Dominant Order Research Articles

Impact of pollution on microbiological dynamics in the pistil stigmas of Orobanche lutea flowers (Orobanchaceae)

Our understanding of the basic relationships of microbiota associated with flowers is still quite limited, especially regarding parasitic plant species. The transient nature of flower parts such as pistil stigmas provides a unique opportunity for temporal investigations. This is the first report of the analysis of bacterial and fungal communities associated with the pistil stigmas of the lucerne parasite, Orobanche lutea. We compared the microorganism communities at different developmental stages and assessed the impact of pollution at the sampling sites. We also examined the plant growth properties (PGP) of bacteria in a culture-dependent analysis. The predominant colonizers of the pistil stigmas were Proteobacteria (99.25%), with Enterobacteriaceae (49.88%) and Pseudomonadaceae (48.28%) being the major families. The prevalent fungal phylum was Basidiomycota (71.64%), with Filobasidiales (33.14%) and Tremellales (27.27%) as dominant orders. Microbial populations in polluted area showed increased bacterial and fungal diversity. Mature stigmas exhibited greater microbial variety compared to immature ones. We found higher fungal than bacteria abundance at both polluted and unpolluted sites. In culture-dependent analysis, immature stigmas from unpolluted area had the least bacterial morphotypes. Identified culturable bacteria represented the Acinetobacter, Erwinia, Micrococcus, Oceanobacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Staphylococcus genera. The assessment of PGP traits revealed multiple strains with plant growth-promoting potential. Microbial composition varied between polluted and unpolluted sites and was influenced by the flower’s developmental stage.

Relations between Kazhdan-Lusztig bases, Murphy bases and seminormal bases

Let w ↦ ( P ( w ) , Q ( w ) ) be the Robinson-Schensted correspondence between the symmetric group S n and the set of pairs of standard tableaux with the same shapes. We show that each Kazhdan-Lusztig basis (KL basis for short) element C ′ w can be expressed as a linear combination of some f s t which satisfies that s ¥ P ( w ) ∗ , t ¥ Q ( w ) ∗ , where “ ¥ ” is the dominance (partial) order between standard tableaux, u ∗ denotes the conjugate of u for each standard tableau u , { f s t | s , t ∈ Std ( λ ) , λ⊢n } is the seminormal basis of the Iwahori-Hecke algebra associated to S n . As a result, we generalize an earlier result of Geck on the relation between the KL basis and the Murphy basis. Similar relations between the twisted KL basis, the dual seminormal basis and the dual Murphy basis are obtained.

Designing A Household Waste ShredderMachine Using The Quality Function Deployment Method

Household waste, especially inorganic waste, is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge in waste management in the community, which can have a negative impact on the environment if not handled properly. This research aims to design a portable, effective, and efficient household waste shredding machine by developing essential attributes such as automatic, ergonomic, easy to operate, durable, safe to use, low cost, easy to disassemble, not easily damaged, and easy to move. The method used is Quality Function Deployment (QFD), which enables the identification and fulfilment of user expectations through in-depth analysis of the voice of the customer. The results showed that of the attributes developed, the most dominant attributes were safety in use and ease of operation, followed by portability and durability. Meanwhile, users considered attributes such as ease of disassembly and low cost less critical. The resulting machine design is able to fulfil all the criteria set by users. It provides an innovative solution to improve the efficiency of inorganic waste management at the household level to provide convenience, safety, and portability in its use. From the weighting of attribute values, the most dominant order to the last is the attribute of easy to move with a value of 10,542, easy to disassemble 9,404, safe when used 8,821, ergonomic 8,151, easy to operate 6,630, durable 6,248, low cost 5,439, the machine is not easily damaged 5,283, automatic 5,110.

Insights Into Phylogeny, Diversity and Functional Potential of Poseidoniales Viruses.

