Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of sprouting and salt stress on polyphenol composition and antiradical activity of einkorn, emmer and durum wheat

Germination is related with improvements of nutritional value of seeds, since it promotes accumulation of health-promoting phytochemicals. However, only few studies have investigated on phytochemicals accumulation during sprouting under sub-optimal conditions. Thus, we investigated the effect of salinity during germination of an einkorn (TMoM), an emmer (TDiZ) and a durum wheat (TDuC) genotype on the total polyphenols (TPC), free- and bound-phenolic acids [PAs; i.e. caffeic acid, syringic acid, Pcoumaric acid, trans -ferulic acid, and salicylic acid] contents and antiradical activity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity; TEAC) of sprouts and wheatgrass. The following NaCl treatments were applied: 0 (control), 25, 50 and 100 mM NaCl concentration throughout the whole experiment, or 50 and 100 mM NaCl until sprout stage and then 0 mM until wheatgrass stage (recovery treatments). TMoM showed higher total bound-PAs both in sprouts and wheatgrass with respect to the other Triticum genotypes (+25% and 24%, respectively) as well as of total bound-PAs and bound-SA in the recovery treatments. Moderate salt stress significantly increased all the investigated variables in TDiZ. Salt stress induced higher TPC and TEAC as well as total free-PAs values till 50 mM NaCl in TDuC, whilst significantly lowered total bound-PAs due to the negative variation of both P-CA (-84%) and trans -FA (-81%) acids. Results indicate that salinity during germination could be efficiently modulated to improve the nutritional quality of sprouts, wheatgrass and cereal-based products.
Genetic Diversity Analysis in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench) Genotypes for Productivity and Quality Traits

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] commonly known as lady’s finger is a perennial flowering plant belonging to family Malvaceae. It is extensively grown in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the world, including Indian sub-continent and East Asia (Rashid, 1990). Nutritious okra fruit plays an important role to meet the demand of vegetables in the country. India is the largest producer of okra in the world with an annual production of 63.46 lakh tonnes from an area of 6.59 lakh hectares with a productivity of 11.9 tonnes per hectare (Anon., 2015a). Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Assam are the major okra growing states. In Karnataka, okra occupies an area of 8,286 hectares with an annual production of 68,252 tonnes and an average productivity of 8.23 tonnes per hectare (Anon., 2015b). Okra has a tremendous export potential as fresh vegetable, which accounts for 60 per cent of the fresh vegetables exported from India.
Social perspectives on the use of reference conditions in restoration of fire‐adapted forest landscapes

As approaches to ecological restoration become increasingly large scale and collaborative, there is a need to better understand social aspects of restoration and how they influence land management. In this article, we examine social perspectives that influence the determination of ecological reference conditions in restoration. Our analysis is based on in‐depth interviews with diverse stakeholders involved in collaborative restoration of fire‐adapted forest landscapes. We conducted interviews with 86 respondents from six forest collaboratives that are part of the U.S. Forest Service's Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. Collaboratives use a variety of approaches to develop reference conditions, including historic, contemporary, and future scenarios. Historical conditions prior to European settlement (nineteenth century or “pre‐settlement” conditions), or prior to more recent grazing, logging, and exclusion of fire, were the predominant type of reference used in all sites. Stakeholders described benefits and limitations of reference conditions. Primary benefits include (1) providing a science‐based framework for bringing stakeholders together around a common vision; (2) gaining social understanding and acceptance of the underlying need for restoration; and (3) serving to neutralize otherwise value‐laden discussions about multiple, sometimes competing, resource objectives. Limitations stem from (1) concerns over social conflict when reference conditions are perceived to contradict other stakeholder values and interests, (2) differing interpretations of reference condition science, (3) inappropriate application or over‐generalization of reference information, and (4) limited relevance of historical references for current and future conditions in some ecosystems. At the same time, collaboratives are adopting innovative strategies to address conceptual and methodological limitations of reference conditions.
Molecular Detection of Some Virulence Traits Among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates, Hilla-Iraq

Published by Oriental Scientific Publishing Company © 2018 This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted Non Commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Molecular Detection of Some Virulence Traits among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates, Hilla-Iraq
Pisanosaurus mertii and the Triassic ornithischian crisis: could phylogeny offer a solution?

