Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extensive investigation of reticuloendotheliosis virus in the endangered Attwater's prairie chicken

Extensive Investigation of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus in the Endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. (May 2006) Ryan Lanier Bohls, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Ellen Collisson Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) is a retrovirus that causes a neoplastic disease in a wide range of avian hosts including chickens, turkeys, and ducks. In 1993, REV was detected in the endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken (Tympanachus cupido attwateri), a subspecies of Tympanachus cupido. Subsequent infections of this prairie chicken have been identified at captive breeding facilities throughout Texas. The implications of these infections have severely hindered repopulation efforts by these facilities. This study focused on investigating REV infection of captive Attwater’s prairie chicken in order to better understand the disease affecting these endangered birds. The overall objective was to develop a means of eliminating this threat to the repopulation of the Attwater’s prairie chicken. Several aspects of virus infection were investigated. Reagents capable of recognizing prairie chicken IgY and viral gag polypeptides were developed for use in assays for detection of antibody responses and titration of viral concentrations. Sequencing data of genomes collected from isolates of Texas prairie chickens and domestic chickens, as well as three REV prototype viruses, were compared to determine relationships among strains and identify the potential origin of the REV infecting Attwater’s prairie chicken. Additionally, a flow cytometry
15_DINESH KUMAR_4865_Agro.pmd

Among the grain legumes, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) commonly known as Bengal gram and locally Chana is an important and unique food legume because the variety of food products like snacks, sweets etc. Condiments and vegetables are prepared from it world-wide. It also consumed in the form of processed whole seed (boiled, roasted, parched, fried, steamed sprouted etc.) or as dal flour (besan). Gram is a good source of protein (18-22 per cent), carbohydrate (52-70 per cent), fat (4-10 per cent), minerals and vitamins. In India, it occupies about 9.18 million hectare area with production of 8.22 million tonnes and an average productivity of 900 kg ha 1 (Anonymous, 2013). In spite of the importance of this crop in our daily diet and in agricultural production, productivity of this crop is very low in India. Hence, it is very much essential to take the stock of the situation and search for new innovations which can enhance the productivity without causing much damage to the environment.
Daily Energy expenditure by Adult Leach's Storm-Petrels during the Nesting Cycle

We measured metabolic rates of adult Leach's storm-petrels on Kent Island, New Brunswick, in order to determine the energetic costs of reproductive activities in a small, pelagic seabird. Oxygen consumption of captive birds was determined volumetrically, and daily energy expenditure of free-living individuals was estimated by the doubly labeled water technique (DLW). Errors inherent in DLW gave rise to expected standard deviations in estimates of CO₂ production on the order of 20%–30% of the mean, which were similar in magnitude to the variation observed among individual measurements. Furthermore, when final concentrations of 18O in body water were low, an apparent bias in the measurement of background 18O consistently inflated estimates of CO₂ production. Minimum rate of oxygen consumption occurred at 36 C and averaged 90 cm³ h⁻¹ or 1.92 cm³ g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Rate of oxygen consumption increased gradually with decreasing temperature and more rapidly below 16 C, at which point thermal conductance plus evaporative heat loss was 2.6–2.9 J g⁻¹ C⁻¹ h⁻¹. CO₂ production of incubating adults averaged 80 cm³ h⁻¹. Analysis of individuals collected at the beginning and end of the incubation spell indicated that about twothirds of the energy for incubation was supplied by fat deposits and the rest by stomach oils and that the ratio of fat to water loss during incubation was about 1.55 by mass. Carbon dioxide production of adults away from the nest during the first half of the nestling period averaged 191 cm³ h⁻¹. Water turnover rates were 0.136 day⁻¹ in incubating adults and 1.01 day⁻¹ in adults away from the nest. Estimates of daily energy expenditure (DEE) are consistent with Leach's storm-petrels' spending considerable time resting on the water surface while at sea. Ratios of energy expenditure to water turnover suggest that adults assimilate a less energy-dense diet than that which they feed their chicks.
Comparative studies on the pathogenicity of Nosema bombycis Naegeli and Nosema sp. (Microsporida: Nosematidae) to Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) due to secondary contamination

