Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between leaf structure and carbon isotope discrimination in field grown barley

For C 3 plants, discrimination against 13 C (Δ) is an integrated indicator of the ratio of intercellular to atmospheric partial pressure of CO 2 (P i /P a ) and therefore of the water use efficiency (WUE). Changes in p i /p a , and thus in Δ, can arise from changes in the balance between leaf stomatal conductance and photosynthetic capacity. If the intrinsic photosynthetic capacity of leaves is increased, p i /p a and A could decrease and WUE could be improved, without compromising potential yield. A set of F 6 lines of two-row barley derived from two parents, Tadmor and WI 2291, with contrasting leaf chlorophyll content, was cultivated in Tel Hadya (the headquarters of ICARDA), in North-west Syria. without apparent drought stress. Here, we examine the relationship between Δ and different leaf structural indicators of photosynthetic capacity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Total chlorophyll content (SPAD) was measured in penultimate leaf blades, around 2 weeks before anthesis, with a portable meter in the field. Further, the specific leaf dry weight (SLDW) and the nitrogen content and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was measured in the same leaves. The SLDW was positively correlated with both nitrogen (SLNW) and chlorophyll (SPAD) content per unit leaf area, which in turn were negatively correlated with Δ of leaf dry matter (Δ-DW). The Δ of the water soluble fraction (Δ-SF) from the same leaves was further analyzed to provide information on the discrimination of the current photoassimilates, therefore ignoring the photoassimilates coming from other parts of the plant during leaf development. Correlation between Δ-SF and either SLDW or SLNW was consistently higher than correlations with Δ-DW. The leaf parameter best correlated with Δ, of either total dry matter or the soluble fraction, was SLDW, indicating that genotypes with thicker and/or more compact leaves have lower Δ. The results suggest that SLDW and SPAD measurements can be used as a single, rapid surrogate for Δ in barley.
Florivory and floral larceny by fly larvae decrease nectar availability and hummingbird foraging visits at Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) flowers

Insect larvae inhabit the corolla tubes of some Heliconia species (Heliconiaceae). In this study, we present the first evidence of the influence of these larvae on the pollination ecology of Heliconia plants. We provide experimental evidence that the flowers of Heliconia spathocircinata infested by flies have less nectar for pollinators and received fewer visits by hummingbird pollinators, in comparison with uninfested flowers.
Moisture and Salt Tolerance of a Forage and Grain Sorghum Hybrid during Germination and Establishment

ABSTRACT Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is being explored in California as a multi-utility, water-use efficient crop, but water and salt stresses are common in the state’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Experiments were conducted to study the effect of water and salt stress on seed germination and the effect of salt stress on the early growth of a forage (SS405) and a grain (NK5418) sorghum hybrid. Solutions ranging from 0 to −5.56 MPa and 0 to 25 ds m−1 were prepared using polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride, respectively, and germination was evaluated in these solutions. Salinity tolerance at early growth stage was tested on plants irrigated with solutions ranging from 0 to 20 ds m−1. Plants were harvested 6 weeks after planting and their aboveground biomass was recorded. Chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance were also measured. Germination was reduced by 50% in SS405 and NK5418 at −2.5 MPa and −1.5 MPa, respectively, and by 50% in SS405 at 19.3 dS m−1, but NK5418 had 70% germination even at 25 dS m−1. Biomass of both hybrids was reduced by 50% at 16.8 dS m−1. Chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance of both hybrids was reduced by 50% at 10 dS m−1. Such studies may help in varietal selection of sorghum for cultivation in the SJV.
BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria) CULTIVAR

