Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aphid migrant activity in refuge habitats of the Wielkopolska agricultural landscape

Refuge habitats have a stabilising effect on the entomofauna in the agricultural landscape. The objective of this research was to follow the migrant activity of aphids in two types of refuge habitats: shrubs and roadsides of rural areas. Moericke traps method were used for testing the seasonal activity of aphids. The dynamics of species numbers were assessed, and the phenology of the domi- nating taxa was examined. From 2008 to 2010, more than 5,000 winged aphids from 94 species were caught in shrub habitats, and 83 species were caught in rural roadside habitats. The characteristics of aphid groups were defined on the basis of selected indicators. Annually, in both locations, flight activity was shown by a group of several taxa. The rank position of the species was varied in the particular sites and years of the research. Species participation differed when analysing aphid flights, so the seasons were divided into three separate periods: spring, summer, and autumn.
Genetic Similarity Assessment among Selected Naked Oat Cultivars and Breeding Lines Using ISSR Markers

Naked oat refers to a variety of Avena sativa with lemma and palea separating from the grains. Its spikelets are multiflorous and morphologically different from the husked oat. Problems with preharvest sprouting, threshability, rancidity, a wide range of kernel sizes, as well as its relatively low tolerance to limited soil water content, are its main drawbacks. Nevertheless it could be an alternative to a conventional oat. Unfortunately, its genetic variation is still poorly recognized. In the given study a set of 26 naked oat cultivars and lines were analyzed with 25 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers that amplified as many as 429 DNA fragments among which 204 were polymorphic. The average number of markers amplified per primer pair and polymorphism information content (PIC) value equaled to eight and 0.23, respectively. Forty four unique PCR products were identified for different genotypes. While Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean failed to distinguish the materials into main clusters it demonstrated that cultivars â€˜Aktâ€™, â€˜Polarâ€™, â€˜Cackoâ€™, â€˜Siwekâ€™, â€˜Nagusâ€™ and most of the DC lines were within a single group. Moreover, the cultivars that were closely related based on their breeding pedigree (related to â€˜Aktâ€™) were close to each other. Principal Coordinate Analysis explained 54.1% of variance and was in good agreement with the UPGMA. ISSR markers could be used for the evaluation of genetic similarity of cultivars and lines as well as the differentiation of individual genotypes. This study demonstrated that the available A. sativa naked type genetic pool is relatively wide and have the potential for further breeding progress.
Current and Density Observations of Packets of Nonlinear Internal Waves on the Outer New Jersey Shelf

AbstractClosely spaced observations of nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) were made on the outer continental shelf off New Jersey in June 2009. Nearly full water column measurements of current velocity were made with four acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) that were moored about 5 km apart on the bottom along a line approximately normal to the bathymetry between water depths of 67 and 92 m. Density profiles were obtained from two vertical strings of temperature and conductivity sensors that were deployed near each of the interior ADCP moorings. In addition, a towed ScanFish provided profiles and fixed-level records of temperature and salinity through several NLIW packets near the moorings. Several case studies were selected to describe the propagation of the NLIWs. One to three solitary waves of depression were observed in five selected packets. There were also occurrences of multiple-phase dispersive wave packets. The average propagation speed corrected for advection of the observed waves was 0.51 .
Detection of pepper leaf curl virus through PCR amplification and expression of its coat protein in Escherichia coli for antiserum production

Pepper leaf curl virus (PepLCV) is the most destructive pathogen of pepper and causes substantial economic losses of chilli production worldwide. Curling and puckering of leaves and stunted growth of the plants are typical symptoms of the viral infection. For a reliable detection of PepLCV, coat protein specific primer pairs were designed and after polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR), -1 kb amplification product specific to coat protein gene was amplified. Cloning of this amplification product in an expression vector resulted in high-level expression of a 28 kD protein. Coat protein gene product is important for vector specificity and is also responsible for viral capsid formation and whiteflymediated transmission. The purified protein can be used for production of coat protein specific antisera leading to development of an efficient detection system for this very important viral pathogen of pepper.
Kinetic properties of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Thiobacillus thyasiris, the putative symbiont of Thyasira flexuosa (Montagu), a bivalve mussel

