Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro utilization of mucin, lung polymers, plant cell walls and insect cuticle by Aspergillus fumigatus , Metarhizium anisopliae and Haematonectria haematococca

Aspergillus fumigatus is saprotrophic with an unusual ability to colonize the respiratory tract. The mechanisms that permit pathogenicity may have evolved to adapt the fungus to life as a saprobe. To define the nature of these adaptations and identify common themes in fungal pathogenesis to vertebrates, insects and plants, we compared A. fumigatus with a plant pathogen (Haematonectria haematococca) and an insect pathogen (Metarhizium anisopliae) in their abilities to degrade and utilize host-derived macromolecules (horse lung polymers, porcine mucin, hyaluronic acid, alfalfa cell walls and cockroach cuticle). Each fungus produced a similar range of proteases on mucin and lung polymers, and high levels of several glycosidic enzymes on mucin and plant cell walls, which contain inductive carbohydrate substrates. Following 18 h of growth by A. fumigatus at pH 4 or pH 8, the degradation of mucin carbohydrates and mucin protein were approximately 40% and 75% respectively, suggesting that the aspartyl proteases (produced at pH 4) and the subtilisin proteases (produced at pH 8) are more important than carbohydrases for degrading mucin. The highly glycosylated mucin residue remaining after 18 h growth resisted further degradation, in part due to bound sialic acid as A. fumigatus secretes a sulphatase but not sialidase. Hyaluronidase activity (an important virulence factor in bacteria) was not produced by A. fumigatus, M. anisopliae or H. haematococca, but each fungus secreted a range of other enzymes (phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, acid phosphatase, alkali phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and esterase) that are common toxic components of bacteria as well as reptilia and invertebrate venoms. Thus thermotolerant opportunists such as A. fumigatus may sustain themselves and cause disease in human hosts using depolymerases that are widely distributed in fungi and that provide them with the versatility to exploit many environments.
Phenotypic divergence, convergence and evolution of Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia)

Phenotypic evolution can cause either divergent or convergent phenotypic patterns. Even adaptation to the same environment may result in divergence of some elements of phenotype, whereas for other morphological traits it could cause phenotypic convergence. We hypothesize that at least some phenotypic characters diverge monotonically, hence they evolve irreversibly even in very closely related species, and this happens in spite of multiple convergent adaptive patterns. We studied the evolution of phenotype in 13 closely related Caucasian rock lizards (Darevskia), whose phylogenetic relationships are well known. We used head shape and the outlines of three important scales, using geometric morphometrics. We studied the association of the overall head shape, individual principal components of head shape and scale outlines with four predictors: phylogeny, habitat, sex and size. The overall head shape was not correlated with any of these predictors, whereas some principal components were correlated with habitat or phylogeny. Habitat type explained the highest fraction of variation in head shape and anal scale area. The relatedness inferred from the components of phenotype not correlated with habitat was congruent with the phylogenetic tree inferred from molecular data. Although adaptation to local environments may obscure the phylogenetic signal present in phenotype, there are components of phenotype whose evolution is irreversible.
Variation in stand structure, light and seedling abundance across a tropical moist forest chronosequence, Panama

We asked whether forest structure and understory light environments across a tropical moist forest chronosequence followed predictions of a 4-phase model of secondary succession (establishment, thinning, transition and steady-state) and whether seedling density and diversity were functions of light availability as predicted by this model. Using aerial photographs, we identified eight second-growth stands (two each aged ca. 20, 40, 70, and 100 yr) and two old-growth stands within Barro Colorado Nature Monument, Panama. Trees and seedlings were sampled in nested, contiguous quadrats in 2 160-m transects in each stand. Light was measured as percent transmittance of diffuse photosynthetically active radiation (TPAR) at each seedling quadrat and by estimation of percent total incident radiation during the growing season from hemispherical canopy photographs. Basal area, tree density, and canopy height followed predictions of the 4-phase model. Percent total radiation, but not TPAR, declined with stand age as did seedling density. While seedlings were more likely to occur in quadrats at higher light levels, much variation in seedling density was not related to light availability. Seedling patch sizes were small irrespective of light patches, estimated as semivariance ranges. Seedling species richness was a function of seedling density; estimates of species diversity unbiased by density did not vary systematically as a function of stand age. Proximate seed sources, efficient dispersal mechanisms, and appropriate establishment conditions can promote establishment of species-rich communities early in successions of heterogeneous tropical moist forest.
A Block Version of Orthogonal Rotations for Improving the Accuracy of Hybrid State Estimators

