Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction Model of Leaf Area in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract: Problem statement: Measure of leaf area by means of leaf area Meter is very expensive and difficult. Hence obtain of one simple model for calculate of leaf area in soybean (Glycine Max L.) is very necessary. Approach: In order to develop a suitable simple model for calculation of leaf area by means of leaf length and width, a Randomized Complete Block Design base donlit plot experiment with four replications was carried out in 2009 growing season at Karaj, Iran. Four soybean cultivars (Wiliams, Zane, L17 and M7) were used in the experiment. Totally, 1500 leaves for eight different times were measured in the experiment. Leaf width (W), length (W) and Leaf Area (LA) were measured. The actual leaf area of the plant was measured and regression model was fitted. Results: Pierson correlation showed that between actual leaf area relate to leaf width (R2 = 0.89), L A W (R2 = 0.98), W2 (R2 = 0.9), ln LAln W (R2 = 0.9), ln LW (R2 = 0.87) and (LW)2 (R2 = 0.93) have been positive correlation. Also between L A W and actual leaf area in Zane cultivar have been equation y= 1.173 x + 0.984 (R2 = 0.92), in Williams cultivar y= 1.147A+ 1.052 (R2 = 0.939), in M7 cultivar y= 1.116 x + 1.824 (R2 = 0.962) and in L17 cultivar y= 1.135 x + 0.865 (R2 = 0.976). Conclusion: Developed model was calculated y= 3.46344 â 12.73172 ln LA + 0.827 LW + 9.47628 LL + 12.20208 ln LW + 0.05655 hWW + 0.00074436 h LW. Relation among L×W and actual leaf area in all of the cultivars y = 1.129A+ 1.344 (R2 = 0.965). (h = half).
Subcellular localization of β-glucosidase in rye, maize and wheat seedlings

The subcellular compartmentation of β-glucosidase was studied in rye, maize and wheat seedlings by immunocytochemical methods. For detection, we used a 10 nm gold-labeled secondary antibody, and results were observed using transmission electron microscopy. In all three species, β-glucosidase was found in plastids, cytoplasm and cell walls. In rye, gold particles were seen on cell walls and cytoplasm in epidermal cells of the root tip and shoot, in bundle sheath cells of the shoot and in all cells, except the vascular bundle cells of the coleoptile. Gold labeling was also observed in plastids of the bundle sheath cells of rye shoot tips and in cortical cells of root tips. In wheat, gold labeling was observed on cell walls and cytoplasm of epidermal cells in the shoot base and coleoptile, and on cell walls and plastids in epidermal cells of the root tip. In maize, gold labeling was mainly found in plastids or proplastids in vascular bundle cells and bundle sheath cells of the shoot, in bundle sheath cells of the coleoptile and in epidermal cells of the root. Some gold particles were also found in cell walls and cytoplasm of stomatal guard cells of the shoot base and vascular bundle cells of the shoot tip and in the cell walls of bundle sheath cells of the shoot tip and root tip epidermal cells. Results are discussed in relation to the role of β-glucosidase in hydroxamic acid release and overall defense mechanism of monocotyledons.
Medicinal plants of South Africa

Medicinal plants of South Africa is a guide to the most commonly utilised medicinal plants in South Africa. The title includes: Detailed species descriptions of 132 medicinal plants. Each entry includes the following information: a description of the plant, the plant parts used, medicinal uses, preparation and dosage, active ingredients, pharmacological effects, and distribution. Distribution maps are included for each plant. More than 500 excellent full-colour photographs that will assist in the identification of medicinal plants and plant parts. Introductory chapters on cultural aspects of healing, methods of collection and storage, dosage forms and methods of preparation, and methods of administration. Plants listed according to ailments and a glossary of medical terms.
Embryonic development in two species of Chesias (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

The embryonic development of Chesias legatella Schiffermiiller and C. rufata Fabricius is described and compared. Eggs of C. rufata develop in approximately nine days at 20°C; those of C. legatella overwinter and hatch after five or six months. The morphology of the developing embryo is described in detail and is essentially similar in both species except during the formation and early development of the germ band. Morphogenesis is divided into a number of arbitrary stages and the relative duration of the different stages is compared in these and other species.
236. Characterising the stem cell activity of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells

The human endometrium has remarkable regenerative capacity. It contains rare clonogenic epithelial and stromal cells.1 The aims of this study were to compare the stem cell properties, self renewal, differentiation and proliferative potential, of endometrial cells initiating large clones (HPP-CFU, high proliferative potential–colony forming units) with those initiating small clones (LPP-CFU, low PP-CFU). Endometrial tissue obtained from 12 ovulating women undergoing hysterectomy was dissociated into single cell suspensions and epithelial and stromal cells were cultured at clonal density (8–20cells/cm2). Individual clones were harvested and serially recloned to measure self-renewal, serially passaged to assess proliferative potential and cultured in various media to assess differentiation. Secondary stromal clones were characterized for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers by flow cytometry. Epithelial HPP-CFU serially cloned significantly more times than epithelial LPP-CFU (P<0.005, Table1) indicating greater self renewal capacity. Similarly, stromal HPP-CFU demonstrated greater self renewal activity compared with stromal LPP-CFU (P<0.005, Table1). Serially passaged epithelial HPP-CFU underwent significantly more population doublings (PD) before senescence than epithelial LPP-CFU (P<0.05, Table1). Likewise, stromal HPP-CFU underwent a higher number of PD compared with stromal LPP-CFU (P<0.005, Table1). Stromal HPP-CFU expressed CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD146, and were negative for haemopoietic and endothelial markers, CD45, CD34 and CD31. Stromal HPP-CFU differentiated into adipocytes, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts and chondrocytes when cultured in appropriate differentiation media. Our studies of human endometrial cells demonstrate that the rare epithelial and stromal HPP-CFU exhibit self-renewal and high proliferative potential. Furthermore stromal HPP-CFU express markers typical of bone marrow MSC and differentiate into four mesenchymal lineages. These data suggest that epithelial and stromal HPP-CFU, but not LPP-CFU, have characteristic properties of adult epithelial stem cells and MSC respectively and are likely responsible for the remarkable cyclical, regenerative capacity of human endometrium.
Distribution of mycorrhiza on competing pines and weeds in a southern pine plantation

Mycorrhiza are important in the uptake of nutrients by plants, yet little is known about the distribution and function of the diverse fungal symbionts associated with competing plant species. The objective of our research was to investigate effects of weed competition on mycorrhizal development in a slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) plantation in order to better understand the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) weeds on ectomycorrhizal (EM) pines. Seedlings were planted in a typical Spodosol and samples were collected to a depth of 100 cm from weed-free (herbicide-treated) and weedy plots in the first and third growing seasons after outplanting. Pine roots were separated from weed roots before samples were assessed for fine root (< 3.0-mm diam.) length, surface area, and mycorrhizal status. Fine root length and surface area, as well as EM surface area, of pine generally decreased with depth and increased between Years 1 and 3. In contrast, fine root length of weedy species was fairly constant during the 3-yr period. The AM colonization of weeds followed a trend similar to that of fine root development. The depth distribution of EM pine roots and AM weedy roots exhibited complex interactions with treatment, time, and depth. There was generally greater mycorrhizal colonization of both AM on weedy species and EM on pine in the A soil horizon. Weed competition significantly affected the number of EM root tips and the distribution of EM morphotypes. Thelephora was generally the most abundant morphotype, followed by a white, rhizomorph-producing type (White Rhiz) and Cenococcum. An exception to this pattern was found in the near-surface soil (0-10 cm) of the weed-free plots, where White Rhiz was the most frequent morphotype. A challenge for the future is to evaluate the functional significance of changing patterns of EM in the field.
Early embryonic cleavage pattern, hatching success, and egg-lipid fatty acid composition: comparison between two cod (Gadus morhua) stocks