Abstract Two recent studies have independently recovered Pisanosaurus mertii – long thought to represent the oldest known member of Ornithischia – within Silesauridae. These finds are expanded upon here, as are the implications of this hypothesis. Based upon these finds, it now appears that Ornithischia was absent in the Triassic Period entirely, which constitutes a major incongruence between the fossil record and current phylogenetic hypotheses, particularly the traditional model of dinosaur interrelationships in which Ornithischia and Saurischia are sister-taxa. It has been suggested previously that Ornithischia was simply a rare component of Late Triassic faunas, or that perhaps the clade’s ecology or geographic distribution were not conducive to producing a fossil record. Here I propose that phylogeny could hold the solution to this problem. I examine how an alternative position for Ornithischia – nested either within Theropoda or Sauropodomorpha – could be the reason behind their later appearance and relative rarity in the Early Jurassic. An Early Jurassic origin of Ornithischia would force us to consider that the anatomical similarities between ornithischians and Early Jurassic taxa might not be convergences, and to broaden the current datasets of early dinosaurs to test these ideas.
Fish egg predation by Baltic sprat and herring: do species characteristics and development stage matter?

Predation of eggs by clupeids has been identified as a major factor contributing to early life stage mortality of Baltic cod (Gadus morhua). We used data from ichthyoplankton sampling and clupeid stomach analyses to investigate whether eggs of other fish species are to a similar extent subject to predation and how predation pressure differs between egg development stages. Cod, sprat (Sprattus sprattus), and rockling (Enchelyopus cimbrius) eggs dominated in the ichthyoplankton fraction in herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat diet, whereas flounder (Platichthys flesus) and dab (Limanda limanda) eggs occurred only occasionally. In spring, cod eggs at advanced development stages were positively selected and sprat eggs generally negatively selected by both predators, while fish eggs were nonselectively consumed in summer. Predation is suggested to account for a large fraction of mortality of cod eggs at older stages, i.e., those eggs that have survived the often detrimentally low oxygen concentration in and below the permanent halocline. The consumption rates of sprat eggs at all development stages relative to production rates were considerably lower compared with cod eggs, suggesting that egg predation is of lesser importance for sprat recruitment.
Ecosystem C and N dynamics affected by a modified spring barley trait with increased nitrogen use - a simulation case study

ABSTRACT To what extent might a crop with increased plant N uptake efficiency and/or N demand increase plant biomass and soil carbon storage, decrease N leaching, and reduce the need for N fertilisation? This was assessed for a fertilised sandy loam site in central Sweden cultivated with spring barley for a four year period using a process based crop and soil simulation model (SOILN) calibrated to fit observations of field experiments with non-modified crops. Crop properties were changed in accordance with previous model applications to other crops with higher N uptake and utilisation efficiencies, to resemble potential effects of breeding. For the modified crops a doubling of daily uptake efficiency of soil mineral N and/or increase of radiation use efficiency by 30%, increased plant biomass by 3%–30%, decreased N leaching by 1%–30% and increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 1–12 g C m−2 year−1. The larger changes were mainly due to increased uptake efficiency. Fertilisation of the modified spring barley crop could be reduced while still producing the same plant biomass as the non-modified crop. The plant biomass to N leaching ratio of the modified crops increased. The simulated changes in plant biomass and SOC were sensitive to weather conditions suggesting that in situ experiments would need to cover a large range of weather conditions to evaluate the performance of new crop traits under climatic variability. The study suggests a strong need that field experiments are accompanied with model applications, when exploring the potential of the modified crops under variable conditions.
Isolation and Characterization of a Parasitic Nematode, Oscheius myriophila (Nematoda: Rhabditida), Associated with European Mole Cricket, Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’de Karadeniz Bölgesi’nden toplanan Avrupa danaburnu (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa L., Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) populasyonundan bir nematod suşu izole edildi. Suş, morfometrik ve moleküler (ITS kısmi sekansı) özelliklerine göre Oscheius myriophila olarak tanımlandı. Dauer jüvenillerin bu türleri Rhabditis myriophila (Poinar, 1986)’ya benzemekle birlikte, O. myriophila sahip olduğu; vücut uzunluğu (571.3693.9) ve baştan sinir halkasına olan uzunluk (100-116.8), ve küçük kuyruk uzunluğu (53.4-76.8) ve anüs genişliği (10.4-13.8) özellikleriyle farklıdır. Bu evre, nematodu bir kılıf gibi kuşatan ikinci evre kütikül içinde bulunan üçüncü evre jüvenildir. rDNA’nın ITS bölgesinin sıraları bu tanımlamayı doğruladı. Bu tür G. gryllotalpa’da ilk kez kaydedildi.
PRODUÇÃO DE MUDAS DE Enterolobium contortisiliquum E PARTIÇÃO DE ASSIMILADOS EM RESPOSTA À ADUBAÇÃO FOSFATADA E INOCULAÇÃO COM FUNGOS MICORRÍZICOS

