Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INFLUENCE OF MOLYBDENUM IN ASSOCIATION WITH RHIZOBIUM ON ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION, GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important legume crops which fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with bacteria through nodules. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of molybdenum and pre-inoculation of Rhizobium on biological nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean under drip irrigation system. A total of six treatments were used in this experiment which included control, 1 kg of Mo/ha, 1.5 kg of Mo/ha, 10 kg of Mo/ha, Rhizobium isolate UPMR020, UPMR020 + 1 kg of Mo/ha, UPMR020 + 1.5 kg of Mo/ha, UPMR020 + 10 kg of Mo/ha. Application of 1kg of Mo/ha along with bacterial inoculum produced the highest (51) nodules per plant. This treatment also produced the highest nodule’s weight (199 mg/plant) and plant dry weight (72 g/plant). Application of 1 kg of Mo/ha in association of UPMR020, produced significantly high yield (29.46 g/plant) compared to control which produced only 9.15 g/plant, thus indicating the potential of this treatment to be used for soybean with drip irrigation system.
DIAGNOSIS LIMA PENYAKIT UTAMA KARENA JAMUR PADA 100 KULTIVAR BIBIT PISANG

The research which aimed to identify main pathogenic fungi of 100 banana seedling cultivars and their disease intensity was carried out at the Laboratory of Plant Disease, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University with samples and field data taking at Indonesian Insitute of Science Bogor. This descriptive research was started by taking samples and field data followed by identification of pathogenic fungi at the laboratory. Variables observed were disease symptoms, colony and pathogenic morphology, kinds of the pathogen, disease intensity, and physical data. Result of the research showed that there were five main pathogenic fungi of the banana seedlings, i.e., Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f.sp. cubense, causing Fusarium wilt; Mychosphaerella musicola Mulder, causing Mycosphaerella leaf spot or Sigatoka; Cordana musae (Zimm.) Hohn. , causing Cordana leaf spot; Curvularia lunata, causing leaf spot; and Cladosporium musae Mason, causing speckle. From 100 banana seedling cultivars observed, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense was the most frequently found with the intensity of 1.4-72%, followed by Curvularia lunata, Mychosphaerella musicola, Cladosporium Musae, and Cordana musae with the intensity of 1-32, 2-18, 2-24, and 3-23%, respectively.
The ‘truck‐driver’ effect in leaf‐cutting ants: how individual load influences the walking speed of nest‐mates

The foraging behaviour of social insects is highly flexible because it depends on the interplay between individual and collective decisions. In ants that use foraging trails, high ant flow may entail traffic problems if different workers vary widely in their walking speed. Slow ants carrying extra‐large loads in the leaf‐cutting ant Atta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are characterized as ‘highly‐laden’ ants, and their effect on delaying other laden ants is analyzed. Highly‐laden ants carry loads that are 100% larger and show a 50% greater load‐carrying capacity (i.e. load size/body size) than ‘ordinary‐laden’ ants. Field manipulations reveal that these slow ants carrying extra‐large loads can reduce the walking speed of the laden ants behind them by up to 50%. Moreover, the percentage of highly‐laden ants decreases at high ant flow. Because the delaying effect of highly‐laden ants on nest‐mates is enhanced at high traffic levels, these results suggest that load size might be adjusted to reduce the negative effect on the rate of foraging input to the colony. Several causes have been proposed to explain why leaf‐cutting ants cut and carry leaf fragments of sizes below their individual capacities. The avoidance of delay in laden nest‐mates is suggested as another novel factor related to traffic flow that also might affect load size selection The results of the presennt study illustrate how leaf‐cutting ants are able to reduce their individual carrying performance to maximize the overall colony performance.
Length-weight relationship of five species of rays from Mumbai, Maharashtra

The length-weight relationship of five species of rays revealed no significant difference between males and females. Hence, regression equation for each species was calculated as : Dasyatis uarnak: Log W = -7.73348 + 2.54483 Log L. , D. sephen: Log W = -8.09534 + 2.62806 Log L, Trygon walga: Log W = -7.47977 + 2.48397 Log L. , Gymnura micrura: Log W = -9.91272 + 2.73408 Log L and Rhinoptera javanica: Log W = -9.24263 + 2.67815 Log L.
First Record of Pughead Deformity in Blue Catfish

