Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient solution screening of Fe chlorosis resistance in soybean evaluated by molecular characterization

Abstract Nutrient solution systems have been considered an alternative method to field evaluations for studies of iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and for breeding soybeans with improved iron efficiency. To map genes controlling IDC in nutrient solution, 120 F24 lines in a Pride B216 × A15 population, and 92 F24 lines in an Anoka × A7 population were grown in nutrient solution in greenhouse plantings and evaluated for IDC by visual scores and determinations of chlorophyll concentrations. Eighty‐nine restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in the Pride B216 x A15 population, and 82 RFLP, 14 SSR and one morphological (hilum color) markers in the Anoka x A7 population were used to construct linkage maps and to locate quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling IDC. In the Anoka × A7 population, one major gene on linkage group N, and modifying QTL on linkage groups A1 and I previously mapped during field tests also were identified in the nutrient solution test. Different genetic linkage groups in soybean have been identified by letters, and as such will be used throughout the paper. One newly identified QTL was mapped on linkage group B2. In the Pride B216 × A15 population, one QTL previously mapped on linkage group I during field tests was not identified in the nutrient solution test, and two newly identified QTL were mapped on linkage groups A2 and B1. QTL on linkage groups B2, G, H, L, and N were identified in both field and nutrient solution tests. Due to significant interaction between genotype and environment in both field and nutrient solution tests, QTL identifications from multiple environments were used to compare the similarity between field and nutrient solution tests. We concluded that similar QTL are identified in nutrient solution and field tests and therefore, both systems identify similar genetic mechanisms of iron uptake and/or utilization.
Challenges to Lake Superior's condition, assessment, and management: A few observations across a generation of change

Selected comparisons of water quality and biological properties in lakewide samplings of the early 1970s and 2005–2006 illustrate a range of ecological changes within Lake Superior over the last three decades. Comparisons depict warmed surface layers, and increased chloride and nitrate concentrations—confirming trends described in recent literature. Our comparisons also depict some spatial dimensions of change, showing vertical and horizontal patterns throughout the lake as a function of depth and from shallow to deepest waters. The selected physico-chemical examples speak to different scales of source drivers for change (from local, to basinwide, and even global) and highlight a lake in which some fundamental properties have been influenced in a short period relative to its long flushing time (∼170 years). One legacy of the past 30 years of study seems clear: the notion that Lake Superior, due to its vastness, is resistant to environmental forcing and very slow to change, has been modified. We use two important biological components to evaluate change and also to contrast biological distributions, highlighting that some fundamental aspects of food webs vary with depth. Reflecting on these observations, we offer a perspective on how well we keep track of the condition and functioning of the lake, and how we might improve assessments to more actively inform management. Without more frequent biological sampling across all depth zones of the lake, there will continue to be limited ability to assess the nature and causes of ecological change, even when some changes are detected. Knowing that physico-chemical changes can occur relatively quickly (within decades), that the mechanisms for change can be expressed over different spatial dimensions of the lake, and that biology is distributed heterogeneously over these spatial dimensions, we argue the need to increase the degree (the spatial comprehensiveness, frequency, and integration of components) to which the lake is assessed.
Taking a Feminist Disability Studies Approach to Fundamental British Values

In this article, Fundamental British Values (FBV) are understood as a token attempt toward societal inclusion and empowerment of all citizens. Rather than providing meaningful routes for all individuals to be included in British citizenship, FBV are built on foundations of “inclusionism”—the inclusion of marginalized identity groups in society, on the premise that existing social structures are not threatened. Disabled women’s responses to sociocultural stereotypes surrounding disability and gender are interpreted through a feminist disability studies lens. Empirical data, gathered within a larger research project which examined disabled women’s responses to the representation of disabled women in Anglo-American advertising, are drawn on and connections are made between the growing trend of promoting diversity in advertising, and superficial approaches to diversity and empowerment of all citizens, enacted in FBV. Two key themes underpin this critical discussion: participant resistance to “pity” narratives surrounding the portrayal of disabled women in advertising and disabled women’s navigation of “belonging” in exclusionary environments.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF HOST–PARASITE RELATIONS: XVI. FINE STRUCTURE OF THE NUCLEUS IN THE RUST-INFECTED MESOPHYLL CELLS OF WHEAT

The nuclei in rust-infected mesophyll cells of Little Club wheat were examined by electron microscopy. There was a marked increase in the electron density of the diffuse, interchromatin regions of the nuclei at a stage in rust development (8 days after inoculation) at which two- to three-fold increases in RNA are known to occur. In the late stages of rust development (20 to 23 days after inoculation) the interchromatin material disappeared and the dense chromatin disintegrated.
CELL DIVISION AND MORPHOGENESIS OF THE CENTRIC DIATOM CHAETOCEROS DECIPIENS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) II. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND A NEW PARADIGM FOR TIP GROWTH

