Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real Time PCR-Based Infectivity Assay and Characterization of Cell Surface Receptors for Turkey Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus

Turkey hemorrhagic enteritis virus (THEV) is responsible for the hemorrhagic enteritis (HE) disease in commercial turkeys through infections by its virulent strains. HE is an acute condition characterized by depression, immunosuppression, bloody droppings, intestinal hemorrhage, and death. THEV (also known as turkey adenovirus 3) is an official member of the family Adenoviridae, genus Siadenovirus, species Turkey siadenovirus A. Two main types of live vaccines are currently used for the protection of turkeys against HE; a crude splenic vaccine propagated in live turkeys, and a cell culture-based vaccine generated in RP19 cells. The only laboratory-adapted tests for assessing the titers of these vaccines are agar gel immunodiffusion test and cell culture endpoint dilution, respectively. The assays suffer from low sensitivity, inaccuracy, and time consumption. A SYBR Green-based real time PCR assay for determining the genomic titer of THEV through the quantification of its hexon gene was developed. The assay was applied as a quality control for the titration of splenic vaccines and was found useful in distinguishing the differences in virus titer among many vaccine batches. Additionally, using the qPCR assay along with a cell culture system, a novel infectivity assay was developed for the titration of THEV, as an alternative for the endpoint dilution assay. Applying the assay on nine batches of commercial HE cell culture vaccines, high variations in infectious virus titers were detected. The new method is rapid, sensitive, and very accurate. A strong correlation was found between the genomic titer and qPCR infectious titer in HE cell culture vaccines. Moreover, the qPCR infectivity assay proved as an instrumental research tool. It was used to measure the effect of several treatments of RP19 cells on virus infection. The main target cell type for THEV infection and replication is B-lymphocytes, which are represented in vitro by the B lymphoblastoid, RP19 cells. The cellular surface components used by the virus to gain entry into cells are unknown. As an adenovirus, we hypothesized that THEV uses two different molecules on RP19 cells for the attachment and internalization. A recent study has shown that the synthesized THEV fiber knob domain binds to sialyllactose, based on a glycan array analysis. In our studies, the treatment of RP19 cells with neuraminidases and lectins resulted in high reduction of virus entry, which provide a strong evidence of the utilization of cell surface sialic acids as attachment receptor for THEV. Destruction of surface carbohydrates and proteins on RP19 cells also reduced virus entry, indicating that these components are part of the THEV receptor. Using virus overlay protein blot assay, THEV was found to specifically bind to two RP19 surface membrane proteins, most likely, representing primary and secondary receptors for virus entry. Further studies are required to identify these proteins and verify their role in THEV endocytosis in host cells.
Occurrence of Canker Caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri on Pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.) Cultivar. Tabtimsiam in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand and Screening Fungicides, Antibiotics and Antagonistic Bacteria against X. a. pv. citri in Vitro

Pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. ) cultivar Tabtimsiam is the new cultivar growing in Pak Panang Basin, Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern of Thailand. It is the one of the most acceptable tropical fruit of consumers. Canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri is the most seriously damage especially on fruit. This research was conducted to monitor disease severity and trialed for screening fungicides, antibiotics, and antagonistic bacteria to solve this disease at farmer orchards. The severity of canker monitoring on Tabtimsiam pummelo at 3 - 5 and 6 - 8-year age plant, on leaf was high at 11.85% and 16.37% and mature fruit was 16.15% and 17.12%. The result for controlling agent screening indicated that tetracycline was the highest control of 1.12 cm inhibition zone. It higher than streptomycin and ampicillin of 1.02 and 0.95 cm inhibition zone and also distinguish higher than broad spectrum fungicide, copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride of 0.57 and 0.46 cm inhibition zone respectively. For antagonistic screening, only the one antagonistic bacterial, Bacillus amyloliguefacien KPS 46 expressed of secondary metabolite to inhibit X. a. pv. citri of 0.14 cm inhibition zone, while Bacillus subtilis and Paenibacillus pabuli SW01/4 did not express antagonism by produced secondary metabolite to inhibit this pathogen.
Effect of different weed management practices on economics of onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2016-17 at the Horticulture Research cum Instructional farm, BTC CARS, Bilaspur (C.G.). The treatments consisted of ten combination of different agro input management practices viz., T1 (control weedy check),T2 (weed free),T3 (Pendimethalin @ 1.75 kg/ha (pre-emergence)),T4 (Oxyfluorfen @ 1 kg/ha (pre-emergence)), T5 (Quizalofop-ethyl @1 kg/ha (Post-emergence)), T6 (Pendimethalin @ 1.750 kg/ha (Pre emergence) + Quizalofop-ethyl @ 1 kg/ha (Post-emergence)), T7 (Oxyfluorfen @ 1 kg/ha (Pre-emergence) + Quizalofop-ethyl @ 1 kg/ha (Post-emergence)), T8 (Two hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAT), T9 (Black polythene mulch), T10 (Organic mulch with paddy straw @ 20 q/ha). The significantly maximum Maximum gross returns (₹ 4,55,050.00/ha), net income (₹ 3,80,228.81/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (5.08) was recorded in weed free treatment. Among herbicidal treatments maximum gross returns (4,15,170.00/ha) and net income (3,55,064.81/ha) and benefit:cost ratio (5.90) was observed with the application of T7 (Oxyfluorfen @ 1 kg/ha (Pre emergence) + quizalofop ethyl @ 1 kg/ha (Post- emergence)) applied at 30 (DAT).
Breeding biology of Fluttering Shearwaters (Puffinus gavia) on Burgess Island in northern New Zealand

ABSTRACT The Fluttering Shearwater (Puffinus gavia) is an abundant seabird endemic to breeding colonies in northern and central New Zealand. The species remains poorly studied, and here we present the first study to examine its breeding biology in detail. Fluttering Shearwater nests were monitored from laying in September to fledging in January 2016 on Burgess Island in the outer Hauraki Gulf, northern New Zealand. Nine (22%) of forty-one natural nests were located under dense vegetation on the ground. Eggs were laid over a period of 39 days with laying peaking on 12 September. Incubation length was 50.0 ± 3.7 days and chicks fledged after an average of 74.2 ± 4.3 days, from late December to the end of January. Chick growth corresponds to the pattern observed for other Procellariiformes, gaining body mass rapidly to a maximum of 115% of adult mass, and then losing mass until fledging. Chicks were fed most nights throughout chick-rearing. Breeding success was 63.8% and similar to other Puffinus species breeding in pest-free colonies. This study provides baseline biological data for a poorly studied, yet common, New Zealand endemic seabird. The obtained new information will allow for further ecological investigations and improved conservation management.
Characterisation of Streptococcus pyogenes on the basis of pyrotoxin exotoxin genes in north India

Introduction: Scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome are two major clinical entities caused due to the action of pyrogenic exotoxin. We screened the clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes for the presence of major exotoxin encoding genes SpeA, SpeB and SpeC. Materials and Methods: Isolates of S. pyogenes obtained from clinical samples were characterised on the basis of pyrogenic exotoxin encoding genes SpeA, SpeB, and SpeC. The sample was cultured and identified by conventional biochemical test and further confirmed by latex agglutination test kit (Remel, USA). On confirmed group A streptococci isolates, deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and polymerase chain reaction were performed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and detection of inducible clindamycin resistance for all clinical isolates were performed using Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: Thirty-one confirmed isolates of S. pyogenes were tested; out of which, the respective prevalence values of SpeB and SpeC genes were 80.6 and 35.5%. SpeA gene was detected in only single isolate. All the isolates were susceptible to penicillin, but resistance was seen with erythromycin, tetracycline and levofloxacin. Inducible clindamycin resistance was seen in two isolates. Conclusion: The present study found that the genes encoding pyrogenic exotoxin is circulating in the S. pyogenes isolates present in north India and have the potential of causing scarlet fever that is not reported so far from the country. A significant percentage of drug resistance was noted for the alternative drugs required for the treatment of penicillin allergic patients. The recent upsurge in the cases of scarlet fever in south-east Asia warns us to keep a check on gene profile of these isolates in the community.
AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF 22 CASSAVA CLONES IN SOUTH LAMPUNG

