Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Land evaluation for groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in Pulivendula tehsil, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The land evaluation for enhancing ground nut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in Pulivendula tehsil, Kadapa district was carried out as per FAO approach using soil map with 43 mapping units generated on 1:25000 scale and GIS technology to build thematic maps of suitable land units for peanut production with agroeconomic analysis. The land suitability analysis showed that 42.08 per cent of total cropped area is moderately suitable over current area of 14.8 per cent. with limitation of salinity, rooting depth, surface stoniness, gravelliness and soil texture. The economic evaluation for each soil mapping unit showed that only Pulivendula series has recorded benefit cost ratio more than 2 but in others this ratio is less 1.Results of landuse analysis suggested that participatory and bottom-up approaches are needed to understand the problems and opportunities in household agricultural production in order to develop appropriate landuse plans.
Characteristic impairments of goal-directed and habitual control in bulimia nervosa

The relationship between clinical eating disorder symptom severity and balance of model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) control is unclear, and these traits’ predictive capacity is untested in this population. In 25 healthy controls (HCs), 25 subjects with binge eating disorder (BED), and 25 subjects with bulimia nervosa (BN), we show an inverse relationship between symptom severity and MB (though not MF) control. However, trial-by-trial behavioural data discriminated BN from other groups (area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.78; 95% CI=0.64–0.92) based primarily on impaired MF control. Our data—including analyses of reaction time and theory-driven computational modeling—support the hypothesis that among pathological binge eating groups, BN may be characterized by impaired value function learning. Our results suggest that trial-by-trial analysis of behavioural data may provide unique insights into the BN phenotype, which may thus be computationally distinct from the related disorder of BED and the HC state.
Obesity blocks oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation and impedes repair after white matter stroke

Obesity is a growing public health problem that increases rates of white matter atrophy and increases the likelihood of ischemic lesions within white matter. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate these changes are unknown. We hypothesized that obesity may alter oligodendrocytes and myelin priming white matter for worsening injury and repair responses after ischemia. C57Bl/6 mice fed a high fat diet (60% kcal from fat) show increased numbers of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), decreased myelin thickness with elevated g-ratios, and shorter paranodal axonal segments, indicating accelerated myelin turnover. Fate mapping of OPCs in PDGFRα-CreERT;Rpl22tm1.1Psam mice demonstrated that OPC differentiation rates are enhanced by obesity. Gene expression analyses using a novel oligodendrocyte staging assay demonstrated OPC differentiation is blocked by obesity in between the pre-myelinating and myelinating stage. Using a model of subcortical white matter stroke, the number of stroke-responsive OPCs in obese mice was increased after stroke. At early time points after ischemic white matter stroke, spatial mapping of stroke-responsive OPCs indicates that obesity leads to increased OPCs at the edge of ischemic white matter lesions. At later time points, obesity results in increased OPCs within the ischemic lesion while reducing the number of GST-π-positive mature oligodendrocytes in the lesion core. These data indicate that obesity disrupts normal white matter biology by blocking oligodendrocyte differentiation, leads to an exaggerated response of OPCs to white matter ischemia, and limits remyelination after stroke. Significance Statement Obesity is a growing public health crisis that specifically increases the development of white matter lesions and silent brain infarcts. This relationship implies a direct cellular effect on white matter yet direct evidence is limited. We modeled diet-induced obesity in mice and studied the effect on oligodendrocyte biology and the response to focal white matter stroke. Adult-onset obesity results in thinner myelin, compromised axonal microdomain structure, and blocks the differentiation of OPCs, leaving the white matter with increased numbers of OPCs. After focal white matter stroke in obese mice, the early OPC response to stroke is exaggerated while late reparative OPC differentiation is blocked. These results suggest that obesity specifically blocks OPC differentiation with consequence on brain repair after stroke.
INVENTORY OF THE MOST INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF LATVIA IN THE “DAUGAVAS LOKI” NATURE PARK

