Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of AM Fungi, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices on Chickpea Growth and Root-Rot Disease Caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi under Greenhouse Conditions

In the present study, the effect of two species of AMF, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices , alone and in combination, was evaluated on the growth criteria, chlorophyll content, and root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi , on chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) under greenhouse conditions. Chickpea seeds were sown into pots containing 100 g of AMF inoculum (more than 1,000 propagules g -1 ) and, after four weeks, root of seedlings were inoculated with conidia suspension (10 6 conidia mL -1 ) of F. solani f. sp. pisi . Six weeks after pathogen inoculation, shoot and root dry weight, shoot height, chlorophyll content and mycorrhizal and Fusarium colonization were measured. Results showed that inoculation of G. mosseae was more effective than G. intraradices and dual inoculations ( G. intraradices +G. mosseae ) on the above criteria. Inoculation of F. solani f. sp. pisi without AMF treatments reduced shoot height, shoot and root dry weight, and chlorophyll content significantly compared with the control. In the presence of AMF, root colonization by F. solani f. sp. pisi and disease severity decreased and individual inoculation with G. mosseae was more effective than the other treatments. Inoculation of G. mosseae and G. intraradices caused a significant increase in plant height, shoot and root dry weight, and chlorophyll content of pathogen-inoculated plants compared with inoculated chickpea plants with F. solani f. sp. pisi. Based on the results, application of G. mosseae was found to be the best for reducing the root rot disease and improving plant growth parameters of chickpea, followed by G. intraradices and dual inoculations.
Diversity and species composition of West African ungulate assemblages: effects of fire, climate and soil

Aim Anthropogenic fires are a major component of the ecology of rangelands throughout the world. To assess the effects of these fires on the diversity patterns of herbivores, we related gradients in fire occurrence, climate and soil fertility to patterns in alpha and beta diversity of African ungulates. Location West Africa. Methods We used a survey-based approach for ungulates in 37 protected areas in desert, savanna and rain forest habitats throughout West Africa, combined with satellite images of fire occurrence and digital maps of actual evapotranspiration and soil fertility. Alpha diversity was related to the environmental variables using conventional and spatial regression models. We investigated beta diversity using partial Mantel tests and ordination techniques, and by partitioning the variance in assemblage composition into environmental and spatial components. Results The species richness of grazers showed a quadratic relationship with actual evapotranspiration, whereas that of browsers and frugivores showed a linear relationship. However, in the multiple regression models fire occurrence was the only variable that significantly correlated with the species richness of grazers. Soil fertility was weakly related to overall beta diversity and the species richness of browsers, but was non-significant in the multiple regression models. Fire occurrence was the most important variable explaining species composition of the overall species set and of grazers, whereas the assemblage composition of browsers and frugivores was explained mostly by actual evapotranspiration. Main conclusions In contrast to previous studies, our analyses show that moisture and nutrients alone fail to adequately predict the diversity patterns of grazing ungulates. Rather, the species richness and assemblage composition of grazers are largely governed by anthropogenic fires that modify the quality and structure of the grass sward. Diversity patterns of browsers and frugivores are markedly different from grazers and depend mainly on the availability of moisture, which is positively correlated with the availability of foliage and fruits. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating major human-induced disturbances or habitat alterations into analyses of diversity patterns.
Ecosystem Services and Green Growth

"Ecosystem services"has become a catch-phrase for the complex connections between the natural environment and human well-being. This paper considers the impact of changes in the supply of ecosystem services, and programs to increase their supply, on near-term growth of gross domestic product. It focuses on the relationship between locally generated versus transboundary services and growth in developing countries, where the highest rates of ecosystem degradation tend to be found. There is a common perception that there is a tradeoff between environmental protection and economic growth, especially in the near term. This perception can make policymakers reluctant to support environmental protection. Where the environment is a source of economically important services, then environmental protection may stimulate growth of gross domestic product instead of reducing it. The paper considers evidence on the economic value of regulating services; the degree to which ecosystems actually supply some of the services they are commonly assumed to supply; and the near-term growth implications of restoring ecosystems, and reducing their loss. This leads to a discussion on the effectiveness of programs intended to reduce ecosystem loss, with a focus on protected areas and payments for ecosystem services, and the effects of these programs on poverty alleviation.
A low damage and ductile rocking timber wall with passive energy dissipation devices