The objective of this research was to evaluate agronomic characters of 22 cassava clones in Natar, South Lampung. Experiment was arranged in randomized block design with two replications. Two selected clones ( Gayor and Bendo 2) indicated starch rendement higher than UJ 3 and UJ 5. The fresh root weight per plant of 7 selected clones (Gayor, Bendo 2, CMM-25-27-271014-5, CMM-25-27-301, Duwet 1, SL 103, and TB 28) was higher than that of standard clones UJ 3 and UJ 5. The selected clones will be further evaluated in the next advanced yield trials Keywords— Clones, Manihot esculenta, starch content, yield trial
DIVERSITAS DAN HILANGNYA JENIS-JENIS IKAN DISUNGAI CILIWUNG DAN SUNGAI CISADANE

The fish research in Indonesian waters has been begun since 16 century ago. Most of the research collected fish around Batavia.Many new species was described and the type specimens deposited at the museums in Europe or America.The study of fish diversity and the lost of fish species was conducted at River Ciliwung and R. Cisadane in 2009. The aim of this study is to describe the recent fish diversity in both river drainages, then make a comparison with the number of species recorded based on the references data.The differences between the two datas show the number of species lost. The result of the study showed a total of 20 species of 13 families were collected in R. Ciliwung, while from the references data there were about 187 species, so the fish diversity lost in the Ciliwung river about 92.5%. The fish research in R. Cisadane were collected 39 fish species of 24 families. There were 135 species of 38 families of the references data, so the fish diversity lost in R. Cisadane is about 75.6%.
Structural analysis and mucosal immune regulation of exopolysaccharide fraction from Bifidobacterium animalis RH

ABSTRACT An exopolysaccharide fraction (EPSa) produced by Bifidobacterium animalis RH was purified to dissect its chemical structure and to investigate its ability to modulate the mucosal immunity. Our results showed that EPSa had a backbone of (1→6)-linked glucose, (1→3)-linked galactose, (1→4, 6)-linked mannose, (1→3, 4)-linked mannose and (1→4)-linked glucose, branched with glucose and arabinose, and terminated with glucose residues. Scanning electron microscopy identified spherical particle to be the basic structural component of EPSa. The Congo red test indicated that EPSa was not in triple-helical conformation. Our in vitro results showed that EPSa was able to stimulate the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal Peyer’s patch lymphocytes in the presence of concanavalin A. Our in vivo results demonstrated that EPSa can enhance the mucosal immunity by maintaining the Peyer’s patch number in small intestine and the IFN-γ level in serum, and balancing the Th1/Th2 responses.
Assessment of Genetic Variability and Correlation Coefficient to Improve Some Agronomic Traits in Rice

This study was conducted to evaluate genetic components, heritability and correlation coefficient effects of the parents and their F1 for some agronomic as well as yield and yield traits. A line x tester cross was conducted among the ten parents (four lines and six testers) in 2010 to produce (24) F1 crosses evaluated during 2011. The results indicated that both GCA showed highly significant for all studied traits. The mean squares of lines x testers interaction (SCA) exhibited highly significant differences for all studied traits. Higher estimates for non-additive or dominance genetic variance was computed for number of panicles / plant, number of filled grains / panicle and grain yield / plant in comparison with its corresponding evaluates of additive genetic variance. Original Research Article Hefena et al.; JEAI, 14(5): xxx-xxx, 2016; Article no.JEAI. 29743 2 Concerning to heritability estimates, high values were observed in broad sense heritability. Meanwhile, evaluate of narrow-sense heritability were low to moderate for number of panicles / plant, number of filled grains / panicle, 1000-grain weight and grain yield / plant. Heritability estimates in narrow sense were relatively low for panicle weight and spikelet fertility percentage. As for correlation for grain yield / plant the results recorded highly positive correlation coefficient with each number of days to heading, plant height, number of panicles / plant, panicle length, panicle weight, fertility percentage and 1000-grain weight.
The relationship between otolith size and estimated age of tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber Bloch and Schneider, 1801) in Oman Sea, Iran

