Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Effects of Chitin and Chitosan for Control of Colletotrichum sp. on Cucumbers

Experiments were conducted to test the ability of chitin or chitosan to control anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.) on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Practical grade chitin and unpurified chitin (ground crab shells) were added to compost at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1% and chitosan was applied to the leaves of the plant at the concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1%. A fungicide (penncozeb) was used as a positive control while water and untreated plants were used as negative controls. Conidia of Colletotrichum sp. were applied to all the plants to initiate even disease development. All three treatments of chitin, at various concentrations, resulted in control of Colletotrichum sp. that was comparable to the fungicide. These results showed that Colletotrichum sp. on cucumber could be controlled by the use of chitin or chitosan and that both gave comparable levels of control.
The psychological arrow of time and the human brain dynamics of event ordering

When navigating the real-world, the spatiotemporal sequencing of events is intrinsically bound to one’s physical trajectory; when recollecting the past or imagining the future, the temporal and spatial dimension of events can be independently manipulated. Yet, the rules enabling the flexible use of spatial and temporal cognitive maps likely differ in one major way as time is directional (oriented from past-to-future) whereas space is not. Using combined magneto- and electroencephalography, we sought to capture such differences by characterizing time-resolved brain activity while participants mentally ordered memories from different mental perspectives in time (past/future) or space (west/east). We report two major neural dissociations underlying the mental ordering of events in time and in space: first, brain responses evoked by the temporal order and the temporal distance of events-to-self dissociated at early and late latencies, respectively whereas spatial order and distance of events-to-self elicited late brain responses simultaneously. Second, brain responses distinguishing self-position in time and the temporal order of events involved sources in the hippocampal formation; spatial perspective, order and distance did not. These results suggest that the neural dynamics evoked by the temporal ordering of a series of events retrieved from long-term memory, i.e. the psychological time arrow, entails dedicated cognitive processes in the hippocampal formation that are fundamentally distinct from the mapping of spatial location.
Screening of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm for resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

The root-knot nematode is one of the major limiting factors affecting lentil growth and yield. In the present study, 300 accessions of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were screened to find source of resistance to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Among them, nine accessions: EC223269, EC076551-C, EC267577-D, EC267555, EC255504, EC267690, IC282663, IC559890 and IC559673 were resistant, while 291 were susceptible to M. incognita. Root gall formation was reduced by 94–98% in the resistant accessions as compared to susceptible (IC560206). The nematode penetration into roots and egg-mass formation in all resistant accessions of lentil were significantly lowered compared to the susceptible accession (IC560206). Results suggest that the disease resistance in lentil accessions may be related to both post-infectional (nematode growth and development) as well as pre-infectional (penetration and establishment) defense mechanisms. Variations in nematode penetration into roots, root gall formation and egg mass formation in the resistant accessions may reflect their genetic differences related to the nematode resistance and their planting could provide a useful tool to manage root-knot nematodes in lentil crop.
Aspectos da Pesca e Biologia da Tainha, Mugil curema (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae), no Estuario do Rio Vaza Barris, Sergipe, Brasil

Of the seven species of the genus Mugil that occur in Brazilian waters, four are present in greater abundance in the Northeast region ( M. curema, M. gaimardianus M. curvidens, M. incilis ), where they are captured by the artisanal fisheries. This study aimed to identify aspects of fisheries and biology of Mugil curema , target of artisanal catches, which occur in the Vaza Barris River estuary. The results pointed out to four species of mullet identified in the study area: M. curema , which represented 85% of the catch, M. gaimardianus (fire eye), M. curvidens (with perceptible teeth) and M incilis (known as ‘azeitera’) the last three accounting for 5% of the total landed catch. The study also showed that 45% of females and 47% of the males are caught below the size at first maturity. The upshot of this fishery in Sergipe State is that there are not two fleets (artisanal and industrial) in operation, which minimizes conflicts and promotes the establishment of rules. It is important to start the planning process involving all the local fishermen, so that a participatory management can succeed.
Ducatina umbilicata gen. et sp. nov., a remarkable Trapeliaceae from the subantarctic islands in the Indian Ocean

Abstract The new genus and species Ducatina umbilicata is described from Îles Crozet and Îles Kerguelen. This lichen is characterized by an umbilicate thallus with a black verrucose lower surface and a greyish to dark olivaceous smooth upper surface having large verrucae, large semi-immersed cephalodia, semi-immersed apothecia with a prominent thalline margin, simple, mainly ellipsoid ascospores of 23–42×12–25 µm and the presence of unknown chemical compounds. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU and mtSSU sequences place Ducatina in the Trapeliaceae (Baeomycetales). The new taxon is closely related to Orceolina antarctica and O. kerguelensis, two other lichens endemic to these subantarctic islands, differing by its morphology and the lack of chemical compounds. Ducatina is the only genus in the Trapeliaceae to develop a large umbilicate thallus.
Sampled ancestors and dating in Bayesian phylogenetics