Valve morphogenesis starts when the silica deposition vesicle (SDV) expands across a cleavage furrow covered by an unidentified layer, which may aid in its shaping. A labiate process (LP) is present only in the outer valve of terminal cells in the filament. Before these particular cells form setae, a layered “labiate process apparatus” (LPA) appears on the SDV in the exact center of the forming valve, near the microtubule center arising after cleavage. The LPA thereafter surmounts the lips of the LP as it forms. After the girdle bands separate slightly, two lateral protrusions develop in the corners of the cell. These nascent setae are lined internally by a cylindrical, fibrous band (sleeve), which assembles immediately ahead of the expanding edge of the SDV, very close to the plasmalemma. Then these protrusions, lined by the fibrous band, the SDV, and the forming silica wall, grow through two gaps in the girdle bands. The cytoplasm at the tip of the growing seta is naked. Immediately behind the tip, this fibrous band is adpressed to the plasmalemma and thereby apparently defines the diameter of the seta; it extends to internally ensheath the tipmost edge of the SDV for a short distance, like a tight‐fitting inner sleeve. This structure is considered the major organelle involved in seta morphogenesis. Microtubules (MTs), while present, are variable in extent and disposition within the seta. Turgor pressure is considered irrelevant in driving seta growth. Instead, a new paradigm proposed for tip‐growing cells generally, may apply to seta morphogenesis, as follows. If, as is suspected, the fibrous band contains actin, cycling of this actin (as in animal cells undergoing ruffling or filopodial extension) could drive seta extension via attachment of the band to the just‐formed silica wall. The band is visualized as a molecular treadmill whose support base, the new wall, is being continually extended; extension is controlled and generated strictly at the tip.
Employee Rewards and Its Performance Implication: A South Eastern Nigeria Experience

The seeming unending controversy between employers and employees in the workplace which have most often led to some sort of faceoff between both parties necessitated this study which looked at employee rewards and how it impacts on job performance of civil servants in South East of Nigeria. The work was anchored on Victor Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 26,741 civil servants from South Eastern States of Nigeria. A sample size of 5136 was arrived at through the application of Borg and Gall method. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient while hypotheses were tested at 0.05 (5%) significance level. The study revealed that there was a statistical significant relationship between employee recognition and performance in civil service in South East of Nigeria (r = .819, p-value < 0.05) and that there was a statistical significant relationship between staff development and employee performance in civil service in South East of Nigeria (r = .586, p-value < 0.05). Sequel to this, it was concluded that reward systems has significant performance implication for civil servants. Following this, it was recommended among other things that it is the duty of government to fashion out best methods of recognizing employees who distinguish themselves while carrying out their assigned tasks and that government needs to always identify training needs of the workers through effective performance appraisal and staff development practices. Original Research Article Emejulu; AJEBA, 15(2): 8-15, 2020; Article no.AJEBA. 56622 9
A cDNA microarray for the three‐spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., and analysis of the interactive effects of oestradiol and dibenzanthracene exposures

The stickleback is a useful model species for aquatic toxicology and endocrinology and with the recent sequencing of its genome, ecotoxicogenomics. The effects of treatment on male and female sticklebacks with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), dibenzanthracene (DbA), the female hormone, 17b-oestradiol (E2) and a binary mixture of the two were investigated. Quantitative RT-PCR assays were carried out for cytochrome P450 1A (cyp1A), vitellogenin (VTG) and oestrogen receptor alpha, and cyp1A enzyme activity was assessed by measurement of ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activity , VTG and spiggin protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A stickleback cDNA microarray consisting of 9692 clones was developed and used to assess gene expression responses to the treatments. Induction of cyp1A mRNA and EROD activity was seen in both sexes in response to DbA and a further induction of cyp1A found with the binary treatment. VTG mRNA was induced in male fish exposed to E2 and the binary mixture, while for females, statistically significant induction was seen only with the binary mixture. Similar behaviour was found with zona pellucida and chorion protein mRNA using the microarray. ERa mRNA was induced with E2 and the binary mixture in both sexes. The microarray showed additional transcripts that were differentially regulated by these treatments, which provide novel candidates for biomarker development and mechanistic studies.
The Father's Tragedy: Assessing Paternity in Statius, Silvae 2.1

summary:Silvae 2.1 mourns Glaucias, libertus-foster child of Atedius Melior. Statius's allusions to Vergil's Aeneid examine fatherhood as a model for understanding other hierarchical relationships. Statius probes Vergil's implied justification of Augustus's rule as patria potestas via the princeps' mythical descent from Rome's founding father, Aeneas. Writing under Domitian—no Julio-Claudian—Statius scrutinizes an imperial authority still conceptualized as patriarchy. By substituting a freed slave-child, a bereaved old man and possibly an assassin's victim for Vergil's heroic vessels of Rome's future, Aeneas and Anchises, Silvae 2.1 traces how the Aeneid's logic of patrilineal superiority infantilizes and imperils even élite imperial subjects.
Enhanced Charge Transfer and Responsivity in Hybrid Quantum Dot/Graphene Photodetectors Using ZnO as Intermediate Electron‐Collecting Layer