This paper addresses the problem of hybrid state estimation, which relies on data provided by both conventional SCADA systems and phasor measurement units. A previously proposed cascaded architecture is employed, whose first estimation module processes the asynchronous measurements through a conventional, nonlinear state estimator. The focus, however, is on the second estimation module, where the SCADA-based estimates are combined with synchrophasor data in order to enhance the quality of the state estimates. For the benefit of computational performance, that task must be performed by a non-iterative and numerically robust algorithm. It is equally important to avoid awkward uncorrelatedness assumptions while defining measurement weighting factors, since they may severely compromise the statistical characterization of the final solution. To accomplish both objectives, a generalized $2\times 2$ block version of the 3-multiplier Givens rotations has been developed and is introduced in this paper. This leads to numerically stable solutions, whose statistical properties are preserved. The features and advantages of the proposed two-stage hybrid state estimator are illustrated through case studies conducted on the IEEE 14-bus, 30-bus, 57-bus, and 300-bus test systems.
Genetic Diversity in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Germplasm Collection from Ghana

Abstract Theobroma cacao L. with its center of diversity in Central and South America was first introduced to West Africa in the mid-19th century and today the region produces 70% of the world's cocoa. Several distinct cocoa types have been introduced, cultivated, and intercrossed across the region. Also, bi-parental crosses involving selections from various introductions have been planted on a large scale. Consequently, a wide range of genetic diversity that could be exploited for crop improvement is expected. The present study has been, therefore, undertaken to assess the degree and distribution of genetic diversity present in cocoa germplasm collections from the Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG), seed gardens and materials from farmers' plantations in Ghana, using molecular markers. Two hundred and thirty-five trees representing all the cocoa-growing regions of Ghana were sampled in situ from farmers' fields and grouped as farmers' collection. Another set of 104 trees was collected from breeders' seed gardens, called breeders' collection. Thirty-eight parental clones from the CRIG's collection, used in producing the bi-parental crosses, comprised the third category, called parental clones. The collections were screened with the set of 17 mapped microsatellite markers. Average gene diversity was high in all populations, with mean observed heterozygosity of 0.738. Although the highest was recorded in accessions from breeders' and parental collections, genetic diversity in the farmers' collection was comparable with them. Despite the low level of differentiation [Fst = 0.076] found across all the three groups, sufficient genetic differences existed between them, separating breeders' collection from farmers' collection. The study also revealed the pattern of adoption of available planting materials by farmers on their fields.
Eficiência simbiótica de progenitores de cultivares brasileiras de feijão-caupi