This study aimed to evaluate the production of Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong seedlings and assimilate partitioning under different levels of phosphorus, in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in a 5x2 factorial design, with four replications represented by three plants each. The first factor consisted of P levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg.Kg soil -1 ), using superphosphate fertilizer (P 2 O 5 ) as the phosphorus source. The second factor consisted of the presence or absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. At 98 days after sowing (DAS), plants were evaluated by non-destructive assessments of shoot height (APA), leaf number (NF) and stem diameter (DC). Then, chlorophyll content index (ICC), leaf dry matter (MSF), stem dry matter (MSC), shoot dry matter (MSPA) and root dry matter (MSR) analyses were conducted. Leaf area (AF), leaf weight ratio (RPF), specific leaf area (AFE), Dickson quality index (IQD) and shoot/root dry matter ratio (MSPA/R) were also determined. The P level of 100 mg.Kg -1 proved to be the most efficient one for the production of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings in Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte state, with no benefits in the use of mycorrhizal fungi until 98 DAS, promoting photoassimilate distribution between the organs of young seedlings favorable to the establishment in the field.
Comparison of Three Surgical Treatment Methods in Acute Septic Arthritis of the Knee in Adults

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare patients with acute septic arthritis of the knee treated using arthroscopic method as well as 2 forms of arthrotomy. Materials and Methods: Adult patients with the diagnosis of acute septic arthritis treated at our hospital with arthroscopy, conventional arthrotomy or mini arthrotomy between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical findings, laboratory results, hospitalization time and functional outcomes were evaluated and compared. Results: Thirty-three patients were included into the present study, on whom, arthroscopic method (n= 13; 39.3%), mini-arthrotomy (n= 9; 27.2%), and conventional arthrotomy (n= 11; 33.3%) were performed. Seven of our patients required secondary surgical intervention, and our therapeutic success rate was 78%. Median hospitalization duration was 18 days (range: 7-45 days) in the arthroscopic intervention group, 16 days (range: 9-32 days) in the mini-arthrotomy group, and 11 days (range: 7-23 days) in the conventional arthrotomy group without any significant difference. Range of motion of the knee joint at the latest follow-up was similar in all groups (p= 0.736). Conclusion: According to our results all 3 methods can be applied in treatment.
Development of the parasitoid Bracon brevicornis on different larval instars (L2-L5) of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella

