Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current Status of Pearl Millet Downy Mildew Prevalence across Agroecological Zones of Senegal

Pearl millet is a dominant staple cereal crop for smallholder farmers in Senegal. However, the crop is constrained by various nonbiotic and biotic stresses such as downy mildew disease. To assess the prevalence of this disease in Senegal, a field survey was conducted during the rainy season of 2017 across eight main pearl millet production regions following latitudinal gradient with different climatic conditions. Results showed that downy mildew prevalence was higher in Kaolack (incidence = 68.19%), Kaffrine (incidence = 77.19%), Tambacounda (incidence = 97.03%), Sedhiou (incidence = 82.78%), and Kolda (incidence = 98.01%) than Thies (incidence = 28.21%), Diourbel (incidence = 24.46%), and Fatick (incidence = 37.75%) regions. The field survey revealed an incidence as high as 98% and 28% of infected area in surveyed fields. Significant correlations between geographic coordinates, disease incidence, and infected areas were also observed. This study provided information that could help to understand the prevalence of downy mildew in pearl millet in Senegal.
Adaptation of the Andean Toad Rhinella spinulosa (Anura: Bufonidae) at Low Temperatures: The Role of Glucose as Cryoprotectant

We studied the role of plasma glucose concentration on individuals of Rhinella spinulosa in response to annual temperature variation and freezing temperatures. Measurements and collection of toads were made every 2 mo for a period of 1 yr. To determine whether toads were exposed to low temperatures in their habitat, we proceeded with the study of operating temperatures (Te). The measures of operating temperature were determined by using plaster models placed in the field, simulating the situation where toads are outside or inside shelters, for which it was determined that individuals in the winter season would have been exposed to temperatures below 0°C. Glucose levels measured in field specimens showed an annual variation, but laboratory specimens exposed to freezing temperatures had higher plasma glucose levels than field toads. Furthermore, the crystallization temperature for the species has been recorded at −1.6°C. The increase in glucose concentration indicates its possible use as a cryoprotectant before freezing events in this species of frogs and also in the coldest months at temperatures below 0°C.
Identification and Characterization of S-RNases in Japanese Plum Genotypes

Many species of the genus Prunus exhibit the gametophytic self-incompatibility system, governed by the S-locus, that encode S-Ribonucleases in the pistil, and are able to degrade the RNA of the pollen tubes when the S-haplotypes of both gametophytes are the same, preventing the fertilization of the oosphere. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the S-alleles of Japanese Plum genotypes to verify groups of reproductive compatibility. Isolation, amplification and DNA sequencing were performed to obtain an allelic profile of the genotypes. Combinations of PC1 and PC2 primers identified 95% of the genotypes. After sequencing, the ‘Sc’, ‘Si’, ‘Sa’ and ‘Sh’ alleles were obtained with an identity greater than 90%, compared to the NCBI sequences. PC2 was more extensive in identifying the S-alleles in the S-RNases coding region, generating larger fragments than PC1. In this way, it was possible to generate three groups of genotypes with S-alleles of the same size with PC2: Group 1 (Selection Embrapa A19, Selection Embrapa A28, Black Amber Black, Fortune, Roysum, SC-7 and Zafira); and Group 2: (Selection Embrapa A7, Carazinho, Sanguínea, Laroda, SC-15 and Rebelatto) and Group 3 (Selection Ameixa 86-13, Golden King, Letícia and Robusto). Each primer combination amplified only one allele per genotype, suggesting the development of specific primers to amplify the S-alleles in each genotype. The identification and characterization of the alleles allow the use of genotypes compatible with each other, considering the floral synchrony of the genotypes, besides providing information for the management of the breeding processes in Japanese Plums.
Cephalothoracic Sulci in Linyphiine Spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae, Linyphiinae)

