Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biofumigation - An eco-friendly approach for managing bacterial wilt and soft rot disease of ginger

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) is an important spice crop of India. This crop is affected by different disease of which soft rot and bacterial wilt are the most important and destructive in nature. Being soil borne in nature, it is very difficult to control these diseases with chemical methods. So, an eco friendly approach consisting of six treatments i.e T 1 = Soil treatment by biofumigation using cabbage, T 2 = Soil treatment using bleaching powder @ 10g/bed, T 3 = Rhizome treatment by heat, T 4 = Rhizome treatment by rhizobacterial antagonist, T 5 = Rhizome treatment by endophytic bacterial antagonist, T 6 = Control, was carried out at UBKV, Pundibari, Coochbehar to manage both the diseases efficiently. Among all the 6 treatments, it was found that biofumigation treatment of the soil with cabbage residues (T 1 ) resulted in the lowest soft rot and bacterial wilt disease incidence of 9.97% and 5.92% respectively with a highest yield of 15.16 t/ha. T 2 , T 4 and T 3 also produced lower bacterial wilt disease incidence of 8.23%, 8.54% and 9.41% respectively. The highest bacterial wilt disease incidence of 22.11% and lowest yield of 770 t/ha was recorded by T 6 (Control). It was concluded that soil sterilization was more beneficial than seed treatment alone and both seed as well as soil treatment should be practiced to manage them efficiently.
Dispersion and seasonal movements of American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) tagged in waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy

Approximately 17 tagging studies were conducted on American plaice between 1958 and 1997 throughout the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy. Only about half these studies were formally analysed and discussed in the literature, and many of those represented in the literature were characterised by appreciable recoveries made subsequent to publication. Analyses of previously untreated data and re-analysis of older studies with updated recoveries was conducted to create a synopsis of likely population identities and movements. These tagging studies demonstrate that American plaice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are distinct from Scotian Shelf plaice, and support the hypothesis of discrete southern and northern sub-populations of American plaice within the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. American plaice in Sydney Bight are also distinct from plaice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but it remains unknown if they are a discrete spawning group or derive from plaice spawning on Banquereau. Movements of plaice tagged in the vicinity of Passamaquoddy Bay provide some evidence that plaice in the Bay of Fundy might be associated with the Scotian Shelf, possibly by a spawning group on Browns Bank. All the groups of plaice addressed in this study were combined as a single “Designatable Unit”, and assessed as “Threatened in a Species at Risk” context, by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), due to excessive declines in abundance of mature individuals over 2–3 generations (~86% decline in the Gulf, ~67% decline on the Scotian Shelf). Observed long-term dispersion indicates that plaice has some potential to recolonize depleted areas, but such movements are displayed by fish older than are commonly found in the population in recent decades. Seasonal protection of spawning grounds might safeguard components of the population in the short-term until numbers of these older fish can be rebuilt.
Effect of Fire on Big Bluestem Production

