mussels play important roles in ecosystems and are globally imperiled. Adult mussels are sedentary and dispersal is as larvae attached to fish hosts and as juveniles in stream drift. Understanding juvenile dispersal is important for understanding the patchy distribution of adult mussels and for conservation. We propose the location in which a juvenile mussel ends up on the streambed is determined by a combination of the juvenile's settling velocity, current speed, and streambed topography. We conducted a laboratory experiment to quantify the settling velocities of juveniles of four mussel species and of polymer microparticles, later utilized as surrogates for juveniles. We performed a flume experiment where we measured drift distances of microparticles at three low flow velocities over gravel and over a simulated mussel bed (gravel combined with mussel shells). Lastly, we measured drift distances of microparticles at five sites in two small rivers under summer low flow conditions. There were no significant differences in settling velocities among the four mussel species, live juveniles sank at a significantly lower rate than dead juveniles, and there were no significant differences in settling velocities between live juveniles and microparticles. The distances microparticles drifted in the flume increased with flow velocity and were shorter over the simulated mussel bed than over gravel. In the field most microparticles were recaptured near their release locations. In this study, juvenile mussels had limited dispersal potential with most drifting < 10 m. This limited dispersal should result in many juveniles settling within mussel beds, areas where habitat conditions are favorable for survival and growth, and may contribute to the patchy spatial distribution of mussel beds in rivers.
Seeds characters, pollen fertility and flavonoids of ten Brassicaceae collected near a kilns thermal power plant for air pollution bioindication

Noori M, Baghaeifar Z, Chehregani A, Faraki F. 2018. Seeds characters, pollen fertility and flavonoids of ten Brassicaceae collected near a kilns thermal power plant for air pollution bioindication. Nusantara Bioscience 10: 96-104. Shazand Steam Power Plant located on North-East of Shazand, Iran began to work from 2000. The power plant necessity fuel is natural gas and mostly heavy fuel oil. The most pollutant of power plant is sulfur compounds in addition to nitric and carbon mono oxide. Because environmental pollutants influence plant fertility and chemical compounds, therefore this study was done on ten wild Brassicaceae (Alyssum linifolium var. linifolium, Alyssum longistylum, Alyssum marginatum, Choriospora persica, Clypeola lappacea, Conringia perfoliata, Descurainia sophia, Goldbachia laevigata, Isatis kotschyana and Neslia apiculata) taxa collected from the thermal power plant area for bioindication of regional air pollution comparing to controls collected 40 km away from the power plant. Brassicaceae members are important for their ecological, pastoral, medicinal and edible points. Seed width and length max. and their ratio and abnormal seed percentage were calculated. Pollen abnormality and sterility percentages determined using Muntezing’s acetocarmine and light microscopy. Also, their pollen flavonoids were semi-quantitatively assessed using two-dimensional paper and thin layer chromatography. Results showed seeds health and their dimensions reduction in polluted samples in comparison with controls. In C. lappacea significant differences of seed and pollen abnormality and pollen sterility percentages, morin and kaempferol concentrations, between control and polluted samples were observed (P≤0.05). Also, number and kind of pollen flavonoid changes especially increasing flavonoid contents were observed in polluted plants comparing to control. Studying seed and pollen characters can be used as air quality bioindicators.
How stigmatic epidermis mediates the invading cell growth : the case of pollen tube and oomycete hypha

