Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SEED GERMINATION RESPONSE OF RAUVOLFIA SERPENTINA BENTH. TO CERTAIN PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Although Rauvolfia serpentine Benth. can be propagated by both seeds and vegetative propagules, growth of plant and root yield are better in those raised from seeds (Badhwar et al. 1956). But germination of seeds is much lower (Nayar 1956, Dutta et al. 1962). Moreover, collection of seeds from wild sources is both laborious and costly, inasmuch as the plants grow sporadically and the seeds ripen a few at a time. If the ripe seeds are not collected in time, they drop off to the ground and are lost. For these reasons seeds are not easily available from wild sources. Therefore, in the present investigation attempts have been made to improve the germination percentage of seeds of R. serpentina.
TÉCNICA DE INOCULACIÓN RÁPIDA Y EFICIENTE PARA LA EVALUACIÓN DE MATERIALES DE MAÍZ ANTE Rhizoctonia solani Kühn

Efficient and fast inoculation technique for evaluation of maize germoplasms for resistance to Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn In search of resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in maize germplasms, it is necessary to make inoculation tests to determine its behavior. Inoculation techniques that provide fast, effective, and reliable responses in the manifestation of the disease and also of easy and practical application to a wide population of plants and genetic materials are required. Tests were conducted at Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Posgrado de Agronomia in Tarabana, Lara State, Venezuela and in the facilities of DANAC Foundation in San Javier, Yaracuy State, utilizing maize plants, grown under nursery conditions. The following eight techniques were tested: seed inoculation, sowing in soil inoculated with one of three options (infected maize leaves, infected rice grains or esclerotia), and application on 15-day old maize plants of one of four options (esclerotia, micelia, infected mayze leaves or infected rice grains). R. solani stock was isolated from the locality of El Playon in Portuguesa State. The most practical and reliable technique was the use of infected rice grains at the time of sowing (incidence 100 %), although the use of R. solani esclerotia also was efficient, but less practical its application; the inoculation to the maize seed was efficient, but it showed minor size of the lesions. In foliage inoculation, the treatment with more incidences in plants (100 %) also was the one of infected rice grains. The application of micelia alone produced a fast response and large size of lesions (9.43 cm). The more reliable and feasible technique for R. solani inoculation in 15 days old maize plants, by its facility of application and inocula multiplication, as constituted by the use of rice grains infected with the pathogen. Additional key words: Germplasm, banded leaf spot, disease resistance
The Dynamics of Multiple Infection and the Evolution of Virulence

While for pathogen clones singly occupying a host it may pay to adopt a relatively avirulent host exploitation strategy, clones sharing a host have a conflict of interest that favors more virulent strategies. As the number of infections per host depends on the force of infection and the force of infection, in turn, depends on prevailing virulence, evolutionary analysis needs to be integrated with population dynamics. A full-fledged approach requires exceedingly large capacities for bookkeeping of the infection events and is therefore difficult to establish. In this article the host-pathogen interaction is studied for the simple case in which hosts may become at most doubly infected. It appears that evolution and population dynamics give rise to a feedback mechanism. When double infections are frequent, increased virulence is favored; but when pathogens become more virulent, the force of infection will decrease, favoring lower virulence again. Thus, evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) virulence depends on the interaction within hosts as well as on the interaction at the population level. As current models of host-microparasite interactions take only first infections into account, they may be inappropriate for evolutionary analyses, which would require modeling of within-host competition between strains and thus of multiple infections.
Biological activity of Streptomyces noursei against ochratoxin A producing Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger isolated from some common medicinal and herbal plants used in Egypt, was found to be producer for ochratoxin A. This research investigate the biological control of ochratoxin A production by A. niger, using some bacterial isolates belonging to true bacteria (Bacillus pumilus), Lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus plantarum) and Actinomycete isolates numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, that proved variable antagonistic activity against A. niger. The Actinomycete isolate number 3 was the most effective and identified as Streptomyces noursei. The optimal conditions for antifungal production by S. noursei were performed on starch nitrate medium at pH 7 after 7 days of growth at 30°C. The active antifungal substance(s) were separated, semi purified and characterized as a protein substance. The semi purified substance inhibited spores formation, thinned the conidiophores and deformed both strigmata and conidial heads.
Patterns of Nesting Migrations in the Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), A Colonially Nesting Island Reptile