Viruses infecting archaea play significant ecological roles in marine ecosystems through host infection and lysis, yet they have remained an underexplored component of the virosphere. In this study, we recovered 451 archaeal viruses from a subtropical estuary, identifying 63 that are associated with the dominant marine order Poseidoniales (Marine Group II Archaea). Phylogenetic analyses of a subset of complete and nearly-complete viral genomes assigned these viruses to the order Magrovirales, a lineage of Poseidoniales viruses, and identified a novel group of viruses distinct from Magrovirales. Utilising demarcation criteria established for the classification of archaeal tailed viruses, we propose two families within the order Magrovirales: Apasviridae (magrovirus group A), comprising the genera Agnivirus and Savitrvirus, and Krittikaviridae (magrovirus group E) encompassing the genus Velanvirus. Additionally, we propose a new order, distinct from Magrovirales, named Adrikavirales, which includes the genus Vyasavirus. Our detailed genomic characterisation of the new viral lineages revealed genes involved in viral assembly and egress, such as those responsible for creating holin rafts to lyse host cell membranes, a feature predominantly known from bacteriophages. Furthermore, we identified a broad spectrum of auxiliary metabolic genes, suggesting that these viruses can modulate host metabolism. Collectively, our findings substantially enhance the current understanding of the diversity and functional potential of Poseidoniales viruses.

Hyperseparation and Value Dualism: An Ecocritical Analysis of The Hungry Tide

The burgeoning gulf between humans and nature is an inevitable corollary of an anthropocentric approach towards nature. It strengthens the illusion of human disembeddedness in nature and conceives their relation in dualistic terms, suggesting their polarised identities. In this way, the human-nature duality enables the domination and exploitation of nature, posing a threat to its integrity and lifesustaining capacity. The paper provides an ecocritical analysis of Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide (2004), drawing on Val Plumwood’s critique of human-nature dualism and employing textual analysis methodology. The excessive divide between humans and nature is used as a tool for colonisation and a view of nature as separate/inferior to humans. This dualistic perspective on nature is a major factor driving the current environmental degradation. Through its setting, the novel reflects that the self-centred approach of power structures in dealing with the unique part of the land of the tide-country has rendered a great blow to the ecological balance of its rare ecosystem. The references to the declining number of keystone species like crabs, which are vital for the existence of the mangrove forests, and Piya’s task to survey the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins present a poor spectacle of aquatic life. It reflects the dominant orders’ (marine life traders, rulers & forest officials) detached perspective on the natural world. The paper attempts to provide an understanding that hyperseparation as an oppressive featureof dualistic thinking underpins the subjugation and exploitation of the sphere of nature as well as the underprivileged humans associated with it.Key Words: ecocriticism, anthropocentrism, hyperseparation, value dualism

Terahertz field-induced metastable magnetization near criticality in FePS3.

Controlling the functional properties of quantum materials with light has emerged as a frontier of condensed-matter physics, leading to the discovery of various light-induced phases of matter, such as superconductivity1, ferroelectricity2,3, magnetism4-6 and charge density waves7. However, in most cases, the photoinduced phases return to equilibrium on ultrafast timescales after the light is turned off, limiting their practical applications. Here we use intense terahertz pulses to inducea metastable magnetization with a remarkably long lifetime of more than 2.5 milliseconds in the van der Waals antiferromagnet FePS3. The metastable state becomes increasingly robust as the temperature approaches the antiferromagnetic transition point, suggesting that critical order parameter fluctuations play an important part in facilitating the extended lifetime. By combining first-principles calculations with classical Monte Carlo and spin dynamics simulations, we find that the displacement of a specific phonon mode modulates the exchange couplings in a manner that favours a ground state with finite magnetization near the Néel temperature. This analysis also clarifies how the critical fluctuations of the dominant antiferromagnetic order can amplify both the magnitude and the lifetime of the new magnetic state. Our discovery demonstrates the efficient manipulation of the magnetic ground state in layered magnets through non-thermal pathways using terahertz light and establishes regions near critical points with enhanced order parameter fluctuations as promising areas to search for metastable hidden quantum states.