The epidermis is the first cellular barrier in direct contact with the environment in both animal and plant organisms. In plants, the result of the cell-to-cell communication that occurs between the pollen grain and the epidermal cells of the stigma, also called papillae, is crucial for successful reproduction. When accepted, the pollen grain germinates and emits a pollen tube that transports the male gametes towards the ovules. Effective fertilization in angiosperms depends on the proper trajectory that pollen tubes take while progressing within the pistil tissues to reach the ovules.Pollen tubes grow within the cell wall of the papilla cells, applying pressure to the wall. Such forces are known to alter the cortical microtubule (CMT) network and cell behaviour. The first part of my PhD thesis aimed at investigating the role of the microtubule cytoskeleton of stigmatic cells in pollen tube growth. By combining cell imaging and genetic approaches, we found that in the Arabidopsis katanin1-5 (ktn1-5) mutant, papillae have a highly isotropic CMT array, associated with a marked tendency of wild-type (WT) pollen tube to turn around the papillae. We could partially phenocopy this coiled growth of pollen tubes by treating WT papillae with the microtubule-depolymerizing drug oryzalin. As CMT pattern is linked to cellulose microfibrils organisation, and hence possibly to cell-wall stiffness, we assessed the stiffness of ktn1-5 and aged papillae using Atomic Force Microscopy. Altogether, our results suggest that both organisation of CMT and cell wall properties dependent on KATANIN have a major role in guiding early pollen tube growth in stigma papillae.Similarly to pollen tube growth within the stigmatic papilla, hypha of filamentous pathogens penetrates the epidermal tissue of the host. During pathogen attacks, epidermal cells promptly react to the invading organisms to adjust the most relevant response. Early response of the first cell layers including epidermal cells is decisive for the result of plant-pathogen interactions. The second part of my PhD work aimed at comparing the cellular response of stigmatic cells challenged by two types of invaders, the pollen tube during pollination and hyphae of two oomycete filamentous pathogens, Phytophtora parasitica and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis, during the infection process. We demonstrate that a stigmatic cell challenged by a pollen tube or an oomycete hypha adapts its response to the invader’s identity.
Ascorbate in the apoplast of elongating plant cells

It was shown that basipetal retardation of cell elongation in the growth zone of etiolated maize mesocotyls correlates with a steep decrease in the apoplastic ascorbic acid (ASC) concentration (50 μM → 10 μM) and ascorbate redox state (17 % → 5 %). Exogenous ASC (0.3 mM) not only inhibits peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenols in vitro. It also exerts a highly specific effect on the secretion of peroxidases by stimulating the release of some isoforms while inhibiting the release of others to the cell walls. This effect points to the hypothetic signaling function of apoplastic ascorbate. Previously, we described a basipetal decrease in hydrogen peroxide concentration in the apoplast (from 5.1 to 2.0 μM) and a two-times increase in cell wall peroxidase potential activity (Sharova et al., 2012). Summarizing found gradients, we can assume that the conditions in the apoplast of the upper mesocotyl segment are favorable for the occurrence of the Fenton reaction (high ASC and hydrogen peroxide concentrations) and unfavorable for the oxidation of phenols (high ASC concentration and low potential peroxidase activity), which contributes to cell wall extensibility and rapid cell elongation.
The impact of public investment on private investment in 21 OECD countries over the period 2000-2017

This dissertation analyses the relationship between private and public investment in 21 OECD countries over the period 2000-2017. We estimated an econometric model using panel data methodologies that allow us to study the effects of public investment on private investment. Results suggest a positive effect of public investment on private investment. One percent increase in government investment would yield a 0.18% increase in private investment. To test the robustness of this results, the analysis was extended to subgroups of countries within the 21 countries under analysis, divided by high and low GDP growth rate, and the findings confirm the positive effect of public investment on private investment in both subgroups. This positive effect possibly is due to public sector promoting infrastructures which convert to investment opportunities for the private sector. The impact of public investment on private investment for a larger OECD country sample was done through a different model, compared to previous studies done. Thereby, a contribution to the literature was made.
Two New Threatened Species of Psyllocarpus (Rubiaceae; Spermacoceae) from Eastern Brazil

Abstract Two new species of Psyllocarpus sect. Psyllocarpus are here described and illustrated. Psyllocarpus bahiensis and Psyllocarpus scatignae, from the campo rupestre s. l. of Bahia and Minas Gerais states, respectively. We provide comments on their distribution, habitat, conservation status, and taxonomy. In addition, we analysed floral, fruit, and seed micromorphology, aswell as pollen grains of the new species. We also provide an updated identification key to the species of P. sect. Psyllocarpus.
Effect of conflict and emotions on perceptions of social loafing in groups