AbstractPugheaded fish exhibit anomalous bone structure, often characterized by a steep, bulging forehead and incomplete closure of the mouth. While the pughead deformity has been observed in many species of fish, thescientific literature contains no documented instances of pugheadedness in Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus. Pugheadedness is rare, particularly in tidal systems, and most recorded instances have been based on single specimens. We captured several pugheaded Blue Catfish (N = 18) in the tidal Rappahannock River in eastern Virginia, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. While Blue Catfish sampling was extensive in the James, Pamunkey, and Mattaponi rivers (N = 4,357 fish at 163 sites), pugheaded specimens were encountered at only six sampling sites within the upper tidal zone of the Rappahannock River, an area known to be susceptible to summertime hypoxia. We encountered pugheaded individuals at a higher rate than reported in most published studies, ranging between 1.89% and 3.68%, much higher than.
Response of Goniozus indicus (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) to sugarcane and Cyperus papyrus volatiles.

Gas chromatography revealed different volatile emissions from uninfested and infested sugarcane, and uninfested Cyperus papyrus L, when compared with infested C. papyrus. In addition, Goniozus indicus Ashmead showed an attraction to samples containing frass from Eldana saccharina Walker that had fed on C. papyrus, and no attraction to samples containing frass from E. saccharina that had fed on sugarcane. These results indicate that chemical cues are important for G. indicus to locate a host habitat, and that the cues may be missing from E. saccharina infested sugarcane.
Digestion of two legumes and rumen bacterial growth in defaunated sheep.

Defaunated sheep offered lucerne hay or dried red clover were used to study digestion in the stomach of dietary organic matter, plant cell wall constituents, and plant cell contents. Digestion in that section of the tract was, for dietary organic matter, 50 % with lucerne and 60% with red clover, for plant cell contents 65–70% with both diets, and for plant cell wall constituents 30% with lucerne and 60 % with red clover. Estimates of growth of rumen bacteria in these sheep indicated that about 32 g of bacterial organic matter and 23 g of bacterial crude protein were synthesized in the rumen for each 100 g of plant organic matter digested. Comparisons of apparent digestion in the stomach and intestines were made between the defaunated sheep and the same sheep carrying a normal population of rumen microorganisms. Levels of rumen ammonia were lower in the absence of protozoa. However, only small differences were observed in the flow of digesta along the tract and in the apparent digestion of organic matter and nitrogen in both the stomach and intestines as a result of defamation. Hence it is suggested that data on the digestion of forages obtained with defaunated sheep can be applied to sheep with rumen protozoa.
Competitive and Predatory Interactions among Raptors: An Observational and Experimental Study

We examined the effects of predatory and competitive interactions among three owl species on reproductive success and population composition of these raptors both experimentally and observationally. Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo, body mass -2700 g), Ural Owls (Strix uralensis, 900 g), and Tengmalm's Owls (Aegoliusfunereus, 130 g) coexist in Fennoscandia and feed mainly on small rodents. Predation may play an important role in interactions among these owl species, because Eagle Owls and Ural Owls can kill Teng- malm's Owls but cannot enter the small entrance hole of Tengmalm's Owl nest boxes. We asked (i) whether predation risk and interspecific competition due to Eagle Owls and Ural Owls reduced breeding density and fitness of Tengmalm's Owls, and (ii) whether these interactions increased intraspecific competition for safe nesting sites among Tengmalm's Owls. We manipulated breeding densities of potentially competing owls by erecting nest boxes, the control being boxes in areas where breeding attempts of competing owl species were absent. Control nest boxes in areas with no Eagle Owl and Ural Owl territories, and nest boxes within Eagle Owl territories, were used by breeding Tengmalm's Owls more than nest boxes within Ural Owl territories. Most breeding attempts of Tengmalm's Owls near Ural Owls failed during the courtship period. The observational data revealed that breeding frequency of Tengmalm's Owls was reduced and the mean start of egg laying was delayed by 11 d within 2 km of Ural Owl nests. In addition, male Tengmalm's Owls at these nests were younger and paired more often with short-winged (i.e., young and generally subdominant) females than when farther away from Ural Owl nests. Our results suggest that inexperienced male Tengmalm's Owls are forced to establish their territories in the vicinity of Ural Owls where they often paired with subdominant females. The areas near Ural Owl nests are suboptimal habitats for Tengmalm's Owls, whereas those near Eagle Owls are not. We conclude that predatory and competitive interactions from Ural Owls decrease the breeding population size of Tengmalm's Owls by reducing the suitable habitats. This is the first experimental demonstration that such interactions may decrease fitness of raptors.
Comparison of Mathematical and Neural Network Models in the Estimation of Papaya Fruit Moisture Content