Bottle gourd is annual herbs (Edwin-Wosu and Ndukwu, 2008). The leaves of bottle gourd are alternate and variable. The flowers are unisexual and white; they are present on the same plant (monoecious). The fruit have bottle shape. It has white pulp, often is an indehiscent gourd (hard-shelled). Bottle gourd fruit is traditionally use for its cardio protective, cardio tonic, general tonic and aphrodisiac properties. It is also use in treatment of various allergic and inflammatory disorders like bronchial asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis and rheumatism (Gangwal et al., 2010). There are about 18 genera and 75 species of this family in Southern Africa. Beside the range of species already cultivated, many species are known to occur in the wild (at least six of such species) with their nutritional potential and other uses apparently unknown. There is a need to develop accurate data, and to put in place more effort toward the cultivation, improvement and conservation of various cucurbits germplasm (Edwin-Wosu and Ndukwu, 2008) Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within species, that is, the heritable variation within and between populations. Other kinds of genetic diversity can also be identifying at all levels of organization in the nucleus, including the amount of DNA per cell, chromosome number and DNA structure (Tasrif et al., 2004). The advent of molecular biology techniques has provided another dimension to detect genetic polymorphism based on protein or DNA facilitating in biological research branches such as phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy and genetic diversity (Williams et al., 1990; Saghai et al., 1994). In this regards, proteins and enzymes polymorphism have been successfully used to identify cultivars in various fruit and crop species, including Bottle gourd (Upadhyay and Ram, 2006), sunflower (Raymond et al., 1995), Cucurbitaceae species (Pasha and Sen, 2003), Populus spp. (Su and Su, 1999) and Acacia (Ahmed et al., 2003). On the other hand, many investigators employed RAPD-PCR to assay genetic fingerprint and diversity in wide range of plants such as Artemisia (Sangwan et al., 1999) and Juniperus (Ashworth and Obriedand, 1999). In addition, ISSR-PCR are used for the same purpose in plants such as Cucurbita species (Heikal et al., 2008), Cauliflower (Bornet et al., 2002), Plantago (Wolf and Morgan, 1998) and Almis (King and Ferris, 2000). The aim of this study is to determine the biochemical (protein SDS-PAGE and isozyme) and molecular (RAPD and ISSR-PCR) properties in different species of Bottle gourd.
Potential Uses of Xylanase-Rich Lignocellulolytic Enzymes Cocktail for Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) Degradation and Lignocellulosic Ethanol Production

In this paper, we reported that oil pam trunk (OPT) can be used as an alternative fermentation feedstock for lignocellulolytic enzyme production and carbon source for bioethanol production. Xylanase production from OPT by locally isolated fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus SK1, under solid-state fermentation (SSF), was optimized using central composite design (CCD). Under optimized conditions, a maximum xylanase activity of 1792.43 U/g was produced, which was 4.28-fold higher than before optimization. Significant amounts of CMCase (56.19 U/g), FPase (3.47 U/g), and β-glucosidase (1.55 U/g) were also found concomitantly with xylanase. Subsequently, the effect of solid loading, Tween-80 concentration, and incubation temperature on the saccharification of OPT by the crude enzymes were optimized to enhance the total reducing sugar production. A total of 13.148 g/L of reducing sugar was reported under optimized conditions. Comparisons of physiochemical characteristics between native and hydrolyzed OPT via scanning .
In Vitro Propagation of Geraldton Wax: Initiation, Proliferation, and Rooting

In vitro propagation of geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer) was achieved using nodal explants excised from actively growing shoots of adult plants. Murashige and Skoog basal medium (BM) supplemented with 4.4 μΜ BA was optimum for enhanced axillary shoot growth. Repeated subculturing of in vitro-grown axillary shoots resulted in a propagation rate of 5.7 ± 1.1 (±SE) shoots every 6 weeks. Sixtytwo percent of the shoots obtained by this method rooted on half-strength BM supplemented with 58.4 mM sucrose and 5.0 μΜ NAA. Chemical names used: N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (BA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 1H-indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA).
Variation in the Coat-Color-Controlling Genes, Mc1r and Asip, in the House Mouse Mus musculus from Madagascar