Summary The relationships between somatic growth and otolith dimensions, otolith size to estimated age and growth parameters of the tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) were investigated in 100 specimens (size range: 19.1–52.0 cm, total length) from the Oman Sea area, September 2014. All 100 otoliths were sectioned and determined by age. The oldest specimen was a 4.5-year-old female with a total length of 40.6 cm; the youngest specimen was also a female estimated at 1 year of age with a total length of 19.1 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was estimated as Lt = 54.70 (1 − exp (−0.37 (t + 0.21))). Concluded was that there is a significant relationship between body size, otolith dimensions and estimated age of Otolithes ruber.
Stability Analysis in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Yield and Its Component Characters using Ammi Approach

Forty five F1 hybrids evolved by half diallel mating, involving 10 inbreeds were used to estimate stability, for three yield related traits. The AMMI model, which had both additive and multiplicative effects, had been applied for the data. The analysis of variance for stability revealed that, the mean squares were significant for genotypes, environments, G x E interactions, PCA I, PCA II, PCAIII and PCA IV, for all the three traits of interest. Among the genotypes, thirty four genotypes recorded significantly superior mean performance, for grain yield per plant over all environments. Among the high mean performing genotypes, six genotypes viz., RML27 x RML42, RML1 x RML48, RML26 x RML27, RML26 x RML36, RML23 x RML27 and RML12 x RML23, recorded high interaction, twenty six genotypes, with the positive and negative type of interaction with the environment were noticed. Among the environments, E1 recorded low interaction. The environments E5 and E6 recorded positive type of interaction, while E3 and E1 recorded negative type of interaction. Among the genotypes, forty six genotypes recorded significantly, superior mean performance for grain yield per plot, in overall environments. Among the high mean performing genotypes, nine genotypes viz., RML36, RML1xRML48, RML36xRML37, RML23xRML27, RML1xRML23, RML26, RMLxRML26, RML12xRML23 and RML34xRML37 recorded high interaction, thirty genotypes with the positive and negative type of interaction, with the environment were noticed. Among the environments, E6 recorded high interaction. The environments E6 and E3, recorded positive type of interaction, while E4 recorded negative type of interaction.
Higher Education in a Networked World: European Responses to U.S. MOOCs

Since 2012, platforms for massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as Coursera, Udacity, and edX, have had a considerable impact on established forms of higher education, both online and off-line, private and public. What are the technocommercial and sociocultural dynamics underlying the organization of MOOCs? This article first describes how MOOCs are built on the same mechanisms underpinning the overall ecosystem of connective platforms. Second, it inventories how European public universities have responded to MOOCs. Finally, the article theorizes how the surge of global online MOOCs impacts the definition of higher education as a public good. To sustain public systems of college education, governments and university administrators will need to address the networked infrastructure that undergirds national and global alliances.
Pseudoheterocaryum, a new genus segregated from Heterocaryum (Boraginaceae) on the basis of molecular data

Abstract. The phylogeny of Heterocaryum and Suchtelenia was examined using sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear rDNA (ITS) and plastid trnL intron and trnL–trnF intergenic spacer (trnL–F) regions. Results indicated that Heterocaryum is non-monophyletic because of the inclusion of Suchtelenia calycina (C.A.Mey.) A.DC. Heterocaryum laevigatum (Kar. & Kir.) A.DC. formed a distinct branch sister to S. calycina and remaining Heterocaryum species. Hence, all species of Heterocaryum except H. laevigatum (type species of the genus) are transferred to a new genus, Pseudoheterocaryum. Taxonomic descriptions are presented for Pseudoheterocaryum and Heterocaryum, as well as a diagnostic key to the three genera included in the present study.
Physico-chemical and Functional Properties of Fresh Eel (Mastacembelus armatus) Muscle Proteins