The moisture content of papaya fruit during drying in a cabinet dryer was estimated using both mathematical and neural network models. The effect of air temperatures (40, 50 and 60 °C) and fruit slice thickness (3, 5, 7 mm) on moisture ratio were investigated. A three-layer perceptron neural network with different training algorithms was designed and used. To obtain better estimation of fruit moisture content, topologies were established based on different threshold functions. The results showed that the multi-layer perceptron network with 3-9-1 topology, the Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm and the logarithmic sigmoid threshold function provided the least errors. Furthermore, eight well-known mathematical models were also used to simulate the drying process. Among the mathematical drying models, the Two-term model was found to be more suitable for predicting the drying of papaya fruit slices, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9974 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.0123. However, these values were lower than those obtained for the designed neural network model (R2 = 0.9994; RMSE = 0.0070). Therefore, estimation of the moisture content of papaya fruit could be better modelled by a neural network than by the mathematical models. Key Words: artificial neural network, drying, mathematical modelling, moisture content, papaya Abbreviations: A, b, n - empirical coefficients in drying models; K, k0, k1 - empirical constants in drying models; M - moisture content at any time of drying; Me - equilibrium moisture content; Mo - initial moisture content; MR - moisture ratio; MRpre,i - ith predicted moisture ratio; MRexp.i - ith experimentally observed moisture ratio; N - number of observations; RMSE - root of mean square error
Temperature-dependent physiological responses of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus to cadmium exposure

The combined effects of cadmium (Cd) and temperature on the physiology (oxygen consumption rate (MO2)) and biochemistry (glycogen, metallothionein (MT) and Cd concentrations) of fasted dogwhelks Nucella lapillus were investigated using two Cd concentrations (<0.01 or 500 μg l−1) and two water temperatures (5 or 10°C). After 20 days of exposure, the MO2 of dogwhelks of various sizes (12—32 mm in shell length) were measured individually. Dogwhelks exposed to Cd exhibited significantly lower MO2 at 10°C but not at 5°C when compared with controls at the same temperature. Inhibition of MO2 by Cd increased with increasing water temperature and decreasing animal size. Cadmium exposure caused significant reductions in glycogen concentrations in foot muscle and digestive gland at both temperatures. Cadmium-exposed dogwhelks showed significantly higher MT concentrations in the Leiblein gland at 10°C but not at 5°C, indicating that MT synthesis is temperature dependent and temperature is an important factor affecting toxicity of Cd in N. lapillus. Activity of dogwhelks and oxygen carrying capacity of the haemolymph, were significantly reduced as a result of Cd-exposure at 10°C. In addition, mucus secretion and necrotic cells were observed on the gill surface of Cd-exposed individuals. Therefore, reduction in MO2 may be directly linked to Cd-induced mucus production, structural damage to gills and reduction in oxygen carrying capacity of haemocyanin. However, metabolic depression, including low MO2 and activity, in Cd-exposed N. lapillus may be a strategy to: (i) minimize the uptake and toxicity of Cd; and (ii) minimize energy expenditure to spare energy reserves for detoxification (e.g. MT synthesis) and maintenance (e.g. repair of cellular damage). The results are discussed with reference to the use of MT and glycogen as biomarkers for metal exposure and toxicity in marine molluscs.
Neuroprotective dose and safety profile of magnesium sulphate therapy in term neonates with perinatal asphyxia

Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia has become a major public health problem accounting for 9% of total under-5 mortality. It can lead to serious neuro-motor sequelae in survivors. Newer neuroprotective strategies for management of perinatal asphyxia have gained momentum in recent era. Background: To determine the effective dosage regimen and safety profile of intravenous magnesium sulphate as a neuroprotective agent for perinatal asphyxia in term neonates. Materials and methods: 60 term asphyxiated neonates admitted in NICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital were evaluated. Babies were treated as per the standard treatment protocol for perinatal asphyxia. The infants received 250 mg/kg per dose intravenous magnesium over 1 hour within 6 hrs of birth, with 2 additional doses repeated at intervals of 24 hours. The heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously. A baseline serum magnesium level was measured soon after delivery and two more serum magnesium levels at 24 hr and at 48 hr was measured. Results: The pre intervention baseline serum magnesium level was 1.52 (±0.302) meq/L. The serum magnesium level increased from the baseline level of 1.52 (±0.302) meq/L to 2.63 (±0.558) meq/L at 24 hour and 2.72 (±0.495) meq/L at 48 hour. The neuroprotective range of serum magnesium is 2.4 – 5 Meq/L. This dosage regimen will ensure plasma concentration of magnesium in the neuroprotective range for 48 hours. All physiologic variables remained unchanged including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation during intervention. Conclusion: Intravenous infusion of 3 doses of magnesium 250 mg/kg/dose in first 48 hrs after birth will ensure serum magnesium level in the neuroprotective range. This therapeutic dosage regimen has been found to have the best margin of safety profile in term asphyxiated infants.
The Species of Isoptera (Insecta) from The Early Cretaceous Crato Formation: A Revision

Abstract The termite species from Brazil's Early Cretaceous (Aptian-aged) Crato (Santana) Formation are evaluated on the basis of the degree of character variation seen in modern species, using a series of 56 specimens, scanning electron microscopy of minute structures, and a bivariate plot of the proportional sizes of sclerotized body structures. Of the previously described species only the following are considered valid: Mariconitermes talicei Fontes and Vulcano, Meiatermes araripena Krishna, Cratomastotermes wolfschwenningeri Bechly, Cratokalotermes santanensis Bechly, and Cretarhinotermes novaolindense Bechly. The combination M. araripena Krishna (once placed in Cretatermes) is restored, and Cretatermes pereirai Fontes and Vulcano is proposed as a junior synonym of M. araripena. The following new species is described: Meiatermes hariolus Grimaldi, new species. The following are considered nomina dubia based on superficial and even contradictory diagnoses: Caatingatermitinae Martins-Neto et al. (likely synonymous with Hodotermitinae); Araripetermes nativa Martins-Neto et al. (nomen incorrectum, recte: nativus), Caatingatermes megacephalus Martins-Neto et al., and Nordestinatermes obesa Martins-Neto et al. (nomen incorrectum, recte: obesus). These are probably all new synonyms of the Cretaceous genus Meiatermes Lacasa-Ruiz and Martínez-Delclòs and of M. araripena in particular, but this assertion cannot be verified without access to the type specimens. Of the six definitive species of Crato termites, reconstructions are provided for four. All species appear to be basal taxa, either a stem group to Isoptera, to Hodotermitidae sensu lato, or to Kalotermitidae. Despite very partial preservation, Cretarhinotermes appears to be within the hodotermitid grade and not a rhinotermitid. Some specimens have yielded detailed preservation of soft internal tissues, including the midgut, which has further phylogenetic implications.
Genetic variability and character association in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.).