Το Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) eίναι ένα αγeλαίο παρασιτοeιδές που προσβάλλeι μια ποικιλία σημαντικών λeπιδόπτeρων eντόμων των αποθηκeυμένων προϊόντων. Ο σκοπός αυτής της μeλέτης ήταν να καθοριστeί eάν τα διαφορeτικά προνυμφικά στάδια του Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eπηρeάζουν τη προνυμφική ανάπτυξη, τη μακροζωία και τη γονιμότητα του παρασιτοeιδούς Β. brevicornis . Οι παράμeτροι που μeτρήθηκαν eίναι η ικανότητα παρασιτισμού, η ωοτοκία, η προνυμφική ανάπτυξη, ο μέσος αριθμός των απογόνων καθώς και η διάρκeια ανάπτυξης του παρασιτοeιδούς B. brevicornis , σe διαφορeτικά προνυμφικά στάδια/ηλικίeς του ξeνιστή του. Τα αποτeλέσματα μας έδeιξαν ότι παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές μeταξύ των προνυμφικών σταδίων του P. interpunctella σe ότι αφορά, την ικανότητα παρασιτισμού την ωοτοκία, την προνυμφική ανάπτυξη και το μέσο αριθμό των απογόνων του. Συγκeκριμένα στο στάδιο L2 του P. interpunctella δeν ήταν δυνατή η ωοτοκία και η ανάπτυξη του παρασιτοeιδούς. Στο στάδιο L3, eνώ παρατηρήθηκe μια μικρή ωοτοκία δeν παρατηρήθηκe πeραιτέρω ανάπτυξη του B. brevicornis . Σe ότι αφορά την ανάπτυξη του παρασιτοeιδούς παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές μeταξύ του L4 και L5 του P. interpunctella . Σχeτικά μe τη διάρκeια ανάπτυξης του παρασιτοeιδούς, και στα δύο προνυμφικά στάδια δeν υπήρχαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές. Ο συνολικός χρόνος από αυγό έως eνήλικο ήταν 11,45 ημέρeς, στο στάδιο L4 και 11,92 ημέρeς, στο στάδιο L5. Όσον αφορά τη μέση διάρκeια ζωής των eνηλίκων F1 ήταν 16,70 και 28,70 για τα θηλυκά και 11,00 και 17,60 για τα αρσeνικά των σταδίων L4 και L5 αντίστοιχα. Συμπeρασματικά το στάδιο L5, φαίνeται να eίναι το πλέον κατάλληλο στάδιο για την μαζική eκτροφή του B. brevicornis , το οποίο μπορeί να χρησιμοποιηθeί στο πλαίσιο της βιολογικής αντιμeτώπισης eχθρών αποθηκeυμένων προϊόντων, όπως eίναι το P. interpunctella .
Root Development of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Observed with Minirhizotrons in Lysimeters

Knowledge of root growth patterns is relevant for agronomic management practices. The growth of maize roots (Zea mays L.) was studied by means of minirhizotrons in lysimeters. Ten minirhizotrons (60-mm outer diameter) were placed horizontally at soil depths between 5 and 100 cm, perpendicular to the maize row. The root density (roots cm -2 ) on images (2.43 cm 2 ) was observed at weekly intervals. During the growing season, the root density increased to a maximum and then decreased, a pattern observed in 3 yr and at all depths and positions relative to the plant row. Growing degree days, compared with chronological time, did not improve the description of temporal root growth patterns. Maximum root density did not occur at the same time as pollen shed, in contrast to maximum leaf area. At shallow depths, the maximum root density was observed at the same time as pollen shed, while at a depth of 100 cm, the maximum root density occurred 2 wk after pollen shed. The maximum root density was observed about 10 d after pollen shed at most positions relative to the plant row. In conclusion, the maximum root density and hence resource uptake capacity of the root system was reached with some delay in relation to the vegetative development of the crop.
Antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles with and without different antimicrobial agents against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans

Introduction: The aim of this ex vivo study was to check the antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles with and without different antimicrobials against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and fifty two freshly extracted single-rooted human teeth were contaminated with E. faecalis and C. albicans. The teeth were randomly divided into five experimental (n = 21) and one control group (n = 21). Each subgroup was then exposed to different antimicrobials, namely calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) (Group 1), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) (Group 2), silver nanoparticles (SNP) (Group 3), SNP with Ca(OH)2 (Group 4), SNP with 2% CHX (Group 5), and saline as control group (Group 6). Cultures were made from each group after 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days, and colony forming units were counted. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the study parameters among the groups at 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days. Results: Significant difference was found in the antimicrobial efficacy of different intracanal medicaments against E. faecalis and C. albicans after 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days. 2% CHX was found to be the most effective medicament at 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days against E. faecalis and C. albicans. Combination of SNP with 2% CHX and Ca(OH)2 and SNP alone ranked second in their antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and C. albicans at 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days, respectively. Conclusion: 2% CHX was more effective as intracanal medicament against E. faecalis and C. albicans biofilm in both short as well as long-term duration, i.e., at 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days.
The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species?

