Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First report of Alternaria tenuissima causing leaf spot and fruit rot on eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) in India

A leaf spot disease of eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) was observed during 1997–2000 in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The symptoms recorded were small, circular, brown necrotic spots all over the foliage. The spots gradually enlarged in size and later became irregular in shape, or remained circular with concentric rings or zones. In the later stage of infection, the spots coalesced resulting in withering, extensive drying and shedding of leaves. On fruit, the symptoms started as small, concentric, dark brown, sunken spots, which coalesced and covered the entire surface of the fruit. Affected fruit rotted completely, causing severe yield losses. The causal agent of this disease was successfully isolated on potato dextrose agar from the diseased leaves and fruits. After 4–5 days’ incubation at 26 ° C with a 12-h photoperiod, the fungus produced colonies that were regular and flat, with a rough upper surface. The periphery of the colony was olive-green, with a black centre and dull white spots. The growth of the fungus was smooth. Conidiophores were short, arising singly, measuring 81·6–163·2 μ m long and 4·08–8·16 μ m thick. The size of conidia varied from 26 to 48·75 μ m long and 9·75–16·27 μ m wide, with an average beak length of 9·58 μ m. Horizontal and vertical septations of conidia varied from 1–6 and 0–2, respectively. On the basis of the morphological characteristics of conidiophores and conidia, the pathogen was identified as Alternaria tenuissima . The culture was sent to the Indian type culture collection at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, and the identity of the isolate was confirmed as A. tenuissima. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 60-day-old eggplants (cv. Bapatla Local) by spraying with a spore suspension (5 × 10 5 spores mL − 1 ) using an atomizer in the late evening. Inoculated plants were covered with a polythene bag and incubated at 26 ° C with a 14-h photoperiod. Thirty days after inoculation, the symptoms were similar to those previously observed and A. tenuissima was consistently reisolated from the inoculated plants; control leaves sprayed with distilled water remained symptomless. This pathogen is cosmopolitan and has already been identified in India on several hosts, including taro ( Colocasia esculenta ) (Solankure & Rao, 1972); pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan ) (Kannaiyan & Nene, 1977); and Ipomoea carnea (Reddy & Rao, 1975). This is the first record on eggplant in India.
Credit risk shocks and banking efficiency: a study based on a bootstrap-DEA model with nonperforming loans as bad output

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of credit risk shocks on the evolution of banking efficiency in China.Design/methodology/approachThis paper introduces credit risk as a bad output into a bootstrap data envelopment analysis (bootstrap-DEA) model.FindingsDuring a credit risk shock, the efficiency levels of both state-owned commercial banks and joint-stock commercial banks are significantly higher than those of urban/rural commercial banks, and the efficiency differences between these banks further increase during a period of economic slowdown. This paper also finds that the efficiencies of joint-stock commercial banks are the most sensitive to credit risk shocks; these banks are the first to be affected and the first to completely adjust. However, urban/rural commercial banks adjust very slowly.Originality/valueMost scholars still use the traditional DEA method to estimate China's banking efficiency. The bootstrap-DEA method is clearly able to obtain a more exact estimated efficiency score. In fact, in comparison with the bootstrap-DEA model, we found that the traditional DEA method overestimates China's banking efficiency, and this is an especially serious problem for those banks that have a high efficiency score.
Releases of Trichogramma platneri (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Apple Orchards under a Sterile Codling Moth Release Program

Abstract Based on the premise that augmented host numbers may help multiply and support parasitoid populations, the egg parasitoid Trichogramma platneri Nargarkatti was released in apple orchards which were participating in a sterile codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), release program. Nonviable eggs resulting from matings involving at least one sterile codling moth partner can be successfully parasitized by T. platneri. Grain moth-reared, as well as codling moth-reared, T. platneri were released either in the spring or in the spring and summer oviposition period(s) of wild codling moth. Sentinel codling moth eggs were hung weekly, for 3-day periods, from May until September to determine fluctuations in T. platneri populations both during and between releases. Low numbers of wild or nonviable codling moth eggs or other susceptible host eggs resulted in sufficient eggs to maintain low spring- or summer-introduced T. platneri populations. T. platneri reduced codling moth damage in trees in which the Trichogramma were released.
Microsatellite-based assessment of genetic diversity in stripe rust resistant NUWYT candidate lines