Abstract. Variability in the coat color of the house mouse, Mus musculus, provides an opportunity to study the evolution of phenotypes in this species. Here we associated genetic variations with coat color in seven mice from Madagascar that had identical M. m. gentilulus mitochondrial DNA sequences. The entire coding region of the 948-base pair (bp) coat-color-related gene, Mc1r, was shown to have no nonsynonymous changes. However, analyses of the two exon-1 promoter regions—termed 1A (317 bp) and 1B (499 bp)—from a second gene, Asip, which is also involved in the evolution of coat color, revealed two distinct haplotypes in each region. Associations between Asip promoter regions and dorsal color were ambiguous; however, two ventral color types—light and dark gray—were associated with the haplotypes of 1A, as determined by clustering analysis. Notably, the haplotype of the light gray animals was identical to the Asip Aw allele that is associated with white bellies.
What makes some fisheries references highly cited

We identify the 199 most-cited fisheries references up to July 2014, topped by Nelson's Fishes of the World. Few book chapters, databases or reports were included, but review articles and field guides were over-represented. Publishing in Science, Nature or Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA is associated with a 34-fold increase in the probability of an article being highly cited, but many highly cited references were also published in journals with impact factors under eight. Proportional contributions to references, taking into account number of authors, author order and other key factors, revealed Bill Ricker and John Roland Brett as the greatest individual contributors, and the US, Canada and the UK as greatest country contributors, with Canada significantly over-represented. Female representation on the list was historically low before increasing to 21% in the 1990s, and reflected gender changes in the field of fisheries. When compared to >2000 control papers published in the same journal and year, highly cited fisheries papers were significantly longer (20.4 vs. 9.8 pages) and had more authors (5.8 vs. 4.3), references (118 vs. 51), tables and total illustrations; these differences were greater when high-profile general journals were excluded, but lower when calculated on a per-page basis. References with more than six authors jumped from 0 to 27% in 2000, coinciding with a rapid uptake of email among fisheries scientists. Overall, we find no shortcut to publishing highly cited references: they require substantial time, effort and knowledge invested in new hypotheses, textbooks, field guides, new discoveries, broad meta-analyses, new methods and reviews.
Relationship between insecticidal efficacy and oil absorption capacity of inert dusts against sitophilus spp.

Sixteen inert dusts were tested for their effects on bulk density, oil absorption capacity and insecticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae and Sitophilus granarius: Sipernat 50S, Protector (Italy), Celite 209, SilicoSec (Germany), Dryacide (USA), KeepDry (Brazil), Mn 23, Protect-It (USA), MA-4 (Croatia), Mn 51, Clarcel (France), Perma Guard, DiaFil 610, Zeolite Osijek (large particles), Zeolite Osijek (small particles) and Huber 80 (USA). These dusts had differences in oil absorption capacity, reduction of bulk density and toxicity to insects. Sipernat 50S, the silica aerogel had the greatest capacity to absorb oil (3.23 mL/g dust), greatly reduced bulk density (to 71.9 kg/hL from 76.6 kg/hL in untreated wheat) and caused 90 to 100% mortality with S. granarius and S. oryzae. Zeolite and kaolin clay had the least effect on oil absorption, bulk density and mortality. The rest of the diatomaceous earth (DE) tested had intermediate values. Oil absorption capacity was positively correlated with mortality. The correlation for S. oryzae was lower (r2 = 0.44) than with S. granarius (r2 = 0.73). Mortality was negatively correlated with bulk density. Bulk density was negatively correlated with oil absorption.
Breaking the genomic cis-regulatory code by an experimental and theoretical analysis of eve enhancer fusions