The freshwater spiny eel (Mastacembelus armatus) has great economic value especially in inland areas of India (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991). Among the commercially exploited fresh water fishery resources Indian major carps, minor carps, Chinese carps and eels constitute an important commercial fishery in riverine and reservoir fisheries. Eels represent an important commercially exploited fish in the local fish markets in the inland areas. Proteins are endowed with a number of physico-chemical and functional characteristics, which make them suitable for varied food applications such as thickeners, emulsifiers etc. Functional properties of proteins play a significant role in food applications and are very much influenced by their structure in food systems (Ramachandran et al., 2007). The molecular basis of functionality is related to their International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 03 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Population dynamics of Chaetocnema tibialis Illiger and Phyllotreta vittula (Redtenbacher) on the weed Amaranthus retroflexus L. and cultivated Amaranthus caudatus L.

CAGÁŇ Ľ. , TÓTH P., TÓTHOVÁ M. (2006): Population dynamics of Chaetocnema tibialis Illiger and Phyllotreta vittula (Redtenbacher) on the weed Amaranthus retroflexus L. and cultivated Amaranthus caudatus L. Plant Protect. Sci., 42: 73–80. In 1995–1997, the population dynamics of the flea beetles Chaetocnema tibialis and Phyllotreta vittula, associated with Amaranthus retroflexus (wild species) and Amaranthus caudatus (cultivated species), were studied at the locality Nitra-Malanta (48°19'N, 18°09'E) in south-western Slovakia. On both plant species, the number of C. tibialis adults was usually very low until the beginning of July. During July the number of C. tibialis increased, but sooner on cultivated amaranth. An increased number of C. tibialis adults was observed on both amaranth species until the middle of September. The results showed that amaranth plants are a very important reservoir of C. tibialis during summer. P. vittula was a common flea beetle on amaranth during the whole summer, but its numbers never exceeded more than 10 adults per 25 plants. Low temperatures in winter had a negative effect on populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and also on populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus. The lower the precipitation was in July, the higher were the populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and the populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus.
Soil fungal communities in tea plantation after 10 years of chemical vs . integrated fertilization

Addition of livestock manures and plant residues is a feasible practice to largely mitigate soil-degradative trends by the soil-dwelling fungi. However, long-term impacts of these fertilization regimes on the fungal community are poorly documented in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) plantations in subtropical areas. In this study, MiSeq sequencing approach was used to estimate the diversity and composition of fungal communities in soils treated with 10 yr of non-fertilization control (CK), chemical fertilizers only (CF), and integrated use of chicken manure and legume straw with chemical fertilizers (IF), respectively. We found that different fertilization treatments produced little effect on the richness and diversity of soil fungi compared to those of the controls. In addition, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, Glomeromycota, and Chytridiomycota were the five most abundant phyla in soils under different fertilization treatments. Moreover, IF resulted in the prevalence of the genera Fusarium, unclassified Microascaceae, and unclassified Ascomycota, which accounted for 30.04%, 18.77%, and 6.92% of the total fungi, respectively. Additionally, the relative abundance of the phylum Ascomycota was positively correlated with pH, total N (TN), soil organic C (SOC), soil moisture (SM) and silt (SI) contents; however, these soil physicochemical properties were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum Basidiomycota. Together, these results suggest that the changes of the fungal community structure at the genus and phylum level under IF treatment could be the result of their responses to variations of soil pH, SM, TN, SOC, and SI contents.
Detecting Emerging Symptoms of COVID-19 using Context-based Twitter Embeddings

In this paper, we present an iterative graph-based approach for the detection of symptoms of COVID-19, the pathology of which seems to be evolving. More generally, the method can be applied to finding context-specific words and texts (e.g. symptom mentions) in large imbalanced corpora (e.g. all tweets mentioning #COVID-19). Given the novelty of COVID-19, we also test if the proposed approach generalizes to the problem of detecting Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR). We find that the approach applied to Twitter data can detect symptom mentions substantially before being reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).