A pilot study of the relationship between salivary microbial characteristics and endocrine and immune function in patients with burning mouth syndrome.

To explore the potential role of oral bacteria in the pathogenesis of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Fifteen patients with BMS and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The relative abundance and diversity of salivary bacterial strains were analyzed using metagenomic DNA sequencing. The functionality of non-redundant genes was obtained by comparing the mmseqs2 with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. BMS relating salivary protein markers were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that the salivary bacterial profiles of the BMS group (mean age: 38.9 ± 2.2 years) differed significantly from those of the control group (mean age: 34.1 ± 2.3 years) in terms of the abundance of dominant phyla, classes, orders, families, genera and species. Functional analysis revealed distinct endocrine and immune functions in the BMS group. The salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels were significantly higher, and salivary interleukn-6 levels were significantly lower in the BMS group than in the control group. Species contribution analysis of endocrine and immune functions revealed that Streptococcus mitis was an important contributor to endocrine and immune functions in the BMS group. Salivary dysbiosis related to endocrine and immune functions may be a possible cause of BMS. These findings could assist in the diagnosis and therapy of BMS. Not applicable.

Exporting autocrat’s playbook? Diverging impacts of China and Russia on contemporary democratic backsliding

ABSTRACT The rise of illiberal powers, notably China and Russia, has stoked heated debates on their impact on democratic backsliding. However, the actual extent to which they undermine democratic governance in foreign countries remains contested. What roles do China and Russia play in contemporary backsliding? Under what conditions do they succeed or fail in spreading illiberal practices? China and Russia promote discrete illiberal practices in different places, but their efforts do not always succeed. While certain foreign policy strategies have effectively attracted and empowered like-minded foreign actors, others have obstructed political diffusion instead. We argue that the Chinese governance model of digital authoritarianism has increasingly spread to the periphery of the dominant international order after 2014. On the other hand, the Russian model of super-presidentialism, once prevalent in the former Soviet bloc, has experienced significant setbacks after 2014, when Russia increasingly came to be perceived as a security threat. We present corroborating evidence through difference-in-differences analyses and additional validation using placebo tests. This research sheds light on the international dimensions of democratic backsliding and reconciles conflicting findings in the literature by identifying distinct Chinese and Russian models, as well as the conditions under which their diffusion succeeded or faltered.

Pasīva formas un to lietojums Lejaskurzemes izloksnēs

The passive has not received much attention in studying the verbal system of Latvian sub-dialects: it is rarely mentioned except in the context of the choice of auxiliary verbs. The basis of the classification of the passive used in the article is the semantics of the auxiliary verbs tikt and būt: passive constructions with tikt have the meaning of process (dynamic passive), passive constructions with būt – the meaning of result and state (static passive). The article aims to describe the dynamic and static passive constructions with the past passive participle and the features of their use based on the published and collected data of the Lower Kurzeme dialects of the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century. Sources of the research: manuscripts from the Latvian Dialect Atlas survey of 12 Lower Kurzeme sub-dialects, Kurzeme Institute of Humanities of Liepāja University and the Institute of Latvian Language of the University of Latvia collections of the 2nd half of the 20th century and the 21st-century texts from Lower Kurzeme. The study concludes that, in the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century, static passive constructions in the present or past dominate in the Lower Kurzeme sub-dialects texts. The static passive present is used both with the auxiliary verb (ir // i) and without the auxiliary verb, while the auxiliary verb in the past is manifested by the shortening of the 3rd person form (bija > bij > bi) characteristic of Lower Kurzeme sub-dialects. The passive of the direct object is the most frequent, and the order of its components varies depending on the speech situation and context; therefore, it is impossible to determine the dominant order of the components. The answers to the survey of the Latvian Dialect Atlas confirm that the dominant auxiliary verb of the dynamic passive in Lower Kurzeme in the middle of the 20th century is tikt, although the use of the auxiliary verbs tapt and nākt is not unknown in parts of the area. In the analysed texts from the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century, the use of the dynamic passive is rare: the present and past with the auxiliary verb tikt have been found, the auxiliary verb tapt has not been found, and only in a few cases nākt has been used. All the passive forms recorded in the passive paradigm of literary language are potentially possible in the sub-dialects of Lower Kurzeme; however, as in literary language, some are rarely used.