RESUMO - Devido a variabilidade das leguminosas quanto a eficiencia da fixacao biologica de nitrogenio (FBN), tem sido enfatizada a importância do melhoramento genetico vegetal no favorecimento da fixacao do nitrogenio. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiencia simbiotica de progenitores de cultivares brasileiras de feijao-caupi e dar suporte cientifico a inclusao da FBN ao programa de melhoramento genetico da cultura do feijao-caupi no Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido em Teresina, Piaui. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 6 x 5, com tres repeticoes, sendo seis fontes de N: quatro estirpes de bacterias diazotroficas (BR 3267, BR 3299, BR 3262 e INPA 03-11B), um tratamento com nitrogenio mineral e outro sem inoculacao e sem N; e cinco genotipos de feijao-caupi: quatro progenitores (TVu 1190, Pitiuba, CNC 0434 e Alagoano) e uma cultivar (BRS Guariba). Na analise de variância utilizou-se software SAS e as medias foram comparadas pelo teste Tukey. O progenitor Alagoano destacou-se dos demais em eficiencia de nodulacao, foi superior ao Pitiuba em massa seca de nodulos e diferiu do TVu 1190 em nitrogenio acumulado na parte aerea. Para nitrogenio derivado da fixacao biologica verificou-se uma variacao media de 49,42 a 65,50%. Nos componentes de producao, o Alagoano se destacou em massa de vagem, comprimento de vagem e massa de 100 sementes. Concluiu-se que os progenitores avaliados sao responsivos a FBN e que ha indicios de especificidade entre os progenitores e as estirpes de rizobio. O progenitor Alagoano apresenta resultados mais promissores nos componentes de nodulacao e producao. Palavras-chave: Feijao-caupi-melhoramento genetico. Plantas-inoculacao. Plantas-efeito do nitrogenio.
Long-Run and Short-Run Causality between Tourism sector and Economic growth: Evidence of VECM Analysis from COMESA countries

The aim of this paper is to analyze the causal relationship between Tourism sector and GDP growth in eight (8) COMESA countries during the period 2003 to 2017. By performing a vector error-correction model (VECM), our results reveal that no long-run and no short-run causality between the Tourism sector and Economic growth. which is not normal that the tourism sector has no impact on economic growth. this should remind the government, the decision makers to look at what is the problem in tourism sector. This sector should play an important role in boosting a nation's economy. Keywords: Vector error correction, Wald Test, COMESA countries, Tourism sector, Economic growth DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-8-13 Publication date: April 30 th 2020
Temporal Changes in Allele Frequencies Provide Estimates of Population Bottleneck Size

Abstract: Monitoring temporal changes in genetic variation can provide estimates of effective population size ( Ne ) that are useful for detecting population bottlenecks. We used Monte Carlo computer simulations to quantify the bias and precision of the Ne estimates obtained from temporal changes in allele frequencies at allozyme and microsatellite loci. The estimates of Ne overestimated the true Ne by 12–200% after 1–10 generations of a bottleneck of effective size 4. This magnitude of bias, however, is not likely to cause bottlenecks to go undetected or to cause misguided management recommendations. The bias was nearly negligible for bottlenecks of effective size ≥10, until approximately five bottleneck generations had passed. Three causes of the bias are the loss of alleles, the assumption that the increase in variance in allele frequencies with time is additive (instead of multiplicative), and the assumption that selfing can occur when it cannot. We derived a new equation that substantially reduces the bias. The precision of Ne estimates was sufficient that, when true Ne was 4, the 95% confidence interval bracketing a Ne estimate was <25 in 95% of 500 simulations (when only five microsatellite loci were monitored and when 30 individuals were sampled with a sampling interval of one generation). When the true Ne was 20, however, only 80% of the confidence intervals were <50 when we sampled 45 individuals and 20 microsatellite loci (i.e., loci with five alleles). High power to detect a bottleneck of effective size 4 can be achieved by monitoring only five microsatellite loci having five alleles each and sampling 30 individuals with a sampling interval of one generation. But achieving high power to detect bottlenecks of size Ne = 20 requires approximately 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci and 45 individuals with a one‐generation sampling interval.
Modelling of the flows and partitioning of carbon and nitrogen in the holoparasite Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. and its host Lupinus albus L. II. Flows between host and parasite and within the parasitized host