Stripe rust is one of the most devastating diseases, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, affecting a huge amount of wheat crops worldwide. In this study, the genetic diversity of 16 National Uniform Wheat Yield Trial (NUWYT) candidate lines was evaluated by using 22 screened microsatellite markers. These lines were found resistant for stripe rust at adult plant stage. These wheat microsatellite markers identified a total of 38 alleles, with an average of 2.3 alleles per microsatellite locus. The number of alleles ranged from one to five alleles and the highest number of alleles were associated with B genome (25), as compared to D (11) and A (2) genomes. The allelic polymorphism index content (PIC) reflecting the gene diversity of these microsatellite markers ranged from 0.00 to 0.66, with an average of 0.27. The maximum PIC value of 0.66 was observed for xgwm 159-5B and 0.64 for xgwm 413-1B. The gene diversity ranged from 0.00 to 0.71, with an average of 0.30. The genetic similarity matrix was used to construct a dendrogram and the cluster analysis was performed by the use of unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average algorithm. This divided the entire 16 candidate lines into three main clusters on the basis of their similarity. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity among the 16 candidate NUWYT lines was very narrow.
Resfriamento artificial na conservação da qualidade comercial de grãos de milho armazenados

Artificial cooling is a tool used in the conservation of grain quality in tropical regions. In this study, we aimed to verify the effect of artificial cooling through aeration in preserving the quality of corn grains in bottom horizontal "V" warehouses. Two septa were used in the experiment: an artificially cooled (12°C) septum with capacity of 28 thousand tons and a naturally aerated septum with capacity of 29 thousand tons. Sampling was carried out in both septa during loading, at 60 and 120 days after the first stage of cooling, and during expedition. During storage, sampling was performed considering the position and depth of the corn mass. A qualitative assessment was conducted to determine the following parameters: weight of thousand grains, grain mass temperature, oil content and acidity, identification of fungi, aflatoxin content, insect infestation rate, and percentage of infested grain. Artificial cooling temperature promoted a decrease in grain mass, regardless of the external conditions of air temperature and humidity. Artificial aeration, with cold air, preserved the parameters assigned to grain quality and provided reduced percentage of infested grain and reduced population of insect pests in the product mass. Therefore, the use of artificial cooling in the storage of maize grains in tropical regions is effective in maintaining grain quality and managing insects and pathogens.
Evidence for tolerance of parasitism in a tropical cavity-nesting bird, planalto woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris), in northern Argentina

Abstract: Avian hosts may either resist the negative effects of nestling ectoparasites by minimizing the number of parasites, or tolerate parasitism by increasing their fecundity via the reproductive compensation hypothesis. Little is known about the interactions between ectoparasites and their avian hosts in the tropics. We (1) examined nestling development rates, and tested whether (2) parasitism by a subcutaneous ectoparasitic botfly (Philornis sp.) had negative effects on the condition of nestlings, and (3) these negative effects were minimized in larger broods in a tropical cavity-nesting bird, the planalto woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris), in primary and secondary Atlantic forests in the northern province of Misiones, Argentina. Nestling mass and ectoparasite load per nestling reached maxima when nestlings (n = 50) were between 10 and 14 d old. General linear mixed models predicted that mass at fledging declined with increasing nestling parasite load, suggesting that botflies had a negative influence on fledging condition. Parasite load per nestling declined with increasing brood size indicating that woodcreepers that increase their reproductive output minimize the negative effects of parasitism. Overall we found evidence to support the tolerance via reproductive compensation hypothesis. Future tests of the reproductive compensation hypothesis may help determine the underlying mechanism of the observed negative correlation between parasite load of nestlings and brood size.
Genetic structure of the stonefly, Yoraperla brevis, populations: the extent of gene flow among adjacent montane streams