Abstract: The costs of nesting to female animals can be substantial, and may dictate patterns of nest-site choice. In particular, females that travel longer distances to nest likely incur greater energetic costs and may be at greater risk of losing territories to conspecific competitors. We examined patterns of nesting migrations for a population of Tuatara on Stephens Island, New Zealand, over 5 yr. We found that only about 7% of female Tuatara observed nesting in a rookery also lived in that rookery. Of 140 females for which we had both residence and nesting locations, 42% traveled to a nesting rookery from their residential area. The average distance traveled by these females was 84 m, and travel was directed toward the rookery closest to a female's residence area. Our results demonstrate that female Tuatara on Stephens Island minimize the distance traveled on nesting migrations. We suggest that the patterns in nesting travel we observed in this population may be due to natal philopatry of nesting females, or to females minimizing the costs of nesting-related travel.
The role of PML proteins in adenovirus type 5 infection and the type I interferon response.

Promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) proteins consist of a collection of related isoforms that are the nucleating components of sub-nuclear structures termed PML nuclear bodies (PML NBs). Numerous functions are attributed to PML and PML NBs, including a role in antiviral responses. Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) has previously been shown both to disrupt PML NBs and to cause the appearance of a novel PML protein species, termed PML-A, in a manner dependent on the viral E4 Orf3 protein. Here, the interactions between Ad5 and PML proteins were further investigated. The E4 Orf3-dependent species of PML (PML-A) was found to be related to the full-length PML II isoform. In addition, two previously unknown infection-specific species of PML were detected (PML-B and PML-C). Both PML-B and PML-C were produced independently of Ad5 E4 Orf3, though their appearance required viral DNA replication. PML-C was found to be localised within the cytoplasm of infected cells and to be related to PML I. To test the hypothesis that these changes in PML were related to virus effects on antiviral responses, the roles of individual PML proteins in type I interferon (IFN) signalling were investigated. Depletion of PML II by siRNA resulted in a 50% decrease in activity of an IFNβ promoter reporter plasmid during stimulation by poly (I:C). Exogenous expression of a ΔRBCC truncated mutant, but not full-length, PML II resulted in enhanced IFNβ promoter activity, suggesting a role of a PML II-related species in type I IFN signalling. Moreover, expression of the Ad5 E4 Orf3 protein was sufficient to inhibit the activity of the IFNβ promoter, an activity that correlated with Orf3’s ability to bind PML II. Collectively, these data indicate that a PML II-related molecule is involved in the interferon response and that the E4 Orf3- PML II interaction may therefore facilitate Ad5 in mitigating this activity.
Predator threat assessment in Daphnia magna: the role of kairomones versus conspecific alarm cues

Studying the finely tuned mechanism of predation risk assessment allows for a better understanding of how prey organisms make key decisions under different levels of predation pressure. We studied the relative importance of conspecific alarm cues and fish kairomones as initiators of D. magna antipredator defences. By exposing a clone of D. magna to different infochemicals that simulated the presence of an active fish predator, we observed cue-specific responses in terms of altered feeding behaviour, respiration and life-history traits. Results agreed with the hypothesis that D. magna processes information from alarm cues from macerated conspecifics and from predator kairomones to assess the level of predation risk, adjusting the magnitude of their responses to the different levels of threat perceived. Results support the findings of other investigations and further show that single cues (fish kairomones or alarm cues) triggered feeding reduction and increased oxygen consumption, whereas fish kairomones only elicited D. magna life-history responses. Prey-specific alarm cues can thus modify the response of Daphnia to trout kairomones and this combination of both chemical cues appears to be necessary to trigger the full deployment of antipredator responses and avoid unnecessary costs arising from maladaptive responses.
Likelihood of Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines) Reproduction on Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) Roots in Nebraska

