Efficacy of Oryza sativa husk and Quercus phillyraeoides extracts for the in vitro and in vivo control of fungal rot disease of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir)

Tuber rot disease is a major constraint to white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) production, accounting for 50-60% of annual yield losses in Nigeria. The main method of control using synthetic fungicides is being discouraged due to human and environmental health hazards. The potential of Oryza sativa husk (OSH) and Quercus phillyraeoides (QP) extracts for the in vitro and in vivo control of six virulent rot-causing fungal pathogens, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium oxalicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Fusarium oxysporum was evaluated, using five different extract concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5% w/v. These fungi were isolated from rotted tubers of D. rotundata, across three agroecological zones in Nigeria?the Humid rainforest, Derived savanna, and southern Guinea savanna. All treatments were subjected to three methods of inoculation 48 hours before the application of both extracts and stored at 28 ± 2°C for 6 months. Radial mycelial growth of the test pathogens was effectively inhibited at concentrations ? 3.5% w/v in vitro for both OSH and QP extracts. Rotting was significantly reduced (P ? 0.05) to between 0 to 18.8% and 0% to 20.9% for OSH and QP extracts respectively. The extracts significantly (P ? 0.05) inhibited percent rot of the test pathogens at 3.5% concentration w/v in vivo. Rot incidence was, however, lower in replicate tubers that were inoculated, treated with extracts and exposed than treatments that were covered. Phytochemical analysis of OSH and QP extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, ferulic acid, phlobatanins, Terpenoids, phenols, anthraquinone and pyroligneous acid. The efficacy of both extracts in reducing rot in this study recommends their development as prospective biopesticide formulation and use in the management of post-harvest rot of yam tubers

South American species <i>Solanum alandiae</i> Card. and <i>S. okadae</i> Hawkes et Hjerting as potential sources of genes for potato late blight resistance

For several decades, wild species of Solanum L. section Petota Dumort. have been involved in potato cultivar breeding for robust resistance to pests and diseases. Potato late blight (LB) is caused by oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, and the genes for race-specific resistance to P. infestans (Rpi genes) have been introgressed into cultivated potatoes by remote crosses and trans- or cisgenesis, first from S. demissum Buk. and, more recently, from other wild species, such as S. bulbocastanum Dun., S. stoloniferum Schlechtd. et Bché, and S. venturii Hawkes et Hjerting (according to the nomenclature by Hawkes, 1990). Most wild species already involved in breeding for LB resistance came from North and Central Americas: series Bulbocastana (Rydb.) Hawkes, Demissa Buk. and Longipedicellata Buk., and some Rpi genes of these species have been already characterized in much detail. Rpi genes of South American species, including the series Tuberosa (Rydb.) Hawkes, have not been sufficiently investigated. Among the latter, this study focuses on the Rpi genes of S. alandiae Card. and S. okadae Hawkes et Hjerting. Four accessions of S. alandiae, one accession of S. okadae and 11 clones of interspecific potato hybrids comprising S. alandiae germplasm from the VIR collection were PCR-screened using specific SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) markers for eight Rpi genes. SCAR amplicons of five Rpi genes registered in this study were validated by comparing their sequences with those of prototype genes deposited in the NCBI Genbank. Among the structural homologues of Rpi genes found in S. alandiae and S. okadae, of special interest are homologues of CC-NB-LRR resistance genes with broad specificity towards P. infestans races, in particular R2=Rpi-blb3, R8, R9a, Rpi-vnt1 and Rpi-blb2 (94–99, 94–99, 86–89, 92–98 and 91% identity with the prototype genes, respectively). Our data may help to better understand the process of Rpi gene divergence along with the evolution of tuberbearing Solanum species, particularly in the series Tuberosa