The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial since its initial description in 1792. Since that time it has been referred to by various names including Canis dingo , Canis lupus dingo , Canis familiaris and Canis familiaris dingo . Of these names C . l . dingo and C . f . dingo have been most often used, but it has recently been proposed that the Australian Dingo should be once again recognized as a full species— Canis dingo . There is an urgent need to address the instability of the names referring to the Dingo because of the consequences for management and policy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the morphological, genetic, ecological and biological data to determine the taxonomic relationships of the Dingo with the aim of confirming the correct scientific name. The recent proposal for Canis dingo as the most appropriate name is not sustainable under zoological nomenclature protocols nor based on the genetic and morphological evidence. Instead we proffer the name C . familiaris for all free-ranging dogs, regardless of breed and location throughout the world, including the Australian Dingo. The suggested nomenclature also provides a framework for managing free-ranging dogs including Dingoes, under Australian legislation and policy. The broad principles of nomenclature we discuss here apply to all free-roaming dogs that coexist with their hybrids, including the New Guinea Singing Dog.
Phytochemical screening of medicinal plants occurring in local area of Assam

Medicinal plants have bioactive compounds known as phytochemicals that play an important role in curing and healing of various diseases in human. These phytochemicals have antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammation activities. The present study involves three different medicinal plants Artocarpus heterophyllus (Kathal), Carica papaya (Papaya) and Terminalia bellerica (Bhumura) locally available in Assam, India. The methanolic extract of leaf samples were used for the phytochemical screening to find out the phytochemical constituents in the plants. The main objective of the research work was to check the presence or absence of the phytochemical constituents in all the selected medicinal plants. The results of the phytochemical screening of these medicinal plants showed that the tannin, saponin, flavonoid, terpenoid, alkaloid, steroid, glycosides and protein e were found to be present in afore mentioned medicinal plants. Commercially, the phytochemical analysis is important for the pharmaceutical companies for the production of the new drugs for curing of various diseases. The study revealed that the three indigenous medicinal plants are the source of important phytochemicals which will be very useful in the curing of various diseases of this region.
Reaction of sweet potato genotypes to sweet potato weevils (Cylas puncticollis (boheman) and Alcidodes dentipes (olivier), coleoptera: curculionidae) and viruses in Eastern Hararge, Oromiya, Ethiopia

Nineteen sweet potato genotypes were screened for tolerance against sweet potato weevils and viruses at different locations of Eastern Hararge. Disease incidence and weevil population was assessed using standard procedures. Results of this study revealed that sweet potato weevils (SPW) and sweet potato virus diseases (SPVD) were present in studied area varied among sweet potato genotypes. Genotypes; Awassa-83, Bekale-A, Bekale-B, CN-1752-9, Cuba-2, Korojo, TIS-70357-5 and TIS-9465-2 had least load of SPW while, Bekale-A, TIS-8250-7 and TIS-9465-2 genotypes were free of virus diseases. Genotypes showing resistance to sweet potato can be used in varietal improvement program. The present studies concluded that the resistant sweet potato genotypes identified for SPW and SPVD could be utilized in integrated sweet potato production for the locations where the pests are major production bottleneck, like in Eastern Hararge. Key words: Resistant, tolerance, Integrated pest management (IPM), sweet potato viruses, Oromiya, Hararge.
Inoculation of Pinus taeda Seedlings with Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens on the growth of Pinus taeda seedlings. Bacterial inoculants were applied in two different forms: at sowing and 20 days after emergence. At 30, 60 and 90 days after emergence, we evaluated plant height and root-colar diameter. At 180 days after emergence, we also measured shoot and root dry weight. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and means were ranked by Duncan’s test. The most pronounced results were observed for root and shoot biomass when plants were inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Bacillus subtilis increased root and shoot biomass by 67.1% and 33.1%, respectively, when comparing values with those of non-inoculated plants. On the other hand, inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens decreased root biomass up to 31.42%. Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense did not promote any difference in Pinus taeda seedling growth and may not be an efficient alternative for inoculation practices. According to these results, inoculation of Pinus taeda seedlings with Bacillus subtilis has great potential to improve plant growth regarding adaptation to field conditions.