Microclimatic conditions associated with fire-induced changes in a tall-grass prairie environment were investigated, and estimates of the net photosynthetic response of Andropogon gerardi Vitm. to these changes were made by laboratory determination of the temperature dependence of net photosynthesis of A. gerardi plants collected from burned and unburned sites. Plants from both sites had temperature optima for net photosynthesis between 25 C and 30 C, and similar maximum rates. Increased production of A. gerardi in the field following burning was attributed primarily to the more favorable environmental conditions for net photosynthesis on the burned site from the time of leaf emergence through late June. Warmer soil temperatures and more light on the burned site appear to be important in initiating early season growth. Total carbon gain per unit area was greater on the burned site than on the unburned, primarily because more photosynthetic leaf and shoot area was available on the burned site earlier in the growing season. Beginning in late June and continuing for the rest of the growing season, measured environmental parameters were similar on both sites. INTRODUCTION An increase in dry matter production and flowering when tallgrass prairie is burned has been amply documented (cf., Brown, 1967; Curtis and Partch, 1948; Daubenmire, 1968; Ehrenreich and Aikman, 1963; Hadley and Kieckhefer, 1963; Kucera and Dahlman, 1968). Several factors including release from allelopathic effects and decreased competition from cool season grasses have been suggested (Robocker and Miller, 1955; Curtis and Partch, 1948; Ehrenreich, 1959; Old, 1969) as reasons for increased production after fire, but litter removal has often been cited as the primary factor (Curtis and Partch, 1950; Old, 1969). On unbumed tall-grass prairie the light-colored litter layer is often at least 10 cm deep, and quite dense. Its removal affects many microclimatic parameters and it is not clear which of these changes are responsible for increasing production. The most obvious ways in which litter removal affects the microclimate are by allowing increased light penetration and warmer temperatures near and below the soil surfaces (Hurlbert, 1969). These factors have been cited by Ehrenreich and Aikman (1963), Ehrenreich (1959) and Weaver and Rowland (1952) to account for earlier growth on burned compared to over 114 gm2 (1000 lbs acre-1) unburned areas. An additional effect of litter on microclimate was proposed by Brown (1967), who observed less net radiation in litter areas, sug1 Present address: Department of Vegetable Crops, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850. 2 Department of Biology, Central State University, _Edmond, Oklahoma 73034,
PREADAPTATION AND MULTIPLE EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAYS

The origin of radically new structures has always been one of the most fascinating-and one of the most puzzlingaspects of the study of evolution. Even today, when the broad outlines of speciation and of modification in existing structures has been well established, understanding of the factors involved in the appearance of radically new structures (and with them, new taxonomic groups) is, at best, confused. Many of the unsolved problems of macroevolution 2 stem, I believe, from a failure to appreciate the full implications of two evolutionary principles-preadaptation and multiple pathways of evolution. I wish in this paper to discuss these concepts in the hopes of at least partly clarifying their operational mechanism and their significance in macroevolution. Although I place great importance on these concepts, I must emphasize that I do not believe that they provide the solution to all the problems of macroevolution. Furthermore, I am aware that I omit many important phases of macroevolution, but I have purposely
The association of muscle size, strength and exercise capacity with all‐cause mortality in non‐dialysis‐dependent CKD patients

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are commonly reported to exhibit skeletal muscle wasting, reduced strength and exercise capacity. Evidence from patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) demonstrates these factors are associated with mortality, but it is unclear whether this relationship exists earlier in the illness. Our objective was to determine whether muscle size, strength or exercise capacity was associated with all‐cause mortality, unscheduled hospital admissions or time to ESRD in patients not requiring dialysis.
Field response of papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Coorg Honey Dew) to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at different levels of phosphorus

Summary Papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Coorg Honey Dew is one of the most popular cultivars grown in Southern India, but it requires high doses of inorganic phosphorus (P) fertilisation for growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve plant growth and nutrient uptake, especially the uptake of P and micronutrients. As papaya plants respond well to high levels of P, inoculation with AMF was studied to see if AMF could fulfill the requirement for P in plants grown under field conditions. Papaya seedlings (n = 36 per AMF) were colonised separately, in polybags, for 45 d by two species of AMF, Glomus mosseae and G. fasciculatum. Seedlings were then transplanted to the field, with uninoculated seedlings as controls, in a replicated randomised block design. Three levels of P were applied [50, 75, or 100% of the recommended dose (240 g plant–1 year–1) of P fertiliser, as super-phosphate]. Plants were studied for root colonisation by AMF, for growth parameters, and for leaf nutrient contents (especially, P, Zn, and Cu). Acidic and alkaline phosphatase activities in the roots of AMF-colonised plants were recorded as these enzymes are involved in the mobilisation of P. The yields of plants up to 18 months-old, and fruit quality, measured by total soluble solids contents (TSSC) and β-carotene contents, were recorded. AMF-inoculated plants performed better than uninoculated control plants at all levels of P applied. G. mosseae was more effective at improving plant growth, fruit yield, and P and Zn contents than G. fasciculatum at the 75% and 50% P-levels. Cu contents increased at all P-levels in G. fasciculatum-colonised plants. Total soluble solids contents showed marginal improvements at the 75% P level with both fungi. β-carotene contents increased significantly in G. mosseae-colonised plants at the 50% and 75% P-levels, and in G. fasciculatum-colonised plants at the 75% P-level. The feasibility of applying on-farm produced AMF inoculum to improve papaya cultivation and to save 25% of the P applied during papaya cultivation is discussed.
Briefly Noted