The relationship of thinking styles and academic performance of students

Introduction. In the conditions of modern Russian education, the emphasis is shifted to the ability of students to carry out non-standard professional duties and to work independently. All this leads to an increase in the number of studies to identify thinking styles in the student age.The aim of the current publication is to present the results of an empirical study focusing on identification of the relationship of thinking styles and academic performance among the students of Astrakhan State University.Methodology and research methods. In order to achieve the aim, the authors used the following research methods: Methods of Thinking Style (by A. K. Belousova), Learning Styles Questionnaire (by P. Honey, A. Mumford), Implicit Theories and Learning Goals Questionnaire (by C. Dweck), Scale of Academic Motivation (by T. O. Gordeeva, O. A. Sychev, E. N. Osin). To process the data, mathematical-statistical methods were employed: the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, the Independent Samples t Test (Student Test), the Mann-Whitney U Test, the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. All calculations were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 computer program.Results. In the course of empirical study, 82 students of five faculties of Astrakhan State University (40 boys and 42 girls aged 20 to 23 years old) were involved. As a result of empirical research, it was revealed that an initiative style of thinking with the variable “enriched personality” has a positive correlation, and critical thinking has a positive correlation with the variable “introjected motivation” and “external motivation”. Managerial and practical thinking styles positively correlate with the variables “achievement motivation”, “growing in telligence”, “enriched personality”, “cognitive motivation”, “adoption of learning goals”.Scientific novelty. The tendency to a reliable connection of thinking styles and academic performance was revealed. A positive correlation between managerial, practical thinking styles and cognitive motivation, achievement motivation is found out. Students with proactive, practical, managerial thinking styles have an above-average academic performance.Practical significance. The materials of the publication are of practical importance for teachers and students, as the study of the stylistic peculiarities of the individuality of students directly contributes to the effectiveness of the process of skills and knowledge development.Введение. В условиях современного российского образования акцент смещается на умение обучающихся нестандартно решать профессиональные задачи и повышение доли их самостоятельной работы. Все это побуждает увеличивать количество исследований по выявлению стилей мышления, свойственных молодым людям студенческого возраста. Цель статьи – представить результаты эмпирического исследования по определению взаимосвязи стилей мышления и академической успеваемости студентов Астраханского государственного университета.Методология и методы. Для достижения поставленной цели были использованы следующие методы исследования: методика «Стиль мышления» (А. К. Белоусова), опросник «Стиль деятельности» (П. Хони, А. Мэмфорд), Опросник имплицитных теорий и целей обучения (К. Двек), методика «Шкала академической мотивации» (Т. О. Гордеева, О. А. Сычев, Е. Н. Осин), а также математико-статистические методы обработки данных: критерий Колмогорова – Смирнова для одной выборки, критерий Стьюдента для независимых выборок, критерий Манна – Уитни, линейная корреляция Пирсона, ранговая корреляция Спирмена. Все расчеты выполнялись с помощью компьютерной программы IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Результаты. В эмпирическом исследовании приняли участие 82 студента (40 юношей и 42 девушки) пяти факультетов Астраханского государственного университета в возрасте от 20 до 23 лет. Было выявлено, что инициативный стиль мышления имеет положительную корреляцию с переменной «обогащаемая личность», критический стиль мышления – с переменными «интроецированная мотивация» и «экстернальная мотивация». Управленческий и практический стили мышления положительно коррелируют с переменными «мотивация достижения», «наращиваемый интеллект», «обогащаемая личность», «познавательная мотивация», «принятие целей обучения». Научная новизна. Выявлена тенденция к проявлению достоверной связи стилей мышления и академической успеваемости. Зафиксирована положительная корреляция между управленческим, практическим стилями мышления и познавательной мотивацией, мотивацией достижения. Студенты с инициативным, практическим, управленческим стилями мышления демонстрируют показатель академической успеваемости выше среднего. Практическая значимость. Материалы публикации имеют прикладное значение для преподавателей и студентов, так как учет индивидуальных стилевых особенностей обучающихся способствует повышению эффективности процесса освоения знаний и навыков

