Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abscisic acid and the control of seed dormancy and germination

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that regulates seed dormancy and germination. Seeds undergo changes in both ABA content and sensitivity during seed development and germination in response to internal and external cues. Recent advances in functional genomics have revealed the integral components involved in ABA metabolism (biosynthesis and catabolism) and perception, the core signalling pathway, as well as the factors that trigger ABA-mediated transcription. These allow for comparative studies to be conducted on seeds under different environmental conditions and from different genetic backgrounds. This review summarizes our understanding of the control of ABA content and the responsiveness of seeds to afterripening, light, high temperature and nitrate, with a focus on which tissues are involved in its metabolism and signalling. Also described are the regulators of ABA metabolism and signalling, which potentially act as the node for hormone crosstalk. Integration of such knowledge into the complex and diverse events occurring during seed germination will be the next challenge, which will allow for a clearer understanding of the role of ABA.
NECTARIOS EXTRANUPCIALES FLORALES EN ESPECIES DE BIGNONIACEAE DE ARGENTINA

Rivera G. L. 2000. Floral extranuptial nectaries in Bignoniaceae from Argentina. Darwiniana 38(1-2): 1-10. Extranuptial nectaries are found in almost all flowers of the studied species, and always on the calyx. Their shape varies from patelliform to cupuliform. Considering their anatomy, three groups of cells are distinguished: (i) a secretory stratum of cylindrical, elongated cells, resting upon (ii) a layer or a single basal cell, and (iii) a reduced group of subepidermic cells. Based upon these characteristics, the terms simple and complex are proposed to describe extranuptial nectaries with one or with many basal cells respectively. This anatomic nectary feature is maintained within the level of species, thus becoming a significant specific character. The two types of extranuptial nectaries can be found within a genus, constituting an important character to differentiate similar species.
Introduction

The articles in this volume were originally prepared for a research forum on nonprofit strategy sponsored by the Social Enterprise Initiative at Harvard Business School in November 1998. The forum centered on the question of whether the management challenges of nonprofit organizations are distinctive enough from those of businesses to warrant the development of different strategy models and frameworks. Our interest in this question is derived from two sources. The first source was our experience over the previous 4 years working with hundreds of nonprofit managers and board leaders from a wide range of nonprofit organizations to help them adopt a more focused, strategic approach to steering their organizations. The feedback from these practitioners was that strategy models developed for for-profit organizations were relevant for their purposes, but these models required significant modification or adjustment to work in nonprofit settings. Furthermore, they contended that for-profit strategy models missed many important aspects of nonprofit strategy, including for instance, fund-raising, political strategy, and the distinctive nature of competition and cooperation that characterizes the sector. The second source driving our interest came from our comparative reading of the literatures on corporate versus nonprofit strategy. The concept of corporate strategy originated in the 1960s and 1970s as business scholars began to distinguish the roles of general managers from those of specialists. By the early 1980s, the task of charting the long-term direction of an enterprise, or strategic planning, had become widely accepted as an important task for general managers. The early models of corporate strategy—which we term question models— identified systematic series of questions that corporate leaders needed to consider in setting corporate strategy. One of the earliest and most influential question models, for instance, recommended a series of questions that led
Breaking dormancy: an energy-efficient means of recovering astaxanthin from microalgae

Haematococcus pluvialis, in the dormant aplanospore (cyst) status after 30 d of cultivation, accumulates high levels of a superpotent antioxidant, astaxanthin, which has been demonstrated to have enormous therapeutic benefits. However, owing to the robust structure of its trilayered cell wall, the recovery of astaxanthin from the cyst cells remains an energy-intensive process. In the present study, a novel strategy utilizing a short-period germination based on the natural life cycle of H. pluvialis was developed as an energy-efficient pretreatment for the extraction of astaxanthin using ionic liquids (ILs) as green solvents. The germination resulted in damage and deconstruction of the cyst cell wall, and thereby facilitated the extraction of astaxanthin by ILs at room temperature. By this natural pretreatment with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate for a very short reaction time of 1 min, a high astaxanthin yield of 19.5 pg per cell was obtained, which was about 82% of a conventional volatile organic solvent extraction by strong, 30 000 psi French-pressure-cell homogenization. The maximal astaxanthin-extraction yield from H. pluvialis cells was observed for 12–18 h germination. The germination rate furthermore could be improved by manipulating the nutritional composition (especially the nitrate concentration) of the culture medium. In light of these results, it can be posited that natural germination following the principles of green chemistry can be a uniquely simple method of robust microalgal cyst cell pretreatment and extraction of astaxanthin with room-temperature ILs.
Effect of level and source of dietary energy and/or enzyme additions on productive performance and egg quality of Japanese quail hens.

