1,678 research outputs found
Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematode, Steinernema abbasi PN-1 against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner
No full textThe experiment was conducted during May 2022 at College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, U. S. Nagar, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The Steinernema abbasi PN-1 is a local isolate of entomopathogenic nematode isolated from the soil collected from Uttarakhand, India. Under the present study, virulenceof Steinernema abbasi PN-1 against different stages of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner were tested. Virulence studies of S. abbasi PN-1 against H. armigera proved that all larval stages and pupae of H. armigera were found susceptible to the IJs of S. abbasi PN-1. There was a positive correlation between insect mortality and the nematode concentration. The S. abbasi PN-1 caused 100% larval mortality at 48–60 h of post treatment in all tested doses in laboratory. Among the larval instars, 4th instar larvae of H. armigera were more susceptible with a median lethal concentration (LC50) value of 24.37 IJs larva-1 and the median lethal time (LT50) values of 25.63 hours. The 2nd instar larvae was least susceptible with an LC50 value of 78.96 IJs larva-1 and LT50 values of 41.33 hours. The pupal stage was less susceptible than the larval stage with the LC50 value of 98.3 IJs larva-1. Our results showed that S. abbasi PN-1 can be used as efficient biological control agents against H. armigera with further field studies
Interoperability of wireless communication technologies in hybrid networks: Evaluation of end-to-end interoperability issues and quality of service requirements
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Hybrid Networks employing wireless communication technologies have nowadays brought closer the vision of communication “anywhere, any time with anyone”. Such communication technologies consist of various standards, protocols, architectures, characteristics, models, devices, modulation and coding techniques. All these different technologies naturally may share some common characteristics, but there are also many important differences. New advances in these technologies are emerging very rapidly, with the advent of new models, characteristics, protocols and architectures. This rapid evolution imposes many challenges and issues to be addressed, and of particular importance are the interoperability issues of the following wireless technologies: Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) IEEE802.11, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) IEEE 802.16, Single Channel per Carrier (SCPC), Digital Video Broadcasting of Satellite (DVB-S/DVB-S2), and Digital Video Broadcasting Return Channel through Satellite (DVB-RCS). Due to the differences amongst wireless technologies, these technologies do not generally interoperate easily with each other because of various interoperability and Quality of Service (QoS) issues.
The aim of this study is to assess and investigate end-to-end interoperability issues and QoS requirements, such as bandwidth, delays, jitter, latency, packet loss, throughput, TCP performance, UDP performance, unicast and multicast services and availability, on hybrid wireless communication networks (employing both satellite broadband and terrestrial wireless technologies).
The thesis provides an introduction to wireless communication technologies followed by a review of previous research studies on Hybrid Networks (both satellite and terrestrial wireless technologies, particularly Wi-Fi, WiMAX, DVB-RCS, and SCPC). Previous studies have discussed Wi-Fi, WiMAX, DVB-RCS, SCPC and 3G technologies and their standards as well as their properties and characteristics, such as operating frequency, bandwidth, data rate, basic configuration, coverage, power, interference, social issues, security problems, physical and MAC layer design and development issues. Although some previous studies provide valuable contributions to this area of research, they are limited to link layer characteristics, TCP performance, delay, bandwidth, capacity, data rate, and throughput. None of the studies cover all aspects of end-to-end interoperability issues and QoS requirements; such as bandwidth, delay, jitter, latency, packet loss, link performance, TCP and UDP performance, unicast and multicast performance, at end-to-end level, on Hybrid wireless networks.
Interoperability issues are discussed in detail and a comparison of the different technologies and protocols was done using appropriate testing tools, assessing various performance measures including: bandwidth, delay, jitter, latency, packet loss, throughput and availability testing. The standards, protocol suite/ models and architectures for Wi-Fi, WiMAX, DVB-RCS, SCPC, alongside with different platforms and applications, are discussed and compared. Using a robust approach, which includes a new testing methodology and a generic test plan, the testing was conducted using various realistic test scenarios on real networks, comprising variable numbers and types of nodes. The data, traces, packets, and files were captured from various live scenarios and sites. The test results were analysed in order to measure and compare the characteristics of wireless technologies, devices, protocols and applications.
The motivation of this research is to study all the end-to-end interoperability issues and Quality of Service requirements for rapidly growing Hybrid Networks in a comprehensive and systematic way.
The significance of this research is that it is based on a comprehensive and systematic investigation of issues and facts, instead of hypothetical ideas/scenarios or simulations, which informed the design of a test methodology for empirical data gathering by real network testing, suitable for the measurement of hybrid network single-link or end-to-end issues using proven test tools.