Summary: Some kinetic properties of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase from Thiobacillus thyasiris, a marine, facultatively heterotrophic, sulphur-oxidizing bacterium and putative symbiont of Thyasira flexuosa (Montagu), a bivalve mussel, have been determined. The kinetic parameters for the CO2/Mg2+-activated enzyme were: K m(RuBP) 24·3 μM, K m(CO2) 125·5 μM, K m(O2) 900 μM and K m (Mg2+) 1·53 mM. The low CO2 affinity suggests that T. thyasiris may possess a CO2-concentrating mechanism. RuBP oxygenase activity was inhbited by increasing CO2 concentration. Divalent metal ions were essential for RuBP carboxylase activity; activity of the Mg2+-free enzyme could be restored by the addition of Mg2+, Mn2+ or Ca2+. The pH optimum was 7·8. The temperature optimum for RuBP carboxylase activity was 55 °C, although the enzyme rapidly lost activity at this temperature. An Arrhenius plot was biphasic, with a break at 40 °C. The activation energies were 55·5 × 103 J mol-1 and 32·9 × 103 J mol-1> over the temperature ranges 10-40 °C, and 1·47 between 40-55 °C, RuBP carboxylase activity was stable at 35 °C, the optimum growth temperature of T. thyasiris and at 7·5 °C, the temperature of the habitat of Thyasira flexuosa, but the activity was 40% and 3·5%, respectively, of the potential activity at 55 °C. RuBP carboxylase activity was stimulated by NaCl concentrations of up to 0·3 m, with a maximum (33%), occurring between 0·1 and 0·2 m-NaCl. At higher concentrations of NaCl (>0·3 m) RuBP carboxylase activity was inhibited.
Fast Protection of H.264/AVC by Selective Encryption

This paper proposes a new method for the protection of copyrighted multimedia content. Here the problems of compression and selective encryption (SE) have been simultaneously addressed for the state of the art video codec H.264/AVC. SE is performed in the context adaptive variable length coding (CAVLC) module of video codec. For this purpose, CAVLC is converted to an encryption cipher using permutation of equal length codes from a specific variable length coding (VLC) table. In our scheme, entropy coding engine serves the purpose of encryption step without aecting the coding eciency
DELAYING GUAVA RIPENING BY EXOGENOUS SALICYLIC ACID

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) treatment (water, 100, 300 and 500 μM) on fruit repining of guava cv 'Baladi' during 12 days shelf-life at room temperature. Fruit were harvested at three different maturity stages: green mature stage (G), green yellow (GY) and yellow stage (Y). Thereafter, fruits were immersed in SA solutions for 20 min. Fruit were immersed at high level 500 μM had less IL%, degradation in total phenol, fruit browning and maintained the amount of vitamin C. Moreover, it had higher fruit firmness and color (hO), compared with other concentrations of SA and water-control.
Psychometric Comparison of Standard and Computerized Administration of the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (ADASCog)

Background: The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) has become the de facto gold standard for assessing the efficacy of anti-dementia treatments. However, manual administration of the ADAS-Cog is subject to procedural inconsistencies, including scoring and transcription errors, which can introduce un- wanted variance and compromise data quality within and across sites and trials. To address such concerns, a computerized version was developed that integrates, rather than replaces, the examiner, standardizes administration, and uses electronic data capture at the point of patient contact. The examiner can control administration and pacing, pause or repeat digitized instructions, score verbal report and overt behavioral performance, and freely interact with the subject. Purpose: To con- duct psychometric comparisons of traditional, paper-based administration of the standard ADAS-Cog (sADAS) with ex- aminer-assisted administration of the computerized ADAS-Cog (cADAS). Methods: Eighty-eight patients (39M; 49F) with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were tested on three occasions with each version over a period of one year with one month between paired visits. Results: Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) comparisons between sADAS and cADAS were significant for total score (ICC=0.96) and all subscores (ICCs ranged 0.78-0.93), with no significant dif- ferences on paired t-tests. The mean ICCs across cADAS scores for test-retest reliability for short-term (mean ICC=0.96) and long-term (mean ICC=0.91) comparisons were significantly higher than across sADAS scores (mean ICCs were 0.87 and 0.84, respectively). Conclusions: These results indicate that examiner-assisted, computerized administration is equiva- lent to traditional, paper-based administration, and shows significantly greater test-retest reliability.
Physiological changes in wheat during development of loose smut

This study was planned to determine the dynamics of total phenolic content, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities in wheat (var. Inqlab-91) infected with Ustilago tritici with the objective to investigate the role of phenolics and related enzymes in host pathogen interaction. The biochemical analysis was carried out twice, once at grain filling stage when disease emerges and second at crop maturity. Roots were found most sensitive as considerable increase in both phenolic content and enzymes activity was recorded in early and later stage of disease development. Conversely in case of infected stem and leaves the enzyme activities were found lower at early disease stage in comparison to the control. However, the enzyme activities increased in both parts when checked again at crop maturity with an exception of no increment in peroxidase and cresolase activities in leaves.
On implementation of bit-loading algorithms for OFDM systems with multiple-input multiple-output