Experimental substantiation of the new method of immunological diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy

The current study was perfomed to investigate the representativeness of the basic and antigen induced levels of specific (IFN-γ) and non-specific (IL-6) biomarkers for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Ninety-three samples of pleural fluid from patient with tuberculosis (TP) and non-tuberculosis (Non-TP) pleurisy were examined. Induction of the synthesis IFN-gamma by immunocompetent cells in pleural exudate was carried out by the recombinant protein CFP10-ESAT6 contained in the diagnosticum «DIASKINTEST» by our method (Patent RF, № 2664427; 2017). Serum and pleural fluid IFN-γ and IL-6 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay kits, Vector-Best reagent kit (Russia). Our results suggested that introduction of M. tuberculosis antigens into the pleural fluids samples of TP group caused a significant increase of the IFN-γ levels compared to basic level, which were not observed in the Non-TP group. Detection of IFN-gamma antigen-induced level in pleural fluid is a promising method for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. We found no significant differences in the basic and antigen-induced levels of IL-6 in patients with TP and Non-TP pleurisy.На основании исследования 93 образцов плевральной жидкости больных туберкулезным и нетуберкулезным плевритом оценена репрезентативность базового и стимулированного уровней специфических (ИФН-γ) и неспецифических (ИЛ-6) биомаркеров в подтверждении туберкулезной этиологии воспаления. Синтез ИФН-γ в образцах плеврального выпота и периферической крови индуцировали рекомбинантным белком CFP10-ESAT6 в составе отечественного диагностикума «ДИАСКИНТЕСТ» по разработанной нами методике (патент РФ № 2664427). концентрации ИФН-γ и ИЛ-6 определяли методом иммуноферментного анализа с использованием набора реагентов компании «Вектор-Бест» (Россия). Показано, что специфическая антигенная стимуляция клеток плеврального экссудата у больных туберкулезным плевритом, в отличие от выпота другой этиологии, сопровождается значительным и статистически высокозначимым ростом уровня ИФН-γ, что определяет перспективы ее применения в диагностике туберкулезной этиологии плевральных выпотов. Значимых различий базового и стимулированного уровней ИЛ-6 у пациентов с плевритом туберкулезной и нетуберкулезной этиологии не выявлено

Personality profiles and the "russian soul": Literary and scholarly views evaluated

Many domestic and foreign observers have claimed that Russians have a unique constellation of personality traits that mirrors their distinctive historical and cultural experience. To examine the hypothesized uniqueness of Russian personality, members of the Russian Character and Personality Survey collected data from 39 samples in 33 administrative areas of the Russian Federation. Respondents (N = 7,065) identified an ethnically Russian adult or college-aged man or woman whom they knew well and rated the target using the Russian observer-rating version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. The mean personality profile of Russians was very similar to the international average based on 50 different countries, debunking the myth of a unique Russian soul.The small variations from world norms did not converge with depictions of Russian national character in fiction and the scholarly literature. New items intended to capture distinctive, emic aspects of Russian personality provided no new information beyond the familiar Big Five dimensions. Religion, ethnicity, and beliefs about the uniqueness of the Russian character and the malleability of personality traits had little effect on personality ratings. Perceptions of the Russian soul do not seem to be based on the personality traits of Russians

Determining of vehicle capacity based on a lot size of goods

The size of lots of goods, vehicle type and capacity as well as the method of transportation should be properly matched. The coordination of these key parameters could reduce freight transportation costs. This can also help to save time. The proper choice of the type of a vehicle to carry the particular cargo could reduce the wear of transport facility and ensure freight safety on the road. The above measures would result in saving of resources