In conventional seismic design, structures are assumed to be fixed at the base. To reduce the impact of earthquake loading, while at the same time providing an economically feasible structure, minor damage is tolerated in the form of controlled plastic hinging at predefined locations in the structure. Uplift is traditionally not permitted because of concerns that it would lead to collapse. However, observations of damage to structures that have been through major earthquakes reveal that partial and temporary uplift of structures can be beneficial in many cases. Allowing a structure to move as a rigid body is in fact one way to limit activated seismic forces that could lead to severe inelastic deformations. To further reduce the induced seismic energy, slip-friction connectors could be installed to act both as hold-downs resisting overturning and as contributors to structural damping. This paper reviews recent research on the concept, with a focus on timber shear walls. A novel approach used to achieve the desired sliding threshold in the slip-friction connectors is described. The wall uplifts when this threshold is reached, thereby imparting ductility to the structure. To resist base shear an innovative shear key was developed. Recent research confirms that the proposed system of timber wall, shear key, and slip-friction connectors, are feasible as a ductile and lowdamage structural solution. Additional numerical studies explore the interaction between vertical load and slip-friction connector strength, and how this influences both the energy dissipation and self-centring capabilities of the rocking structure.
Numerical Simulation of Highly Charged Droplets Dynamics with Primary Break-up in Electrospray at Sub Rayleigh Limit

The size and the axial and radial velocity distributions of electrically controlled droplets generated from Taylor cone operating in the stable cone-jet regime are simulated by numerical modeling of electrosprays. A model is formulated as function of liquid flow rate, needle-to-counter electrode distance, applied voltage, and electrical conductivity and surface tension of the liquid in a DC electric field is presented with a 2D electrohydrodynamic model. The droplet size reduction can be explained by evaporation and/or Coulomb explosion. Results show that moving downstream, the average velocity of droplets decreases monotonically. This paper reports a numerical study of the effects of an externally applied electric field on the dynamics of drop formation from a vertical metal capillary. The fluid issuing out of the capillary is a viscous liquid, the surrounding ambient fluid is air, and the electric field is generated by establishing a potential difference between the capillary and a horizontal, electrode placed downstream of the capillary outlet. The Primary jet Break-up and droplet transport and evaporation of electrohydrodynamic sprays is investigated by modeling of droplet size and velocity distribution in spray cones and a series of drop migrations under the influence of an electric field were carried out and the results are in good agreement with other theoretical and experimental studies.
The combined effects of sensory and non-sensory variables on saccade selection processes in visual search

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF FIGURES . vi LIST OF TABLES . vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION. 1 1.1 VISUAL BEHAVIOUR. 1 1.2 NEURAL BASIS OF VISUAL BEHAVIOUR. 5 POSTERIOR PARIETAL CORTEX & AREA LIP . 5 SACCADE EXECUTIVE CENTRES . 9 1.3 NEURAL BASIS OF REWARD PROCESSING . 11 1.4 BEHAVIOUR INDICES OF SACCADE SELECTION. 12 1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY . 14 CHAPTER 2 METHODS . 16 ANIMAL PREPARATION . 16 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES . 16 BEHAVIOURAL PARADIGMS . 17 DATA ANALYSIS. 23 BEHAVIOURAL MEASURES . 23 SIGNAL DETECTION MODEL . 26 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS. 31 CHAPTER 3 RESULTS . 32 3.1 LUMINANCE SEARCH & REWARD DETECTION. 32 3.2 COMBINED SEARCH. 37 3.3 SIGNAL DETECTION MODEL . 46 CHAPTER 4 DISCUSSION . 58 4.1 RESPONSE BIAS IN SACCADE SELECTION. 58 4.2 SIGNAL DETECTION MODEL OF SELECTION PROCESSES . 63 4.3 ATTENTION OR REWARD? 65 4.4 CONCLUSION. 66 APPENDIX A – RESIDUAL BIAS . 67 REFERENCES. 71
Sussing merger trees: the influence of the halo finder