A recently developed empirically based modelling technique was used to quantify uptake, flow and utilization of C and N in Lupinus albus L. , uninfected and parasitized by Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. plants over a 12 d period during flowering and early fruit setting of the host. The modelling combined data on molar C:N ratios in host phloem and pressure-induced xylem sap, net increments of C and N in host and parasite plant parts and respiratory losses of C. The modelling of the solute transfer between host and Cuscuta was achieved by assuming non-specific intake from the xylem. The models predicted that Cuscuta derived 99.5% of its carbon and 93.6% of its nitrogen demand from the host phloem
A note on non-random mating in progeny tests

The regression of progeny on mid-parent value is often used in progeny tests to estimate the heritability of a quantitative character. The statistical precision of such an estimate can be considerably increased without increasing the size of the test, by using assortative mating or selection of parents (or both together) so as to increase the mid-parent variance; but the danger arises that this may introduce bias into the estimate through correlation between non-additive gene effects. It is shown by a mathematical argument that such bias will be negligible provided that all individual gene substitution effects are small compared with the phenotypic standard deviation of the character. Under this condition, deviations from additive effects either within or between loci will not appreciably affect the expected value of the regression on mid-parent, compared with its expected value in a test using random mating. Correlation between the non-additive gene effects is likely to cause more serious bias to the correlation between sibs, when non-random mating is used.
Review of the family Ismaridae Thomson, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Diaprioidea) from Iran

ABSTRACT During our studies on the family Ismaridae, three species from northern Iran were identified and illustrated: Ismarus dorsiger (Haliday, 1831), Ismarus halidayi Förster, 1850 and Ismarus rugulosus Förster, 1850. The first two species are new records for Iran. Diagnostic characters for all three species are provided along with illustrations. A key to the Iranian species of the genus Ismarus, as well as a distribution map of the recorded species throughout the world, is presented.
Comparing potential of GA and 2, 4-D in increasing fruit yield from Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas L. has been accepted world wide as a plant with tremendous commercial importance as a source for biodiesel. It is a monoecious plant with staminate and pistillate flowers on same inflorescence. The number of staminate flowers is higher than pistillate ones resulting in very low fruit yield. Altering the sex ratio, to increase number of female flowers would lead to better yield. Phytohormones are one of the most important factors known to alter sex ratio in plants. The mechanism by which phytohormones alter sex ratio differs in different plant species. Earlier studies from our laboratory have shown effect of exogenous application of GA and 2, 4-D on flowering patterns in Jatropha. Here we report a comparative study of the effect of exogenous application of GA and 2, 4-D (50 and 100 ppm) on flower sex modification in Jatropha curcas. There was considerable increase in total number of flowers and female: male flower ratio by application of GA and 2, 4-D. However, at higher concentration of GA a negative result as far as fruit yield is considered was seen. The reasons for this are reported here. 2, 4-D on the other hand increased the ratio of female flowers in a concentration dependent fashion. Of the four treatments reported here, we have observed that 2, 4-D (100 ppm) shows better results than GA and untreated plants. The reasons for this are discussed.
Gαi Is Not Required for Chemotaxis Mediated by Gi-coupled Receptors*

Pertussis toxin inhibits chemotaxis of neutrophils by preventing chemoattractant receptors from activating trimeric G proteins in the Gi subfamily. In HEK293 cells expressing recombinant receptors, directional migration toward appropriate agonist ligands requires release of free G protein βγ subunits and can be triggered by agonists for receptors coupled to Gi but not by agonists for receptors coupled to two other G proteins, Gs and Gq. Because activation of any G protein presumably releases free Gβγ, we tested the hypothesis that chemotaxis also requires activated α subunits (Gαi) of Gi proteins. HEK293 cells were stably cotransfected with the Gi-coupled receptor for interleukin-8, CXCR1, and with a chimeric Gα, Gαqz5, which resembles Gαi in susceptibility to activation by Gi-coupled receptors but cannot regulate the Gαi effector, adenylyl cyclase. These cells, unlike cells expressing CXCR1 alone, migrated toward interleukin-8 even after treatment with pertussis toxin, which prevents activation of endogenous Gαi but not that of Gαqz5. We infer that chemotaxis does not require activation of Gαi. Because chemotaxis is mediated by Gβγ subunits released when Gi-coupled receptors activate Gαqz5, but not when Gq- or Gs-coupled receptors activate their respective G proteins, we propose that Gi-coupled receptors transmit a necessary chemotactic signal that is independent of Gαi.
Characterization of Sol-gel Prepared Silica Supported NiO-CuO Composites

