Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Natural Enemies and Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) Population Dynamics Affect Organic Broccoli Harvest

Abstract The cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) is the primary broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) pest in Monterey County. These aphids’ ability to contaminate a broccoli head has sometimes led to zero-tolerance spray thresholds. To improve on these management practices, aphid arrival time, within-plant colony location, and abundance of natural enemies were tested against infestation of organic broccoli heads at harvest. Cabbage aphids predominately colonized the outer leaves of a broccoli plant. These colonies, however, did not significantly influence infestation at harvest. Center-located aphids were correlated with head infestation for both field seasons, as were aphids on leaf 2 in 2002. Aphid arrival time into a field was strongly correlated with infestation at harvest, with early arriving aphids being less likely to infest a head. This was in part caused by natural enemies, particularly syrphid larvae (Syrphidae), which were in greatest abundance in response to early aphid colonizers. Natural enemies showed a capability to positively affect infestation at harvest, although their success seemed dependent on sufficient early season cabbage aphid arrivals. Therefore, future research efforts should focus on management practices that encourage the early establishment of natural enemies.
Ecological Effectiveness of Agri‐Environment Schemes in Different Agricultural Landscapes in The Netherlands

Abstract: Agri‐environment schemes are an instrument used by western European countries to counteract the negative effects of contemporary agriculture on biodiversity, but not much is known about their effectiveness. We investigated the ecological effects of Dutch agri‐environment schemes aimed at promoting botanical diversity or meadow birds, and we tested whether the effectiveness of the schemes depends on landscape type or structure. In three different types of landscape, we surveyed plants, birds, bees, and hover flies on 78 paired fields that either had agri‐environment schemes or were managed conventionally, and we collected data on a range of different environmental variables. Neither plant species richness nor abundance of meadow birds was higher on fields with agri‐environment schemes. Landscape type had a significant effect on both species groups, but the effects of the schemes were independent of landscape type. Neither the diversity of plants nor the abundance of birds was related to any of the environmental variables. Agri‐environment schemes designed to promote plant species richness or bird abundance did have positive side‐effects because they enhanced the species richness of bees and hover flies, irrespective of the type of landscape. Furthermore, landscape type, groundwater level (hover flies), and area of wooded edges (bees) significantly affected both species groups. The failure of the schemes to promote the target species may be related to the high intensity of land use in The Netherlands. Simple conservation measures taken by farmers may not be sufficient to counteract the impact of factors that are often controlled at the landscape level (e.g., hydrology). Similar studies in other countries are needed to place the results of our study into a European context.
Autocorrelação espacial das freqüências alélicas em subpopulações de cagaiteira (Eugenia dysenterica DC., Myrtaceae) no sudeste de Goiás

Among the many fruit trees from "cerrado" region that show large economic potential in traditional agricultural systems, the "cagaiteira" (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) deserves a special place. In this work, spatial autocorrelation analyses were used to evaluate spatial patterns of genetic variation among ten local populations from southeastern Goias State, Brazil. Six isoenzymatic markers (SKDH, 6-PGD, a-EST, MDH, PGI e PGM) were used to evaluate genetic variability, in a total of eight polymorphic loci. Morans I coefficients were estimated for four geographic distance classes, and correlograms thus obtained showed clinal patterns of variation for most alleles. Simulations of neutral evolution among local populations were performed using the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, both to establish null patterns to test this hypothesis and to define the limits of similarity among correlograms. These analyses showed that population differentiation in this species probably occurred under a neutral process in which local drift is counteracted by low geographic distance gene flow, as in isolation-by-distance or stepping-stone models.
Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties in a Sample of the General Population

The Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, a tool designed to measure the alternative five-factor model of personality, was translated and adapted into the Spanish language. Some psychometric results with students have already been reported, but to date, there appears to be no published data on the psychometric properties of the questionnaire in a general population sample in any culture. The aim of the present study was to provide psychometric properties for a large Spanish community sample with a wide representation of adult age-range, a representative distribution of sexes, and a balanced distribution of education within the sample. Participants volunteered and were selected on a random basis. The questionnaire was administered to 1,000 participants of both sexes (51.4% women) with ages ranging from 18 to 88 years (M = 45.4, SD=18.7). Analysis gave a normal distribution of all scales, good internal consistencies, and discriminant validity. Sex differences were in accord with data from tests measuring similar personality traits. Finally, the original five-component structure was also replicated.
Hexavalent chromium reduction by immobilized cells of Bacillus sphaericus AND 303