Baltic cod (Gadus morhua), from a brackish environment, were compared with oceanic (Skagerrak) cod in terms of early embryonic cleavage pattern, hatching success, and egg-lipid fatty acid composition. The influence of diet on these variables was investigated by analysing eggs from the Baltic stock, caught during three successive years and given controlled food for 24, 7, and 2 months, respectively, before the experiment commenced. Skagerrak cod eggs contained twice as much arachidonic acid (AA) in the phospholipid (PL) fraction as eggs from the Baltic cod, regardless of the length of time the Baltic cod had been kept in captivity and fed a control diet. Correlation between hatching rate and docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3)/ eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) ratio was significant (r2 = 0.56) as well as hatching rate and AA content of the PL fraction (r2 = 0.61). Symmetry during development, which was correlated to egg viability, was higher for eggs from Skagerrak than those from the Baltic stock. We sugge.
Multiple Paternity within the Fruits of the Wild Radish, Raphanus sativus

Evidence for concurrent multiple paternity has been gathered for a large number of diverse animal species. Despite conflicting theory regarding the likelihood of multiple paternity within the fruits of angiosperms, this phenomenon has yet to be investigated quantitatively in any natural plant population. Thus, I sought to examine the degree and extent of multiple paternity within individual fruits set in a small, isolated population of Raphanus sativus in southern California. In all, 246 seeds from 59 fruits and the tissue from their nine maternal parents were examined at six allozyme loci. Comparison of the multilocus genotypes of offspring to that of their maternal parent permitted calculation of minimum estimates of multiple paternity for each fruit. Multiple paternity occurred frequently in this sample, involving all of the assayed parents and at least 85% of the fruits overall. The minimum paternal donor number ranged from 1-4 (x̄ = 2.27). Likely sources of multiple paternity within radish fruits are pollen carry-over and multiple visits by pollen vectors.
Effect of Grazing and Browsing Fishes on the Zonation of Corals in Guam

Controlled coral transplant experiments were used to determine the effect of piscine corallivores on growth, zonation, and distribution of scleractinian corals in Guam. Pocillopora damicornis L. generally occurs only on the reef flat, reef margin (crest), and in lagoon habitats of the Indo—West Pacific. Although P. damicornis grows in deeper reef habitats in the eastern Pacific, it is seldom found in fore reef zones of the Indo—West Pacific. Colonies were transplated from a depth of 1.3 m in a barrier reef lagoon to depths of 15 and 30 m in fore reef zones of three fringing reefs, where P. damicornis was absent. All transplanted colonies were heavily fed upon and branch tips were removed primarily by chaetodontid and balistid fishes, but none of the colonies was killed. This feeding removed about one—fourth of the colony wet weight in 1 wk (°x 23.7% ± 2.4, .99 confidence limits, N = 118). There was a very significant differnt in the amount of fish feeding on transplants between three different study reefs.
Prediction of specificity and cross-reactivity of kinase inhibitors

Designing kinase inhibitors is always an area of interest because kinases are involved in many diseases. In the last one decade a large number of kinase inhibitors have been launched successfully; six inhibitors have been approved by FDA and more are under clinical trials. Cross-reactivity or off-target is one of the major problems in designing inhibitors against protein kinases; as human, have more than 500 kinases with high sequence similarity. In this study an attempt has been made to develop a model for predicting specificity and cross-reactivity of kinase inhibitors. The dataset used for test- ing and training consists of binding affinities of 20 chemical kinase inhibitors with protein kinases. We developed QSAR based SVM models for predicting binding affinity of an inhibitor against protein kinases using most relevant 5,10 and 15 structure descriptors and achieving average correlation of 0.64, 0.488 and 0.442 respectively. In or- der to predict specificity and cross-reactivity of an inhibitor, we developed 16 QSAR based SVM models for 16 protein kinases; one model for each kinase. We achieved average correlation 0.719 between actual and predicted binding affinity using kinase specific models. Based on the above study a web server DMKPred has been developed for predicting binding affinity of a drug molecule with 16 kinases. The SVM based model used in this study can be used to predict kinase spe- cific inhibitors. This study will be useful for designing kinase specific inhibitors.
Size-Dependent Effects of Continuous and Intermittent Feeding on Starvation Time and Mass Loss in Starving Yellow Perch Larvae and Juveniles