Hybrid graphene (Gr)–quantum dot (QD) photodetectors have shown ultrahigh photoresponsivity combining the strong light absorption of QDs with the high mobility of Gr. QDs absorb light and generate photocarriers that are efficiently transported by Gr. Typically, hybrid PbS–QD/graphene photodetectors operate by transferring photogenerated holes from the QDs to Gr while photoelectrons stay in the QDs inducing a photogating mechanism that achieves a responsivity of 6 × 107 A W−1. However, despite such high gain, these systems have poor charge collection with quantum efficiency below 25%. Herein, a ZnO intermediate layer (PbS‐QD/ZnO/Gr) is introduced to improve charge collection by forming an effective p‐n PbS‐ZnO junction driving the electrons to the ZnO layer and then to Gr. This improves the photoresponsivity of the devices by nearly an order of magnitude with respect to devices without ZnO. Charge transfer to Gr is demonstrated by monitoring the change in Fermi level under illumination for conventional PbS‐QD/Gr and for ZnO intermediate PbS‐QD/ZnO/Gr devices. These results improve the capabilities of hybrid QD/Gr configurations for optoelectronic devices.
Increasing forest growth in europe — possible causes and implications for sustainable forest management

ABSTRACT Recent studies have shown that growth rates of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica in Europe has increased. Average volume growth rate has increased by around +50% and height growth rate by around +10%. This paper attempts to match this size of growth change to those that have been reported after experimental manipulation of certain environmental forcing agents, that are known to have changed recently (CO2; anthropogenic N; changes in temperature or rainfall and recovery from past forest utilisation). It concludes that it is unlikely that any one agent alone is capable of consistently and solely increasing growth rates to the levels observed. Thus the cumulative growth gains probably arise as a result of a combination of factors. Given the difficulty of experimenting on large trees, the paper advances a series of hypotheses, which might be used to separate the relative impacts of each agent through field-based studies. The consequences for sustainable forest management are two-fold. In the first place what constitutes sustainability is obviously dynamic and affected by management. Sustainable levels of production set in the immediate post-war years would have been lower than is the case today. Indeed, in Europe that is largely what has happened. Partly as a result, the harvest in Europe is today 70% or less of what is really sustainable. In the second place, we need to be aware of the likely human factor in the recently accelerated growth rate. It seems likely that at least a component of the recovery in growth rates is due to the cessation of deleterious practices — grazing, litter-raking, charcoal-burning.
A model of the effect of codling moth granulosis virus on Cydia pomonella

Summary A model was developed based on an initial ingestion phase, followed by a period of virus multiplication and host death, to describe the effects of codling moth granulosis virus (CpGV) concentration and time from initial infection on the percentage of codling moth larvae (Cydia pornonella) dying from virus infection in the laboratory. With modification, this model also described the effect of CpGV concentration on the reduction of damage to fruit by C. pomonella larvae in the field. In both cases, the effect of CpGV increased with the l/10th power of virus concentration. LT50 (time to death of 50% of larvae) was inversely related to virus concentration in the laboratory. The model predicts the threshold concentration for death of larvae, as well as LD50(C50 and LD90(C 90,) for all ages of larvae. The model also predicts that if the majority of larvae entered through the sides of apple fruits, rather than through the calyx or near the stalk (as they probably did in the field), then the efficacy of CpGV in reducing fruit damage would be lowered. This effect of site of entry is especially marked at low virus concentrations.
EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO SUBLETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF GAMMALIN 20 AND ACTELLIC 25 EC ON THE LIVER AND SERUM LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN THE FISH Clarias albopunctatus

One hundred and eighty adult Clarias albopunctatus (mean weight 160 ± 2.7g) were subjected to sublethal concentrations of Gammalin 20 and Actellic 25 EC (0, 0.3; and 1.0 m g/l) in a static bioassay renewal system for 18 days. The changes in the activities of the liver and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during the period of exposure were studied. The exposure of C. albopunctatus to these pesticides evoked significant increase (P< 0.05) in both the liver and serum LDH activities. There was a progressive increase in both the liver and serum LDH activities following exposure to the pesticides. When compared with the control, the LDH activities were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the treatment groups. The LDH activities in both the liver and the serum were higher in the fish exposed to Gammalin 20 than in the fish treated with similar concentrations of Actellic 25 EC. The serum LDH activity in the group exposed to a mixture of 0.3 m g/l of Gammalin 20 and Actellic 25 EC was significantly higher the activities in the fish exposed the either 0.3 m g/l Gammalin 20 or Actellic 25 EC. These observations suggest that these pesticides affect the energy metabolism of the fish.
Synchronization for an MMC Distributed Control System Considering Disturbances Introduced by Submodule Asynchrony