The effect of inclusion 20% of rice bran (RB) or broken rice (BR) in all mash- vegetable diets containing either 2700 kcal/kg diet low energy (LE) or 2900 kcal ME/kg diet high energy (HE) without or with 1 g Avizyme-1500/kg, or phytase at 1000 /750 FYT/kg during growing/laying stage diet for Japanese quail (JQ) hens was undertaken. Thus, 2x3x3 factorial design was used. Diets were fed from day 14 to 98 of age. During the laying period nutrient profiles of the diets e.g. Ca, P and CP/amino acids were adjusted according to NRC (1994) to meet requirements for JQ breeding hens. There were 24 females/treatment allocated to 3 replications of 8 females/replicate. Feeding HE increased (p<0.05) age at 40% egg laying rate (ELR), egg weight (EW) and BWG, while LE increased (p<0.05) ELR, egg mass (EM), feed intake (FI), and improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), energy conversion ratio (ECR), and Haugh unit score. Including 20% RB or BR improved (p<0.05) ELR, EM and BWG, whereas RB or BR had no effect on EW. Including RB and BR improved FCR by 7.2 and 7.7%, respectively compared to the control diet. Yolk colour and Haugh unit score were decreased ( p<0.05) due to dietary inclusion of RB and BR, with the effect of BR was more severe. Phytase and Avizyme improved (p<0.05) ELR, EW, EM, FCR and ECR, while decrease age at 40% ELR compared to control diet. Phytase (p<0.05) improved shell thickness compared to the control and Avizyme groups . Avizyme and phytase additions to the LE- and the HE-diet improved ELR and EM. There were interactions (p<0.05) between level and sources of dietary energy and enzyme additions, indicating that effect of enzymes depends on energy level and/or source. In conclusion, phytase and Avizyme supplementation improved productive performance, while the best performance was of phytase supplemented LE-corn-soybean meal diet and Avizyme supplemented-LE-BR diet and without negative effect on egg quality traits.
Cranial ontogeny of Caluromys philander (Didelphidae: Caluromyinae): a qualitative and quantitative approach

Abstract The ontogeny of skull allometry has been the subject of research in didelphid, microbiotheriid, and dasyurid marsupials. We described and compared postweaning stages of cranial development in the woolly opossum Caluromys philander, a member of a distinct lineage of didelphids. We identified 31 qualitative morphological changes between juveniles and adults, many related to the trophic apparatus. Early development of the paracanine fossa in the snout, correlated with the presence of well-developed canines in juveniles, represents a remarkable difference between the ontogeny of C. philander and other marsupials. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses of allometry on a data set composed of 14 cranial measurements and 45 specimens. Allometric scaling showed that braincase is relatively small in adulthood, whereas other neurocranial components, particularly the orbit, grew isometrically along its length. The palate becomes elongated by the combination of the isometry of its length and the negative allometry of its width. The rostrum lengthened, but its height remained proportionally constant. In relative terms the temporal fossa expanded inward following the marsupial model that combines the negative allometry of the braincase and the isometry of the zygomatic breadth. The mandible increased in robustness. The skull ontogeny of C. philander shares 4 allometric trends with 2 didelphids (Didelphis albiventris and Lutreolina crassicaudata) and two australidelphians (Dromiciops gliroides and Dasyurus albopunctatus). Three of these trends, breadth of palate, breadth of braincase, and height of occipital plate, were allometrically negative, whereas height of the dentary was positive. These common allometric trends may be interpreted as symplesiomorphic for marsupials, suggesting a high degree of conservatism in the skull development of Caluromys and other marsupials.
H+‐Gated Cation Channelsa

ABSTRACT: H+‐gated cation channels are members of a new family of ionic channels, which includes the epithelial Na+ channel and the FMRFamide‐activated Na+ channel. ASIC, the first member of the H+‐gated Na+ channel subfamily, is expressed in brain and dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs). It is activated by pHe variations below pH 7. The presence of this channel throughout the brain suggests that the H+ might play an essential role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. The ASIC channel is also present in dorsal root ganglion cells, as is its homolog DRASIC, which is specifically present in DRGs and absent in the brain. Since external acidification is a major factor in pain associated with inflammation, hematomas, cardiac or muscle ischemia, or cancer, these two channel proteins are potentially central players in pain perception. ASIC activates and inactivates rapidly, while DRASIC has both a fast and sustained component. Other members of this family such as MDEG1 and MDEG2 are either H+‐gated Na+ channels by themselves (MDEG1) or modulators of H+‐gated channels formed by ASIC and DRASIC. MDEG1 is of particular interest because the same mutations that produce selective neurodegeneration in C. elegans mechanosensitive neurons, when introduced in MDEG1, also produce neurodegeneration. MDEG2 is selectively expressed in DRGs, where it assembles with DRASIC to radically change its biophysical properties, making it similar to the native H+‐gated channel, which is presently the best candidate for pain perception.
Makemytrip.com (A)