Medicare dialysis patients (N = 31,776; mean age, 75.5 years) taking sevelamer had a significantly lower risk of death (HR: 0.94) than those taking calcium acetate in a propensity score matched analysis (6). Notably, prescription data showed that compliance with binder therapy of 80% or more was seen in only 33–35% of patients; there was no benefit of sevelamer over calcium acetate in those adherent to therapy.
Examining Complex Microbial Communities Using the Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Method and Dedicated TRFLP Analysis Software

The purpose of this research was to develop a robust methodology that could be used to determine the composition of complex microbial communities found in a variety of environments. In an effort to profile these communities, a 16S rDNA directed, sequencing independent method, Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) was used to generate fragment profiles from genomic DNA isolated from each sample. A custom designed software package, In SilicoÂ©, was then used to match these terminal restriction fragments in the sample to patterns of 16S rDNA fragments in a custom database of reference patterns. Identifying these patterns allowed for inferences to be made about the structure of the microbial populations in the environments sampled. TRFLP was chosen as the method of identification since it is a high throughput, cost effective method for community profiling. A combination of this method and the In SilicoÂ© software was used to examine microbial communities associated with open air swine waste lagoon systems, the large intestine of the Trichechus manatus latirostrus, Florida manatee, and the microbial populations found in rumen fed fermentors. The community analysis methodology we developed and employed was able to not only detect large and diverse microbial populations within each sample, but was also able to show differences between the detected microbial populations under the various experimental regimes used in the studies presented.
Reproduction in Western Texas Cnemidophorus sexlineatus (Sauria: Teiidae)

RAND, A. S. 1964. Ecological distribution in anoline lizards of Puerto Rico. Ecology 45: 745-752. RUIBAL, R. 1961. Thermal relations of five species of tropical lizards. Evolution 15:98-111. SCHMIDT-NIELSEN, K. AND W. R. DAWSON. 1964. Terrestrial animals in dry heat: desert reptiles, pp. 467-480. In D. B. Dill (ed.), Handbook of physiology, sec. 4: Adaptation to the environment. Am. Physiol. Soc. , Washington, D. C. SOULE, M. 1963. Aspects of thermoregulation in nine species of lizards from Baja California. Copeia 1963(1):107-115. UNDERWOOD, G. 1954. On the classification and evolution of geckos. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 124:469-492. WILHOFT, D. C. 1958. Observations on preferred body temperature and feeding habits of some selected tropical iguanas. Herpetologica 14: 161-164.
Anatomical Studies of Rice Plant Affected with Bacterial Leaf Blight, with Special Reference to Stomatal Infection at the Coleoptile and the Foliage Leaf Sheath of Rice Seedling