During the realization of the scientific research program for mapping of the most invasive plant species of Latvia in the “Daugavas Loki” nature park (NP) field surveys were carried out during spring, summer and autumn seasons in 2016. In total 100 quadrats were surveyed. Invasive alien plants are species that are non-native to an ecosystem, and may cause a negative effect on environmental quality or human health. The obtained results indicate that the number of invasive alien plants species identified in 2016, i.e. 32 species, considerably increased in comparison with data about the distribution of invasive species given in the nature management plan of the “Daugavas Loki” NP in 2010, when only three species were mentioned. Many invasive plant species have been found in the ruderal biotopes – roadsides in the territory of nature park. The species with the highest number of localities are Acer negundo L. , Sambucus racemosa L. and Rumex confertus Willd. The monitoring of certain most invasive species makes it possible to assess the changes in species number and occupied area.
Application of Indigenously Developed Remotely Operated Vehicle for the Study of Driving Parameters of Coral Reef Habitat of South Andaman Islands, India

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 113, NO. 12, 25 DECEMBER 2017 2353 *For correspondence. (e-mail: sramesh@niot.res.in) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in varying prey densities from northeast India. Curr. Sci., 2016, 110, 434–438. 19. Yasuda, H. and Dixon, A. F. G. , Sexual size dimorphism in the two spot ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata: developmental mechanism and its consequences for mating. Ecol. Entomol. , 2002, 27, 493–498. 20. Stewart, L. A. , Hemptinne, J.-L. and Dixon, A. F. G. , Reproductive tactics of ladybird beetles: relationships between egg size, ovariole number and developmental time. Func. Ecol. , 1991, 5, 380–385. 21. Osawa, N. , Sibling and non-sibling cannibalism by larvae of a ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the field. Res. Pop. Ecol. , 1989, 31, 153–160. 22. Agarwala, B. K. and Dixon, A. F. G. , Laboratory study of cannibalism and interspecific predation in ladybirds. Ecol. Entomol. , 1992, 17, 303–309. 23. Agarwala, B. K. and Dixon, A. F. G. , Why do ladybirds lay eggs in clusters? Func. Ecol. , 1993, 7, 541–548. 24. Agarwala, B. K. and Bhowmik, P. J., Effect of chemical defence on the fitness of ladybird predator, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius). J. Biol. Control, 2007, 21, 89–96.
First Report of Bacillus pumilus Causing Fruit Rot on Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) in China

In June 2017, an unknown fruit rot was observed in a 2-acre field of muskmelon (Cucumis melo cv. Xingtian20) in Huainan of Anhui Province, China. Symptoms included water-soaked, soft, dark-brown lesions on the surface of the fruit. Approximately 10% of the fruit were affected. Symptomatic tissues were surface-disinfected in 70% ethanol for 30 s, washed three times in sterile water. Then the sterilized tissues were cut into small pieces (1 to 2 mm), macerated for 10 min in sterilized water, and streaked onto nutrient agar (NA) medium. Bacteria consistently isolated from the symptomatic tissues formed whitish to cream colonies on NA plates. The strains were Gram-positive, motile, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped with ellipsoidal endospores, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative. Three representative bacterial strains (HM-5, HM-6 and HM-7) were selected and further characterized. Hypersensitive reaction was observed on tobacco within 48 h after inoculation. PCR was used to amplify the 16S rRNA with primers .
Are cyanobacteria total, specific and trait abundance regulated by the same environmental variables?