ABSTRACT Bacillus sphaericus AND 303, a Cr(VI)-resistant and reducing bacterium reported from serpentine outcrops of Andaman was evaluated for Cr(VI) reduction using immobilized cells under batch culture. Screening of inert matrices for entrapment of whole cells indicated that polyvinyl alchohol-alginate was the most effective one reducing 87.5% of 20 µM Cr(VI) in 24 h. The rate of chromate reduction was dependent on initial Cr(VI) and biomass concentrations. The PVA cell beads were recycled three times without cell leakage and disintegration. The reduction efficiency was improved in the presence of glucose and glycerol as electron donors leading to complete reduction. However, the presence of additional metal ions was inhibitory to Cr(VI) reduction. It could be emphasized that PVA-alginate immobilized cells of B. sphaericus AND 303 could be used as a continuous bioprocess in treating Cr(VI) contaminated effluents. Key words: Bacillus sphaericus ; Immobilized cells; PVA alginate; Cr(VI) reduction: Bioremediation
The effect of urbanisation on avian morphology and latitudinal gradients in body size

Urban areas occupy a large and growing proportion of the earth. Such sites exhibit distinctive characteristics relative to adjacent rural habitats, and many species have colonised and now successfully exploit urban habitats. The change in selection pressures as a result of urbanisation has led to trait divergence in some urban populations relative to their rural counterparts, but studies have generally been local in scale and the generality of differentiation thus remains unknown. The European blackbird Turdus merula is one of the commonest urban bird species in the Western Palearctic, but populations vary substantially in the length of time they have been urbanised. Here we investigate patterns of morphological variation in European blackbirds occupying 11 paired urban and rural habitats across much of the urbanised range of this species and spanning 25 degrees of latitude. First, we assessed the extent to which urban and rural blackbirds are differentiated morphologically and the consistency of any differentiation across the range. Paired urban and rural Blackbird populations frequently exhibited significant morphological differences, but the magnitude and direction of differentiation was site dependent. We then investigated whether the nature of latitudinal gradients in body-size differed between urban and rural populations, as predicted by differences in the climatic regimes of urban and rural areas. Blackbird body-size exhibited strong latitudinal gradients, but their form did not differ significantly between urban and rural habitats. The latitudinal gradient in body size may be a consequence of Seebohm's rule, that more migratory populations occurring at high latitudes have longer wings. We conclude that while there can be substantial morphological variation between adjacent urban and rural bird populations, such differentiation may not apply across a species' range. Locality specific differentiation of urban and rural blackbirds may arise if the selection pressures acting on blackbird morphology vary in an inconsistent manner between urban and rural habitats. Alternatively, phenotypic divergence could arise in a stochastic manner depending on the morphological traits of colonists, through founder effects.
Known-Groups Validity of the Translated Version of Self-Monitoring: A Comparison of Conservatoire Students and University Students

The aim of this study was to test the known-groups validity of the Turkish translation of Snyder's 1974 Self-monitoring Scale by administering a translated version to 151 first-year university students (85 men, 66 women) and 39 first year conservatoire students from the School of Theatre (18 men, 21 women). The mean score of the latter group was higher than the mean for regular university students. The finding was regarded as an indicator of known-groups validity.
Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Amaranth Accessions from South America Using 14 SSR Markers

Amaranth (Amaranthus sp. L.) is an important group of plants that includes grain, vegetable, and ornamental types. Centers of diversity for Amaranths are Central and South America, India, and South East Asia, with secondary centers of diversity in West and East Africa. The present study was performed to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of 75 amaranth accessions: 65 from South America and 10 from South Asia as controls using 14 SSR markers. Ninety-nine alleles were detected at an average of seven alleles per SSR locus. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and 3 admixtures, which was consistent with clustering based on the genetic distance. The average major allele frequency and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 0.42 and 0.39, respectively. According to the model-based structure analysis based on genetic distance, 75 accessions (96%) were classified into two clusters, and only three accessions (4%) were admixtures. Cluster 1 had a higher allele number and PIC values than Cluster 2. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and three admixtures in the 75 accessions. The results of this study provide effective information for future germplasm conservation and improvement programs in Amaranthus.
Effects of human‐mediated pollinator impoverishment on floral traits and mating patterns in a short‐lived herb: an experimental approach