Genetic variability in terms of mean, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variances, heritability, expected genetic advance and expected genetic advance as per cent of mean, correlation and path coefficient were studied for yield/plant and its attributing traits in 27 genotypes. Considerable variation was observed in all the characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variance in all the characters. The genotypic coefficient of variation estimates were high for number of fruits/plant, mean fruit weight and yield/plant. Heritability estimates were high for length of fruits, number of fruits/plant, mean fruit weight and yield/plant. In spite of high heritability values for most traits, the expected genetic advance as percentage of mean ranged from 11.47 to 95.36. Genotypic correlation were higher in magnitude over phenotypic correlation. Most of the characters were positively correlated with yield except for days to 50% flowering. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of fruits/plant, mean weight of fruits and diameter of fruits had maximum direct effect at genotypic level and hence direct selection could be made for these characters for improving the yield, while maximum direct effect at phenotypic level was showed by number of fruits/cluster, plant height, number of fruits/plant, mean weight of fruits and diameter of fruit. The number of fruits/cluster showed maximum indirect positive effect on yield. Number of flowers/cluster, number of branches/plant, plant height and length of fruit had positive indirect effect towards yield/plant via number of fruits/plant and hence simultaneous selection for these characters can be made for the improvement of yield.
Biodiversity of Antarctic echinoids: a comprehensive and interactive database*

Eighty-one echinoid species are present south of the Antarctic Convergence, and they represent an important component of the benthic fauna. “Antarctic echinoids” is an interactive database synthesising the results of more than 100 years of Antarctic expeditions, and comprising information about all echinoid species. It includes illustrated keys for determination of the species, and information about their morphology and ecology (text, illustrations and glossary) and their distribution (maps and histograms of bathymetrical distribution); the sources of the information (bibliography, collections and expeditions) are also provided. All these data (taxonomic, morphologic, geographic, bathymetric…) can be interactively queried in two main ways: (1) display of listings that can be browsed, sorted according to various criteria, or printed; and (2) interactive requests crossing the different kinds of data. Many other possibilities are offered, and an on-line help file is also available.
Refining volume estimates of down woody debris

Down woody debris (DWD) plays a vital role in forest ecosystem structure and function. Although volume is likely the most common metric used to characterize DWD, an evaluation of the formulae used for volume estimation on individual DWD pieces has received little attention. We determined actual volume of 155 diverse DWD pieces (types, species, lengths, and diameters) by detailed field measurements. By comparing the actual and calculated volumes from six commonly used formulae, we assessed their bias, precision, and accuracy. Based on observed DWD forms, we developed a new formula, namely the “conic−paraboloid”, which was included in the assessment. Among the formulae that require length and two end diameter measurements, the conic−paraboloid had the lowest bias, highest precision, and hence greatest accuracy. Newton’s and the centroid formulae had higher accuracy yet require more field measurements. Smalian’s, conical frustum, and average-of-ends formulae had poor performance relative to the others. Accur.
Inferring the biogeographic origins of inter‐continental disjunct endemics using a Bayes‐DIVA approach

The arcto‐Tertiary relictual flora is comprised of many genera that occur non‐contiguously in the temperate zones of eastern Asia, Europe, eastern North America, and western North America. Within each distributional area, species are typically endemic and may thus be widely separated from closely related species within the other areas. It is widely accepted that this common pattern of distribution resulted from of the fragmentation of a once more‐continuous arcto‐Tertiary forest. The historical biogeographic events leading to the present‐day disjunction have often been investigated using a phylogenetic approach. Limitations to these previous studies have included phylogenetic uncertainty and uncertainty in ancestral range reconstructions. However, the recently described Bayes‐DIVA method handles both types of uncertainty. Thus, we used Bayes‐DIVA analysis to reconstruct the stem lineage distributions for 185 endemic lineages from 23 disjunct genera representing 17 vascular plant families. In particular, we asked whether endemic lineages within each of the four distributional areas more often evolved from (1) widespread ancestors, (2) ancestors dispersed from other areas, or (3) endemic ancestors. We also considered which of these three biogeographic mechanisms may best explain the origins of arcto‐Tertiary disjunct endemics in the neotropics. Our results show that eastern Asian endemics more often evolved from endemic ancestors compared to endemics in Europe and eastern and western North America. Present‐day endemic lineages in the latter areas more often arose from widespread ancestors. Our results also provide anecdotal evidence for the importance of dispersal in the biogeographic origins of arcto‐Tertiary species endemic in the neotropics.