1. Gene flow in populations of stream insects is expected to depend on the distance between and the connectedness of sites in stream networks, and on dispersal ability (i.e. larval drift and adult flight). 2. Yoraperla brevis (Banks) is an abundant and characteristic stonefly of smaller streams in the northern Rocky Mountains. The present authors analysed genetic structure at 27 sites in sevenz streams flowing into the Bitterroot River in western Montana, USA. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis identified five variable loci with 16 alleles. 3. Genotype frequencies conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. Within-stream differentiation was low and among-stream variation (Fst) was an order of magnitude higher. 4. UPGMA grouped sites within streams and also grouped adjacent streams. The tree produced by the Neighbour Joining Method was similar although not quite so clear cut. 5. This orderly pattern (i.e. Hardy–Weinberg proportions, homogeneity within streams and geographical structure) contrasts strongly with patterns observed in invertebrates from subtropical streams in Australia. Yoraperla brevis maintains large populations in predictable environments, has a long life-cycle with a likelihood of cohort mixing, emerges synchronously in large breeding populations and occupies streams separated by areas of high relief; the Australian situation is the opposite in most respects. 6. Further analysis of a range of species is required to determine whether the different genetic structure in Y. brevis compared to the Australian species occurs more generally in North American stream insects.
Nestling Survival and Population Fluctuations of the Prairie Vole Microtus ochrogaster

ABSTRACT Nestling survival may be an important factor driving population fluctuations of arvicoline rodents, yet few data exist owing to the difficulties of monitoring survival at the nest. We examined survival of nestling prairie voles Microtus ochrogaster in alfalfa and bluegrass habitats over a 25-y period using the proportion of young estimated to have been born to pregnant females and to have survived to first capture at ≤13 g. Nestling survival did not differ between habitats, but was greater during spring-early autumn than during late autumn–winter and greater during late autumn than winter. Survival of nestlings was also greater during the increase phase than during the decline or trough phases irrespective of season. During most increase phases greater nestling survival may have resulted from hibernation of snakes. Predation from snakes did not appear to be involved in decreased survival during the decline phase, at least for declines occurring during late autumn-winter. We suggest extreme weather and maternal death from predation as potential causes of decreased survival of nestlings in winter declines.
Longevity record for a wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from South Australia

A population of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been monitored since November 1996 through mark–recapture as part of a longitudinal epidemiological study into two Australian rabbit biocontrol agents, rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and myxomatosis. A female rabbit, first captured as a subadult in late November 1999, was recaptured 18 times before its final capture at the end of February 2007. The longevity of this rabbit, being from its calculated birth date to the date it was last captured, was 7.6 years. A review of the literature indicates this to be the longest lifespan recorded for a European rabbit in the wild.
Ultrastructure of the synganglion in the larvae and nymphs of tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

This study performs the ultrastructural description of the central nervous system (CNS) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus larvae and nymphs. The CNS is surrounded by the neural lamella, a thin acellular sheath. Just below, the perineurium is found, formed by glial cells, with irregular membranes, elongated nucleus and few organelles in the cytoplasm. Internally, the synganglion is divided into an outer cortex, containing the cellular bodies of the neural cells and an inner neuropile. The neural cells can be classified into two types. Type I is most frequently observed, presenting spherical or oval shape and a large nucleus occupying most part of the cytoplasm, in which few organelles are observed. Type II cells are polygonal, presenting a great cytoplasmic volume and the nucleus dislocated towards the cellular periphery. The subperineurium is located between the cortex and the neuropile. The neuropile is the innermost region of the synganglion, the most complex one and formed by extensions of the neural cells. This study improves our understanding of the physiology of ticks, with the aim of improving current control strategies.
Estudo da carcaça e da carne de bubalinos Mediterrâneo terminados em confinamento com diferentes fontes de volumoso