We investigate the impact different types of conflict have on social loafing perceptions within groups/teams. In a sample of 164 respondents, the perception of social loafing was found to be directly and positively influenced by contribution conflict and negative emotions, while task conflict, logistical conflict, and relationship conflict did not have direct positive effects on perceived social loafing. However, task conflict was found to have a marginally significant direct suppressing effect upon perceived social loafing once the influences from logistic conflict, contribution conflict, relationship conflict and negative emotions were controlled for. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Differential requirement for centriolar satellites in cilium formation among different vertebrate cells

Centriolar satellites are ubiquitous in vertebrate cells. They have recently emerged as key regulators of centrosome/cilium biogenesis, and their mutations are linked to ciliopathies. However, their precise functions and mechanisms of action, which potentially differ between cell types, remain poorly understood. Here, we generated retinal pigmental and kidney epithelial cells lacking satellites by genetically ablating PCM1 to investigate their functions. While satellites were essential for cilium assembly in retinal epithelial cells, kidney epithelial cells lacking satellites still formed full-length cilia but at significantly lower levels, with reduced centrosomal levels of key ciliogenesis factors. Using these cells, we identified the first satellite-specific functions at cilia, specifically in regulating ciliary content, Hedgehog signalling, and epithelial cell organization. However, other satellite-linked functions, namely proliferation, cell cycle progression and centriole duplication, were unaffected in these cells. Quantitative transcriptomic and proteomic profiling revealed that loss of satellites scarcely affects transcription, but significantly alters the proteome, particularly actin cytoskeleton pathways and neuronal functions. Together, our findings identify cell type-specific roles for satellites and provide insight into the phenotypic heterogeneity of ciliopathies.
RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM PEMBERIAN MAKANAN DAN MONITORING KONDISI KESEHATAN PADA HEWAN BERBASIS APLIKASI ANDROID

Lebih dari 10 juta orang Indonesia memiliki hewan peliharaan, tetapi hewan peliharaan ini seharusnya tidak menjadi beban bagi pemiliknya. Stress akibat kewajiban rutin memberi makan hewan peliharaan setiap hari sering muncul. Sudah banyak jenis alat pemberi pakan hewan peliharaan tersedia di pasar, tetapi masih belum mampu membuat pemilik hewan tenang saat harus meninggalkan hewan peliharaan untuk waktu yang agak lama. Proyek ini memanfaatkan aplikasi berbasis Android pada smartphone yang dapat digunakan pemilik hewan peliharaan untuk memantau hewan peliharaannya dari jarak jauh melalui jaringan internet. Proyek ini menggunakan Blynk sebagai aplikasi untuk memberi makan dan minum kepada hewan peliharaannya. Pengujian dilakukan dengan menguji masing-masing parameter yang digunakan. Dari hasil pengujian pemberian pakan yang dilakukan didapatkan presentase error sebesar 1%, sedangkan pemberian minum persentase error yang didapat pada sebesar 17%, besarnya error dikarenakan oleh sisa air yang masih ada pada selang air yang mengalir dari tandon air ke tempat minum dan untuk pengujian keseluruhan monitor kesehatan hewan dapat dilihat bahwa kondisi yang ditampilkan pada aplikasi Android sudah sesuai dengan yang diharapkan.
Lipase production by Fusarium culmorum in solid state fermentation

Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi which cause some of the most important diseases in agricultural and horticultural crops. This fungus is considered to be a useful producer of enzymes from an industrial point of view. In the present study, lipase production by Fusarium culmorum SY6 was investigated under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Among the several agronomic wastes, corn cob hulls and tomato pulp supported the highest yield of lipase (170 and 165 U/g of dry substrate, respectively) after five days of incubation. It was determined that pH 9 and 60°C gave optimum enzyme activity. The F. culmorum SY6 strain grown in SSF in a simple medium proved to be a promising microorganism for lipase production.
Estimation of morphological traits and mechanical properties of grasspea seeds [Lathyrus sativus L.] originating from EU countries