Abstract Starvation rates of fish larvae living in patchy prey environments can have an important impact on cohort survival and recruitment. Despite this, little is known about how fluctuations in feeding experience influence starvation resistance and how this changes with ontogeny. Fish previously exposed to fluctuating food densities may not respond to long periods without food in the same way as fish previously exposed to a constant prey density. In a series of laboratory experiments with larvae and juveniles of yellow perch Perca flavescens, we tested the effects of continuous and intermittent feeding on times to starvation and on mass loss up to death from starvation for fish with initial total lengths of 10, 15, and 20 mm. Results indicated that proportional mass loss up to starvation was independent of fish mass, but that it did depend on feeding history. Fish that fed continuously before starvation all died after losing the same proportion of body mass (55%), but intermittent feeders died when the.
Organization of a Tropical Guild of Nectarivorous Birds

Fourteen months' observations on hummingbird foraging patterns in successional habitats at Monteverde, Costa Rica, showed that one territorial species (Amazilia saucerottei) dominated rich resource clumps, modified all other species' patterns, and thus organized the nectarivorous bird guild. The principal nonterritorial species (Chlorostilbon canivetii), which Amazilia usually excluded from rich resources, traplined dispersed flowers and interfered with foraging patterns of other nonterritorial species. The 12 additional hummingbird species that foraged in the study habitats included species important in nearby communities, specialists on particular resources, and highly migratory opportunists. Foraging pattern diverged along several dimensions, including (1) the species or flower density of the individual plant; (2) the strata of flowers within the plant; and, since nectar was renewed at variable rates, (3) the time of day. Analysis of foraging patterns along these dimensions required that a hierarchy of niche breadth and overlap measures be defined and contrasted. Patterns compared over an entire year showed that the two principal species exploited the broadest niches, but overlapped only 17%. In no case did overall foraging patterns overlap more than 21%, and overlaps between many approached zero. These values, however, did not reveal the degree of exclusion from resources that were potentially exploitable, or the intensity of competition. Statistical correlations showed that most month—to—month changes in niche breadth, niche overlap, and population size could be attributed to shifts in the resource base. Of the 16 plant species exploited by hummingbirds, the forb Lobelia laxiflora and the tree Inga brenesii were responsible for most fluctuations in resource levels. Flowering peaks of both species attracted large numbers of hummingbirds; in general, numbers and diversity of hummingbirds rose with increased flower abundance rather than increased flower diversity. Lobelia nectar was effectively superabundant, and niche overlap during Lobelia peaks was high. Birds foraging in Inga trees, however, could diverge along spatial and diurnal dimensions, and overlap during Inga peaks was much lower. In between Lobelia and Inga peaks, the two principal hummingbird species usually dominated the guild, and expanded their niches but overlapped little. Each hummingbird species responded to that particular patterns of resource states it could best exploit, and the guild as a whole tracked the entire resource base. The cycle of resource flushes entrained these patterns to an annual rhythm.
Presenilin-1 P264L Knock-In Mutation: Differential Effects on Aβ Production, Amyloid Deposition, and Neuronal Vulnerability

The pathogenic mechanism linking presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene mutations to familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is uncertain, but has been proposed to include increased neuronal sensitivity to degeneration and enhanced amyloidogenic processing of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). We investigated this issue by using gene targeting with the Cre-lox system to introduce an FAD-linked P264L mutation into the endogenous mouse PS-1 gene, an approach that maintains normal regulatory controls over expression. Primary cortical neurons derived from PS-1 homozygous mutant knock-in mice exhibit basal neurodegeneration similar to their PS-1 wild-type counterparts. Staurosporine and Aβ1–42 induce apoptosis, and neither the dose dependence nor maximal extent of cell death is altered by the PS-1 knock-in mutation. Similarly, glutamate-induced neuronal necrosis is unaffected by the PS-1P264L mutation. The lack of effect of the PS-1P264L mutation is confirmed by measures of basal- and toxin-induced caspase and calpain activation, biochemical indices of apoptotic and necrotic signaling, respectively. To analyze the influence of the PS-1P264L knock-in mutation on APP processing and the development of AD-type neuropathology, we created mouse lines carrying mutations in both PS-1 and APP. In contrast to the lack of effect on neuronal vulnerability, cortical neurons cultured from PS-1P264L homozygous mutant mice secrete Aβ42 at an increased rate, whereas secretion of Aβ40 is reduced. Moreover, the PS-1 knock-in mutation selectively increases Aβ42 levels in the mouse brain and accelerates the onset of amyloid deposition and its attendant reactive gliosis, even as a single mutant allele. We conclude that expression of an FAD-linked mutant PS-1 at normal levels does not generally increase cortical neuronal sensitivity to degeneration. Instead, enhanced amyloidogenic processing of APP likely is critical to the pathogenesis of PS-1-linked FAD.
A Summary of the San Francisco Tidal Wetlands Restoration Series