of the Dissertation Breaking the genomic cis-regulatory code by an experimental and theoretical analysis of eve enhancer fusions by Ah-Ram Kim Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Structural Biology Stony Brook University 2012 Encoded within DNA sequence is the cis-regulatory logic responsible for controlling gene expression in metazoans. The precise and predictive decryption of this code is on going endeavor at the heart of modern genomics. Even though state of the art technologies in genomics have been generated tremendous amount of data, how the interplay of multiple transcriptional mechanisms give rise to the complex expression changes has remain elusive. This dissertation presents a theoretical model that reconstitutes even-skipped transcriptional control in silico by implementing molecular regulatory mechanisms that are essential for the even-skipped gene expression, then applies the model to even-skipped enhancer fusions in order to elucidate the underlying rules governing the transcriptional control of the Drosophila genome. Rearrangements of about 2.5 kb of regulatory DNA located 5’ of the transcription start site of the Drosophila even-skipped locus generate large scale changes in the expression of even-skipped stripes 2, 3 and 7. The most radical effects are generated by juxtaposing the minimal stripe enhancers MSE2 and MSE3 for stripes 2 and 3 with and without small “spacer” segments less than 360 bp in length. The model reproduced gene expression of the arrangements with high fidelity and was able to predict expression patterns driven by a variety of segments of the genomic DNA totaling 50 kb for gap and pair-rule genes, even-skipped enhancers not included in the training set, stripe 2, 3 and 7 enhancers from various Drosophilidae and Sepsidae species. These results suggest that the molecular mechanisms implemented in the model are essential not only for Drosophila melanogaster even-skipped but also for many genes of early Drosophila and Sepsid embryo development. In addition, the model predicted gene expression of long segments of even-skipped regulatory DNA which contain
Contribution à l'étude des genres Haliporus Bate, 1881 et Gordonella Tirmizi, 1960 (Crustacea Decapoda Penaeoidea) Description de deux espèces nouvelles

The four species thought of, until now, as belonging to the genus Haliporus have been reexamined. A detailed diagnosis of the genus is published and three species only, H. curvirostris Bate, 1881, H. thetis Faxon, 1893, and H. taprobanensis Alcock et Anderson, 1899, are maintained in this genus. The species for which TIRMIZI ( 1 9 6 0 ) has created the genus Gordonella, G. polyarthra, is thought to be synonymous with Haliporus villosus Alcock and Anderson, 1894. The genus Gordonella, partly founded upon erroneous observations, is redefined and H. villosus is considered as belonging to it as well as two new species, G. kensleyi and G. paravillosa. A. C R O S N I E R , Océanographe biologiste de l'ORSTOM, Laboratoire de Zoologie (Arthropodes) du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle et Laboratoire de Carcinologie et d'Océanographie biologique (ÉPHË), 61, rue Buffon, 75005 Paris. Le genre Haliporus a été établi, en 1 8 8 1 , par B A T E qui lui rattachait quatre espèces nouvelles, dont la première citée était H. curvirostris. En 1888, cet auteur donnait une définition plus détaillée du genre, définition qui ne s'applique correctement qu'à H. curvirostris (formule branchiale et taille du prosartéma en particulier) qui doit donc être considéré comme l'espèce-type du genre. Par la suite, les Solenoceridae se caractérisant par des flagelles antennulaires non creusés en gouttière, presque tous de grande profondeur, et dont fait partie H. curvirostris, ont posé bien des problèmes aux taxonomistes. Différents genres ont été créés, entre 1881 et 1914, pour les accueillir: Hymenopenaeus Smith, 1882; Pleoticus Bate, 1888; Faxonia Bouvier, 1905; Parartemesia Bouvier, 1905; Haliporoides Stebbing, 1914. Au gré des uns et des autres, ces genres ont été ensuite, soit mis en synonymie, soit considérés, pour la plupart, comme des sous-genres. En 1 9 3 4 , B U R K E N R O A D considérait que les Solenoceridae ne comprenaient que deux genres : Haliporus et Solenocera. La clarification a débuté avec le travail publié par B U R K E N R O A D en 1 9 3 6 , dans lequel cet
Seed viability of Dimorphandra gardneriana subject to water stress in different temperatures

The forest species Dimorphandra gardneriana Tul. is widely used for various pharmacological products, yet few basic studies have been undertaken to understand their ecological and physiological attributes under stress conditions. The goal of this research was to evaluate the seed germination and vigor when subjected to different osmotic potentials and temperatures. Water restriction was simulated with polyethylene glycol 6000 solution (PEG 6000) with osmotic potentials of 0; -0,2; -0,4; -0,6; -0,8, and -1,0MPa at temperatures of 20, 25, 30, and 35°C. The effect of the treatment was determined by the germination and vigor (germination speed index, length and phytomass of dry shoot and roots) of the seeds, in an entirely random design with four repetitions. From-0, 4MPa it occurs a drastic reduction in germination and vigor of seeds although these factors were less affected at temperature of 25°C up to -0, 2MPa.
Prediction of variety distinctness decisions under yearly heterogeneity