Pore-bearing cephalothoracic sulci (pits) are described and illustrated for the first time in several linyphiine spiders (Linyphiidae, Linyphiinae). Sulci are reported in members of the genera Bathyphantes Menge, Diplostyla Emerton, Kaestneria Wiehle, Pacifiphantes Eskov & Marusik, Porrhomma Simon, and Vesicapalpus Millidge. The phylogenetic implications of the presence of sulci in linyphiines are discussed. Members of two lineages of linyphiid spiders (Linyphiidae) typically exhibit cephalothoracic sulci, that is, a pair of grooves or pits of varying shape and depth in the cephalic part of the prosoma (see Hormiga 1994, in press, for references). These two lineages are the Mynogleninae and the Erigoninae. The mynoglenines are a relatively small clade distributed in Africa (Holm 1968), New Zealand (Blest 1979), and Tasmania and some southern Pacific islands (Hormiga, unpubl. data). Mynoglenine sulci are located on the clypeus (Fig. 1–3), below the anterior lateral eyes and are lined with cuticular openings (pores) that connect to glands with secretory cells that exhibit a unique strategy of membrane amplification (Blest & Taylor 1977; Blest & Pomeroy 1978; Blest 1979). The sulci of mynoglenines are present in adults of both sexes and in juveniles (Blest & Taylor 1977); all known mynoglenines have clypeal sulci. These sulci do not seem to play any active role during the courtship (at least in the species studied by Blest & Pomeroy 1978). It has been suggested that the glands that serve these sulci might elaborate defensive secretions because the unique ultrastructure of the clypeal secretory cells is consistent with the synthesis of a toxic product (Blest & Taylor 1977). The Erigoninae are the largest clade of linyphiids and are distributed throughout the world except New Zealand (Millidge 1988) and Australia (contra Wunderlich 1995; see Platnick 1997:419) which lack native species. One of the most conspicuous characteristics of many (but not all) species of erigonines is the presence in males of a vast morphological diversity of cephalic modifications, including lobes, turrets, sulci, pits and modified setae. Erigonine sulci usually have a post-ocular position (Figs. 4, 5) and usually have pores associated with glands that are cytologically different from those of the mynoglenine sulci (Blest & Taylor 1977; Schaible et al. 1986; Schaible & Gack 1987). The sulci and other cephalic modifications of erigonines are found only in adult males and play an active mechanical role during courtship: the sulci are gripped by the female cheliceral fangs, as first noted by Bristowe (1931, 1958). In this paper I report on the discovery of cephalothoracic sulci in several members of the linyphiid subfamily Linyphiinae, including the well-known Holarctic genus Bathyphantes Menge. This paper brings to light the presence of these structures in linyphiines but does not attempt to cover exhaustively the distribution and morphological variation of sulci across the Linyphiidae.
Application of Fourier transform and wavelet transform in signal de-noising

For high frequency signals mixed with high frequency noise,using wavelet to de-noise can avoid the useful signal impairment caused by Fourier transform.For a fixed frequency noise signal,using Fourier transform and low filter to reject the noise.For a mixed high frequency noise signal,it is more effective to use orthogonal wavelet function sym4 to de-noise.It firstly decomposite the signal to the fourth floor,and select the appropriate number for soft threshold by minimax criteria.Finally,it use the threshold number to select effective wavelet coefficients for reconstructing the de-noised signal.Experimental results show that such a noisy signal can lost some useful info by Fourier de-noising,and by using the minimax principle to select wavelet threshold can effectively keep some of the useful signal,especially the high-frequency part.
Anti-Ulcerogenic Potential of Aqueous Extract of Securinega virosa Leaf in Indomethacin-Induced Ulcerated Rats

The anti-ulcerogenic activities of Securinega virosa aqueous leaf extract on gastric ulcer induced with indomethacin in albino rats were studied. Thirty rats weighing 120 - 200 g were grouped into six groups of five rats each. All groups except the uninduced-untreated (group A) were starved for 24 hours prior to indomethacin administration. After 4 hours of 30 mg kg-1 b.w. indomethacin administration, the groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) received once daily oral doses of distilled water (5ml kg-1 b.w.), cimetidine 60 mg kg-1 (b.w.) and the S. virosa extract at doses of 35, 70 and 140 mg kg-1 b.w. respectively for 11 days. At the end of the treatment, animals in groups B, C, D, E and F were starved for 18 hours then sacrificed. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) decreased gastric secretion volume, mean ulcer index, total acidity, total protein and pepsin secretion relative to the induced-untreated rats. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) increased the gastric pH and total carbohydrate content relative to the induced-untreated. These results were similar to those achieved by treatment with cimetidine. Catalase and SOD activities in the 35, 70 and 140 mg kg-1 bw S. virosa extract-treated groups were increased significantly (p < 0.05) over the untreated group. Similarly, the extract reversed the indomethacin-induced decrease in reduced glutathione level (GSSH) and the increase in malondialdehyde concentration in the serum. The histological analysis showed positive effect of the extract on the indomethacin-induced ulceration. It was concluded that the extract has anti-ulcerative and antioxidant activity in indomethacin-induced ulcerative rats.
MCL-A Strategy for Estimating Node Transmission Area in Wireless Underground Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks are designed to detect underground abnormal conditions. Many protocols use distance between the nodes as one of the criteria for multi-hop communication in the network. Node Transmission Area (NTA) helps in predicting the location of the nodes and the distance between the nodes in many power optimization protocols. In this study, Multi-hop Communication with Localization (MCL), a strategy to localize and route information to nodes present in such areas by determining angles and distances of consecutive nodes hop by hop towards the Base Station is proposed. Initially there is a group of nodes deployed in the underground areas all of which bound to a Sink that is further connected to the Base Station. It is possible to locate all the nodes through GPS which can be used as a reference in the worst case scenario by the Base Station. The Sink node has a NTA within which a node can be directly recognized by the Sink node otherwise it finds the target node through the intermediate nodes. In this case, it can be concluded that MCL outperforms DV-hop in time and distance measurement by performing of higher throughput by taking lesser time for data transmission for locating the target node. Simulation analysis is performed in the network simulator to verify the computational method proposed.
Molecular Tuning of the Axonal Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter Ensures Metabolic Flexibility of Neurotransmission