Effects of Coffea canephora genotypes on the microbial community of soil and fruit

In recent years, the role of microbial communities in agricultural systems has received increasing attention, particularly concerning their impact on plant health and productivity. However, the influence of host plant genetic factors on the microbial composition of coffee plants remains largely unexplored. This study provides the first comprehensive investigation into how genotype affects the microbial communities present in the rhizosphere and fruits of Coffea canephora. Conducted on a commercial coffee farm in Brazil, we analyzed six genotypes of C. canephora var. Conilon. Soil and fruit samples were collected from which microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced, targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rDNA and the ITS1 region for fungi. A total of 12,239,769 reads were generated from the 16 S rDNA and ITS1 regions. The PCoA revealed distinct patterns of beta diversity, with genotype 153 exhibiting significant isolation in soil bacterial communities. The dominant bacterial orders included Rhizobiales and Rhodobacterales, while the fungal community comprised diverse taxa from Saccharomycetales and Hypocreales. LEfSe analysis identified key metagenomic biomarkers, highlighting genotype Baiano 4 for its richness in fruit-associated taxa, whereas genotype 153 exhibited lower diversity in both soil and fruit samples. This work enhances our understanding of the microbiomes associated with different coffee genotypes, providing evidence of how host genetic variation influences microbial community composition. Our findings indicate that specific microbial taxa are enriched in the fruits and soil of various genotypes. Future research should focus on identifying these microorganisms and elucidating their specific functions within the rhizosphere and coffee fruits.

Macrofungi Diversity in Mount Gede Pangrango National Park

Macrofungi are easily observed biodiversity. Mount Gede Pangrango National Park is a complex research location for inventorying macroscopic macrofungi. The rainy season is a strategic time for abundant macrofungi research. The purpose of this study was to inventory macrofungi and their relationship to the role of macrofungi through literature studies. The method used in this study was the free roaming method with sampling using the purposive sampling technique. Observations were made when macrofungi were found on the path to the Cibeureum waterfall at an altitude of 1,625 m above sea level. Information about the role of macrofungi with comparative studies with literature. The results of the study of macrofungi identification was using the determination key on various applications of macrofungi. The result found 5 orders, 10 families, 15 genera and 19 species. The role of macroscopic fungi associated with macroscopic for consumption (Phillipsia, Laetiporus, and Lentinus), macroscopic herbal fungi (Microporus, Tatraea, Ganoderma, and Trametes), macroscopic pathogenic fungi (Phellinus), macroscopic wood-destroying fungi (Phellinus) and macroscopic bioluminescent fungi (Picipes and Mycena). It can be concluded that the most dominant order found is Polyporales, and the most dominant family is Polyperaceae. The role of macroscopic fungi in study site are for consumption, macroscopic herbal fungi, macroscopic pathogenic fungi, macroscopic wood-destroying fungi, and macroscopic bioluminescent fungi.

Host genotype and infection status interact to shape microbiomes in Daphnia magna.

Host–bacterial communities (microbiomes) are influenced by a wide range of factors including host genotype and parasite exposure. However, few studies disentangle temporal and host-genotype-specific variation in microbiome response to infection across several host tissues. We experimentally exposed the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna to its fungal parasite Metschnikowia bicuspidata and characterized changes in host–bacterial communities associated with the parasite's development within the host. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess bacterial communities of the host (a) 24 h (‘initial parasite exposure’) and (b) 10 days (‘successful infection’) after exposure to a standard dose of M. bicuspidata spores, in host guts, body tissue (excluding guts) and whole individuals. We also investigated whether bacterial community responses to parasite exposure varied by host genotype.Parasite exposure did not immediately alter host gut bacterial communities, but drove host-genotype-specific changes in the bacterial community composition of whole individuals. We validated that these changes were not driven by shifts in bacterial communities of the culturing medium, due to the addition of the parasite spore solution. Successful infection (i.e. the proliferation of M. bicuspidata spores in the host body) reduced alpha diversity and shifted abundance of dominant bacterial orders in the gut. Moreover, it induced a host-genotype-specific changes in body bacterial community composition. Overall, bacterial community responses to parasite exposure and subsequent infection are complex: they occur in a host-genotype-dependent manner, differentially at distinct timepoints after parasite exposure, and in specific host tissue.