The relationship of thinking styles and academic performance of students

Introduction. In the conditions of modern Russian education, the emphasis is shifted to the ability of students to carry out non-standard professional duties and to work independently. All this leads to an increase in the number of studies to identify thinking styles in the student age.The aim of the current publication is to present the results of an empirical study focusing on identification of the relationship of thinking styles and academic performance among the students of Astrakhan State University.Methodology and research methods. In order to achieve the aim, the authors used the following research methods: Methods of Thinking Style (by A. K. Belousova), Learning Styles Questionnaire (by P. Honey, A. Mumford), Implicit Theories and Learning Goals Questionnaire (by C. Dweck), Scale of Academic Motivation (by T. O. Gordeeva, O. A. Sychev, E. N. Osin). To process the data, mathematical-statistical methods were employed: the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, the Independent Samples t Test (Student Test), the Mann-Whitney U Test, the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. All calculations were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 computer program.Results. In the course of empirical study, 82 students of five faculties of Astrakhan State University (40 boys and 42 girls aged 20 to 23 years old) were involved. As a result of empirical research, it was revealed that an initiative style of thinking with the variable “enriched personality” has a positive correlation, and critical thinking has a positive correlation with the variable “introjected motivation” and “external motivation”. Managerial and practical thinking styles positively correlate with the variables “achievement motivation”, “growing in telligence”, “enriched personality”, “cognitive motivation”, “adoption of learning goals”.Scientific novelty. The tendency to a reliable connection of thinking styles and academic performance was revealed. A positive correlation between managerial, practical thinking styles and cognitive motivation, achievement motivation is found out. Students with proactive, practical, managerial thinking styles have an above-average academic performance.Practical significance. The materials of the publication are of practical importance for teachers and students, as the study of the stylistic peculiarities of the individuality of students directly contributes to the effectiveness of the process of skills and knowledge development

Late blight resistant potato hybrid clones in the VIR collection of plant genetic resources

Background. Late blight (LB) causes serious damage to potato crop. The genetic diversity of potato and their wild relatives in the VIR collection served as the basis for creating interspecific hybrids.Objective of the study. Selection of hybrid potato clones with high and long-term resistance to LB and identification of genotypes that can serve as the most promising sources of new LB resistance genes or new alleles of the already known resistance genes.Materials and methods. In 2015-2017, 45 hybrid clones with genetic material from two to nine species of Solanum L. section Petota Dumort. and six potato varieties were assessed in field conditions in the Northwestern and Central regions of Russia. The index of plant damage by P. infestans (rAUDPC), relative resistance to LB (Sx) and damage to plants at the end of growth period were determined. Thirty-six genotypes were evaluated in the lab for resistance to highly aggressive P. infestans isolates from the collection of VNIIF (All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology). In parallel, DNA markers were used to reveal three genes that confer broad-spectrum resistance to P. infestance (Rpi).Results and conclusions. The initial period of infection, the rate of pathogen development and the degree of potato crop damage by LB differed significantly in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The relationship between rAUDPC values in different years of study was statistically significant for hybrids and potato varieties (r = 0.87-0.94). Each year, var. 'Sarpo Mira', clones 10 / 05-09 and 50/1 KBA were highly resistant to LB (Sx = 7-8 points). As to other potato genotypes, the values of the Sx index varied between the years of the study. 'Sarpo Mira' and 12 clones, namely 38 KVA, 24-1, 24-2, 16/27-09, 4-1-2012, 118-5-2011, 39-1-2005, 50/1 KBA, 12/1-09, 171-3, 134-2-2006 and 15/13-09 were highly resistant to artificial infection with P. infestans. The average degree of consistency of potato resistance assessments in the field and laboratory experiments was established: the Spearman correlation coefficient r was 0.45-0.50 (p &lt;0.05). In the cluster analysis, 36 potato genotypes were divided into three groups, which differed significantly in their resistance to LB under various environmental conditions. High resistance to LB correlated with the presence of resistance genes that confer broad-spectrum resistance (R8 = Rpi-smira2 in 'Sarpo Mira' and Rpi-blb1, Rpi-blb2 and Rpi-vnt1 in interspecific hybrids)