In this study we analyzed if cyanobacteria total, specific and trait abundance are regulated by the same environmental variables in a Neotropical urban lake that recurrently suffers harmful cyanobacteria blooms. To assess the predictor variables for cyanobacteria total and species density we performed a multiple regression (GLM) and a redundancy analysis (RDA), respectively. Temperature and oxygen were the main predictor variables for both total and species abundance. Conductivity was an exclusive predictor for cyanobacteria total density (GLM) and light availability (Z d :Z eu ) for species abundance (RDA). Nutrients were unnoticeable predictor variables for both. Cyanobacteria blooms showed high recurrence (8 blooms in 12 months) and occurred within 17–28 °C. Blooms were mostly dominated by one species, and less frequently co-dominated by two species. These blooms were more recurrently dominated by dispersive non-fixing filamentous species (mainly Raphidiopsis curvata ) linked to lower light availability. Less frequently, blooms were dominated by filamentous nitrogen fixers which develop scum blooms (mainly Anabaenopsis arnoldii ) related to better light availability and lower dissolved oxygen concentration. The nitrogen fixing species showed high heterocyte density, suggesting nitrogen fixing behavior and probably giving this an advantage when inorganic nitrogen was low. Our results indicate that in absence of nutrients limitation, cyanobacteria total and species abundance can be regulated by different environmental variables. These results also show that species phylogenetically related (R. curvata and A. arnoldii ) can respond differently to the prevailing environmental variables; highlighting the importance of considering cyanobacteria to a specific level when assessing their possible control factors.
Occurrence of the Copepod Eudactylina acanthii Scott, 1901 (Copepoda: Eudactylinidae) as a Gill Parasite on Spiny Dogfish with Comments on a Rare Parasitic Nematode in Eastern Puget Sound, Washington

Abstract Forty spiny dogfish, Squalus suckleyi, captured in eastern Puget Sound, Washington, were examined for gill parasites, left side only. Nine sharks (22.5%) were found to be without parasites. Frequency of infection for all gill lamellae parasites was relatively equal between males (75%) and females (78.6%). Twenty sharks were infected with the parasitic copepod Eudactylina acanthii, which previously was restricted to S. acanthias and S. mitsukurii. Among the 28 female sharks examined, 60.7% (n = 17) were infected with this copepod compared with 25% (n = 3) of the 12 males. Among sharks infected with worms and copepods, female sharks were twice as likely (77.3%) to be infected with copepods than males (33%). During examination of host sharks, adult philometrid nematodes Phlyctainophora lamnae were found in gill lamellae of one female shark and among larval encasements in caudal peduncle lesions of another female spiny dogfish, and these lesions are documented here with photographs for scientific interest.
08. Patterns of amphibian road-kills in the Vend?e region of western France

Amphibian road-kills were monitored over a six-year period (2005–2010) on a series of low traffic volume roads in Vendée, Western France. Most road-kill was found in the common toad Bufo bufo (39% of all mortalities) and agile frog Rana dalmatina (25.4%). Three species of urodeles constituted 26% of the sample. Lowest road-kill was found in Pelophylax lessonae (4%), which was attributed to a sedentary lifestyle around ponds. Road-kill had a strong temporal aspect and was associated mostly with migratory movements. Significantly higher than expected road-kill was found on low traffic roads bordered by woodland and/or wetlands in R. dalmatina, Lissotriton helveticus and B. bufo and in urban areas greater than expected in Triturus marmoratus, P. lessonae and B. bufo. Less than expected road-kill was found next to monocultures in all species tested. Road-kill was more numerous following rainfall but during dry weather relatively more frequent in R. dalmatina and P. lessonae. This was attributed to foraging activity in R. dalmatina and movement due to pond desiccation during late summer in P. lessonae. Synchronized patterns of road-kill were found in three species of urodeles suggesting similar patterns of movement behaviour. Traffic intensity and road-kill on different roads was not correlated and hence traffic volume was not a good predictor of road-kill. However, in a regression analysis, road-kill showed a strong association (r2=0.87) with extent of migratory distances.
Impact of Wheat Residue on Soil Erosion Processes