La pathogenicite de Nosema sp. pour NB 4 D 2 , race bivoltine commune de Bombyx mori, par infestation secondaire a ete etudiee et comparee a celle de Nosema bombycis. Cet article presente les resultats de l'infestation des larves, des chrysalides et des papillons et de la qualite des cocons apres induction de l'infestation aux cinq âges larvaires. Nosema sp. entraine des dommages considerables chez B. mori.
Spatial variability of throughfall in a Pinus tabulaeformis plantation forest in Loess Plateau, China

ABSTRACT Throughfall varies in space, which complicates measurements and makes it difficult to achieve accurate spatial representation. In the present research, we measured gross rainfall and throughfall from May 2011 to September 2012, leaf area index, and locations of trees within a Pinus tabulaeformis plantation forest in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. The spatial heterogeneity of throughfall and related factors, as well as the minimum number and locations of collectors needed to measure throughfall accurately, were analyzed by statistical techniques. The results indicated that the throughfall was concentrated at the canopy edge, indicating that the edge of the canopy of P. tabulaeformis had a convergence effect on throughfall. The analysis of semivariance of throughfall demonstrated that canopy structure was a key factor influencing spatial variation of throughfall in low rainfall events, but measurement errors and other nonspatial variables were the primary factors affecting the variation of throughfall in high rainfall events. Based on the mean throughfall at different proportions of canopy radius centered on the individual tree stem, the minimum number and locations of collectors needed to accurately measure throughfall was estimated. In this study, four rain collectors (diameter 20 cm) at the 3/5 canopy radius could reasonably represent the average throughfall under the individual P. tabulaeformis canopy.
Biology and Control of Rice False Smut Caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Teleomorph Villosiclava virens)

Rice false smut (FS), a disease caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cke.) Takahashi (1896), was first reported in northeastern Arkansas counties in 1997. The first objective of this research was to establish a collection of U. virens isolates from geographically diverse regions of Arkansas. Three U. virens isolates and chlamydospores from ‘Templeton’ and ‘Clearfield-151’ rice cultivars were used to determine the effects of temperature and pH on mycelial growth and germination. A nested-PCR protocol and histological methods were used to determine if U. virens infects and colonizes rice seedlings and spikelets on panicles. The sensitivity of three U. virens isolates was tested to analyze the inhibition of mycelial growth in vitro and to establish inhibitory concentrations to six technical and five analytical grade fungicides. Field and greenhouse tests were conducted to determine if fungicide seed treatments using technical grade fungicides could effectively reduce the incidence of U. virens rDNA in seedlings as measured by nested-PCR. Finally, field tests were conducted using fungicide seed treatments to control FS at two locations and disease was assessed by a visual disease assessment. We have an established collection of 190 isolates obtained from nine cultivars in seven counties of Arkansas, USA. Mycelial growth and germination of chlamydospores occurred between pH levels from 5.5 to 8.0. Mycelial growth and germination of chlamydospores occurred at temperatures from 18° to 34°C and from 18 to 26°C, respectively. Nested-PCR tests indicate the protocol is specific and sensitive for detecting U. virens in rice. Ribosomal DNA of U. virens was detected using nested-PCR from seedlings within three days after emergence from the soil and in 27.5 to 75% of spikelets in booted panicles before exsertion. Selected isolates of U. virens were sensitive to fungicides in-vitro but results from using nested-PCR in the greenhouse and field to screen seedlings for U. virens rDNA indicated a significant reduction in the incidence of U. virens in some seed treatments compared to controls. Seed treatments did not significantly reduce FS disease compared to controls in the field plots when measured by visual disease assessments.
On some aspects of biology of Priacanthus macracanthus (Cuvier).