This systematic investigation of the issues encompasses an extensive series of tests measuring delay, jitter, packet loss, bandwidth, throughput, availability, performance of audio and video session, multicast and unicast performance, and stress testing. This testing covers most common test scenarios in hybrid networks and gives recommendations in achieving good end-to-end interoperability and QoS in hybrid networks.
Contributions of study include the identification of gaps in the research, a description of interoperability issues, a comparison of most common test tools, the development of a generic test plan, a new testing process and methodology, analysis and network design recommendations for end-to-end interoperability issues and QoS requirements. This covers the complete cycle of this research.
It is found that UDP is more suitable for hybrid wireless network as compared to TCP, particularly for the demanding applications considered, since TCP presents significant problems for multimedia and live traffic which requires strict QoS requirements on delay, jitter, packet loss and bandwidth. The main bottleneck for satellite communication is the delay of approximately 600 to 680 ms due to the long distance factor (and the finite speed of light) when communicating over geostationary satellites.
The delay and packet loss can be controlled using various methods, such as traffic classification, traffic prioritization, congestion control, buffer management, using delay compensator, protocol compensator, developing automatic request technique, flow scheduling, and bandwidth allocation
Automated actual evapotranspiration estimation: Hybrid model of a novel attention based U-Net and metaheuristic optimization algorithms
No full textActual evapotranspiration (ETa) plays a crucial role in the water and energy cycles of the earth. An accurate estimate of the ETa is essential for management of the water resources, agriculture, and irrigation, as well as research on atmospheric variations. Despite the importance of accurate ETa values, estimating and mapping them remains challenging due to the physical and biological complexity of the ET process. As a novel approach for rapid and reliable estimation of ETa, the present study develops automated deep learning (AutoDL) models that incorporate a metaheuristic optimization algorithm for image processing, architectural design, and hyperparameter tuning. The proposed AutoDL models integrate three different spatial and channel attention mechanisms, including a novel activated spatial attention mechanism (ASPAM), with the U-Net architecture. Bypassing the need for meteorological inputs, the proposed framework uses Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) products and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data as inputs. To evaluate the performance of the models, they are applied to three study areas in the United States with various climatic characteristics. According to the results, during the spring and summer, when the target values have higher certainty, the estimations are highly promising, with R2 as high as 0.91 and MAPE as low as 6.40%. Furthermore, the proposed ASPAM module improves the accuracy of ETa estimations compared to attention gate (AG) and squeeze and excitation (SE) attention modules. The results also indicate that the MODIS raw products and derived vegetation and water indices can predict ETa within a reliable range of accuracy, with the addition of DEM data marginally enhancing the models' performance. The automatic workflow of this model makes it significantly easy to use, contributing to its applicability and generalizability for enhancing atmospheric research.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Water Resource
Degradable Slow-Release Fertilizer Composite Prepared by Ex Situ Mixing of Inverse Vulcanized Copolymer with Urea
No full textTo improve the crop yield and nitrogen uptake efficacy, a novel slow-release urea composite fertilizer (SUCF) was developed using inverse vulcanized copolymer with better biodegradation and nutrient release longevity. Copolymers were synthesized via inverse vulcanization of jatropha oil, and their properties were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powdered-X-ray diffractometry (p-XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SUCFs were developed by ex situ mixing of inverse vulcanized copolymer with urea powder using mechanical mixer, and their properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectra of developed fertilizer possesses the urea characteristics peaks along with the undisturbed peaks representing copolymer, confirming the mechanical mixing and that no reaction took place. SEM images of the SUCFs compared with images of copolymer revealed the appearance of new isolated particles with different morphology; EDX mapping showed that these particles represent the urea added to the copolymer. Nitrogen release longevity of developed fertilizers was evaluated in both soil and distilled water. The leaching test revealed that only 70% of the total nitrogen of SUCF prepared from 50 wt% sulfur copolymer was released after 16 days of incubation in distilled water, whereas it released only 35% nitrogen after 20 days in soil. The biodegradability of all copolymers developed was investigated by burying in soil and it revealed their biodegradable nature as weight loss was observed, which increased with the increase of incubation period