Soil erosion is one of the key challenges in soil and water conservation. Vegetation that covers soil and organic and inorganic mulch is very useful for the control of erosion processes. This study examined treatment with wheat residual (as agriculture mulch) on infiltration, time to runoff, runoff coefficient, sediment concentration and soil erosion processes. The study has been conducted for sandy-loam soil taken from summer rangeland (Northern Iran) with simulated rainfall intensities of 50 and 100 mm h -1 . The experiment was conducted in slopes of 30% in three replications with two amounts of wheat residual of 50 and 90 %. The results showed that conservation percent of soil erosion for wheat residual 50 and 90% was 61.68 and 73.25%, respectively (in rainfall intensity of 50 mm h -1 ). Also, the conservation percent of soil erosion for wheat residual of 50 and 90% cover was 70.68 and 90.55, respectively (in rainfall intensity of 100 mm h -1 ). It was concluded that the conservation treatments could reduce runoff coefficient, sediment concentration and soil erosion and increase the time to runoff and infiltration coefficient. This effect was significant on time for infiltration, sediment concentration and soil erosion variables (R 2 =0.99), time to runoff and runoff coefficient variables (R 2 =0.95). The interaction effects of rainfall intensity and soil conservation was significant for sediment concentration and soil erosion variables (R 2 =0.99).
Savanna Restoration Using Fire Benefits Birds Utilizing Dead Trees, Up to a Point

Abstract The decline of savanna habitat in the upper Midwest has resulted in a decline of savanna and grassland birds. Many savanna restoration efforts involve the re- introduction of fire, a method which kills fire-sensitive trees, often leaving them standing as snags. The purpose of this study was to assess how the number of snags (standing dead trees) is associated with the breeding bird community and to document how the number of snags at a site varied over a 23 y period of restoration by fire. The effect of snags on bird communities was studied by establishing bird census plots along a wide range of snag abundances. To determine for what purposes birds utilized snags, observers documented all visits during an hour-long period for pairs of a dead and live tree. Change in the abundance of snags over time was documented over 23 y in a 16 ha grid. We found both bird species richness and abundance were positively associated with the number of snags and that birds used dead trees for mating and reproductive purposes more than live trees. We found the introduction of fire for restoration purposes initially resulted in an increase in the number of snags, but repeated fires eventually caused the number of snags to decline substantially. If a primary goal of savanna restoration is to enhance breeding bird community, our results show how burn regimes can be managed to maximize the number of dead tree snags for as long as possible.
Analysis of signal output by the ethylene receptor ETR1 from Arabidopsis

Ethylene is one of the most important plant hormones and regulates many processes during plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis, the ethylene receptor family consists of five members: ETR1 and ERS1 have a functional histidine kinase domain and form subfamily 1; members of subfamily 2, including ETR2, ERS2, and EIN4, possess a highly diverged histidine kinase domain predicted not to be functional. To analyze signal output by the ethylene receptor ETR1 from Arabidopsis, mutant-based approaches were taken. Initially, the role of the proposed signal output region of ETR1 in ethylene signaling was examined. For this purpose, the ability of mutant versions of ETR1 to rescue the constitutive response phenotype of the etr1--6;etr2--3;ein4--4 triple loss-of-function mutant line was examined. A truncated version of ETR1 that lacks both the histidine kinase domain and the receiver domain failed to rescue the triple mutant phenotype. A truncated ETR1 receptor that lacks only the receiver domain restored normal growth to the triple mutant in air, but the transgenic seedlings displayed hypersensitivity to ethylene. A mutation that eliminated histidine kinase activity had a modest effect upon the ability of the receptor to repress ethylene responses in air. These results demonstrate that the histidine kinase domain is required for the repression of ethylene responses. To further address whether histidine kinase activity is required for ethylene signaling, single loss-of-function allele of ERS1 was isolated and ers1;etr1 double null mutants were generated. The ers1;etr1 double mutants displayed a constitutive ethylene response phenotype when grown in the dark, and were dwarfed with small and epinastic leaves in the air and died without bolting when grown under light. The phenotype of ers1;etr1 is more profound than that observed in the etr2--3;ein4--4;ers2--3 triple loss-of-function mutant reported previously, indicating that subfamily 1 members (ETR1 and ERS1) play a predominant role in ethylene signaling. Addition of the kinase-inactivated ETR1(G2) into a background containing both ers1--3 and etr1--7 mutations results in ethylene insensitivity, demonstrating that the histidine kinase activity of ETR1 may play a role in the establishment of ethylene responses.
Understanding conflict and consensus regarding wood bison management in Alaska, USA