The material for the study comprised 30 accession forms of grasspea (Gene Bank in Gatersleben, Germany) originating from four European countries, and two Polish cultivars -Derek and Krab. Estimation of variability of the morphological traits and yield structure was performed on the basis of a field experiment and the obtained seeds were analysed under laboratory conditions, taking into account the geometric features of the seeds and their physical (mechanical) properties as defined by values of static loads. Apart from differences in the dates of start of blooming, plant height, height of positioning of the lowest pod on the plant, and pod morphology (length and width), the plants under study differed with respect to their yield-forming traits, such as the number of pods per plant, number and weight of seeds in pod, and number and weight of seeds per plant. Seeds under analysis, taken for static load tests, were characterised by fairly uniform moisture content within the range from 7.9 to 9.8%. In terms of weight of 100 seeds, the experimental objects displayed a broad range of variability, representing forms typically small-seeded (from 5 to 15 g), medium-seeded (from 15 to 25 g), and coarse-seeded (over 25 g). The coarse-seeded forms originated mainly from Italy and Spain, while those with smaller seeds came from France, Germany and Poland. The above trait was related to the geometric features of the seeds, expressed in terms of their thickness, width and length. The ranges of variability of those features were, respectively, 4.61-6.13,7.13-12.98 and 7.88-14.43 mm. The most extensive ranges of variation were recorded for static loading parameters concerning maximum force and elasticity (N), maximum and elastic strain (mm) and energy (mJ), and apparent modulus of elasticity (MPa). On the basis of the results obtained, forms with the highest and the lowest values of static load were identified. The above traits were related not only with the geometric features of the seeds, but likely also with genetically determined changes in the microstructure of the seeds. Analysis of the microstructure in further research would surely permit demonstration of the relevant relationships with respect to the results obtained from analysis of static loading. The results obtained from the field trial and from estimation of the mechanical properties of the seeds indicate a broad range of variability of the parameters under analysis. This permits to isolate the most valuable foreign genotypes and their further utilisation as parent material for hybridisation aimed at improvement of local forms of grasspea.
Kingdom-wide comparison reveals conserved diurnal gene expression in Archaeplastida

Plants have adapted to the diurnal light-dark cycle by establishing elaborate transcriptional programs that coordinate innumerable metabolic, physiological, and developmental responses to the external environment. These transcriptional programs have been studied in only a few species, and their function and conservation across algae and plants is currently unknown. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of the diurnal cycle of nine members of Archaeplastida, and we observed that, despite large phylogenetic distances and dramatic differences in morphology and lifestyle, diurnal transcriptional programs of these organisms are similar. However, the establishment of multicellularity coincided with the uncoupling of cell division from the diurnal cycle and decreased diurnal control of the expression of the biological pathways. Hence, our study provides evidence for the universality of diurnal gene expression and elucidates its evolutionary history among different photosynthetic eukaryotes.
Phylogeography of the Japanese White-Toothed Shrew (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae): A Clear Division of Haplogroups between Eastern and Western Japan and their Recent Introduction to Some Regions

Abstract. The Japanese white-toothed shrew (Crocidura dsinezumi) is a species endemic to Japan. For this species, only minimal phylogeographic investigations have been conducted. We obtained DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b and control region and nuclear ApoB genes for 191 individuals of C. dsinezumi from 107 locations collected throughout its known range. In the phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial DNA sequences, two haplogroups (Eastern and Western Clades) were recognized, and the demarcation line between them was located in central Honshu without an overlapping area. The estimated divergence time between the two major clades indicated that they could have diverged prior to the final geologic division of Hondo and the Asian Continent (100–150 KYA). For the ApoB gene, Types A, G, and R (heterozygote) were recognized although there was a single site mutation. Type A mainly occurs in eastern and central Japan and Types G and R in central and western Japan. It was suggested in the present study that some shrews in Hokkaido were introduced recently from eastern Honshu (possibly the Tohoku Region) whereas others might have been distributed there naturally, and that population in Jeju (South Korea) was introduced recently from Kyushu.
Influence of CaO and SiO2 on the Reducibility of Wüstite Using H2 and CO Gas