Analysis of stomach contents of Priacanthus macracanthus revealed that crustaceans and toleosts are the chief constiuents of food; Penaeus sp, Metapenaeus sp and Solenocera sp being the most important items. From frequency distributions of intraovarian eggs, spawning period seems to be from November to January. The ratio between males and females is not constant. Size frequency distribution showed that the species grows at the rate of 10 mm per month.
Patient education for type 2 diabetics is cost-effective in China

Objective To evaluate the long-term economic and clinical outcomes of type 2 diabetes patient education in China. Methods A validated computer simulation model of type 2 diabetes (the CORE Diabetes Model) was used to make projections of long-term economic and clinical outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes in China who received or did not receive diabetes related education. The simulation compared two cohorts of people with diabetes - one cohort received education (intervention group, n=568) and another cohort did not (control group, n=620). The two groups were match controlled. The base case cohort characteristics were based on the subgroup of type 2 diabetes patients from the 1998-2006 Diabcare-China surveys. Projections were made over a 50-year time horizon to capture the costs of long-term complications. The mean HbA1c was 7.6%±1.6%, duration of diabetes was (3.2±5.6) years, mean age was (55±11) years, 591 males and 597 females. Results Patients who received diabetes education(intervention group) reduced their relative lifetime risk of many serious complications, including end-stage renal disease (45.5%), late stage eye disease (30.9%) and myocardial infarction (9.2%). Furthermore, undiscounted life expectancy was increased by 1.1 years, quality adjusted life year (QALY) was increased by 0.76 years and total lifetime costs increased by RMB 5183 yuan per person. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was RMB 6784 yuan per QALY gained for patients in intervention group versus those in control group. Conclusion Patient education for type 2 diabetes patients increases life expectancy and reduces the incidence of major and minor complications, and it is a very cost-effective intervention. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Patient education; Cost and cost analysis
Effect of sugarcane and corn odors on adult oviposition and larval feeding behavior in the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis)

[Objectives]How plant odors affect the behavior of the Asian corn borer(Ostrinia furnacalis) in a sugarcane and corn intercropping system was studied in order to provide information to help control this pest. [Methods]The effect of sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum) and corn(Zea mays),and a dichloromethane rinse of extracts of these plants,on adult oviposition and the larval feeding behavior in the Asian com borer was investigated. [Results]There was no difference in the number of eggs(egg number and egg mass) laid on com leaves and on sugarcane leaves,but significantly less larvae fed on sugarcane leaves than on corn leaves.Both sugarcane and corn extracts elicited EAG responses from adults,but these did not differ when the extracts were at the same concentration.There was no significant difference in the number of eggs(egg number and egg mass) laid by female moths exposed to leaf extract of sugarcane and corn at a concentration of 0.1 gE/mL.The relative feeding rates of larvae were less than 65.00%when fed on an artificial diet treated with sugarcane extract,significantly less man when the same diet was treated with corn extracts. [Conclusion]There was no difference in the oviposition behavior of the Asian com borer in response to sugarcane and com odors but first instar larvae showed aversion responses to sugarcane odor.
Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion as Tools to Enhance Small Scale Businesses’ Performance in Southwest, Nigeria

Purpose: The study sought to examine the impact of financial literacy and financial inclusion on small businesses’ overall performance with special reference to Southwest Nigeria. Methods: Descriptive survey research sketch was adopted for this study, while the purposive sampling method was employed to choose forty small scale businesses registered with SMEDAN from each state capital of South Western of Nigeria that engaged in petty trading, bakeries, block-making, soup-making, tailoring, and agro-allied, totaling 240 participants as a sample size for the study. Data were collected by using a closed-ended questionnaire designed for the study, while simple percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings disclose that financial literacy and financial inclusion jointly and independently affect small businesses’ performance. It revealed a positive and significant relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion. However, the study depicts that majority of business operators did not have financial knowledge such as working capital management, accounting records system, financial reporting, cashbook maintenance, income statement, daily cash reconciliation, internal control on cash, and cash budget. Also, the study confirmed that the majority of small business entrepreneurs are financially excluded from micro-financing, emergency loans, employ purchase financing, business bank loans, and micro-insurance plan Services. Implications: The implication of this study is that if the Central Bank of Nigeria partnership with other professional organizations to promote financial literacy and inclusion programs to all business entrepreneurs across the nation, it will motivate more business entrepreneurs in Nigeria to have access to finance. Finance & Economics Review 2(3), 2020 2 Published by Research & Innovation Initiative, 3112 Jarvis Ave, Warren, MI 48091, USA
Obesity Phenotype among a Population of Market Traders in Fiji Islands