Bacterial leaf blight of rice plant, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae (Uyeda et Ishiyama) Dowson, is principally a vascular disease. Generally, the causal organism enters into the leaf tissue through the water-pore and multiplies in the epitheme, and then invades the vesseles through the vascular passes. The typical symptom appears thereafter.This paper presents another mode of infection of this disease. At the seedling stage of rice plant, the causal organism enters through the stomata, and multiplies in the intercellular space of parenchyma at the coleoptile as well as the sheath of foliage leaves. However, any external symptom does not appear. Because the bacteria never invade the vascular bundles in this case. Thus, the seedlings hold the bacterium as “carrier”. It was supposed that the appearance of typical symptom would only be expected in the infection by the causal organism which is once excreted and invades the water exudation system of leaf.The stomata are always opened (Fig. VII-1) at the coleoptile, and the semi-opening type stomata (Fig. VII-2) are distributed among the closed ones at the basal part of the sheath of foliage leaves. These Opened or semi-opened stomata are considered to be closely related to the invasion of the bacteria.This stomatal infection is not specific phenomenon with regard to X. oryzae. The same infection and multiplication was confirmed on the “carrier” seedlings collected at farmers' nursery bed. It is suggested that the bacterial leaf blight organism usually follows this course of life cycle at the seedling of rice plant.
From five to one: Sandyella species (Palaemonidae) are distinct ontogenetic stages of a single species

The palaemonid genus Sandyella includes S. tricornuta (Isla María Madre, Mexico), S. mclaughlinae, S. bicornuta, S. quadricornuta and S. sexicornuta (Clipperton Island, France). These species were first described in the genus Chacella based on collections of few individuals and limited to no ecological information. Sandyella was later erected to differentiate Chacella kerstitchi from Chacella tricornuta and Chacella mclaughlinae. The remaining three Chacella species (<3 mm cephalothorax length) were later also moved to Sandyella and distinguished mainly based on variation in the less than three protuberances on the cephalothorax and number of protuberances on the abdomen. Since their description from their type localities, only Sandyella tricornuta has been additionally recorded from Bahía de La Paz, Mexico. Collections done at 13 locations along the Gulf of California (2009–2010) yielded 2,905 specimens including representatives of all Sandyella species as epibionts of 57 black coral colonies Antipathes galapagensis, which prompted a closer taxonomic examination. Based on observations of live and preserved specimens, including type material, population cephalothorax size frequency and mitochondrial COI data, we inferred that all current Sandyella species (a) exhibit three protuberances on the cephalothorax; (b) cephalothorax length and number of protuberances appear to be progressive among species; (c) species exhibit high COI sequence similarity; and d) the five Sandyella species were observed cohabiting the same black coral colony. Therefore, we conclude that the five current Sandyella species are in fact distinct ontogenetic stages of a single species, S. tricornuta, and our results of a morphological Bayesian analysis led us conclude that this species belongs to the genus Sandyella rather than Chacella.
The occurrence regularity of psyllid in Haloxylon spp and its influencing factors

The leafy-bracted galls were observed in the Haloxylon ammodendron and H.persicum in the Gurbantunggut Desert of Xinjiang.Its incidence rate was above 90% which was caused by four species of psyllids: Caillardia robusta,C.azurea,C.nana and C.notata respectively,and the latter two species were newly recorded from China.There were two incidence peaks of Haloxylon spp every year,respectively in the mid-May and mid-June in H.ammodendron and in mid-May and late July to early August in H.persicum. The occurrence amount of psyllids in H.ammodendron was the most serious at interdune and there was no much significance between dunes edges and gravel desert;The occurrence amount of psyllids in H.persicum was more serious at low dunes than that at high dunes,and sunny slope than shady slope.Incidence rate of the galls increased along with the tree-ages.Topography,tree vigour,direction and topography*slope have significant influences on the occurrence of psyllids,but their interactions have no apparent effects on the galls.The occurrence regularity of psyllids in H.ammodendron and H.persicum and psyllids′ relations with surrounding environment in the Gurbantunggut Desert were studied in this paper,which provide a basis for protecting desert ecological environments.
The environment mercury pollution toxicity effect to the alga and their influencing factors