Samreen Zahra*, Dr. Narjis Naz, Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Irfan Asma Sheikh and Sania Izhar Mineral Processing Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore-54600, Pakistan. Department of Chemistry, Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road, Lahore-54610, Pakistan. Applied Chemistry Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore-54600, Pakistan. Pakistan Institute of Technology for Minerals and Advanced Engineering Materials, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore-54600, Pakistan. samreenzahra68@hotmail.com*
La determinación social del autismo en población infantil ecuatoriana

Introduction: The social determination of autism is an analysis from the perspective of the critical epidemiology and the neurodiversity paradigm, which objective is to understand autism holistically, therefore insertion from a personal reality to a group. The purpose of the study was to identify differential conditions and characteristics of families with children diagnosed with autism and families with children not diagnosed with autism and to analyze how these conditions are present with more or less strength in cases or in controls, to get to know the situation of autism disorder diagnosed children in the country. The investigation also evaluated the protective and destructive processes that surround them, with the purpose of raising hypothesis to confront in future studies. Development: The research focused on understanding how these logics are expressed in destructive or protective processes of the society-nature metabolism in their ways of life and analyzing how these intervene in the genotype and phenotype. A cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil, with 69 autism disorder diagnosed children and 91 neurotypical children, aged 2 to 12, revealed that 56.5% of the population with autism appears to be in the middle social and economic class in Quito and the poor social and economic one in Guayaquil. Their social and economic conditions limit the access to early diagnosis: 73.4 % of parents detected the signs of alarm before the children were three years old and took them to be evaluated by the paediatrician, without being able to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The population of a poor social and economic class presented a higher percentage of comorbidities than the one located in the middle class. The required expenditure fluctuated between 100 to 25 thousand dollars, according to the social insertion. Conclusion: These results show a clear differentiation between lifestyles, according to the socio-territorial condition of the sample.
Growth and Resource Allocation in Cucurbita pepo ssp. texana: Effects of Fruit Removal

Recent theory indicates that plants may be able to increase their fitness by adjusting the relative investment of resources in growth and reproduction, through the male or female function, in response to alterations in resource availability throughout the growing season. Fruit production has been shown to be costly to plants in terms of carbon and mineral nutrients that, otherwise, could be used for further growth, defense, or pollen production and dispersal. Consequently, the failure of flowers to initiate and/or produce mature fruits (e.g., because lack of pollination or flower predation) should free resources for growth, defense, and additional flower production. This prediction, however, assumes that plants have the physiological mechanisms to appropriately reallocate unused resources from the female function. This study examines whether plants of Cucurbita pepo ssp. texana reallocate resources from fruit/seed production to growth and flower production in response to the removal of pistillate flowers 1 d after anthesis. This wild gourd is an annual, monoecious vine that produces a single flower per reproductive node. We found that when plants were not permitted to allocate resources to fruit and seed production, the vines grew faster, initiated more staminate and pistillate flower buds, and produced more pistillate flowers but had a smaller proportion of staminate buds that reached anthesis and fewer staminate flowers on their main shoot than plants with fruit/seed production. These findings indicate that the resources that would have gone into fruit maturation were reallocated to growth and flower bud production. However, despite an increased investment in the production of staminate flower buds, a relative surplus of resources did not result in an increase in the production of staminate flowers. Recent findings concerning the physiology of sex expression in Cucurbita indicate that the failure of staminate flower buds to develop to anthesis results from an increase in the hormonal signal (ethylene) that stimulates pistillate flower development on vines without developing fruits.