Background: Obesity continues to be a major health burden in South Pacific Islands countries are they account for the top 10 countries with the highest obesity rates globally. Currently Fiji Islands stands at 24th nation with highest obesity rate. High obesity rate is believed to be contributing to the rising chronic noncommunicable disease. However, obesity seems to differ by work types, especially those involving sedentary and stressful task as seen among market traders. Using a cross-sectional survey, this study investigated obesity profile among market traders in Suva, Fiji. Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine participants from Nasouri and Suva markets were assessed for general and abdominal obesity using body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip-ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) using standard procedure. Obesity was defined as BMI (>30 kg/m2); PBF (Male: >25%; Female: >35%); WC (Male: >102 cm; Female>88 cm); WHR (Male>1.0; Female >0.8) and WHtR (>0.5). Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity using BMI were 32% and 45% respectively among study participants (Male: 48%). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures are 131.7(sd:17) mmHg and 82.3(sd:11) mmHg; mean anthropometric indices: BMI (29.8; 95% CI: 28.9, 30.8), WC (100.9 ± 15 cm), WHR (1.01 ± 0.83), WHtR (0.61 ± 0.09). Female traders had significantly higher PBF (38.3% vs. 27.7%) and WHtR (0.64 vs. 0.58); while males had significantly higher weight (82.9 vs. 81.6 kg). Obesity was associated with restrictive lung impairment (p=0.002) and hypertension (p=0.006). BMI was positively correlated with WC (r=0.75), WhtR (r=0.73), PBF (r=0.52); but inversely correlated with WHR (r=-0.07). 17% of the traders had normal BMI but also had abdominal obesity; and 27% had normal PBF and abdominal obesity. Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity among market traders (45%) is higher than that of general population (32%). Proportion of traders with normal BMI and abdominal obesity is also high. This highlights the need to incorporate indices of abdominal obesity in obesity assessment. This population could potentially benefit from targeted obesity education and prevention effort.
Photosynthesis in Gomphrena celosioides and Its Classification Amongst C4-pathway Plants

Monocotyledonous C4 species classified as NADP-ME-type transfer malate from mesophyll to bundle sheath cells where this acid is decarboxylated via NADP malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) to yield pyruvate and CO2. The dicotyledon G. celosioides is most appropriately classified in thls group on the basis of high leaf activities of NADP malic enzyme and NADP malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.82). However, this species contains high aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) and alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) activities and centripetally located bundle sheath chloroplasts, features more typical of other groups of C4 species that cycle aspartate and alanine between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. During the present study, we found that these aminotransferases and NADP malate dehydrogenase were predominantly located in mesophyll cells, that malate was the major C4 acid labelled when leaves were exposed to 14CO2, and that label was initially lost most rapidly from the C-4 of malate during a chase in 12CO2. These results are consistent with the major route of photosynthetic metabolism being the same as that operative in other NADP-ME-type species, although this may be supplemented by a minor route utilizing aspartate. In contrast to monocotyledonous NADP-ME-type C4 species, isolated bundle sheath cells from G. celosioides were capable of rapid photoreduction of NADP as judged by products formed during assimilation of 14CO2 and their capacity for light-dependent oxygen evolution. This was related to a relatively high frequency of single unstacked granum in the chloroplasts of these cells.
Use of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) in the management of critically ill children in a Malawian paediatric unit: an observational study