SUMMARY To gain protection under the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plant, new plant varieties must be distinguishable from existing varieties in at least one important characteristic. Assessment of quantitative characteristics often uses a procedure based on analysis of variance of variety-by-year means for 2 years of trials. In the current paper, a new method is described that can identify those reference varieties that are so different from a candidate that there would be no reason to compare them in the subsequent year, resulting in potential cost savings. It is more objective and transparent than existing practice for quantitative characteristics based on expert opinion. The method calculates thresholds for quantitative characteristics. The thresholds are defined so that if in the first year the difference between two varieties in a characteristic is larger than the characteristic's threshold then it is highly likely that the varieties would be distinct after 2 years. Thresholds were derived based on statistical predictions of the full decision after 2 years using the first year results combined with historical data. It is shown that these thresholds are sensitive to yearly heterogeneity in the variety-by-year variation. The method accommodates this heterogeneity by modelling yearly residual variances with the inverse gamma distribution. This extension meant that exact analytical formulae were not available so an approximation was suggested. Using simulation it was found that the approximation was reasonable; for thresholds corresponding to a high probability of distinctness, the approximate thresholds were a little higher than required. The method was evaluated on a 19-year data set for field pea, comparing decisions based on first year thresholds with those based on the full 2 years. It was found that with the probability of distinctness set at 0·99, the calculated thresholds were generally lower than the existing expert-set thresholds but had acceptable levels of false positives and false negatives.
Modelling the influence of weed competition on growth of juvenile Pinus radiata at a dryland site

The reduction in growth of commercially grown conifers by weeds over the juvenile phase is an important management issue. This thesis investigates the mechanisms of interaction between juvenile Pinus radiata and the woody weed broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) at a dryland site, and uses this information to develop process­ based models of tree growth, sensitive to competition from weeds. All the results presented in this thesis were taken from an experiment established on a drought prone site, located on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand. Within the experiment a comprehensive and detailed set of measurements were taken from trees growing weed­ free and with broom competition, from the beginning of the second year to the end of the third year after planting. The presence of broom severely retarded the growth of trees over the two year measurement period. Treatment differences in basal area, which became significant one month after measurements started, increased from six-fold at the end of the first year to 12-fold after two years. At the end of the second year, trees growing without broom were two-fold taller, and had a crown diameter four-fold greater than trees in plots with broom. Above-ground biomass was the most sensitive indicator of competition. Compared to trees in weed-free plots, above-ground biomass of trees in plots with broom was reduced by 25-fold after two years. During the first year, the strong link between predawn needle water potential, 1/fe, and fractional biomass growth for trees in plots with broom (r2=0.91) suggests growth losses in this treatment were almost entirely attributable to seasonal water deficit. Although 1/fe was also strongly related to fractional biomass growth, lb, over the second year (r2= 0.71), values of lb across a comparable range of 1/fe, were on average 15% lower than during the first year. Inclusion of a simple shading index e;xplained this difference, suggesting broom restricted tree growth during the second year through competition for both light and water. Nitrogen fixation by broom, and the extent of fixed nitrogen transfer to Pinus radiata was assessed from measurements of the natural abundance of the N isotope, bN. Values of bN were highest in Pinus radiata growing without broom, intermediate
Intensity and diversity of flower-visiting insects in relation to plant density of Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk

The floral syndrome of Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk. (Rhamnaceae) reflects its adaptation to insects. We examined the blossom visitor assemblage of Z. mauritiana in relation to plant density. Results indicate that flowers of this plant species are visited by 86 species of insects which consisted 32 species of wasps, 30 flies, 18 butterflies and 6 bees. Pollinators exhibited temporal fluctuations in their visits. More number of insect species visited the flowers with lower intensities (1 to 10 visits m - 2 h - 1 ). It is observed that intensity of pollinators species increases with increased plant density. Number of pollinators species and their individuals showed significant difference among the blossoms of three patches of plant density. Similarly, the diversity of pollinators was maximum on dense population and minimum on isolated plant.