Summary 1. Human-induced impoverishment of pollinator faunas may affect plant–pollinator interactions and limit pollen availability. Under these conditions, chronic outcross pollen limitation is expected to select for floral characters that maintain seed production, including autonomous selfing. 2. In this study, the impact of anthropogenic disturbances of the pollinator environment of the short-lived Centaurium erythraea on mating patterns was investigated. First floral traits and the capacity for autonomous selfing were compared between two contrasting pollinator environments. In addition, transplantation experiments were combined with hand-pollination and emasculation treatments to assess the extent of pollen limitation and the contribution of autonomous selfing to total seed production in these pollinator environments. 3. Under severe pollinator impoverishment, C. erythraea produced fewer and smaller flowers that showed no herkogamy and strongly reduced P/O ratios. The capacity for autonomous selfing was 36·1% higher in these pollinator-limited environments than in more natural, pollinator-rich environments, where plants developed more, larger and markedly herkogamous flowers. 4. When assigned to the pollinator-rich environments, plants from pollinator-limited populations showed significantly higher outcross pollen limitation compared with the original plants. In contrast, plants from pollinator-rich environments assigned to pollinator-poor populations did not experience higher pollinator-mediated seed production and showed lower total seed production than plants originally occurring in these pollinator-limited environments. 5. These results demonstrate that human-induced pollen limitation selects for selfing as a means of reproductive assurance, whereas in the pollinator-rich environments, traits that support outcrossing are favoured.
Evaluation of ecosystem dynamics, plant geography and terrestrial carbon cycling in the LPJ dynamic global vegetation model

The Lund–Potsdam–Jena Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (LPJ) combines process‐based, large‐scale representations of terrestrial vegetation dynamics and land‐atmosphere carbon and water exchanges in a modular framework. Features include feedback through canopy conductance between photosynthesis and transpiration and interactive coupling between these ‘fast’ processes and other ecosystem processes including resource competition, tissue turnover, population dynamics, soil organic matter and litter dynamics and fire disturbance. Ten plants functional types (PFTs) are differentiated by physiological, morphological, phenological, bioclimatic and fire‐response attributes. Resource competition and differential responses to fire between PFTs influence their relative fractional cover from year to year. Photosynthesis, evapotranspiration and soil water dynamics are modelled on a daily time step, while vegetation structure and PFT population densities are updated annually.
Data Analysis and Visualization Using Python: Analyze Data to Create Visualizations for BI Systems

ion of the Series and Data Frame A series is one of the main data structures in Pandas. It differs from lists and dictionaries. An easy way to visualize this is as two columns of data. The first is the special index, a lot like the dictionary keys, while the second is your actual data. You can determine an index for a series, or Chapter
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Activation of TrkB Induces Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression via Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in Neuroblastoma Cells

The extent of angiogenesis and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in neuroblastoma tumors correlates with metastases, N-myc amplification, and poor clinical outcome. Recently, we have shown that insulin-like growth factor-I and serum-derived growth factors stimulate VEGF expression in neuroblastoma cells via induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha). Because another marker of poor prognosis in neuroblastoma tumors is high expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor, TrkB, we sought to evaluate the involvement of BDNF and TrkB in the regulation of VEGF expression. VEGF mRNA levels in neuroblastoma cells cultured in serum-free media increased after 8 to 16 hours in BDNF. BDNF induced increases in VEGF and HIF-1alpha protein, whereas HIF-1beta levels were unaffected. BDNF induced a 2- to 4-fold increase in VEGF promoter activity, which could be abrogated if the hypoxia response element in the VEGF promoter was mutated. Transfection of HIF-1alpha small interfering RNA blocked BDNF-stimulated increases in VEGF promoter activity and VEGF protein expression. The BDNF-stimulated increases in HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression required TrkB tyrosine kinase activity and were completely blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. These data indicate that BDNF plays a role in regulating VEGF levels in neuroblastoma cells and that targeted therapies to BDNF/TrkB, PI3K, mTOR signal transduction pathways, and/or HIF-1alpha have the potential to inhibit VEGF expression and limit neuroblastoma tumor growth.
Efficient direct purification method for high-quality DNA from soil

Successful detection and characterization of microbacterial DNA in the environment require efficient extraction of the DNA from environmental samples and adequate purification from the coextracted contaminants that inhibit PCR. Previously reported methods for direct isolation and purification of DNA from microorganisms in soil have multiple steps, laboratory equipment’s and labour-intensive, and result in loss of extracted material. This has promoted the initiative to develop an efficient, nonselective method for direct DNA extraction from the environment that is required for rapid and thorough analysis of introduced microorganisms in environmental samples and for diversity analysis of microbial community in soil. The newly developed method is based on the combination of hot-detergent treatment and commercial spin columns. Fidelity and effectiveness of the procedure were investigated by identifying several phylogenetic groups representing different components of the soil microbial community. In addition, the use of HotStar Taq DNA polymerase has provided the opportunity for simultaneous detection of a variety of microorganisms in a single tube, using multiplex PCR. The ability to simultaneously extract and amplify DNA from many types of microorganisms using a simple extraction and purification step is desirable for many applications in molecular microbial ecology.
Microsatellite primers for three Western Atlantic Farfantepenaeus prawn species