The four topical articles of the Tidal Wetlands Restoration Series summarized and synthesized much of what is known about tidal wetlands and tidal wetland restoration in the San Francisco Estuary (hereafter “Estuary”). Despite a substantial amount of available information, major uncertainties remain. A major uncertainty with regard to fishes is the net benefit of restored tidal wetlands relative to other habitats for native fishes in different regions of the Estuary given the presence of numerous invasive alien species. With regard to organic carbon, a major uncertainty is the net benefit of land use change given uncertainty about the quantity and quality of different forms of organic carbon resulting from different land uses. A major challenge is determining the flux of organic carbon from open systems like tidal wetlands. Converting present land uses to tidal wetlands will almost certainly result in increased methylation of mercury at the local scale with associated accumulation of mercury within local food webs. However, it is unclear if such local accumulation is of concern for fish, wildlife or humans at the local scale or if cumulative effects at the regional scale will emerge. Based on available information it is expected that restored tidal wetlands will remain stable once constructed; however, there is uncertainty associated with the available data regarding the balance of sediment accretion, sea-level rise, and sediment erosion. There is also uncertainty regarding the cumulative effect of many tidal restoration projects on sediment supply. The conclusions of the articles highlight the need to adopt a regional and multidisciplinary approach to tidal wetland restoration in the Estuary. The Science Program of the CALFED effort provides an appropriate venue for addressing these issues.
EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION ON HIERARCHICAL LATERAL ROOT MORPHOLOGY AND PHOSPHORUS ACQUISITION IN SOYBEAN

Root growth systems are hierarchical and sensitive to nutrient availability in soil. Lateral roots are an important component of plant root morphology. Phosphorus (P) availability regulates root branching in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, barley (Hordeum vulgare), and rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, little information is available for soybean (Glycine max L.). A pot experiment was conducted to determine the morphological characteristics of lateral roots of different orders and P acquirement of soybean seedlings under three levels of applied P of 0, 50 and 100 mg P kg−1 soil. Root length, an important parameter of root characteristics, differed in four orders. Lateral roots in the second and third order contributed 39.4 and 34.2% of total root length, respectively. Moreover, since most of lateral roots were fine roots (roots having a diameter 0.5 mm), fine roots had a frequency distribution of 58.5 to 61.4% in the second and third orders. Phosphorus application significantly increased dry weight, total length and number of lateral roots in the four orders with the ranking of fourth > third > second > first (P ≤ 0.05), but did not affect the average length of a lateral root. Phosphorus application reduced the frequency distribution of fine lateral roots in the first and second orders, while increased in the third and fourth orders (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the medium P application (50 mg P kg−1 soil), the high P application (100 mg P kg−1 soil) inhibited lateral root growth with decreases in root dry weight, root length and root number at all orders. Phosphorus concentration and content increased with the increase in P application. The correlation between characteristics of lateral root and P status in the plants varied among root orders. The length of lateral roots from first to third order had a positive correlation with P concentration in root and shoot, and had a good relationship with P content. Lateral root numbers at the second, third and fourth orders were significantly correlated with P content while no correlation was found with the average length of a lateral root. It is proposed that the main effect of P application appears to be on the lateral root initiation rather than on lateral root elongation, and P favors the lateral root formation of the higher orders. The total length and number of lateral root at the second and third orders play a more important role in P content than those at other lateral root orders.