Multiple Orbitoides d’Orbigny lineages in the Maastrichtian? Data from the Central Sakarya Basin (Turkey) and Arabian Platform successions (Southeastern Turkey and Oman)
No full textThe standard reconstruction of species of Orbitoides d’Orbigny into a single lineage during the late Santonian to the end of the Maastrichtian is based upon morphometric data from Western Europe. An irreversible increase in the size of the embryonic apparatus, and the formation of a greater number of epi-embryonic chamberlets (EPC) with time, is regarded as the main evolutionary trends used in species discrimination. However, data from Maastrichtian Orbitoides assemblages from Central Turkey and the Arabian Platform margin (Southeastern Turkey and Oman) are not consistent with this record. The Maastrichtian Besni Formation of the Arabian Platform margin in Southeastern Turkey yields invariably biconvex specimens, with small, tri- to quadrilocular embryons and a small number of EPC, comparable to late Campanian Orbitoides medius (d’Archiac). The upper Maastrichtian Taraklı Formation from the Sakarya Basin of Central Turkey contains two distinct, yet closely associated forms of Orbitoides, easily differentiated by both external and internal features. Flat to biconcave specimens possess a small, tri- to quadrilocular embryonic apparatus of Orbitoides medius-type and a small number of EPC, whereas biconvex specimens possess a large, predominantly bilocular embryonic apparatus, and were assigned to Orbitoides ex. interc. gruenbachensis Papp–apiculatus Schlumberger based on morphometry. The flat to biconcave specimens belong to a long overlooked species Orbitoides pamiri Meriç, originally described from the late Maastrichtian of the Tauride Mountains in SW Turkey. This species is herein interpreted to be an offshoot from the main Orbitoides lineage during the Maastrichtian, as are forms that we term Orbitoides ‘medius’, since they recall this species, yet are younger than normal occurrence with the accepted morphometrically defined lineage. The consistent correlation between the external and internal test features in O. pamiri implies that the shape of the test is not an ecophenotypic variation, but appears to be biologically controlled. We, therefore, postulate that more than one lineage of Orbitoides exists during the Maastrichtian, with a lineage that includes O. ‘medius’ and O. pamiri displaying retrograde evolutionary features
Mass composition of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays with the Telescope Array Surface Detector data
No full textThe results on ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) mass composition obtained with the Telescope Array surface detector are presented. The analysis employs the Boosted Decision tree (BDT) multivariate analysis built upon 14 observables related to both the properties of the shower front and the lateral distribution function. The multivariate classifier is trained with Monte-Carlo sets of events induced by the primary protons and iron. An average atomic mass of UHECR is presented for energies 10(18.0)-10(20.0) eV. The average atomic mass of primary particles shows no significant energy dependence and corresponds to �� ln A �� = 2.0 +/- 0.1(stat.) +/- 0.44(syst:). The result is compared to the mass composition obtained by the Telescope Array with Xmax technique along with the results of other experiments. Possible systematic errors of the method are discussed.The Telescope Array experiment is supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) through Grants-in-Aid for Priority Area 431, for Specially Promoted Research JP21000002, for Scientific Research (S) JP19104006, for Specially Promote Research JP15H05693, for Scientific Research (S) JP15H05741 and for Young Scientists (A) JPH26707011; by the joint research program of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR), The University of Tokyo; by the U.S. National Science Foundation Grants No. PHY-0601915, No. PHY-1404495, No. PHY-1404502, and No. PHY-1607727; by the National Research Foundation of Korea (2017K1A4A3015188, 2016R1A2B4014967, 2017R1A2A1A05071429, 2016R1A5A1013277); by IISN Project No. 4.4502.13, and Belgian Science Policy under IUAP VII/37 (ULB). The development and application of the multivariate analysis method is supported by the Russian Science Foundation Grant No. 17-72-20291 (INR). The foundations of Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke, Willard