The case presents a situation where MMT has developed a plan for launching its business in India. It is analysed using some of the concepts that would help in determining whether the plan is based on consumer insights. In a new market that is full of opportunities, it is necessary to have not only a good entry strategy but an equally good sustainability strategy. A successful first mover would attract competitors very quickly, especially in businesses that do not require major upfront capital investments. Finding the right customer value, appropriating it, and delivering it consistently with the changing customer requirements, are the key to success in such markets.
Urgency-related alarm calling in Arabian babblers, Turdoides squamiceps: predator distance matters in the use of alarm call types

Alarm call systems can be broadly categorised into functionally referential and urgency based. In the former, different categories of predators evoke structurally distinct call types which elicit different responses also in the absence of the predator stimulus. In the latter, call parameters and/or call use vary gradually with the degree of perceived risk. However, call types that are typically uttered in the presence of a certain predator category may occasionally occur also in response to other predators. Such ‘cross taxon calling’ indicates the possibility that also the differential use of acoustically distinct call types could be urgency based. The call system of Arabian babblers (Turdoides squamiceps) comprises three structurally distinct alarm call types. Two of them seem to be predominantly used towards two different predator types, but all call types also occur simultaneously in the same predator context. We hypothesised that in Arabian babblers the differential use of alarm call types reflects an urgency based alarm call system. To test this, we confronted groups of Arabian babblers with an owl dummy in two different distances (‘near’ and ‘far’), representing two degrees of risk or response urgency. We found that not general call type occurrence but call use differed between the two treatments: birds started trilling earlier in the near treatment and uttered more barks in the far treatment. We conclude that the differential use of call types is mediated by the degree of threat a caller perceives. Finally, we synthesize our results together with the findings of other field studies on alarm calling in Arabian babblers and suggest different functions for the three different call types based on their distance related occurrence and acoustic characteristics.
SEASONAL MIGRATION, SPECIATION, AND MORPHOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE IN THE GENUS CATHARUS (TURDIDAE)

Abstract The effects of seasonal migration on evolutionary change within lineages is poorly understood, in terms of both differentiation (cladogenesis) and specialization (anagenesis). Regarding differentiation, two contradictory hypotheses exist: Seasonal migration counters differentiation; or it can stimulate differentiation by exposing lineages to new environments. Regarding specialization, the morphological consequences of a migratory life history have not been well explored. We examined these issues by reconstructing morphological and molecular phylogenies of the genus Catharus (Turdidae), a group of forest-dwelling, New World thrushes traditionally considered to include a small “species flock” of Nearctic-Neotropic migrants. DNA sequence data (2,920–3,027 base pairs) do not support traditional taxonomy, and morphological characters conflicted with these data. Results suggest that long-distance seasonal migration arose independently four times in Catharus sensu lato (including Hylocichla mustelina). Correlated morphological evolution occurred among several characters in these lineages, and these shared traits may stem from ecological conditions in Nearctic forests. Migración Estacional, Especiación y Convergencia Morfológica en el Género Catharus (Turdidae)
Early Gene Expression in Mouse Spleen Cells after Exposure to Nickel Acetate

Exposure to soluble nickel compound produces toxic effects on immune system, but the mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Differential gene expression was studied to understand the potential molecular mechanism responsible for acute toxicity induced by nickel acetate in spleen cells. We exposed mouse spleen cells to nickel acetate with a nontoxic dose (40 μM) and then extracted total RNA at 6 h and 12 h after exposure. The RNA was hybridized onto 10K mouse oligonucleotide microarrays, and data were analyzed using GeneSpring 7.1. Nickel had a modest effects on expression of many genes, in the range of 1.3~3 fold. The expression profile showed time-dependent changes in expression levels of differentially expressed genes, including some important genes related to cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA repair. In hierarchical cluster analysis of duplicate experiments, 111 genes were screened out. Out of these, 44 genes showing timedependent up-regulation (＞1.5 fold) and 38 genes showing down-regulation (＜1.5 fold) at all time points were chosen for further analysis. The change in the expression of three genes (GPX1, GADD45B and FAIM) after nickel treatment was validated using RT-PCR. As a rule, a number of genes appear to be coordinately regulated between cell survival and cell death from nickel toxicity. In conclusion, changes in the gene profile in the spleen after nickel treatment are complex and genes with diverse functions are modulated. These findings will be contributed to the understanding of the complicated biological effects of nickel.
Improved Deep Residual Convolution Neural Network for Detection of Arrythmia from Electrocardiographic Data