Abstract Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a major soybean yield–limiting disease in the United States. Henbit, a winter annual species common to no-till fields in the midwestern United States, is known to act as an alternative host for SCN. A simulation was performed to estimate how likely SCN was to reproduce on henbit roots during a 30-yr period in two important soybean production areas of Nebraska. Simulations were conducted using published information on henbit seedling emergence, SCN reproduction on henbit roots, and SCN response to soil temperature. Results indicate that SCN would be able to complete one generation on henbit roots under Nebraska conditions. The SCN reproductive cycle was not likely to be completed before the winter in south central Nebraska, but one SCN generation was predicted to be completed in the fall in 2 out of 30 simulation years (7% likelihood) in southeast Nebraska. Based on our predictions, to reduce the chances of SCN population build-up in the absence of its main host (soybean), weed management in fields infested with both henbit and SCN should be completed after crop harvest in the fall when most henbit seedlings have emerged and are growing but the SCN developing on henbit roots have not yet achieved full maturity in Nebraska. Nomenclature: Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule L. LAMAM; soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe. Resumen El nematodo cístico de la soja (SCN) es la enfermedad que más limita el rendimiento de la soja en los Estados Unidos. Lamium amplexicaule es una especie anual de invierno común en campos con labranza cero, y que se conoce que actúa como hospedero alternativo de SCN. Se realizó una simulación para estimar qué tan probable fue la reproducción de SCN en raíces de L. amplexicaule durante un período de 30 años en dos áreas importantes de soja en Nebraska. Las simulaciones se realizaron usando información publicada acerca de la emergencia de plántulas de L. amplexicaule, reproducción de SCN en raíces de L. amplexicaule, y la respuesta de SCN a la temperatura del suelo. Los resultados indican que SCN podría ser capaz de completar una generación en raíces de L. amplexicaule en las condiciones de Nebraska. No fue probable que el ciclo reproductivo de SCN se completara antes del invierno en el sur-central de Nebraska, pero se predijo que se completaría una generación de SCN en el otoño en 2 de los 30 años de simulación (7% de probabilidad) en el sureste de Nebraska. Con base en nuestras predicciones, para reducir las oportunidades de aumentos en las poblaciones de SCN en ausencia de su hospedero principal (soja) en Nebraska, el manejo de malezas en campos infestados con L. amplexicaule y SCN debe ser completado después de la cosecha del cultivo en el otoño, cuando las plántulas de L. amplexicaule han emergido y están creciendo, pero el SCN que está desarrollándose en raíces de L. amplexicaule no ha alcanzado la madurez.
Ion Channels of Glucose-Responsive and -Unresponsive β-cells

To assess whether different electrophysiological characteristics could account for the heterogeneous secretion of individual β-cells in vitro, we used patch-clamp configurations to study currents in plaque-forming (insulin-secreting) and non–plaque-forming rat pancreatic β-cells that were distinguished in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA) after a 30-min stimulation by 16.7 mM glucose. RHPA showed that the population of single β-cells under study was stimulated (P < 0.01–0.001) to secrete insulin by 16.7 mM glucose, 100 μM tolbutamide, 20 μM glyburide, or 30 mM KCl but, under these conditions, also comprised β-cells that did not secrete detectable amounts of insulin. Under current clamp conditions, secreting and nonsecreting β-cells showed analogous resting membrane potentials (∼60 mV) and were similarly depolarized by 30 mm KCl and 100 μM tolbutamide. Under voltage-clamp conditions, total membrane conductance (∼6 nS) was also similar in the glucose-responsive and -unresponsive β-cells, which, when monitored in the whole-cell configuration after RHPA, showed the following currents: a voltage-dependent Na+ current, a voltage-activated Ba2+ current, a voltage-dependent K+ delayed-rectifier current, a voltage-dependent Ca2+-activated K+ current, and a voltage-independent and tolbutamide-sensitive K+ current. In the cell-attached configuration and the presence of 2.8 mM glucose, secreting and nonsecreting β-cells displayed a similar single-channel activity that was abolished when glucose concentration was raised to 16.7 mM. We conclude that β-cells studied after RHPA have an electrically normal membrane whether they release insulin in response to 16.7 mM glucose or not.
Bacteriophage-lysis of Streptococcus diacetilactis and its effect on biacetyl production in mixed-strain starter cultures.