Merger tree codes are routinely used to follow the growth and merger of dark matter haloes in simulations of cosmic structure formation. Whereas in Srisawat et. al. we compared the trees built using a wide variety of such codes, here we study the influence of the underlying halo catalogue upon the resulting trees. We observe that the specifics of halo finding itself greatly influences the constructed merger trees. We find that the choices made to define the halo mass are of prime importance. For instance, amongst many potential options different finders select self-bound objects or spherical regions of defined overdensity, decide whether or not to include substructures within the mass returned and vary in their initial particle selection. The impact of these decisions is seen in tree length (the period of time a particularly halo can be traced back through the simulation), branching ratio (essentially the merger rate of subhaloes) and mass evolution. We therefore conclude that the choice of the underlying halo finder is more relevant to the process of building merger trees than the tree builder itself. We also report on some built-in features of specific merger tree codes that (sometimes) help to improve the quality of the merger trees produced.
Are Wolf-Rayet Stars Able to Pollute the Interstellar Medium of Galaxies? Results from Integral Field Spectroscopy

We investigate the spatial distribution of chemical abundances in a sample of low metallicity Wolf-Rayet (WR) galaxies selected from the SDSS. We used the integral field spectroscopy technique in the optical spectral range (3700 A–6850 A) with PMAS attached to the CAHA 3.5 m telescope. Our statistical analysis of the spatial distributions of O/H and N/O, as derived using the direct method or strong-line parameters consistent with it, indicates that metallicity is homogeneous in five out of the six analysed objects in scales of the order of several kpc. Only in the object WR404 is a gradient of metallicity found in the direction of the low surface brightness tail. In contrast, we found an overabundance of N/O in spatial scales of the order of hundreds of pc associated with or close to the positions of the WR stars in 4 out of the 6 galaxies. We exclude possible hydrodynamical causes, such as the metal-poor gas inflow, for this local pollution by means of the analysis of the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) and mass-nitrogen-to-oxygen relation (MNOR) for the WR galaxies catalogued in the SDSS.
TAXONOMY OF THE NEOTROPICAL GENUS AMERICABAETIS, NEW STATUS (INSECTA: EPHEMEROPTERA: BAETIDAE)

Americabaetis (Insecta: Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), previously considered synonymous with Acerpenna, is reinstated and given generic rank. The genus differs from Acerpenna in lacking hindwings, gills on abdominal segment 1, and a conical process between the male genital forceps, and in possessing apically rounded gills on abdominal segment 7. The genus has a general Neotropical distribution with a northern limit in east-central Mexico. Five new species of Americabaetis are described from South America: A. alphus, new species, from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay; A. labiosus, new species, from Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay; A. longetron, new species, from Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay; A. maxifolium, new species, from Paraguay; and A. titthion, new species, from Brazil. Americabaetis boriquensis, new combination; A. intermedius, new combination; A. naranjoi, new combination; A. pleturus, new combination; and A. robacki, new combination, are reviewed.
Efficacy of Bupivacaine versus Ropivacaine for Bilateral Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block for Postoperative Pain after Caesarean Section

Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.25% ropivacaine for bilateral ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block for post caesarean section analgesia. Methods: In a double blind study, total 60 patients of ASA grade I and II, having age above 18 years and weight between 40- 80 kg were randomly allocated in two equal groups to receive 30 cc volume of either 0.25% bupivacaine (Group A) or 0.25% ropivacaine (Group B). All the results with respect to hemodynamic parameters, adequacy and duration of analgesia, comfort at breast feeding and any adverse effect were tabulated and analyzed statistically. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the post-operative mean arterial pressures (MAP) and heart rate (HR) between two groups. Postoperatively, both the drugs were successful in achieving adequate analgesia. Duration of analgesia was significantly longer in group A as compared to group B. Both the drugs provided adequate levels of comfort during Breast feeding. No incidence of any adverse effect was noted between two groups. Conclusion : Bupivacaine and ropivacaine are successfully used for post operative analgesia through bilateral ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block.
Lesser prairie-chicken densities on tebuthiuron-treated and untreated sand shinnery oak rangelands.

Line transect procedures were used to estimate density of lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in tebuthiuron-treated and untreated sand shinnery oak (Quercus havardii Rydb.) rangelands. Forb and grass composition was greater (P less than or equal to 0.014, P < 0.001, respectively) in treated areas than in untreated areas, while shrub composition was greater (P < 0.001) in untreated sites. Densities of lesser prairie-chicken were similar (P less than or equal to 0.298) between treatments. Summer densities were 0.26 birds/ha in treated areas and 0.20 birds/ha in untreated areas, while winter densities were 0.53 and 0.34 birds/ha, respectively. Because shinnery oak provides an important source of shade and food for lesser prairie-chicken, and may be important for cover maintenance by preventing entire areas from being overgrazed in dry years, preservation of some untreated areas is recommended.
Determination of Heavy Metal and Radioactivity in Agaricus campestris Mushroom Collected from Kahramanmaraş and Erzurum Proviences

In this study, radioactivity and heavy metals accumulations in Agaricus campestris mushroom collected from Kahramanmaras and Erzurum provinces was determined. HPGe gamma detector was used for the determination of radioactivity concentrations. Heavy metal content was measured using a ICP-MS. As radioactive element; natural (238U, 232Th 40K) and artificial radionuclide (137Cs) concentrations were determined. The values of the committed effective dose were calculated. Same measurements were made in soils. Absorbed dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were calculated. Amount of Mg, Al, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb206, Pb207 and Pb208 as heavy metals of mushrooms were determined. 238U, 232Th, 40K activity concentrations of mushroom collected from Erzurum was determined as 12.1 ± 0.8, 11.7 ± 0.9, 497.7 ± 17.8 Bq/kg, respectively and 137Cs was not detected by system. 232Th and 40K activity concentrations of mushroom collected from Kahramanmaras was determined as 13.4 ± 0.5, 134.9 ± 6.3 Bq/kg, respectively, 238U and 137Cs was not detected by system similarly. The value of the committed effective dose collected from Erzurum and Kahramanmaras were calculated as 75 and 29 μSv respectively and these values were found lower than 290 μSv accepted as world average. Absorbed dose and risk of lifetime cancer for Erzurum was determined as 37.39 nGy/h, 16.5 x 10-5; absorbed dose and excess lifetime cancer risk for Kahramanmaras was determined as 30.92 nGy/h, 13.3 x 10-5 respectively. Amount of daily intake for each heavy metal was calculated. Radionuclide activity concentrations and accumulations of heavy metal were not founded threaten level to healthy, except from arsenic As (0.025 and 0.039 mg/kg) in mushroom collected from both provinces. They were found a bit higher than upper limit (0.015 mg/kg) in report which is prepared World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly.
Preliminary Results of Discrimination Studies in Western China

Abstract : As a part of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Research and Development Program, we have started to evaluate regional seismic discriminants for western China. Our primary objective is to appraise the current seismic discrimination capability for central and south central Asia. We have been testing several discriminants using short-period and broadband waveforms recorded at the Chinese Digital Seismic Network station WMQ. Our preliminary results cover four classes of discriminants: (1) short-period ratios, (2) short-period spectral ratios, (3) long-period ratios, and (4) long-period to short-period ratios. For each discriminant tested, we have measured waveforms from over 140 earthquakes to find ratio-distance relationships, and we have used these relationships to correct our final ratio-m sub b discrimination plots for distance effects.
Word2Vec