CaO(0–20 mass%) and SiO2-containing (0–30 mass%) wüstite (‘FeO’) compacts were isothermally reduced at 1 273 K under CO and H2 gas. Prior to reduction, the phase of dicalcium ferrite (Ca2Fe2O5) and fayalite (Fe2SiO4) was equilibrated with ‘FeO’ at 1 273 K under 50%CO/50%CO2 and identified using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The rate of reduction for CaO-containing ‘FeO’ compacts under both H2 and CO increased up to the vicinity of 2.5 mass% CaO, and then decreased with higher CaO dependent on the formation of an intermediate phase of dicalcium ferrite. For SiO2-containing ‘FeO’, the rate decreased with SiO2 additions. When the dense fayalite is present reduction using CO was limited, while considerable reduction was observed using H2. The reduction was affected by three distinct reduction mechanisms of interfacial chemical reaction, gaseous mass transport, solid state diffusion of oxygen or a combination of these individual mechanisms termed the mixed control. The contribution of each mechanism with the content of CaO or SiO2 affecting the reduction behavior was determined. The compact porosity increased when CaO was added to approximately 2.5 mass% and subsequently decreased with higher CaO, but continuously decreased with SiO2 additions. The ratio of the effective diffusivity (De) to molecular interdiffusivity (D) was highest at the vicinity of 2.5 mass% CaO and thus the maximum reduction rate was obtained when the porosity was highest.
Induction of callus and adventitious shoots on epicotyl and hypocotyl segments of cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)

Somatic embryogenesis from callus induced in epicotyl and hypocotyl segments can be viable native species in order to better -benefit ratio costs, and rates of clonal multiplication. In this sense, two trials were established to induce callus and adventitious buds on hypocotyl and epicotyl segments of cumaru bean seedlings germinated in vitro in different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators. At first, we used the MS medium supplementwith ANA (0.0, 1.5 mg.L-1) and TDZ (0.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mg.L-1) distributed in factorial 2 x 3 x 2 (x auxin cytokinin x explant) with eight replications. In the second, it was used the WPM medium supplemented with BAP (2.0 mg L-1) and plus 2,4-D (2.0 and 4.0 mg L-1) in a factorial 2 x 2 (auxin x explant) with 15 repetitions each. They were evaluating callus formation and the average number of adventitious shoots during the period of 90 days. The results indicated that the highest average for callus formation was observed when the explants were subjected to concentrations of 8.0 mg L-1 TDZ combined with 1.5 mg L-1 ANA in MS medium. For the formation of buds, the WPM medium plus 2.0 mg L-1 2,4-D in the second experiment, induced higher number of shoots, being significant the use of auxin, and its interaction with the type of explant.
Can elite maize landraces help to improve forage yield and quality? A genetic analysis

Broadening the genetic base of maize breeding program is a significant concern for plant breeders, since it restricts the magnitude of genetic gain. Identification of promissory exotic elite maize (Zea mays L) germplasm would be useful to increase the genetic variation within typically used heterotic groups and to improve the forage yield and quality. This study is aimed to assess the genetic potential of a group of elite maize landraces to improve forage yield and quality related traits and to broaden the genetic base of three temperate heterotic groups. Mean values and landrace general combining ability effects (GCA ) revealed that some landraces could be considered as a valuable genetic resource to broaden the current genetic base through introgression of forage yield and quality favorable alleles. When stover and ear dry matter yield were considered, ARZM17035 was the best landrace since it produced the best performing landrace × inbred line crosses that also were stable across environments. Addi- tionally, this landrace showed high GCA . Considering quality traits, ARZM07134 was the most promising source of favorable alleles. The use of B73 as tester in a recurrent selection scheme would be the most efficient strategy, since both mentioned landraces crossed to B73, showed the highest yield and quality values. Additionally, evalu- ated traits were mainly controlled by additive effects, so it is expected to obtain a positive response by selection