L. Eccles, and George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles all helped with generous donations. The State of Utah supported the project through its Economic Development Board, and the University of Utah through the Office of the Vice President for Research. The experimental site became available through the cooperation of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Air Force. We appreciate the assistance of the State of Utah and Fillmore offices of the BLM in crafting the Plan of Development for the site. Patrick Shea assisted the collaboration with valuable advice on a variety of topics. The people and the officials of Millard County, Utah have been a source of steadfast and warm support for our work which we greatly appreciate. We are indebted to the Millard County Road Department for their efforts to maintain and clear the roads which get us to our sites. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution from the technical staffs of our home institutions. An allocation of computer time from the Center for High Performance Computing at the University of Utah is gratefully acknowledged. The cluster of the Theoretical Division of INR RAS was used for the numerical part of the work
Search for point sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays above 4.0 x 1019 eV using a maximum likelihood ratio test
No full text© 2005. The American Astronomical SocietyWe present the results of a search for cosmic-ray point sources at energies in excess of 4.0 × 1019 eV in the combined data sets recorded by the Akeno Giant Air Shower Array and High Resolution Fly's Eye stereo experiments. The analysis is based on a maximum likelihood ratio test using the probability density function for each event rather than requiring an a priori choice of a fixed angular bin size. No statistically significant clustering of events consistent with a point source is found.R. U. Abbasi, T. Abu-Zayyad, J. F. Amann, G. Archbold, R. Atkins, J. A. Bellido, K. Belov, J. W. Belz, S. Y. Ben-Zvi, D. R. Bergman, J. H. Boyer, G. W. Burt, Z. Cao, R. W. Clay, B. M. Connolly, B. R. Dawson, W. Deng, G. R. Farrar, Y. Fedorova, J. Findlay, C. B. Finley, W. F. Hanlon, C. M. Hoffman, M. H. Holzscheiter, G. A. Hughes, P. Hüntemeyer, C. C. H. Jui, K. Kim, M. A. Kirn, B. C. Knapp, E. C. Loh, M. M. Maestas, N. Manago, E. J. Mannel, L. J. Marek, K. Martens, J. A. J. Matthews, J. N. Matthews, A. O'Neill, C. A. Painter, L. Perera, K. Reil, R. Riehle, M. D. Roberts, M. Sasaki, S. R. Schnetzer, M. Seman, K. M. Simpson, G. Sinnis, J. D. Smith, R. Snow, P. Sokolsky, C. Song, R. W. Springer, B. T. Stokes, J. R. Thomas, S. B. Thomas, G. B. Thomson, D. Tupa, S. Westerhoff, L. R. Wiencke, and A. Zec
Ponticola hircaniaensis Zarei & Esmaeili & Kovačić & Schliewen & Abbasi 2022, sp. nov.
No full textPonticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. English name: Hyrcanian goby (Figs. 5–6, Table 4) Synonyms Ponticola gorlap (Iljin, 1949): Zarei et al. 2021: 1272, table 2 (partim: Kaboudval Stream) Holotype. ZM-CBSU S101-6, male, 76.9 + 21.6 mm; Iran: Golestan prov.: Kaboudval stream, 36°53‘11.0“N 54°53‘37.8“E; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. Paratypes. ZM-CBSU S099-1 to S099-12, 7 males, 5 females, 52.8 + 14.0–80.8 + 20.4 mm; Y. Bakhshi, Z. Ganjali & A. Jouladeh-Roudbar, 28 August 2017.—ZM-CBSU S100-1 to S100-4, 4 males, 49.8 + 13.1–95.9 + 24.1 mm; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019.—ZM-CBSU S101-1 to S101-5 & S101-7 to S101-15, 9 males, 5 females, 54.9 + 15.0–91.3 + 26.0 mm; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. All paratypes were collected from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E. Additional material. ZM-CBSU S099, 29 specimens, 21.8–62.7 mm SL; Y. Bakhshi, Z. Ganjali & A. Jouladeh-Roudbar, 28 August 2017.—ZM-CBSU S100, 26 specimens, 27.5–47.8 mm SL; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019.—ZM-CBSU S101, 9 specimens, 45.0– 50.2 mm SL; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. All additional material was collected from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream. ......continued on the next page ......continued on the next page Material used in the molecular genetic analysis. Mitochondrial COI: molecular IDs: P2776–P2778 (ZMCBSU P2776 to P2778), P162 (ZM-CBSU P162), 3432 (ZM-CBSU S101-2, paratype), 3433–3440 (ZM-CBSU S101-19 to S101-26), 3441 (ZM-CBSU S101-7, paratype), 3443 (ZM-CBSU S101-9, paratype), 3444 (ZM-CBSU S101-12, paratype), 16 specimens (GenBank accession numbers: MW393596 – MW393598, and ON166711 – ON166723).—Nuclear S7: molecular IDs: 3432 (ZM-CBSU S101-2, paratype), 3438 (ZM-CBSU S101-24), 3435 (ZM-CBSU S101-21), 3443 (ZM-CBSU S101-9, paratype), 4 specimens (GenBank accession numbers: ON186768 – ON186771). All from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E, F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019 & 27 August 2021. Material used in the otolith analysis. ZM-CBSU K18, K21, K24 & K28, S101-21, S101-26, 12/19–12/22, 12/26–12/31, 12/33–12/34, and 12/37–12/39, 21 specimens, 49.24–78.44 mm SL; Iran: Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019. Diagnosis. Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeneric species in the Caspian Sea basin by the following combination of characters: D2 I/14–I/16 (usually I/15), A I/10–I/12 (usually I/11), LL 52–59; lower jaw slightly, if at all, prognathous; head and body yellowish brown, showing a reticulate brown pattern on a yellow background, D1 with a marginal bright orangish-yellow band and a dark anterior spot, P base upper part with a distinct dark brown stripe; D1 third spine length 13.4–18.3 % SL, D2 spine length 11.1–13.8 % of SL, caudalpeduncle length and depth 16.4–20.1 % and 11.1–12.8 % of SL, respectively, head depth at nape and eye 70.9–81.0 % and 52.5–66.0 % of HL, respectively. Dorsal rim of sagittal otolith with a broad concavity in the middle, dorsal depression absent or indistinct, SuL/SuH and SuH/OH ratio 1.47–1.82 and 0.34–0.40, respectively. Description. All morphometric values in the text are presented as holotype first and paratypes, if different, in parentheses. General morphology (Fig. 5): Body proportions are given in Table 4. Body moderately elongate, its depth at pelvic-fin origin 3.94 (3.78–4.78) in SL, at anal-fin origin 4.94 (4.82–5.52) in SL, laterally compressed posteriorly, with caudal peduncle moderately deep, caudal-peduncle depth 0.67 (0.57–0.76) of caudal-peduncle length. Head large, the length 3.32 (3.16–3.51) in SL, width 4.12 (3.62–4.48) in SL, its depth 4.11 (4.01–4.85) in SL and 1.0 (0.82–1.05) of width. Postorbital profile steep. Snout short, oblique, convex, longer than eye, its length 1.41 (1.13– 1.62) of eye diameter, 3.64 (3.11–3.91) in head length. Anterior nostril short, erect flared tube, the rim posteriorly elevated; posterior nostril pore-like, with more or less raised rim. Eyes dorsolateral, more lateral than dorsal, small, eye diameter is 5.15 (4.02–5.32) in head length, orbit slightly elevated. Interorbital wide, 1.44 (1.28–2.58) in eye diameter. Mouth directed obliquely upwards, lower jaw little if at all prognathous, upper lip widened in middle and swollen, angle of jaws below pupil. Cheek deep and prominent. Dentary in both jaws with conical teeth in outermost and innermost rows, irregular rows of smaller teeth in-between. Branchiostegal membranes fused to isthmus along the entire lateral margin of the isthmus, from immediately anterior to pectoral margin, gill openings restricted to pectoral-fin base. Fins. D1 VI; D2 I/14–16 (holotype I/14; paratypes: I/14:8, I/15:18, I/16:4) (last bifid); A I/10–I/12 (holotype I/11; paratypes: I/10:2, I/11:21, I/12:7) (last bifid); P 17–20 (holotype, left side: 18; paratypes, left side: 17:2, 18:22, 19:5, 20:1), V I/5 + 5/I. Morphometric characters are given in Table 4. D 1 dorsal profile horizontal, lower than the highest part of D2 dorsal profile. First to fourth D1 spines becoming progressively longer, fifth D1 spine shorter than the second. First D1 spine almost as long as D2 spine. D2 highest in the middle. D1 and D2 connected by interdorsal membrane, interdorsal space between D1 VI and D2 I narrow. D2 originates slightly in front of vertical to anus. A originates below 4th to 5th branched rays of D2. A with last ray origin below origin of penultimate ray or below origin of last ray of D2. The D2 (except for large specimens) and A rays not reaching backwards the base of uppermost and lowermost caudal-fin rays, respectively. C rounded, shorter than head length. P reaches beyond vertical of D2 origin. P rays all branched, the uppermost rays not free from the membrane. V disc complete, rounded, originates slightly anterior of vertical through D1 origin, not reaching anus or rarely extending almost to anterior anus origin, the variability present in both sexes. V all rays branched. V anterior membrane present, lateral lobes of anterior membrane well developed and with pointed tips. Squamation. Nape, predorsal area, upper 1/3 of opercle, posterior part of breast, and abdomen all covered with cycloid scales, and the rest of the body covered with ctenoid scales. Scales on caudal peduncle slightly enlarged. Cheek naked. Base of pectoral fin naked. LL 52–59 (holotype, left side: 55; paratypes, left side: 52:1, 53:7, 54:5, 55:3, 56:4, 57:8, 58:1, 59:1), TR 16–20 (holotype, left side: 19; paratypes, left side: 16:4, 17:5, 18:15, 19:5, 20:1), PD 19–23 (holotype 21; paratypes: 19:2, 20:8, 21:12, 22:7, 23:1). Lateral line system (Fig. 6). Cephalic canals. AOC, POC, and PC present. AOC with a single, unified interorbital section, carrying 12 pores: a pair of posterior nasal pores σ, single interorbital pores λ and κ, and paired ω, α, β, ρ; pores σ and ρ terminal, pore λ directly on the canal, pores κ and ω behind the canal, and pores α and β lateral of the canal. POC paired, each with two pores: θ and τ. PC