Introduction In low-resource countries, respiratory failure is associated with a high mortality risk among critically ill children. We evaluated the role of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) in the routine care of critically ill children in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods We conducted an observational study between 26 February and 15 April 2014, in an urban paediatric unit with approximately 20 000 admissions/year (in-hospital mortality <5% approximately during this time period). Modified oxygen concentrators or oxygen cylinders provided humidified bCPAP air/oxygen flow. Children up to the age of 59 months with signs of severe respiratory dysfunction were recruited. Survival was defined as survival during the bCPAP-treatment and during a period of 48 hours following the end of the bCPAP-weaning process. Results 117 children with signs of respiratory failure were included in this study and treated with bCPAP. Median age: 7 months. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests were positive in 25 (21%) cases, 15 (13%) had severe anaemia (Hb < 7.0 g/dL); 55 (47%) children had multiorgan failure (MOF); 22 (19%) children were HIV-infected/exposed. 28 (24%) were severely malnourished. Overall survival was 79/117 (68%); survival was 54/62 (87%) in children with very severe pneumonia (VSPNA) but without MOF. Among the 19 children with VSPNA (single-organ failure (SOF)) and negative HIV tests, all children survived. Survival rates were lower in children with MOF (including shock) (45%) as well as in children with severe malnutrition (36%) and proven HIV infection or exposure (45%). Conclusion Despite the limitations of this study, the good outcome of children with signs of severe respiratory dysfunction (SOF) suggests that it is feasible to use bCPAP in the hospital management of critically ill children in resource-limited settings. The role of bCPAP and other forms of non-invasive ventilatory support as a part of an improved care package for critically ill children with MOF at tertiary and district hospital level in low-resource countries needs further evaluation. Critically ill children with nutritional deficiencies and/or HIV infection/exposure need further study to determine bCPAP efficacy.
Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Varietal Tolerance to Imazethapyr

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine if differences existed in pinto bean varietal tolerance to postemergence application of imazethapyr under field conditions; if differences in tolerance were due to differential acetolactate synthase enzyme sensitivity or differences in 14C-imazethapyr absorption, translocation, and metabolism; and the heritability of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean. All rates of imazethapyr injured Olathe, Sierra, UI-114, P89405, Aztec, and P90570 pinto bean varieties 7 d after treatment in 1991 and 1992, except 53 g ai ha−1 of imazethapyr applied to Sierra pinto bean in 1991. Olathe was injured more than other varieties in 1991, and physiological maturity of Olathe was delayed more than Sierra in 1991 and 1992. Seed yields of all varieties were not reduced in 1991, and only P90570 had reduced seed yields from 53 g ha−1 of imazethapyr in 1992. Differential sensitivity of the acetolactate synthase enzyme to imazethapyr was not the mechanism of differential varietal response. Olathe pinto bean absorbed and translocated 1.4 and 1.3 times more 14C-imazethapyr, respectively, than Sierra pinto bean 24 h after application. No differences in 14C-imazethapyr metabolism were detected between Olathe and Sierra pinto bean. Broad heritability of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean was calculated to be 0.85. The number of genes controlling the inheritance of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean was greater than one.
Evaporative Water Loss by Hibernating Little Brown Bats, Myotis lucifugus

We measured total evaporative water loss (EWL)for little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) hibernating at 2° and 4°C. Total EWL was not influenced by body mass or temperature but was directly related to the difference in water vapor pressure (ΔWVP) between the tissue surfaces and the atmosphere. Evaporative water loss (mg bat⁻¹ d⁻¹) is 3763 ΔWVP (kPa). Metabolic water production, estimated at 1.68 mg bat⁻¹ d⁻¹, will not compensate for EWL except at relative humidities greater than 99.3% at normal hibernating temperatures. Net water losses range from 3.62 to 28 88 mg bat⁻¹ d⁻¹ at temperatures and humidities ranging from 2° to 4°C and 90% to 98%. Torpor durations predicted on the basis of net EWL correspond closely to those observed in laboratory and field studies, which suggests that water loss may be implicated in arousals from hibernation. We also measured respiratory frequency and tidal volume using a head-body plethysmograph. Bats showed an arrhythmic breathing pattern with bouts of apnea (31.6± 1.4 min) punctuated by ventilation bouts lasting 1.6± 0. 1 min and containing 71.2 ± 0 1 breaths. Tidal volume was 47± 2 μL, and minute volumes were 100.6 μL min⁻¹. Pulmonary water loss was only 0.3%6 of the total EWL because of the low ventilation rates.