Abstract My last column ended with some comments about Kuhn and word2vec. Word2vec has racked up plenty of citations because it satisifies both of Kuhn’s conditions for emerging trends: (1) a few initial (promising, if not convincing) successes that motivate early adopters (students) to do more, as well as (2) leaving plenty of room for early adopters to contribute and benefit by doing so. The fact that Google has so much to say on ‘How does word2vec work’ makes it clear that the definitive answer to that question has yet to be written. It also helps citation counts to distribute code and data to make it that much easier for the next generation to take advantage of the opportunities (and cite your work in the process).
Agronomical evaluation of six soybean cultivars using correlation and regression analysis under different irrigation regime conditions

-1 and its attributes through simple correlation and stepwise regression analysis were evaluated. The results indicated that the percentages of oil and protein in the seeds were significantly affected by water regimes and caused a decrease in oil percentage and increase in protein percentage. In addition, both oil and protein output per unit area was significantly reduced, as water regimes increased. The results showed that skipping irrigation during vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages had no effect on economic yield and save 14% from total irrigation costs of soybean production, but skipping two or three irrigations during vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages had effect on economic yield of soybean production under the environmental conditions of Giza region. Results revealed that Giza 111 proved to be the best cultivar followed by Giza 21 among the six cultivars included in the test under different water regime. Simple correlation analysis indicated that seed yield ha -1 was positively correlated with number of branches plant -1 , number of pods plant -1
Entebbe , Uganda

Background: The ‘external validity’ of randomized controlled trials is an important measure of quality, but is often not formally assessed. Trials concerning mass drug administration for helminth control are likely to guide public health policy and careful interpretation of their context is needed. We aimed to determine how representative participants in one such trial were of their community. We explore implications for trial interpretation and resulting public health recommendations. Methods: The trial assessed was the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study (EMaBS), a trial of anthelminthic treatment during pregnancy and early childhood. In a novel approach for assessing external validity, we conducted a two-stage cluster sample community survey within the trial catchment area and compared characteristics of potentially-eligible community children with characteristics of children participating in the trial. Results: A total of 173 children aged three to five-years-old were surveyed from 480 households. Of children surveyed, we estimated that mothers of 60% would have been eligible for recruitment, and of these, 31% had actually been enrolled. Children surveyed were compared to 199 trial children in the same age group reviewed at annual trial visits during the same time period. There were significant differences in ethnicity between the trial participants and the community children, and in socioeconomic status, with those in the trial having, on average, more educated parents and higher maternal employment. Trial children were less likely to have barefoot exposure and more likely to use insecticide-treated bed nets. There were no significant differences in numbers of reported illness events over the last year. Conclusions: The trial had not enrolled all eligible participants, and those enrolled were of higher socioeconomic status, and had lower risk of exposure to the parasitic infections targeted by the trial interventions. It is possible the trial may have underestimated the absolute effects of anthelminthic treatment during pregnancy and early childhood, although the fact that there were no differences in reported incidence of common infectious diseases (one of the primary outcomes of EMaBS) between the two groups provides reassurance. Concurrent community surveys may be an effective way to test the external validity of trials. EMaBS Trial registration: ISRCTN32849447, registered 22 July 2005
Obesity – Are we continuing to play the genetic “blame game”?

: Obesity is a heterogeneous disorder, its biological causes being complex. The escalating frequency of obesity during the past few decades is due to environmental factors such as sedentary lifestyle and overnutrition, but who becomes obese at an individual level is determined by genetic susceptibility. Understanding of the molecular cause of obesity is still in its infancy. More research is needed in the area of obesity genetics and epigenetics before formulating public health prescription as presently it would not be cost-effective. This review delineates monogenic form of obesity and the multifactorial nature of common forms of obesity, due to the interaction of genes, environment, and lifestyle.