The toxicity effects of mercury pollution on algae and influencing factors were reviewed in this paper.Mercury in water environment mainly exists in three forms such as elemental form,inorganic form and organic form.Absorption of mercury consists of algal extracellular rapid absorption and slow intracellular accumulation.In the safe concentration,the metallic mercury can promote the algal growth.However,with its concentration increases,algae growth is inhibited and even resulted in the death.Once mercury comes into the algal cells,the algae will trigger a series of protection mechanisms.The exclusion and elimination of mercury from algae cells may be an important tolerance mechanism.Algae can also reduce the intake of mercury into the algal cells by the various methods,and promote the discharge of mercury by combining with other substances.Temperature,pH and some biological factors can influence the toxicity of heavy metals to the algae.The mechanism of mercury tolerance and adaptation,repair and monitoring of heavy metals pollution using algae,the algal signal transduction pathway response to mercury stress and its protection mechanism,and the prospect of future research areas were discussed.
FAECAL NEMATODE EGG COUNTS IN LACTATING EWES FROM ROMNEY FLOCKS SELECTIVELY BRED FOR DIVERGENCE IN LAMB FAECAL EGG COUNT

Faecal nematode egg counts (FECs) were examined in lactating ewes from divergent flocks of Romney sheep which had been selectively bred from 1979 to 1996 for or against FEC in 4 to 7 month old lambs. Faecal samples were obtained from the ewes while under normal grazing management, 1 to 2 months after lambing in spring for each of 6 years between 1987 and 1996 (no. = 785 records; 298 animals). Analyses were carried out on log e (FEC + 100)–transformed data using animal-model maximum likelihood procedures, accounting for repeated records on ewes, within and between lactations. An examination of non-genetic effects indicated that there was no significant effect of age class of ewe on FEC but ewes which gave birth to single lambs had significantly lower post-parturient FECs than those bearing twins (back-transformed means of 184 v. 276 egg per g, respectively; P P e (FEC + 100) in their lambs in the same years. Heritability and repeatability estimates for log e (FEC + 100) in ewes were 0·37 (s.e. 0·06) and 0·46 (s.e. 0·03) respectively. Genetic correlation estimates between a ewe's post-parturient log e (FEC + 200) and her log e (FEC + 100) as a lamb, based on analysis of (co)variance or realized responses, were 0·70 or 0·58 respectively. The phenotypic correlation between a ewe's log e (FEC + 100) and that of her lamb(s) in the same lactation was 0·29 (s.e. 0·06) ( P
Study of diagnostic utility of Xpert MTB/Rif test on pleural fluid in the evaluation of patients presenting with Pleural Tuberculosis in Nepal

Introduction: Existing tests for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (TB) have major limitations in terms of accuracy, time to diagnosis and drug resistance testing. A test which can diagnose pleural TB and detect resistance, like Xpert MTB/Rif, would be optimal for rapid diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A prospective observational study was done in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Nepal. Fifty-one patients with clinic-radiologic suspicion of pleural TB were included. The results of pleural fluid Xpert MTB/Rif were compared with two Composite Reference Standards. Composite Reference Standard-1 consisted of positive pleural fluid smear, positive culture, positive histology of pleural biopsy, and positive sputum results. Composite Reference Standard-2 included those with Composite Reference Standard-1 and those with high ADA values (>40 U/l) with response to anti-tubercular treatment at 8 weeks of follow-up. Results: Thirty-six patients were diagnosed as Pleural TB. Nine fulfilled Composite Reference Standard-1. Pleural fluid Xpert MTB/Rif was positive in five cases with Composite Reference Standard-1 and nine cases with Composite Reference Standard-2. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value with reference to Composite Reference Standard-1 were 55.56%, 88.10%, 50%, and 90.24%, respectively. Using Composite Reference Standard-2 as reference, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 25%, 93.33%, 90%, and 34.15%, respectively. Two cases were diagnosed Xpert Rif resistant on pleural fluid. Conclusion: Due to low sensitivity, the Xpert MTB/Rif test cannot be recommended as initial test of diagnosis in a high prevalence setting. At the same time its clinical utility lies in testing of patients suspected to have drug-resistant pleural tuberculosis.