A new implementation scheme for bit-loading algorithms is discussed for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) over a wireless transmission channel. For M transmit and N receive antennas, subchannel precoders; and decoders jointly partition each frequency bin into a set of min(M,N) parallel eigen channels. Using a simulation technique, we study the relationship between the eigenvalue (gain of eigen channel) distribution and number (finite) of total antennas under the conditions of fixed M/N or fixed number of receive antennas in the Rayleigh fading channel environment. The study result leads to the proposed implementation scheme where all the parallel eigen channels are divided into groups and same number of bits per symbol are assigned to all the channels within each group. We further consider two additional techniques to improve the BER performance of a system with fixed number of antennas. In the numerical example, simulation results of system BER performance are shown for the proposed group bit-loading method and the conventional method (ideal) on the channel-by-channel basis. The results indicate that with the additional techniques, the BER performance of the proposed implementation scheme approaches closely to that of the ideal bit-loading method, but with a great reduction on computation complexity.
The effects of ionic channel inhibitors and factors modifying metabolism on the excitability of the liverwort Conocephalum conicum

Changes in the excitability of the liverwort Conocephalum conicum L. caused by inhibitors of ionic channels and phosphorylation uncouplers, were examined. Action potentials were triggered by electrical and light stimuli. Tetraethylammonium chloride, an inhibitor of K+ channels, completely blocked the ability to generate action potentials. Excitability also disappeared under the influence of MnCl2 and LaCl3, inhibitors of Ca2+ channels. The participation of Ca2+ and K+ in the electrogenesis of action potentials in C. conicum is discussed. Treatment with phosphorylation uncouplers induced a gradual disappearance of the metabolic component of the resting potential. It was accompanied by some series of excitations, numbering from several to over a dozen impulses characterized by decreasing amplitudes, after which the organism became totally unexcitable. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide an inhibitor of H+-ATPase, also caused depolarization of the transmembrane potential and disappearance of excitability. The results indicated the participation of a metabolic component in the generation of action potentials in C. conicum.
Molecular evidence suggests an ancient radiation for the fairy shrimp genus Streptocephalus (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)

Phylogenetic relationships among assumed Gondwanan aquatic inland invertebrate fauna are generally largely neglected, and biogeographical hypotheses for these organisms are generally inferred from historic (palaeogeographical) and contemporary distribution patterns. The distribution of the monogeneric thermophilic freshwater fairy shrimp family Streptocephalidae (Streptocephalus) provides a particularly useful framework to test the three contrasting biogeographical scenarios proposed for the evolution of this group: (1) the genus evolved in Laurasia and subsequently dispersed into Africa and North America; (2) the genus evolved and dispersed out of Africa and (3) the current distribution of the genus is the result of vicariance following the fragmentation of Gondwana. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships of species in this genus are examined with the use of two mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA and COI mtDNA), while the phylogenetic relationships among the North American species and selected African taxa was investigated using the nuclear fragment (5.8S-ITS-1-18S). Phylogenetic results indicate that Streptocephalus probably evolved in Gondwana and that the current distribution patterns are a consequence of a combination of vicariance and limited dispersal. The implications for the evolution of continental freshwater crustaceans are discussed. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 82, 313–327.
GENETIC DIVERSITY OF FLEXIVIRUSES INFECTING POME FRUIT TREES

Three amplicons corresponding to the variable genome regions of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) and Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) were sequenced from different apple cultivars and geographic areas in Europe and Asia. Multiple alignments of nucleotide sequence of these isolates with those from databases showed a very high divergence. Genetic variability at the nucleotide level among ACSLV and ASPV isolates was very high, ranging from 83.5 to 85.0% and 80.1 to 81.9%, respectively, confirming previous observations. ASGV isolates were more homogenous, with no clear separation between ASGV and Citrus tatter leaf virus and between geographic origin and genetic diversity of the virus isolates characterized in this study.
Spatial analysis and abundance estimation of the southernmost population of purple clam, Amiantis purpurata in Patagonia (Argentina)

Spatial distribution of the southernmost population of the purple clam, Amiantis purpurata (Bivalvia: Veneridae), was described from systematic survey data (density and local biomass), and was related to environmental variables (depth and sediment). Geostatistical techniques were used to model and map density, and to estimate absolute biomass. Spatial distribution was highly contagious: half of the population lives at densities up to 240 clams m−2. Higher clam abundance occur only at sites with finer and well sorted sediment and intermediate depth. Even when the demographic structure of the population was composed of three year-classes recruited between 1978 and 1980, local biomass and density exhibited a non-linear relationship between them, and discrepancies between their distributions of frequency, their relationship with depth, and variographic analysis. The spherical model was fitted to the experimental variograms. Anisotropy was explored and introduced into the model. The resulting map shows the location and extension of the patches in the study area; they conform a fringe where the highest concentrations are oriented parallel to the coast line, interrupted by small shoals. No anisotropism was evident in the variographic analysis of local biomass. The kriged mean was 3369 g m−2; and estimated total biomass was 53,290 tn. Such differences between density and local biomass seem to be linked to compensatory processes involving biomass, growth and mortality, originated at the scale of individual overlapping neighbourhoods.
Effect of Forage to Concentrate Ratio and Monensin Supplementation on cis-9, trans-11 Conjugated Linoleic Acid and trans-11 Octadecenoic Acid Concentrations of Ruminal Contents and Plasma in Sheep