Building: a possibility for a post-critical perspective in educational research

Abstract The aim of this article is to give an example of how an exercise in post-critical educational research might be conceptualized. The example refers to an enquiry into building a public sphere around education in Poland. First, a post-critical approach in educational research is defined with reference to the two dominant perspectives of social research, namely the (neo)positivistic and the critical paradigm. Next, and following insights of Hannah Arendt and Jacques Rancière, the idea of building is presented in terms of the persistent introduction of a new beginning into a social reality through acting in line with an assumption (an axiom) that, from the point of view of critical knowledge about the current status quo, seems fictional (or impossible). Such a persistent verification of an impossible axiom aims at establishing a sphere of exception from the dominant social order, offering—through the ideas of Alain Badiou and Giorgio Agamben—a nondialectical logic of social transformation. Finally, in conclusion the article focuses on the phenomenon of condensation as one of the key results of the exemplary research project analysed throughout the text. This points to the kind of knowledge that post-critical research projects are able to bring about.

Mode Analysis for the Rotating Aerodynamic Disturbance of a Transonic Fan

Abstract The non-synchronous blade vibration induced by a rotating aerodynamic disturbance is encountered for the fan of a turbofan engine working at 65% speedline. To analyze the unsteady characteristics, two methods based on the phase analysis and the compressive sensing (CS) for spatially-undersampled data are proposed and applied to obtain the circumferential mode order of the aerodynamic disturbance, and their performance has been carefully examined at various parameters. It was shown that when there are sufficient probes, i.e., 7–8 in the present study, both the two methods can give a correct prediction to the dominant mode order (the highest is 26 in this work) for all non-engine-order (EO) frequencies. However, if less probes are used, the deterioration of accuracy can be observed for both the two methods and a better performance can be observed for the CS method. In order to suppress the blade vibration, the fan blade is trimmed to alter its solid eigenfrequencies and avoid the resonance, which is proved to be an effective anti-vibration design. The existence of the aerodynamic disturbance after the blade is trimmed also suggests that the vibration is not self-excited but induced by the resonance of the flow excitation and the structure. For the cases with and without vibration, the origin of these non-EO frequencies can be well explained by the spinning mode theory and the interaction between the blade vibration and a high-order blade passing frequency has been observed in this study.

A Systematic Literature Review on Ichthyofaunal Diversity in Fresh Water Ecosystem, with Special Reference to Maharashtra

The study highlights a review of ichthyofaunal diversity across major rivers in Maharashtra such as the Godavari, Krishna, Tapti, Bhima, and Wainganga etc. Secondary data from various sources, research publications, were analysed. River Godavari had the most studied River. The scope of fish and fisheries in Maharashtra holds significant economic importance, particularly for local livelihoods and food security. Freshwater fish diversity in the state, as studied between 2009 and 2024, The current study deals with the freshwater ichthyofauna recorded and confirmed by different author shows a rich variety with 160 species recorded, spanning 9 orders, 25 families, and 80 genera. The most dominant order was Cypriniform followed by Siluridae. This diversity not only supports the fishing communities but also plays a critical role in meeting the demand for fish, which is a key source of protein for consumers. The review of this data provides valuable insights for fishermen. It also aids the fish industry by offering guidance on sustainable practices, as overfishing and habitat destruction can threaten these species.