This thesis introduces sampled ancestor phylogenetic trees — trees in which sampled taxa can lie directly on the branches and represent ancestors of other taxa that are sampled later. Phylogenetic trees in molecular biology were traditionally reconstructed from molecular data of contemporaneous species where ancestors among sampled taxa cannot occur. More recently, phylogenetic analyses have been performed on sequences from pathogens sampled from different patients at different times where the possibility of sampled ancestors in transmission trees became apparent. The sampled ancestors in this case are patients who transmitted a disease (either directly or through a chain of transmissions) to other sampled patients. Similarly, in palaeontology, cladograms of fossil taxa traditionally have not contained sampled ancestors. Recently, it has been recognised that the probability of sampled ancestors is not negligible among fossil taxa and the methods that use fossils to date phylogenies should account for this. In this thesis, I develop a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo framework for inferring sampled ancestor phylogenies, investigate properties of the sampled ancestor tree space, test birth-death sampled ancestor models and apply these models to empirical datasets. I also consider the problem of dating phylogenies. I review Bayesian methods to date phylogenies and address a computational problem connected to calibration methods — the most common dating methods of the past two decades. A more recent approach called total-evidence dating is a modelbased statistical method that utilises all available data (molecular, morphological and temporal fossil data) in one joint inference which contrasts with the sequential inference of the calibration methods. I apply total-evidence dating which allows sampled ancestors to a penguin dataset to reveal a very recent (compared to previous estimates) crown penguin radiation.
Nephroprotective effect of C-phycocyanin on renal damage induced by kanamycin in rats

Introduction: Pharmacological properties of C-phycocyanin are related to its antioxidant activity.The use of aminoglycoside antibiotics is limited due to the risk to induce nephrotoxicity. Agents with antioxidant properties reduce renal damage caused by aminoglycosides. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C-phycocyanin on glomerular and tubular morphologies during recovery phase after the damage induced by a chronic treatment with kanamycin in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine adult male Wistar rats divided into five groups were treated for 20 days with;solution of sodium chloride 0.1 mol/L, pH 7.2-7.4 (PBS) (Control group), kanamycin (500 mg/kg) (Kanamycin group) and the other three groups received C-phycocyanin (5 or 10 mg/ kg) plus kanamycin (500 mg/kg) (Phycocyanin Concomitant 5, Phycocyanin Concomitant 10 and Phycocyanin Pretreated 10). The group Phycocyanin Pretreated 10 received a previous treatment with C-phycocyanin during 4 days. Eight weeks after the last treatment, kidneys were removed,embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff (PAS). Glomeruli and proximal tubules were evaluated by light microscopy in 10 histological fields of cortical area, using qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative morphological studies. Results: The group Phycocyanin Pretreated 10 showed the best effects minimizing glomerular and tubular damages and increasing the density of preserved tubules. The group Phycocyanin Concomitant 10 had effect on proximal tubules only. These two groups decreased the global renal damage caused by kanamycin. Conclusion: C-phycocyanin accelerates the recovery of glomeruli and proximal tubules damaged by kanamycin in rats, possibly due to its antioxidant properties. Core tip C-phycocyanin accelerates the recovery of glomeruli and proximal tubules damaged by kanamycin in rats, possibly due to its antioxidant properties. Citation: RamirezCarmenate Z, Rodriguez-Salgueiro S, Matos-Terrero M, Capote-Crespo A, Diana del Barco-Herrera D, Gonzalez-Nunez L. Nephroprotective effect of C-phycocyanin on renal damage induced by kanamycin in rats. Ann Res Antioxid. 2017;2(1):e05.
What shapes cerambycid beetle communities in a tropical forest mosaic? Assessing the effects of host tree identity, forest structure, and vertical stratification