Summary Bacteriophages specific for Streptococcus diacetilactis were isolated from cottage cheese whey sampled in several commercial dairy plants. Electron microscopy of one of the bacteriophages revealed that it was tadpole-shaped with an over-all length of about 180 mµ; growth studies indicated the virus had a latent period of 30 to 33min. and an average burst size of 44. Assays revealed that S. diacetilactis produced an average of five times more biacetyl in single-strain milk culture than other bacteria commonly used in controlled dairy fermentations. This aroma-producing organism was combined with one or more strains of Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus cremoris, and Leuconostoc organisms in the presence and absence of homologous phages for S. diacetilactis . Selective phage-lysis resulted, with consequent marked reduction in biacetyl synthesis, but no effect on the rate of acid production. It is suggested that selective bacteriophage-lysis of S. diacetilactis organisms may occur under commercial conditions. This might account for some instances of variation in flavor and aroma of cultured dairy products.
Occurrence of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in local rice fields of Orissa, India.

Cyanobacterial diversity occurring in some local rice fields of Orissa, India has been studied in two different seasons and influence of pH, organic carbon (%) and conductivity were correlated on their population. At different locations and seasons the pH of the soil varies from 6.30±0.20 to 6.66±0.305. Conductivity and organic carbon (%) varies from 0.6±0.10 to 0.76±0.152 and 0.56±0.045 to 0.70±0.025 respectively. Altogether 58 taxa belonging to 20 genera were obtained and characterized. Out of these 19 forms were heterocystous and 39 were non-heterocystous. Highest abundance of cyanobacteria was found in order Nostocales which was represented by 15 species. Among the species relative abundance of Oscillatoria chalybea (9.90%) was found to be highest followed by Phormidium purpurascens (8.49%), Cylindrospermum muscicola and Oscillatoria chlorina (8.01%). Highest Shannon's diversity index was recorded in sampling site 1, followed by site 2. Comparatively the diversity index was more during winter than in summer in all the study sites. Highest similarity index (0.174) was found in summer-summer isolates of site 1 and 3. Among the environmental variables (i.e., soil pH, organic carbon (%), conductivity) highly positive correlation was observed between cyanobacterial population and soil pH (r ≥ 9) in all the three sampling sites. The study indicates ubiquitous distribution of cyanobacteria in rice fields and could be exploited for biofertilizer in agriculture. Key words: Cyanobacteria; Rice fields; Abundance; Diversity index; Environmental variables DOI: 10.3126/eco.v17i0. 4120 Ecoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 17, 2010 Page: 77-85 Uploaded date: 3 January, 2011
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: The Dragon Awakens

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be derived from many mouse and human somatic cell types by forced expression of a small number of defined reprogramming factors. This technology holds great promue for patient-specific cell therapy. However, the current technology for generating pluripotent cells by gene transduction is impractical for producing a clinically reliable stem-cell source. As a research tool, iPSC technology would undoubtedly stimulate the development of human disease research and provide an unprecedented opportunity for tumor research. This review presents the biological features of iPSCs by comparing them with embryonic stem cells, and we discuss several key issues around the production of clinically reliable iPSCs by summarizing the research to date. Finally, we explore how iPSC technology could be extensively applied in human disease research, including research on tumors.
Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Its Type I Receptor in Luteal Regression: Induction of Programmed Cell Death in Bovine Corpus Luteum-Derived Endothelial Cells