Evaluation of the diversity and abundance of selected insect orders (Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera) in a wetland in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

This study assessed the diversity and abundance of selected insect orders (Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera) in a wetland at Federal University Oye-Ekiti. Insects were collected from February to April, 2022 using a combination of pitfall traps, sweep nets and active hunting methods. Arthropods were identified up to the generic level and counted monthly. A total of 3654 individuals belonging to 3 orders, 21 families and 54 species were recorded from the studied habitat. The highest relative abundance of 19.37603% was found in Odontomachus monticola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In this study, Hymenoptera was the most dominant order while Orthoptera was the least dominant order. The active hunting method collected the highest number of insects while the sweep net method collected the lowest number of insects. Results of the percentage distribution of insect species and individual insects revealed that for both active hunting and pitfall trap methods, the Order Hymenoptera had the highest percentage distribution while the Order Coleoptera had the lowest percentage distribution. Results of the diversity index across the collection methods revealed that the Sweep net method had the highest insect diversity and evenness (H’=2.492, 0.4317) while the Pitfall method had the lowest insect diversity and evenness (H’=1.818, 0.126). Results of one- way ANOVA showed no significant difference in species composition across habitats at a 5% probability level. This study has shown that the etlandd at Federal University Oye- Ekiti is rich in insect species with the Order Hymenoptera being the most abundant.

Harnessing the half-metallicity and thermoelectric insights in Cs2AgMBr6 (M = V, Mn, Ni) double halide perovskites: A DFT study

Herein, we undertake a detailed exploration of the structural stability, magneto-electronic behavior, and thermoelectric properties of Cs₂AgMBr₆ (M = V, Mn, Ni) halide double perovskites using first-principles approach. The study commences with a meticulous assessment of both structural stability and thermodynamic properties employing various metrics. Energy minimization across different phases, utilizing the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, confirms the ferromagnetic phase as energetically favoured, supported by Curie-Weiss constants of 98 K, 100 K, and 150 K for V, Mn, and Ni-based perovskites, respectively. Mechanical properties, including hardness, stiffness, ductility, and fracture strength, are derived from the simulated elastic constants, ensuring the mechanical stability of the materials. Electronic structure analysis, performed using the PBE-GGA and GGA + mBJ functionals, reveals that Cs₂AgMBr₆ compounds exhibit half-metallic ferromagnetism, with 100 % spin polarization at the Fermi level. Analysis of the partial density of states highlights the half-metallic ferromagnetic mechanism, confirming predominant ferromagnetic order through parameters such as the exchange splitting energy (Δx), p-d exchange interaction energy (Δx(p-d)), crystal-field energy (Ecrys), and exchange constants (N₀α and N₀β). The negative values of the exchange constants further validated the dominant ferromagnetic order in both s-d and p-d interactions, with unpaired electrons contributing magnetic moments of 2 μB for V, 4 μB for Mn, and 1 μB for Ni-based perovskites. Also, the Curie temperatures are calculated as 385 K, 747 K, and 204 K for V, Mn, and Ni-based perovskites. The overall findings, which reveal 100 % spin polarization and high zT values, underscore the significant potential of Cs₂AgMBr₆ halide perovskites for advancing spintronics and thermoelectric applications.

Exploring Fish Biodiversity and the Socioeconomic Status of Fishers in the Karatoya River, Sadar Upazila, Panchagarh District, Bangladesh