Due to anthropogenic activities, tropical rain forests face many challenges in sustaining biodiversity and maintaining global climates. This study explores how forest successional stage, tree composition, and stratum affect communities of saproxylic cerambycid beetles—concealed feeders that play important roles in forest nutrient cycling. Forty trees in five families (Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, and Sapotaceae) were sampled in a mosaic of old‐growth and secondary forest on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Bait branches yielded 3549 cerambycid individuals in 49 species. Species richness was almost identical in old‐growth and secondary forest, and both yielded specialists, but abundance was higher in old‐growth forest. Overall community structure was most strongly influenced by host plant species; within most plant families it was also impacted by forest successional status. Moraceae was the exception, presumably because the focal tree species was abundant in both old‐growth and secondary forest. Several host and old‐growth specialist species reached high densities within patches of old‐growth forest, but seldom colonized apparently suitable trees within secondary forest. This suggests that even small areas of old‐growth forest can act as refuges, but that secondary forest may act as a barrier to dispersal. The vulnerability of specialized saproxylic insects to land use change will be linked to the ability of their preferred hosts to disperse to and persist in successional habitats; rearing studies may provide the most accurate method to monitor community changes over time.
Slowing the Evolution and Outbreak of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a problem of significant and growing international concern, in part due to the rapid evolution of new resistances. One potentially important factor in the emergence of resistance is concentrated antibiotic use in environments such as hospitals. Such high use creates a strong selective pressure for pathogens to evolve resistance. We analyze some strategies hospitals can use to slow the evolution of resistance, and estimate the length of the delay between evolution and outbreak of resistance.
RESPONSE OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) TO FYM AND VERMICOMPOST WITH AND WITHOUT PSB AND PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION

A field experiment was carried out at the college Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University. Anand during the Rabi season of 2004-05 to study the response of FYM and vermicompost with and without PSB and phosphorus nutrition. The soil of experimental plot was loamy sand in texture having good drainage with 7.9 pH. The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in potassium. Eighteen treatment combinations comprised of six bio-organics (B0 : control, B1 : FYM @ 5 t ha-1, B2 : FYM + PSB soil inoculation @ 4 kg ha-1, B3 : vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1, B4 : vermicompost + PSB soil inoculation @ 4 kg ha-1, B5 : PSB @ 4 kg ha1) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 25 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) were tried in randomized block design with factorial concept and
Epidemiology of Paramphistomiasis in buffaloes under different managemental conditions at four districts of Punjab province, Pakistan

Epidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter-houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under climatic conditions of four different districts of Punjab province. Infection rate was 22.29, 28.33, 17.08 and 12.75%, respectively in slaughter-house buffaloes, livestock farm buffaloes, veterinary hospital buffaloes and household buffaloes. Overall the season wise the highest prevalence (28.33%) was recorded in buffaloes at livestock farms followed by slaughtered (22.29%) and veterinary hospital buffaloes (17.08%). While the lowest (12.75%) prevalence was recorded in household buffaloes during spring. It was also observed that the higher infection rate was recorded in younger buffaloes (below two years of age) than older (above two years of age) where as sex wise the prevalence indicated that male buffaloes were more commonly affected than females. Snails belonging to genera Bulinus, Lymnaea and Planorbis were also observed which are responsible for the transmission of paramphistomiasis.
Functional characterisation of the mechano-electrical transduction complex of the auditory hair cells

Usher syndrome (USH) is characterised by a sensorineural congenital deafness and a progressive loss of vision by retinitis pigmentosa. During my PhD, my main focus of study was a gene responsible for Usher syndrome type 2, USH2A. This gene codes for usherin, a protein associated with the fibrous links located at the base of the hair bundle of cochlear, and vestibular hair cells. In mice, these transitory links start to disappear as of postnatal day 9 (P9), and the molecular complex with which they are associated is composed of usherin, adgrv1 (an adhesion G protein coupled receptor), whirlin, and pdzd7 (two submembranous PDZ domain-containing scaffold proteins). Previous work has shown that the interaction in between these 4 proteins is essential for the development of the hair bundle, the structure responsible for the initiation of the mechano-electrical transduction (MET) process in the hair cells. During my thesis, I studied the short term and long term effects of the absence of the longest of the 2 usherin isoforms, the transmembrane b-isoform, in mice carrying a mutation in the Ush2a gene (Ush2aΔTM/ΔTM). In these mice, I measured mechano-electrical currents, auditory brainstem responses, undertook auditory masking tests, and analysed scanning electron micrographs of cochlear hair bundles. Through this work, I showed that basal lateral links similar to ankle links could be observed on P4, and that MET currents were normal on P7. The absence of the long b-isoform of usherin actually has very little effect on the morphology or the function of the cochlear hair bundle in mice, until 3 or 4 months of age. As of 4 months old however, Ush2aΔTM/ΔTM mice suffer from a progressive hearing loss, and frequency selectivity defects, mainly cause by a dysfunction of outer hair cells. These results will further add to the debate on whether the hearing loss in Usher syndrome type 2A is progressive or not. Hearing loss in USH2A patients is generally considered non progressive, but several studies have given indication to the contrary. My work has shown that in mice, deafness caused by mutations to the Ush2a gene can also follow a progressive pattern. The potential existence of this temporal window in USH2A patients whose hearing impairment is less severe at birth, but gets worse over time, could allow clinicians to use gene therapy as curative treatment for patients who fall into this category.
First record of Quadrastichus mendeli, a parasitoid of Leptocybe invasa, in South Africa