Abstract The role of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and its type I receptor (TNFRI) in structural luteolysis was investigated. A semiquatitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to characterize the pattern of TNFRI mRNA expression within the corpus luteum (CL) throughout the estrous cycle and its cellular distribution. Increase in TNFRI mRNA levels was recorded both in regressed luteal tissue and in CL of cows injected with prostaglandin F2α. All three major cell types composing the CL, steroidogenic (large and small) and endothelial cells expressed the TNFRI gene. A densitometric analysis of TNFRI mRNA expression revealed that resident endothelial cells had significantly higher levels of TNFRI mRNA than steroidogenic luteal cells. The physiological effects associated with TNFRI expression were investigated in the various luteal cell types. TNFα-induced programmed cell death (PCD) in dose- and time-dependent manners of cultured luteal endothelial cells (LECs) but not of in vitro luteinized steroidogenic cells. Several lines of evidence are provided to show that progesterone regulates luteal cell survival: 1) CL and LECs express progesterone receptor mRNA, 2) physiological levels of the steroid abolished TNFα-induced PCD of LECs, and 3) progesterone-producing cells are protected from PCD. In conclusion, this study suggests that TNFα-induced PCD during structural luteolysis is mediated by TNFRI, primarily affects endothelial cells, and that the decline in progesterone, preceding structural luteolysis, is a prerequisite for the initiation of apoptosis in endothelial cells.
External attachment of data storage tags increases probability of being recaptured in nets compared to internal tagging

Sea running Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus and anadromous brown trout (sea trout) Salmo trutta (420-2030 g) tagged with externally attached data storage tags (DST) had a higher total recapture rate (39 of 44, 89%) due to entanglement in bag nets at sea (90% of all recaptures), compared with internally tagged fish (12 of 18, 67%) that were mostly trapped when returning to their home river (75% of all recaptures). The internally tagged fishes therefore spent longer time at sea before recapture (median 33 days) than externally tagged fishes (median 8 days), and more DST-data were collected. Therefore, in areas with high net fishing intensity, external tagging increases the chances of recapture, but less data may then be recorded by the tags due to a generally shorter period of data sampling.
Growth properties of 16 non‐pioneer rain forest tree species differing in sapling architecture

1. Sapling architecture may be an important determinant of performance traits, such as light interception and height growth, but few studies have examined the direct relationship between sapling architecture and growth properties. To study this relationship and the potential for strategic diversification, we analysed the growth properties in saplings of 16 Bornean tree species that differ in architecture.
Recalibrating the Genome-wide Association Null Hypothesis 1 Enables the Detection of Core Genes Underlying Complex 2 Traits

12 Traditional univariate genome-wide association studies generate false positives and negatives due to 13 diﬃculties distinguishing causal variants from “interactive” variants (i.e., variants correlated with causal 14 variants without directly inﬂuencing the trait). Recent eﬀorts have been directed at identifying gene or 15 pathway associations, but these can be computationally costly and hampered by strict model assumptions. 16 Here, we present gene-ε , a new approach for identifying statistical associations between sets of variants 17 and quantitative traits. Our key innovation is a recalibration of the genome-wide null hypothesis to treat 18 small-yet-nonzero associations emitted by interactive variants as non-causal. gene-ε eﬃciently identiﬁes 19 core genes under a variety of simulated genetic architectures, achieving greater than a 90% true positive 20 rate at 1% false positive rate for polygenic traits. Lastly, we apply gene-ε to summary statistics derived 21 from six quantitative traits using European-ancestry individuals in the UK Biobank, and identify genes 22 that are enriched in biological relevant pathways. 23