These studies were carried out to study species diversity of fishes and socio-economic conditions of the fishers of Karatoya River at Sadar upazila in Panchagarh district Bangladesh. Pertinent information was collected from 65 fishermen, who were directly engaged in catching fish around the study area for six months from December 2022 to June 2023. The results demonstrated that 41 fish species belonging to 8 orders and 15 families were found in the Karatoya River. Cypriniformes was found as the most dominant order, constituting 50.6% of the total fish population, considering species abundance, and Siluriformes constituting 12.7% and Perciformes constituting 12.0%, which were occupied the second and third position in abundance. The order Channiformes, Clupeiformes, Mastacembeliformes and Tetraodontifomres were constituted 6.6%, 6.0%, 4.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. Beloniformes constituted the lowest number of species (30%). It was observed that many fish species in the Karatoya River were severely impacted by the environmental and human-induced hazards. However, the age of the fishermen was ranged from 22 to 65 years. The Hindus (70%) were featured to be the highest percentage than the Muslims (30%), while no Christians and Buddhists were found. Various levels of education were documented in the study area, where majority of the fishermen were illiterate (69%), up to primary 18%, up to secondary 8% and the small portion (5%) were above secondary. The fishermen’s housing status was predominated by kaccha (66%), followed by semi pacca (23%) and pacca (11%). Majority of the fishers were landless (39%), whereas 15% fishers had 1-10 decimal (dec.) lands, 18% had 11-20 dec., 11% had 21-30 dec., 14% had 31-40 dec. and badly 3% of them had possessed >40 dec. lands. Among the fishermen, 45% of them were found to be involved in fishing activities, 40% in agriculture and 15% in sand business as day-to-day labour. There were 4 types of nets, 3 types of traps, 4 types of spears and 2 types of line fishing operated in this area. The study revealed that the fisheries production was not sufficient according to the demand. The reasons behind this might be due to the fact that the fishers around the Karatoya River were mainly poor, illiterate, lack of proper training and also nonexistence of consciousness of their sanitary and health care facilities. Therefore, it is very important to provide the required Organizational and Institutional help, support and extension facilities for the enhancement of fish biodiversity as well as development of sustainable livelihood of fishers in the Karatoya River as well.

A checklist of avian fauna of Suang Reserve Forest, Nagaon, Assam, India with notes on some species of interest

This study presents the first avian checklist from the Suang Reserve Forest of Nagaon, Assam, India. The study conducted between 2018 and 2023 documented 228 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 64 families of which four are globally threatened according to the IUCN Red List. Passeriformes was the most dominant order, with 128 species. Among non-passerines, Piciformes exhibited the highest richness (15 species), followed by Cuculiformes and Accipitriformes (13 species each). The family Muscicapidae had the greatest species diversity (21 species), followed by Accipitridae (13 species), Phylloscopidae (11 species), and Picidae (11 species). We also documented 38 winter visitors and seven summer migrants in the reserve forest. Noteworthy findings included rare sightings of the White-cheeked Partridge and Grey Peacock-Pheasant, and unusual sightings of Wreathed Hornbill and Pacific Golden Plover. The results showed the healthy condition of the forest and its high biodiversity value, despite the study limitations due to inaccessible terrain. We recommend extensive documentation of avifauna and other biodiversity for this region for future conservation planning.

Silage Making of Napier Grass and Sugarcane Top at Different Proportions: Evolution of Natural Fermentation Characteristics, Chemical Composition, and Microbiological Profile

The co-ensiling technique is widely used to improve silage quality; however, it remains unclear as to what high-quality silages can be made by co-ensiling Napier grass (NG) with Sugarcane top (ST). The aim of this study was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, and microbiological profile of silage produced from mixtures of NG and ST in varying ratios. Silage was prepared using a small-scale fermentation system, and treatments were designed as control silage (NG ensiled alone) or with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%ST on a fresh matter basis with six replicates, respectively. Increasing ST in the silage reduced the contents of crude protein, ash, acetic acid, butyric acid, ammonia-N, as well as pH, but increased the contents of dry matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, water-soluble carbohydrate, lactic acid, and lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacillales and Enterobacterales were the dominant orders, with Lactiplantibacillus and Weissella as the dominant genera. Co-ensiling NG with ST enhanced microbial diversity and richness. ST, as a local by-product, is a viable additive to improve NG silage quality and nutrition. This study suggests that good-quality silages can be produced with NG: ST ratios of 40:60 to 20:80 and that these silages offer an opportunity to optimize the nutrient supply for ruminants.