The objective of this work was to study the carcass and meat characteristics of Mediterranean buffalos, finished in feedlot for 112 days and fed with 33% concentrate and 67% chopped sugar cane or corn silage diets, containing 12% of crude protein. Twelve buffalos steers, with 20 months of age, were used. Slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and cold carcass weight were similar between the treatments, being, respectively, 363.7, 181.8 and 179.9 kg, for animals fed with chopped sugar cane, and 361.3, 186.8 and 184.2 kg, in the same order, for buffalos fed with corn silage. Buffalos fed with corn silage showed higher cold dressing percentage than the animals fed with chopped sugar cane (51.7 vs. 49.9%). No difference was observed for carcass commercial cuts percentage, as well as for carcass development measures between the animals of the two treatments. Treatment did not affect carcass conformation, longissimus dorsi area, as well as carcass muscle and bone percentages, being the averages of the two treatments, for these characteristics, respectively, 9.0 points, 52.1 cm2, 62.8 and 16.5%. The buffalos showed an average carcass fat percentage of 20.8% and 2.96 mm of subcutaneous fat thickness. No significant difference was observed for meat color, texture, marbling, Shear value, tenderness and cooking loss, but the thawing loss was higher, and the flavor and juiciness were superior for animals fed with chopped sugar cane.
Particular interaction between pyrimethamine derivatives and quadruple mutant type dihydrofolate reductase of Plasmodium falciparum: CoMFA and quantum chemical calculations studies

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was performed on twenty-three pyrimethamine (pyr) derivatives active against quadruple mutant type (Asn51Ile, Cys59Arg, Ser108Asn, Ile164Leu) dihydrofolate reductase of Plasmodium falcipaarum (PfDHFR). The represented CoMFA models were evaluated based on the various three different probe atoms, Csp3 (+1), Osp3 ( − 1) and H (+1), resulting in the best model with combined three types of probe atoms. The statistical results were = 0.702, Spress = 0.608, = 0.980, s = 0.156, and = 0.698 which can explain steric contribution of about 50%. In addition, an understanding of particular interaction energy between inhibitor and surrounding residues in the binding pocket was performed by using MP2/6-31G(d,p) quantum chemical calculations. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that Asn108 is the cause of pyr resistance with the highest repulsive interaction energy. Therefore, CoMFA and particular interaction energy analyses can be useful for identifying the structural features of potent pyr derivatives active against quadruple mutant type PfDHFR.
Signaling Molecules of the NF-κB Pathway Shuttle Constitutively between Cytoplasm and Nucleus*

We aimed to investigate the dynamics of the NF-κB signaling pathway in living cells using GFP variants of p65-NF-κB, IκBα, tumor necrosis factor-receptor associated factor 2 (TRAF2), the NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) and IκB kinases (IKK1 and IKK2). Detailed kinetic analysis of constitutive nucleocytoplasmic shuttling processes revealed that IκBα enters the nucleus faster than p65. Examination of signaling molecules upstream of NF-κB and IκBα revealed a predominant cytoplasmic localization at steady state. However, after addition of leptomycin B, NIK rapidly accumulated in the nucleus, whereas we could not detect any significant effect on TRAF2 or IKK2. Using various truncation mutants of NIK, we identified a functional nuclear export signal within the COOH-terminal region 795–805, which counteracts the inherent NLS at amino acids 143–149. Prolonged incubation in the presence of LMB also leads to nuclear accumulation of IKK1, which was dependent on a lysine residue at position 44, which is also essential for kinase activity. Investigation of endogenous protein levels by immunofluorescence staining and Western blots verified the results obtained with GFP chimeras. We conclude that NF-κB·IκB complexes and the upstream signaling kinases NIK and IKK1 shuttle between cytoplasm and nucleus of nonactivated cells and that this process leads to a basal transcriptional activity of NF-κB.
The effects of cooling to 5°C and freezing and thawing on the ultrastructure of bull spermatozoa