Leptocybe invasa, the blue gum chalcid, is a well-known pest of Eucalyptus globally. Since it was first observed in the Mediterranean and Middle East in 2000, it has spread to other countries where Eucalyptus have been planted. Efforts to control it have included the release of a number of larval and pupal parasitoids. This report serves as the first record of the presence of Quadrastichus mendeli in South Africa, a parasitoid originally released as a biological control agent of L. invasa in Israel. The interactions and potential impacts on the other insects in the L. invasa galls will need to be investigated.
Food Selection and Electivity Indices of the Thai Barb Puntius ( = Barbodes) gonionotus in Extensively Managed, Rain-fed Ponds in Bangladesh

A food selection and electivity study was carried out on Thai barb Puntius gonionotus of 7 to 10 cm standard length. The fish were fed a range of food items, includ­ing phytoplankton, zooplankton, higher plant material and detritus. The samples were found to change their food habit over time. Although there was a marked shift in planktivory from zooplankton, it was clear that plankton size had no effect on choice. Food analysis by points method indicated that, overall, the food habit of the fish shifted from plankton towards detritus and macrophytes over time. Coincidentally, gut length: body length ratio increased while total gut length and gill raker length decreased, paralleling the observed changes in feeding habits.
Neurophysiological signatures of duration and rhythm prediction across sensory modalities

Effective behaviour and cognition requires the ability to make predictions about the temporal properties of events, such as duration. It is well known that violations of temporal structure within sequences of stimuli lead to neurophysiological effects known as the (temporal) mismatch negativity (TMMN). However, previous studies investigating this phenomenon have typically presented successive stimulus intervals (i.e., durations) within a rhythmic structure, conflating the contributions of rhythmic temporal processing with those specific to duration. In a novel behavioural paradigm which extends the classic temporal oddball design, we examined the neurophysiological correlates of prediction violation under both rhythmically (isochronous) and arrhythmically (anisochronous) presented durations, in visual and auditory modalities. Using event-related potential (ERP), multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA), and temporal generalisation analysis (TGA) analyses, we found evidence for common, and distinct neurophysiological responses related to duration predictions and their violation, across isochronous and anisochronous conditions. Further, using TGA we could directly compare processes underlying duration prediction violation across different modalities, despite differences in processing latency of audition and vision. We discovered a common set of neurophysiological responses that are elicited whenever a duration prediction is violated, regardless of presentation modality, indicating the existence of a supramodal duration prediction mechanism. Altogether, our data show that the human brain encodes predictions specifically about duration, in addition to those from rhythmic structure, and that the neural underpinnings of these predictions generalize across modalities. These findings support the idea that time perception is based on similar principles of inference as characterize ‘predictive processing’ theories of perception.
Geographic Variation in Kentropyx striata (Reptilia: Teiidae): Can We Distinguish Between Isolated Populations?

Abstract. Species that present a disjunct distribution pose the question of how much the isolated populations differentiated from each other. The teiid lizard Kentropyx striata is an inhabitant of áreas of savanna in northern South América, including several savanna enclaves within Amazônia. The population from Sipaliwini savanna, at the southern border of Suriname, was proposed to represent a distinct subspecies (Kentropyx striata viridicervix), but this proposition was not widely accepted due to the extensive variation observed outside Suriname and the necessity of an analysis of geographic variation in the whole group, which had not been done. Here, we performed a Discriminant Function Analysis of the morphological traits of five geographically isolated groups of K. striata from Brazil and Suriname, compared snout-vent length and hemipenis separately, and performed a Procrustes Analysis to evaluate the degree to which geographic distance could explain the differences. Even though each of these groups clustered in the multivariate space, none was completely isolated from others, with recognition between groups ranging from 50-81%. Hemipenes were similar in all groups and correlation between morphological and geographic distance was low (t0 = 0.37). We conclude that there is no basis for subspecies or additional species recognition within Kentropyx striata and suggest that these groups became isolated in relatively recent times, similarly to what has been recovered for other inhabitants of Amazônian savannas.