Deep Learning (DL) has enormous applications in different areas, including medical field. It is very critical task to detect irregularities in heart signals. For better monitoring of heart, easy-to-use and non-invasive tool is the electrocardiogram (ECG). To find cardiac arrhythmias, doctors frequently utilize ECG. In order to automate the categorization of arrhythmias, this research suggests an enhanced Deep Residual Convolution Neural Network (CNN) Model. Preprocessing of ECG Data is the first step in the suggested method. Focal loss will be used to solve imbalance classification difficulty among classes. is in this study. Performance evaluation is done by measuring Accuracy, Recall, Precision and F1-score for MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. Additionally, with accuracy of 99.55%, our upgraded ResNet50 model surpassed other established models in the literature.
A review of the aquatic ecotoxicology of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans

This paper reviews published studies on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans that are relevant to an assessment of their aquatic ecotoxicology. The available data suggest that laterally substituted congeners containing altogether 4,5, or 6 chlorine atoms are highly toxic, particularly to the early life stages of fish, with reported effect concentrations in the ng L1 range. These congeners are also the most readily bioaccumulated. An aquatic toxicity threshold concentration of 0.011–0.038 ng L−1, applicable to natural ecosystems, was determined for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (or for mixtures of congeners expressed as 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents). This threshold corresponds to the no observed effect concentration/lowest-observed effect concentration determined for mortality, growth, and behavioral effects seen in rainbow trout early life stages, exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD in a flow-through system over a 28-day period, followed by 28 days of depuration. An investigation was also made into the potential for using mammalian-derived toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) in aquatic ecosystems. This revealed that such an approach may underestimate the aquatic toxicity of some congeners, and that the use of organism-specific TEFs may be more appropriate. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Movement of Pseudomonas aureofaciens from the rhizosphere to aerial plant tissue

Following inoculation onto seeds, the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas aureofaciens Ps3732RNL11 (L11), which contains the constituitively expressed lacZ and lacY genes from Escherichia coli, was recovered from the interior of aerial tissues of all 16 monocot and dicot plants tested, and the exterior of aerial surfaces of 15. In more detailed studies with corn, wheat, and broccoli, both Ps3732RNL11 and its nonengineered parent strain PS3732RN (RN) rapidly established large populations on all root systems and smaller densities within the aerial tissues, all of which persisted at stable levels throughout 12- to 23-day test periods. There were no differences in the behavior of L11 and RN on any of the three plant species. L11 invaded the aeriel tissues of corn in at least two distinct ways. First, it moved into the interior of leaves following inoculation of guttation drops, suggesting that the bacteria may contaminate the developing shoot prior to its emergence from the soil and then invade through natural opening.
A Serious Disease of Groundnut Caused by Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus in the Sudan

A serious disease of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) characterized by stunting of plants, downward rolling, mottling, general chlorosis and reduced size of the leaflets was observed in the Sudan. Surveys conducted from 1992 to 1994 showed that this disease was restricted to irrigated groundnut crops grown between the two Niles. The virus had slightly flexuous filamentous particles (626 nm long) and was transmitted by whiteflies. It was identified serologically as cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV). This appears to be the first record of natural occurrence of CPMMV on groundnut in the Sudan and the first evidence that it causes a disease of major economic importance.
Aphid-parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) associations on willows and poplars in Iran.

Aphids and their parasitoids on willows (Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) were investigated in Iran and the tritrophic associations were reviewed. Eight species of aphid parasitoids were reared from 17 associations in different localities. The most common parasitoid was Adialytus salicaphis (FITCH) parasitizing Chaitophorus spp. on both Salix and Populus. Euaphidius cingulatus (RUTHE) attacks species of Pterocomma. Aphids of the genus Cavariella on Salix spp. had a more diverse spectrum of parasitoids, but all of them were rare; among the collected species, Ephedrus chaitophori GARDENFORS and Binodoxys heraclei (HALIDAY) were detected in Iran for the first time. The role of aphid-parasitoid associations on willows and poplars in biocorridors is discussed together with some ecosystem relationships.
Accelerated Factored Gradient Descent for Low-Rank Matrix Factorization

We study the low-rank matrix estimation problem, where the objective function L ( M ) is deﬁned over the space of positive semideﬁ-nite matrices with rank less than or equal to r . A fast approach to solve this problem is matrix factorization, which reparameterizes M as the product of two smaller matrix such that M = UU (cid:62) and then performs gradient descent on U directly, a.k. a. , factored gradient descent. Since the resulting problem is nonconvex, whether Nesterov’s acceleration scheme can be adapted to it remains a long-standing question. In this paper, we answer this question aﬃrmatively by proposing a novel and practical accelerated factored gradient descent method motivated by Nesterov’s accelerated gradient descent. The proposed method enjoys better iteration complexity and computational complexity than the state-of-the-art algorithms in a wide regime. The key idea of our algorithm is to restrict all its iterates onto a special convex set, which enables the acceleration. Experimental results demonstrate the faster convergence of our algorithm and corroborate our theory.