Microsatellite loci were identified for three closely related penaeid species, Farfantepenaeus subtilis, F. paulensis and F. sp. , from genomic libraries enriched for CA repeats. Seven out of nine highly polymorphic loci detected were amplified across all three species. Between four and 64 alleles were recorded per locus (average = 36). The average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.094 to 0.897 (mean = 0.613), while the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.091 to 0.985 (mean = 0.822).
The effect of dietary molybdenum and iron on copper status and growth in cattle

Summary The effects of supplementation of a barley-barley straw diet containing 4 mg copper (Cu)/kg dry matter (D.M.) either with 5 mg molybdenum (Mo)/kg D.M. or with 500 mg iron (Fe)/kg D.M. on the Cu status, growth and clinical condition of calves are described. Liver and plasma Cu concentrations declined rapidly within 12–16 weeks to levels indicating severe Cu deficiency in both the Mo- and Fe-supplemented groups. The changes in Cu status were similar for both supplements and did not differ significantly from each other. Clinical signs of Cu deficiency, as indicated by reduced growth rate and changes in hair texture and colour, were evident after 16–20 weeks only in animals on the Mosupplemented diet. The reduced growth rate was accompanied by a decreased food intake and reduced efficiency of food utilization. The Mo-supplemented animals also exhibited an altered Fe metabolism, particularly when the growth rate was affected. The results confirm earlier reports that the effects of Mo on growth and clinical condition are independent of its effect on Cu status and suggest that the altered production might be due to effects on the control of food intake, food utilization, or Fe metabolism.
Age Structure and Genetic Diversity of Four Quercus macrocarpa (Michx.) Populations in Fragmented Oak Savanna along the Central Minnesota River Valley

Abstract Only 0.02% of historic oak savanna exists today. To provide management recommendations, we characterized age-class structure, measured cover of competing tree species and estimated genetic variation within and among four Quercus macrocarpa Michx (bur oak) populations in the Minnesota River Valley. At each site, few middle-aged bur oaks existed, most were 90–140 y. Quercus macrocarpa had the highest importance value (IV) in the older tree species cohort, but never the highest IV among younger trees suggesting that oak recruitment from 1910–1970 was very low. The four Q. macrocarpa populations and both age cohorts possessed moderate genetic diversity. Genetic distances between pairs of bur oak populations were small, but younger cohorts were more genetically differentiated than older cohorts suggesting that gene flow has declined in the past 100 y. Practices that reintroduce fire, reduce grazing and competition with mesic species, and restoration that introduces acorns from nearby populations have the potential to enhance both oak regeneration and genetic diversity.
Genetic Studies of Association and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and its Component Traits in Pigeon Pea ( Cajanus Cajan L. Millsp.)

pigeonpea genotypes were evaluated to study the nature and magnitude of relationship of important agronomic traits with seed yield along with their direct and indirect effects. Days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, and harvest index had significant positive association with seed yield, also showed direct positive effect in determining yield in pigeonpea. Hence due emphasis should be given to number of pods per plant, number of primary branches and harvest index for improvement of seed yield in pigeonpea.
GAP1(IP4BP)RASA3 mediates Galpha(i)-induced inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase in pituitary cells

Activation of dopamine D2S receptor (short isoform) inhibits thyrotropinreleasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in rat pituitary GH4ZR7 cells via Gai3, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. To identify novel God3 effectors we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen on cDNA library from GH4ZR7 cells using constitutively active Gai3 as bait and identified RASA3. Gai3-RASA3 interactions were confirmed using different approaches including yeast mating/(3-galactosidase assay, in vitro pull-down assay on bacterially expressed proteins, and co-immunoprecipitation with overexpressed or endogenous proteins in different mammalian cell lines. To address RASA3 function in dopamine D2S receptor-induced inhibition of MAPK activity endogenous RASA3 was suppressed in GH4ZR7 cells. In these clones D2S-mediated inhibition of TRH-induced phospho-MAPK was reversed by 70-80% compared to parental cells. Our results provide a novel mechanism for D2S-induced inhibition of MAPK and indicate that RASA3 links Gai3 to inhibition of the powerful TRH-induced Ras/MAPK activation pathway.