paired, each side with three pores: γ, δ and ε. Head sensory papillae. Rows with range of number of sensory papillae in parentheses. Preorbital: median series in five rows: r 1 (6–9) and r 2 (7–8) as oblique rows opposite posterior nostril, extending over the canal section between λ and σ; midline of snout anterior of λ free of neuromasts; s 1 (7–11) and s 2 (8–11), as transverse rows anterior to σ; s 3 (13–18) as cluster anterior and lateral of s 2 , reaching near to upper lip; lateral series in four rows, each doubled; c 2 oblique between the anterior and posterior nostrils, with lower section (7–9) often longer than upper (4–6); c 1 (10–14) transversal lateral of anterior nostril and dorsal of c 2 (10–13); c 2 and c 1 (7–9) in longitudinal and oblique rows, respectively; c 2 ventral of c 1 , c 1 ventral of c 2 and dorsal of d 1 (22–26), oblique and posteriorly close to suborbital row 1. Suborbital: seven transversal (1–7) and two longitudinal (b, d) rows on cheek, rows 1–4 (1: 21–29, 2: 20–27, 3: 22–31, 4: 31–36) before longitudinal row b, long, ventrally extending to level of d, dorsally reaching close to eye except row 2 and sometimes row 3; rows 1 and 2 above and anterior to rear edge of jaws, row 3 right above or slightly behind the jaws angle; row 5 and 6 divided by b in short superior (5s: 9– 11, 6s: 7–9) and longer inferior (5i: 16–20, 6i: 12–18) sections; 5i ending above longitudinal row d, 6i passing behind row d, ending slightly below its level; 5i and 6i not confluent with each other; row 7 short (2–6), immediately anterior of pore α; row b (21–27) anteriorly reaching to below posterior end of pupil; row d long, not reaching 6i posteriorly, often distinctly divided and separable in two slightly overlapping parts, the anterior supralabial row d 1 oblique, following the border of the upper lip and reaching below the anterior origin of d 2 (21–24), the posterior row d 2 longitudinal on cheek; row d 1 anteriorly passing row 1. Asymmetrical variant specimens (30% of the material examined and only on the left side of the head) were found with one additional row before row b, i.e., five transverse suborbital rows before row b and eight transverse suborbital rows in total, or with four transverse suborbital rows before row b, but followed by one additional row below row b, i.e., three transverse rows below row b. Preoperculo-mandibular: not shown in Figure 4. Three rows, e, i and f; external row e distinctly divided at articulation of lower jaws in anterior mandibular (e 1 : 51–63) and posterior preopercular (e 2 : 47–59) sections; anterior and posterior sections of internal row i (i 1 , i 2 ) are continuous (93–123), their separation at articulation of lower jaws is indistinct; both usually with additional papillae and i 1 continuous with the symphyseal row f (10–14). Oculoscapular: eight transversal (z, q, u, trp, y, as 1 –as 3 ) and four longitudinal (x 1 , x 2 , la 2 –la 3 ) rows including the axillary series; x 1 long (17–20), parallel to and exceeding AOC, reaching to trp (5–6); x 2 (6–9) in elongation of x 1 , above posterior fourth of opercle, parallel to and exceeding POC; z (7–9) in elongation of PC, ventrally reaching close to but not exceeding pore γ; y (7–8) immediately behind τ and below x 2 ; three short transverse rows in oculoscapular groove between ρ and θ; q (4–5) anterior most, close to ρ, extending ventrally of the oculoscapular groove and sometimes with one or two papillae dorsal of ρ; posterior most trp close to θ, extending dorsally and passing upwards the level of x 1 ; between q and trp a third transverse row named here row u (3–4) considering its position despite row being transverse; transversal axillary rows as 1 -as 3 long (as 1 : 12–18, as 2 : 13–17, as 3 : 12–15); longitudinal axillary series represented by two rows (la 2 : 2–4, la 3 : 2–3). Opercular: three rows, one transversal (ot: 38–52), sometimes divided in two parts, and two longitudinal (os: 17–23, oi: 14–19) rows. Anterior-dorsal (occipital): five rows, two transversal (n and o) and three longitudinal (g, m and h); n (9–11) behind pore ω of AOC; rows o (6–10) widely separated; row g (7–12) posterior of o, not reaching row o anteriorly; m (5–8) almost parallel to g, behind and below it; h anterior to origin of first dorsal fin (D1), divided in two sections (h 1 : 5–8, h 2 : 3–6). Colouration. No distinct sexual dichromatism, or colouration differences in hybrids is evident on the specimens. In life: head and body yellowish brown; several large dark brown saddles on back below the dorsal fins and on the caudal peduncle; flanks covered with many dark brown spots and row of irregular and elongated dark blotches along the midline, all forming a reticulate pattern on a yellow background; cheek with brown reticulations or mottlings, and with a short brown longitudinal stripe starting below eye and going backwards about half way to preopercle; upper lip with reticulate patterns or mottles; P base with reticulate