Abstract Context. Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) have been absent from Alaska for over 170 years. In the spring and summer of 2015, however, 130 animals were reintroduced to the state. These wood bison were restored through a consensus-based planning process, but it remains unknown how the animals will be managed. Aims. To survey urban and rural Alaska residents to understand the effect of proximity to the resource on residents’ preferences for management of wood bison in different scenarios. Methods. Data were collected in urban areas using a mail-back questionnaire (n = 515) and by on-site interviews with rural residents (n = 31), between June and September 2015. Respondents were asked to state their preferred wood bison management strategies under specific situations of potential human–bison conflict. Key results. Residents from urban and rural study areas differed in their preference of bison management, particularly in more severe situations (i.e. damage to property, causing injury to people). Conclusions. Urban and rural residents were reluctant to use lethal management of wood bison, even under situations that threaten human property. Implications. Backlash from urban residents could occur if managers use lethal management. Rural residents, however, favour lethal management when human injury occurs.
The Level of Alkaline Phosphatase in Saliva as Biomarker for Pubertal Growth Phase

The identification of the onset of pubertal growth phase in growing patients is very important for orthodontists to determine orthodontic treatment planning and timing. The timing of growth phase can be assessed using chronological age, skeletal age, physiological age, dental age and biomarkers. ALP is one of the biomarkers that can be easily obtained from saliva. The increase of ALP levels in growing subjects is one of the indications of bone mineralization. The objective of this study was to assess the level of ALP in growing subjects in relation to the pubertal growth phase and age. This research was an observational analytic research with cross sectional design. Samples in this study consisted of 57 healthy growing female subjects (age ranging from 8 to 15 years). Growth phase was assessed through the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method described by Hassel and Farman. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their growth phases, which were prepubertal (CVM 1 and CVM 2), pubertal (CVM 3 and CVM 4), and post pubertal (CVM 5 and CVM 6). Unstimulated whole saliva collected from each subject and the level of ALP were measured using spectrophotometer. Results showed that peak levels of ALP were observed in pubertal growth phase: 233.39 ± 106.29 (IU/L), followed by prepubertal growth phase: 192.87 ± 69.02 (IU/L), and post pubertal growth phase: 79.20 ± 31.41(IU/L). The highest ALP levels were found at 10-11 years, and at 8-9 years, 12-13 years, and 14-15 years respectively. As conclusion, the level of ALP in saliva can be used as biomarker for the pubertal growth phase identification to determine orthodontic treatment planning and timing. Keywords–alkaline phosphatase (ALP), saliva, biomarker, cervical vertebral maturation (CVM), growth
Influence of Teachersand#8217; Demographic Characteristics on Acquisition of Reading Skills Among Grade III Pupils In Kisii County, Kenya

Reading is a fundamental skill in pupilsrsquo education and development. The development of reading skills is a complex intellectual process that requires skilled instructions in learning to read and to developing strong reading skills. Teachers are well-known as the backbone of the educational process and also as the major determining school factor of excellence and efficiency of its outcome. The purpose of this study was to find out the influence of teachersrsquo demographic characteristics on the acquisition of reading skills among Standard three pupils in Kisii County. Vygotskyrsquos Socio-Cultural Theory of Human Learning guided this study. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design targeting all the Grade III pupils, their class teachers and head teachers of all primary schools in Kenyenya Sub-County. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were employed to select the study sample of 30%. The data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedule and observation schedule.A pupils test was used to ascertain the reading levels among the Class three Pupils. This study found out that teachersrsquo characteris tics had influence on the acquisition of reading skills. The study further established that most of the class III teachers had limited training on teaching reading skills. The study thus recommends that the Ministry of Education should train and retrain teachers on teaching reading skills through regular teacher professional training, in-service courses, workshops and seminars to ensure that teachers have the necessary skills to teach reading at lower levels.