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a promising topology for HVdc applications, which typically adopts a distributed control architecture to manage considerable submodules (SMs) in the system. SM synchronization is necessary for an MMC distributed control system to cope with the local controller clock discrepancy and asynchrony due to the manufacturing tolerance. This article proposes a synchronization scheme for the MMC distributed control system taking the disturbances introduced by the SM asynchrony into account. The MMC models considering SM asynchrony reveal that the asynchrony introduces harmonics around the carrier frequency in MMC output and the circulating current. The interaction between the SM switching harmonics and arm current harmonics leads to divergence of the capacitor voltages. The MMC distributed control system cannot entirely restrain the voltage divergence and maintain the system stability owing to the control capability saturation of the balancing controller. According to the theoretical analysis, the synchronization interval is properly selected considering the harmonic contents in the MMC output, the capacitor voltage deviation, and the distributed control system stability. The theoretical models and the proposed synchronization scheme are validated experimentally on an MMC prototype.
Can economic policy uncertainty reduce a firm's trade credit?

We examine how economic policy uncertainty (EPU) impacts on Chinese firm’s trade credit. We find a significant negative relationship between EPU and both firm’s account payable (receiving) and account receivable (offering). These results were more pronounced for non-state-owned enterprises, firms located in high marketisation and high trust regions, and survived after the endogeneity tests.
Changes in Color Response of MTT formazan by Zinc Protoporphyrin

Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) is produced endogenously during heme metabolism and treated in cells as a heme oxygenase inhibitor. In the present study, the effects of ZnPP on the color response of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, a commonly-used method for analyzing cell viability, were investigated. ZnPP induced rapid decolorizaion of MTT formazan under light; the degradation rates were 10- and 20- folds faster in the presence of 5 and 10 µM ZnPP, respectively. Methylene blue (MB), another type of photosensitizer, also accelerated degradation of formazan under light. Butylated hyroxytoluene did not inhibit ZnPP- or MB-induced formazan degradation. The color degradation of formazan dye was signficantly delayed in the presence of N-acetylcysteine or β-carotene. The present results suggest that certain photosensitizing compounds may affect the color and stability of MTT formazan, which should be carefully considered when conducting the MTT assay.
Frequency-Agile FFT Spectrometer for Microwave Remote Sensing Applications

We report on a Fast Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FFTS) that provides larger bandwidth by fast local oscillator switching of the base-band converter. We demonstrate that this frequency scanning technique is suited for atmospheric remote sensing and conduct measurements of atmospheric ozone using the WIRA-C (WInd RAdiometer for Campaigns) Doppler wind radiometer. The comparison of our measurements to an adjusted atmospheric and instrumental model exposes no systematic biases due to the switching procedure in the measured spectra. It further shows that the combination of high spectral resolution with large bandwidth yields good measurement response to stratospheric and mesospheric ozone from approximately a 20 km to 70 km altitude with a resolution of 7 km in the lower stratosphere to 20 km in the mesosphere. We conclude that low-cost, low-power software-defined radio hardware designed for communications applications is very well suited for a variety of spectroscopic applications, including ozone monitoring. This allows the design of low-cost, multi-purpose instruments for atmospheric remote sensing and thus has a direct impact on future radiometer developments and their adoption in remote sensing campaigns and networks.
Modeling Improved Performance of Reduced-Height Biosand Water Filter Designs

Point-of-use biosand water filters are widely distributed in undeveloped or developing regions due to their water treatment success and low-cost design, but two gaps remain in the basic technology: (1) the filter body is oversized relative to its contaminant removal performance, and (2) the heavy design largely excludes difficult to reach locations in need of clean water solutions. Here, we model design modifications to the v.10 Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology biosand filter using a reduced filter height, increased biolayer area, and conserved reservoir volume. We compare the hydraulic characteristics (dynamic velocity and head pressure) and percent contaminant removal of bacteria Escherichia coli and virus MS2 of the modified designs to the traditional control design using a finite element approximation of Darcy’s law with discrete time steps and a slow-sand filtration model. We demonstrate that a reduced-height design has a greater impact on contaminant removal compared to the traditional design (largely due to the increased residence time from the decreased flow rate inside the filter). For example, our 70% reduced-height filter design removed 99.5% and 73.93% of E. coli and MS2, respectively, where the traditional filter design removed 62.81% and 27.6%, respectively. Reduced-height designs should be pursued as a viable solution to improve filter performance while allowing for alternative construction techniques with greater end-user accessibility compared to the traditional design.