patterns, upper part with a distinct dark brown stripe. Breast, abdomen, and fins greyish. D1 with two to three brown horizontal bands, and a bright orangish-yellow horizontal band along upper edge of I–V interradial membrane, progressively narrowing posteriorly; upper anterior part of D1 with a dark oblique spot on I–II interradial membrane below the marginal band. D2 with three distinct longitudinal rows of yellowish-brown spots on proximal part, distal half with numerous small spots on the sides of the rays. Anal fin without any distinct band or mark. P rays yellowish. P and C with several concentric narrow rows of yellowish-brown spots, concentrated near base of fin. D2, A, and C with whitish fringe along the edge. Preserved specimens: background colour of the preserved specimens less yellowish; brown saddles on back below D1 and D2 and on the caudal peduncle; flanks with row of large dark blotches along the midline. Head and body with less pronounced reticulate patterns. Cheek with a longitudinal dark brown stripe. Fins dark grey. D1 with a white band across upper edge, two to three horizontal dark bands, and a dark oblique spot between I–II. P base with a dark strip on the upper part. Horizontal rows and brown spots on all fins less distinct than in live specimens. Otolith. (Figs. 1 & 7a–d, Table 5). The five specimens with the new species haplotype were not examined for their otoliths since they were (i) fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution (formaldehyde causes decalcification and degradation of otoliths) for subsequent morphological analyses, (ii) included as paratypes (4 of 5; see material examined). Therefore, otoliths from a total of 21 specimens from the Kaboudval Stream (including several specimens with the gorlap haplotype) were examined using light microscopy and digital photographs. All otoliths were similar in general morphology, thus, four of these otoliths (Fig. 7 a-d) were selected randomly for SEM imaging, morphometric measurements, and description. The otoliths have a parallelogram shape, with marked preventral and posterodorsal projections. The otolith length to height (OL/OH) ratio is 1.22–1.39; the dorsal rim with a broad concavity in the middle, smooth; predorsal angle orthogonal; posterodorsal projection highly positioned, broad, long, pointed or blunt, and slightly bent outwards. The anterior rim usually lacks incision, or is sometimes incised at or slightly above the level of ostium, inclined at 72.30–84.29° (β). Posterior rim almost parallel to the anterior rim or a little less oblique, inclined at 101.31–104.86° (γ), with a concavity (incision or notch) below the posterodorsal projection at or slightly below the level of cauda. Angle of preventral to posterodorsal traverse 24.36–34.14° (δ). Ventral rim horizontal and smooth; preventral projection usually long, sometimes short, pointed or blunt; posteroventral angle usually orthogonal. Sulcus centrally positioned, sole-shaped, anteriorly inclined at 10.22–19.06° (α), very deep with developed ostial lobe. Sulcus moderately long, and very wide; the ratio of sulcus length to height (SuL/SuH) 1.47–1.82. The sulcus height to otolith height (SuH/OH) ratio is 0.34–0.40. Subcaudal iugum present, short (usually 1/3 cauda length), slender, below the anterior part of the cauda. Ventral furrow running with a moderate distance to ventral rim, curved upwards anteriorly to or slightly below the level of the ostial apex and turning upwards to the level of the caudal tip or slightly below it. Dorsal depression indistinct or absent. Otolith variables and shape indices are provided in Table 5. ......continued on the next page Sexual dimorphism. Sexes can be distinguished externally by the shape of the urogenital papilla, which is conical in males with pointed posterior edge, and wider, trapezoid and with villous posterior edge in females. Males grow to a larger size (up to 120.0 mm total length vs. 101.2 mm for female maximum recorded total length). All morphometric and meristic characteristics are overlapping, males however, (i) tend to have a deeper cheek (18.02–24.37 vs. 16.92–19.61% of Hl), (ii) are dominated by individual (14 of 21) with 15 branched rays in the second dorsal fin [vs. 14 branched rays in females (6 of 10)], and (iii) show a larger range of pectoral fin rays (17–20 vs. 18–19). Etymology. Named for Hyrcania, the Greek name for the south Caspian region where the species occurs. Distribution and conservation. Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is known only from its type locality, located 1 km south of the city of Aliabad-e-Katul (Figs. 8–9). Its small population is confined to a single area (extent of occurrence <2 km 2) above the Zarrin Gol Dam (IUCN criteria B1 and Ba for critically endangered species) (Fig. 9). Habitat fragmentation by the dam is likely to block gene flow, resulting in decline of genetic diversity, and possibly increases competition for spawning territories and resources, and increases hybridization with P. gorlap. Moreover, according to our field observations, there is a decline in quality of habitat at Kaboudval due to excessive grazing, erosion, and human effects [IUCN criterion Bb(iii)]. In addition, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) and Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, two of the most successful invasive fish species in the world with negative impacts on native fish species, have established populations at Kaboudval. For example, high densities of P. parva have severe and significant impacts on native trophic food webs, resulting in overlap with native fishes trophic niches, increased egg predation, and transmission of the novel fungal fish pathogen Sphaerothecum destruens, which is responsible for the decline of many native fish populations (Andreou et al. 2012). Based on the extremely small area of endemism threatened by negative anthropogenic impact we suggest that P. hircaniaensis sp. nov. should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) species, fulfilling geographic range criteria (extant of occurrence combined with two more conditions) for this category, according to the IUCN (2012) red list categories. Ecology. Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is an exclusively freshwater species, restricted to a very shallow foothill stream (0.1–0.3 m depth, 1–2 m width) with slow current (Fig. 9). The bottom is muddy-sandy or composed of cobbles and boulders, pebbles and gravel, and the banks are vegetated. The collecting site was at the altitude of 196 m a.s.l., and 79 km inland from the Caspian Sea. Syntopic fish species were Alburnoides tabarestanensis MousaviSabet, Anvarifar & Azizi, 2015, Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855), and Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846).Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Abbasi, Keyvan, 2022, Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov., a new and critically endangered gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin, pp. 401-430 in Zootaxa 5154 (4) on pages 408-421, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5154.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/665112
A NORTHERN SKY SURVEY FOR POINT-LIKE SOURCES OF EeV NEUTRAL PARTICLES WITH THE TELESCOPE ARRAY EXPERIMENT
No full textWe report on the search for steady point-like sources of neutral particles around 1018 eV between 2008 and 2013 May with the scintillator SD of the Telescope Array experiment. We found overall no significant point-like excess above 0.5 EeV in the northern sky. Subsequently, we also searched for coincidence with the Fermi bright Galactic sources. No significant coincidence was found within the statistical uncertainty. Hence, we set an upper limit on the neutron flux that corresponds to an averaged flux of 0.07 km-2 yr-1 for EeV in the northern sky at the 95% confidence level. This is the most stringent flux upper limit in a northern sky survey assuming point-like sources. The upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the neutron flux from Cygnus X-3 is also set to 0.2 km-2 yr-1 for EeV. This is an order of magnitude lower than previous flux measurements.0SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
Robust regeneration protocol for the Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of Solanum tuberosum
No full textPlant genetic transformation requires robust regeneration system. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as cytokinins (CKs) play a pivotal role in organogenesis; however, CKs are the most expensive PGRs. In the current study, an efficient yet economical protocol for regeneration of potato plant was developed. Stem inter-nodal and leaf explants were cultured on different regeneration media supplemented with varying concentration of different CKs such as kinetin and zeatin. MurashigeSkoog media added with zeatin (1, 1.5 mg/L) was designated as RZ1, RZ1.5, respectively or kinetin (1.5, 2 mg/L) was designated as RK1.5 and RK2, respectively, however, concentrations of other hormones such as NAA (1-Naphthaleneacetic acid) and GA3 (Gibberellic acid A3) were kept same. RZ1 and RZ1.5 gave significantly better results as compared to RK-type media in all aspects studied such as callus initiation, days to first shoot emergence, number of shoots per explants. RZ1 medium was then selected as regeneration media for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of potato plants with cyanobacterial phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase gene, which provided multiple putative transformants on selection media. The transformants were further confirmed through PCR. The current protocol is found to be cost effective and efficient for the regeneration of Solanum tuberosum and can be successfully implied for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.open
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