: Semen from 6 bulls was examined under the transmission electron microscope immediately after collection, after dilution and cooling to 5 degrees C and after freezing and thawing. Conception rates were determined following artificial insemination of the frozen and thawed semen. Dilution and cooling to 5 degrees C caused acrosomal swelling in about 50% of the spermatozoa. Subsequent freezing and thawing caused considerable ultrastructural changes to the acrosomes (disruption of the plasma and outer acrosomal membranes and dispersion of the acrosomal contents) and middle pieces (breakage of the plasma membrane and a reduction in the electron density of the mitochondrial matrix) of a high proportion of spermatozoa. The average non-return rate following insemination of semen from 5 of the bulls was 61.6% and higher (P greater than 0.001) than for the sixth bull (15%). Although this difference in semen viability was also demonstrated in the structural studies (acrosome, P greater than 0.05: middle piece, P greater than 0.001), more work is required to assess the relationship between structure and function of spermatozoa.
Cardiovascular System Response to Chronic Exposure to Emissions from Gas Turbines Power Plants

Objectives: Heart Rate and Blood Pressure have been reported to be susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Effect of emissions from gas turbine power station among workers is relatively unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the effect of emissions from gas turbines on cardiovascular functions and C-reactive protein level in workers of power generating stations. Methodology: 440 individuals made up of 228 workers of gas-fired power plant stations and 212 non-power generating station workers volunteered for this study. A detailed questionnaire was carefully filled by volunteers and anthropometric data measured and recorded. Blood pressure, heart rate and C-reactive protein level (CRP) were measured using standard laboratory techniques in all subjects. Results were presented as Mean ± Standard Error of Mean (SEM) and appropriate analysis was done using Independent student’s t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). P-value Results: Result showed increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), 142.45 ± 8.87 mmHg of test subjects compared to that of the control (P 0.05) which was 121.32 ± 2.25 mmHg. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) of the test and control groups. The Pulse Rate (PR) increased significantly in the test group (89.00 ± 0.02 bpm) when compared to that of the control group (74.34 ± 1.23 bpm). There was also an elevated plasma level of CRP, 6.69 ± 0.03 mg/L in the test group compared to the control (P Conclusion: Exposure to gas emission from natural gas-fired power plants on workers of power generating stations increased SBP, PR and C-reactive Protein level.
Mechanisms of incomplete prezygotic reproductive isolation in an intertidal snail: testing behavioural models in wild populations

Two morphs (ecotypes) of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis coexist along Galician exposed rocky shores. They hybridize, but gene flow is impeded by a partial prezygotic reproductive barrier, and we have earlier suggested that this is a case of incipient sympatric speciation. To assess the mechanisms of prezygotic reproductive isolation, we estimated deviations from random mating (sexual selection and sexual isolation) of sympatric snails in 13 localities on the shore, and performed mate choice experiments in the laboratory. We also investigated the microdistribution of both morphs over patches of barnacles and blue mussels in the hybridization zone. We used computer simulations to separate the mechanisms contributing to reproductive isolation.
Effect of bars on evolution of SDSS spiral galaxies

We explore the significance of bars in triggering central star formation (SF) and AGN activity for spiral galaxy evolution using a volume-limited sample with $0.020 70\rm km s^{-1}$ selected from SDSS DR7. On a central SF rate-$\sigma$ plane, we measure the fraction of galaxies with strong bars in our sample and also the AGN fractions for barred and non-barred galaxies, respectively. The comparison between the bar and AGN fractions reveals a causal connection between the two phenomena of SF quenching and AGN activity. A massive BH and abundant gas fuels are sufficient conditions to trigger AGNs. We infer that the AGNs triggered by satisfying the two conditions drive the strong AGN feedback, suddenly suppressing the central SF and leaving the SF sequence. We find that in galaxies where either of the two conditions is not sufficient, bars are a great help for the AGN triggering, accelerating the entire process of evolution, which is particularly evident in pseudo-bulge galaxies. All of our findings are obtained only when plotted in terms of their central velocity dispersion and central SFR (not galactic scale SFR), indicating that the AGN-driven SF quenching is confined in the central kpc region.