Twenty-four cannulated Small-tailed Han×Poll Dorset wethers (BW 47.5±2.1 kg) were used to determine the effects of forage to concentrate ratio (40:60 vs. 70:30), monensin supplementation (0, 15 or 30 ppm, DM basis) and interactions of these two factors on cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) and trans-11 octadecenoic acid (trans11-C18:1) concentrations in ruminal contents and plasma in sheep. The experiment was designed as a 2×3 factorial. The diet contained Chinese wild rye grass hay (Aneurolepidium Chinese), cracked corn, soybean meal, NaCl, limestone and trace mineral premix. Dietary crude fat and linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) were adjusted with soybean oil to about 7.0% and 24.0 mg/g (DM basis), respectively. High forage diets increased (p<0.001) the concentrations of trans11-C18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in ruminal contents and plasma. Monensin supplementation increased (p<0.001) the concentration of trans11-C18:1 in ruminal contents, but had no effect on that of cis-9, trans-11 CLA. Concentrations of trans11-C18:1 (p<0.019) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA (p<0.022) in plasma increased with dietary monensin levels. Interactions of forage: concentrate ratio and monensin level tended to affect the concentrations of trans11-C18:1 (p<0.091) and C18:2n-6 (p<0.083) in ruminal contents. Increasing forage levels increased the concentrations of trans11-C18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in the rumen. Supplementing with monensin increased the ruminal production of trans11-C18:1 and concentrations of trans11-C18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in plasma. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 5 : 699-704)
NF-κB RelA Phosphorylation Regulates RelA Acetylation

ABSTRACT The nuclear functions of NF-κB p50/RelA heterodimers are regulated in part by posttranslational modifications of its RelA subunit, including phosphorylation and acetylation. Acetylation at lysines 218, 221, and 310 differentially regulates RelA's DNA binding activity, assembly with IκBα, and transcriptional activity. However, it remains unclear whether the acetylation is regulated or simply due to stimulus-coupled nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Using anti-acetylated lysine 310 RelA antibodies, we detected p300-mediated acetylation of RelA in vitro and in vivo after stimulation of cells with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Coexpression of catalytically inactive mutants of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A/mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 or IKK1/IKK2, which phosphorylate RelA on serine 276 or serine 536, respectively, sharply inhibited RelA acetylation on lysine 310. Furthermore, phosphorylation of RelA on serine 276 or serine 536 increased assembly of phospho-RelA with p300, which enhanced acetylation on lysine 310. Reconstitution of RelA-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts with RelA S276A or RelA S536A decreased TNF-α-induced acetylation of lysine 310 and expression of the endogenous NF-κB-responsive E-selectin gene. These findings indicate that the acetylation of RelA at lysine 310 is importantly regulated by prior phosphorylation of serines 276 and 536. Such phosphorylated and acetylated forms of RelA display enhanced transcriptional activity.
Effect of defoliation stress on 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid content at different growth stages in Melilotus albus

Melilotus albus (Medik.) is a pasture legume with potential value in Australian farming systems, especially in salt-affected areas. However, the use of this species has been limited because of concerns over high coumarin concentrations. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of defoliation on the concentration of 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid, a coumarin precursor, at 3 stages of growth (vegetative, flowering and post-flowering) in 6 accessions. The concentration of 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid was determined by high performance liquid chromatography in leaves of plants grown in a glasshouse. Defoliation stress increased the 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid content in the leaves of all accessions studied by about 8%, from 0.89 to 0.96% of dry matter. The 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid concentrations were not significantly different between vegetative and flowering stages in any of the accessions studied, but showed a significant increase post-flowering for 4 out of the 6 accessions studied. This study indicates that grazing may increase the coumarin or 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid concentration in Melilotus albus, but in screening for suitable accessions to progress to new cultivars, it is not necessary to subject plants to a defoliation stress to rank the accessions for 2-hydroxy cinnamic acid or coumarin concentration.
Cytogenetic Effects of Copper Chloride on the Root Tip Cells of Helianthus annuus L.

The cytogenetic effects of copper chloride on root tip cells of Helianthus annuus were investigated. Seeds were treated with 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg/L (ppm) of copper chloride for 24 h. It was found that copper chloride has a marked mitodepressive action on mitosis. Mitotic abnormalities were increased and the mitotic index was decreased depending on the concentration of the copper chloride applied.