The brain is a vulnerable metabolic organ and must adapt to different fuel conditions to sustain function. Nerve terminals are a locus of this vulnerability but how they regulate ATP synthesis as fuel conditions vary is unknown. We show that synapses can switch from glycolytic to oxidative metabolism, but to do so, they rely on activity-driven presynaptic mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake to accelerate ATP production. We demonstrate that while in non-neuronal cells mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake requires elevated extramitochondrial Ca2+, axonal mitochondria readily take up Ca2+ in response to small changes in Ca2+. We identified the brain-specific protein MICU3 as a critical driver of this tuning of Ca2+ sensitivity. Ablation of MICU3 renders axonal mitochondria similar to non-neuronal mitochondria, prevents acceleration of local ATP synthesis, and impairs presynaptic function under oxidative conditions. Thus, presynaptic mitochondria rely on MICU3 to facilitate mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during activity and achieve metabolic flexibility. Synapses rely on activity-driven mitochondrial ATP synthesis with oxidative fuels Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is required to stimulate ATP synthesis in axons The mitochondria Ca2+ uptake threshold is lower in axons than in non-neuronal cells MICU3 controls the Ca2+ sensitivity of MCU in axonal mitochondria
The Types of Grammatical Metaphors Used in Native and Nonnative Request Emails

The present study investigates the frequency of grammatical metaphor (GM) use by native speakers of English in request emails compared to non-native speakers of English. A total of 50 request emails written by native and non-native speakers were analyzed in terms of different types of GM to identify the possible similarities and differences in native and nonnative request emails in terms of different types of GM were assessed. Applying Halliday and Matthiessen’s (1999) conceptual framework, it was found that GM was used in 72% of the native request emails (18 out of the 25 request emails) and in 46% of the non-native request emails (11 out of 25 request emails). It was also found that GM was utilized in 117 out of 600 clauses, giving rise to a GM to the number of clauses (GMC) ratio of 0.19 in native request emails. As for non-native request emails, GM was used in 63 out of 500 clauses, giving rise to a GMC ratio of 0.12. Moreover, the results revealed that there were thirteen types of GM in native and non-native request emails and the e-mail writers used mostly type 2 (nominalizing a verbal process) and type 13 (expanding the noun resulting from nominalizing a verb) compared to the other types of GM. The findings of the study can be beneficial for researchers, EFL teachers, and even businessmen working in international companies where they use can opt for different types of GM in their everyday request emails.
Ergonomic Diagnostic Tool based on Chip Mini RT-PCR for Diagnosis of Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) is a challenging problem with the currently available conventional methods such as microscopy for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) and culture techniques.The diagnosis of Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is still more challenging due to the low yield of bacilli in the clinical specimens. Recently, a chip based Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was introduced in India. This study was conducted for finding out the sensitivity and specificity of TrueNAT RT-PCR for the diagnosis of Pulmonary and EPTB at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India. A total of 145 samples including both Pulmonary (80) and EPTB (65) were examined by Smear microscopy, culture on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium and TruNat RT PCR. All the positive samples were confirmed by conventional PCR technique as well. Out of 80 Pulmonary samples such as sputum, bronchial wash and tracheal aspirate 41(51.25%) samples were positive in RT-PCR, 22 (27.5%) were positive in microscopy and 29 (36.25%) was positive for culture on LJ medium. Among the 65 EPTB samples such as pus, pleural fluid, Cerebro spinal fluid (CSF), ascitic fluid, Tissue, Peritoneal fluid, Pericardial fluid, Urine, synovial fluid, Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) 38 (58.46%) were positive in RT-PCR, 08 (12.30%) were positive in microscopy and 31(47.69%) were positive for culture on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium. The sensitivity and specificity of TrueNat RT-PCR for the diagnosis of Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is 93.1% and 72.5 % and for EPTB is 96.77 %and 76.4 %, respectively. The newer diagnostic tool has a Turn Around Time (TAT) of less than 2 hours, can detect rifampicin resistance, longer shelf life, cost effective and can work from 2°C to 40°C. It is portable and comes with an inbuilt rechargeable battery which makes it a compatible equipment for any health care setup and out reach programs to detect and treat patients even in remote villages.
Emission Spectroscopic Characterization of a Helium Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet with Various Mixtures of Argon Gas in the Presence and the Absence of De-Ionized Water as a Target

A helium-based atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with various flow rates of argon gas as a variable working gas was characterized by utilizing optical emission spectroscopy (OES) alongside the plasma jet. The spectroscopic characterization was performed through plasma exposure in direct and indirect interaction with and without de-ionized (DI) water. The electron density and electron temperature, which were estimated by Stark broadening of atomic hydrogen (486.1 nm) and the Boltzmann plot, were investigated as a function of the flow rate of argon gas. The spectra obtained by OES indicate that the hydroxyl concentrations reached a maximum value in the case of direct interaction with DI water as well as upstream of the plasma jet for all cases. The relative intensities of hydroxyl were optimized by changing the flow rate of argon gas.
Rainfall and habitat interact to affect the condition of a wintering migratory songbird in The Bahamas

Abstract On the subtropical and tropical wintering grounds of migratory birds, variation in moisture levels and habitat can influence the availability of food resources and subsequently impact overwintering birds. Using stable carbon isotopes in blood samples as a measure of moisture, we assessed the interactive effects of rainfall, vegetation, and moisture on the demographics and condition of Prairie Warblers (Setophaga discolor) wintering in The Bahamas. Carbon isotopes in Prairie Warbler blood were more depleted in taller, wetter habitats; we additionally detected novel temporal effects of rainfall on isotope values. During a winter with more rainfall, most birds maintained mass and pectoral muscle regardless of the habitat type occupied. In a winter with less rainfall, birds lost mass and pectoral muscle, and this effect was more pronounced in birds with enriched isotope values and birds that occupied drier, shorter habitat. Prairie Warblers exhibited strong patterns of sexual habitat segregation with males disproportionately observed in areas with taller vegetation and females in shorter vegetation. During the drier winter, older males had better maintenance of pectoral muscle compared to females and younger individuals. Also in the drier winter, daily rainfall patterns explained more of the variation in body condition compared to the date of capture; pectoral muscle was best explained by recent precipitation (during the previous 30 days), while size‐corrected mass was more a function of longer‐term (90‐day) rainfall and habitat moisture. Our findings along with other studies suggest that Prairie Warblers and other migratory birds are sensitive to interactions between annual variation in winter rainfall, within‐season daily rainfall patterns, and habitat quality. Increasing drought and habitat loss in the Caribbean may be having a negative impact on wintering bird populations. To best conserve Nearctic–Neotropical migratory passerines in the region, we recommend prioritizing the protection of the least drought‐prone wintering areas.
Management of non-absorbable mesh infection after hernia repair by negative pressure wound therapy

Background and objectives: Mesh infection following hernia repair has previously often resulted in removal of mesh. The aim of this study was to evaluate if negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can be used to treat such complications and preserve the mesh. Materials and method: A prospective study was carried in the Department of Surgery, BIRDEM General Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019. Patients with deep wound infection and exposed infected mesh after hernioplasty were included in the study. Patients’ demographics, existing comorbidities and outcome were recorded. All patients were treated with NPWT till the wound was covered with healthy granulation tissue and closed. Results: NPWT was used to treat 7 patients with mesh infection following hernia repair. There was 2 male and 5 female cases and age ranged from 38-58 years. With NPWT the mesh in 6 patients (86%) out of 7 could be completely salvaged and wound closed with secondary suturing. However, in 1 patient although the mesh covered with granulation tissue by NPWT and wound was closed; but it had to be partly removed later on due to development of chronic discharging sinus 20 days after stitch removal. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that NPWT was a useful technique for the treatment and preservation of infected mesh after hernia repair. IMC J Med Sci 2019; 13(1): 008
A Generalized Laplacian Pyramid Aimed At Image Compression

Image resampling is a process that involves a trade-off, between efficiency, smoothness and sharpness. Nevertheless, it is a process that we encounter frequently in our digital world: on the internet, for printing and scanning, in photography and television and even in astronomy, when observing distant galaxies. Image resampling is a mathematical technique used to create a new image, from the original one, which has a different width and/or height in pixels. Reducing the size of an image is called downsampling, while increasing its size is called upsampling. Upsampling an image, increases the number of pixels, but details that were not in the original one, cannot be created. As a result, images become blurry the more they get enlarged. When images are downsampled, information in the original images has to be discarded. This makes the new image appear sharper, even though it contains less information. As a downside, if an image is downsampled and upsampled, some of the original details will not get recovered.