Humid Environmental Conditions Research Articles

MACROFUNGI INVENTARITATION AT THE PINE FOREST OF KRAGILAN, MAGELANG

The pine forest of Kragilan village, Magelang, is a forested area on the west slopes of Mount Merbabu with a humid environmental condition. The conditions make this region suitable for the growth of a macrofungal community. The macrofungal inventory in Merbabu Mountain is very limited and this is inversely proportional to the increasing deforestation. Thus, the macrofungal inventory is a fundamental way of managing natural conservation in this area. The study aimed to provide information and the potency of macrofungi found in the pine forest area of Kragilan, Magelang. The method used is purposive sampling in the research area, and the fungi obtained were identified based on characteristics with some related references. This research described eight species of eight different genera, including one from the Ascomycota (Xylaria sp.), and seven others from the Basidiomycota (Auricularia auriculajudae, Lentinellus sp., Mycena sp., Skeletocutis sp., Gymnopilus sp., Coprinopsis sp., and Coprinellus disseminatus). The current study is the first report on macrofungi diversity in the research area. Further exploration is still needed to record the macrofungal diversity on the western slopes of the Kragilan pine forest.

A Heart Rate Based Algorithm to Estimate Core Temperature Responses in Elite Athletes Exercising in the Heat.

PurposeNon-invasive non-obtrusive continuous and real-time monitoring of core temperature (Tc) may enhance pacing strategies, the efficacy of heat mitigation measures, and early identification of athletes at risk for heat-related disorders. The Estimated Core Temperature (ECTemp™) algorithm uses sequential heart rate (HR) values to predict Tc. We examined the validity of ECTemp™ among elite athletes exercising in the heat.Methods101 elite athletes performed an exercise test in simulated hot and humid environmental conditions (ambient temperature: 31.6 ± 1.0°C, relative humidity: 74 ± 5%). Tc was continuously measured using a validated ingestible telemetric temperature capsule system. In addition, HR was continuously measured and used to compute the estimated core temperature (Tc−est) using the ECTemp™ algorithm.ResultsAthletes exercised for 44 ± 10 min and n = 5,025 readouts of Tc (range: 35.8–40.4°C), HR (range: 45–207 bpm), and Tc−est (range: 36.7–39.9°C) were collected. Tc−est demonstrated a small yet significant bias of 0.15 ± 0.29°C (p < 0.001) compared to Tc, with a limit of agreement of ±0.45°C and a root mean square error of 0.35 ± 0.18°C. Utilizing the ECTemp™ algorithm as a diagnostic test resulted in a fair to excellent sensitivity (73–96%) and specificity (72–93%) for Tc−est thresholds between 37.75 and 38.75°C, but a low to very-low sensitivity (50–0%) for Tc−est thresholds >39.0°C, due to a high prevalence of false-negative observations.ConclusionECTemp™ provides a valuable and representative indication of thermal strain in the low- to mid-range of Tc values observed during exercise in the heat. It may, therefore, be a useful non-invasive and non-obtrusive tool to inform athletes and coaches about the estimated core temperature during controlled hyperthermia heat acclimation protocols. However, the ECTemp™ algorithm, in its current form, should not solely be used to identify athletes at risk for heat-related disorders due to low sensitivity and high false-negative rate in the upper end of the Tc spectrum.

Holocene vegetation history and responses to climate and sea-level change in the Liaohe Delta, northeast China

To reconstruct the Holocene vegetation history from Liaohe Delta in northeast (NE) China, a high-resolution palynological study on a well-dated sediment core ZK2 was conducted. The pollen record of ZK2 suggests that during the early Holocene, the regional vegetation in the plain was meadow-dominated by Artemisia. And forest with cool-temperate conifers and temperate broad-leaved trees were present in the nearby hills, which is coincident with the gradual climate warming and delta transgression. From mid-Holocene to early late Holocene, meadow vegetation with Artemisia was relatively stable, while the forest vegetation with broadleaved trees reached the maximum expansion in the nearby hills. The large expansion of broadleaved trees indicates warm and humid regional environmental conditions and this is coincidental with the relatively high regional sea-level stand during this period. Since ca. 1470 cal yr BP, with the continuous delta progradation, a large coastal region was colonized by Suaeda spp., which suggests that the formation of unique red beach wetlands along the coastal region of the Liaohe Delta. By analysis of pollen dispersal and transportation mechanism in surface sediments of Liaodong Bay, it is indicated that the percentage changes of arboreal pollen dominated by Pinus and Quercus and the non-arboreal pollen dominated by Amaranthaceae and Artemisia in core ZK2 may as an index refers to the local sea level oscillation and paleoclimate change. Then by comparison with previous multi-proxy records together with the surface sediment record from Liaodong Bay, it is suggested that the Holocene vegetation changes of the Liaohe Delta are mainly driven by the intensity changes of East Asia monsoon and regional sea-level oscillation.

Monitoring the environmental evolution and its relationship with anthropogenic activities using magnetic and geochemical proxies on Lake Melincué sediments

Two sediment cores, collected from the center of the Lake Melincué (Santa Fe, Argentina), were analyzed using rock magnetic results, element composition, Total Organic and Inorganic Carbon (TOC and TIC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) to reconstruct the environmental variations in the last three centuries, associated with climatic changes and/or human activities. 210Pb dating, chronostratigraphic markers, and paleomagnetic results were used to create the age model of the cores. Rock magnetic analyses suggest that (titano)magnetite and a low proportion of hematite are the main magnetic phases. In addition, geochemical results compared with rock magnetic analysis indicate the possible presence of diagenetic dissolution. Four well-differentiated environmental phases were found with variations from cold to more humid and warmer environmental conditions. Unit 0 from 1750 CE to 1783 CE with a cold environment and high lake level, Unit 1 from 1783 CE to 1878 CE with continuing cold environmental conditions but a low lake level, showing the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) toward the top, Unit 2 from 1878 CE to 1874 CE with a wetter environment and Unit 3 from 1974 CE to 2016 CE with wet and warm conditions and a high lake level.

Spectral integration of clear-sky atmospheric transmittance: Review and worldwide performance

Broadband atmospheric transmittance is a key component in many broadband clear-sky solar radiation models, whose performance is inevitably bound to the goodness of their atmospheric transmittance parameterizations. A key element in the development of these parameterizations, that has been traditionally overlooked, is the spectral integration to the broadband range. The related scientific literature reveals that two different spectral integration approaches have been proposed, but they have been vaguely evaluated despite the central role of broadband transmittance. This work discusses such approaches, proposes new ones that mitigate current issues and conducts an unprecedented worldwide evaluation study that analyzes the direct normal irradiance evaluation error that is directly attributable to the choice of spectral integration approach. The study makes use of more than 7 million atmospheric transmittance spectra and a 1-year hourly simulation across a 2-degree spatial grid worldwide. The results show that the independent integration scheme, which is the one virtually used always, results in deviations as high as ±40 W/m2 in dry and clean, and in humid and turbid environmental conditions. Overall, while the error stays within ±20 W/m2 for 90% of the cases worldwide using the independent scheme, it is reduced to only ±1.5 W/m2 using one of the alternative integration schemes here proposed. Hence, as a matter of conclusion, it is recommended that any broadband clear-sky solar irradiance model intended for global applications considers a higher-performance spectral integration scheme for atmospheric transmittance, such as the ones proposed here.

Basis blood indices, serum biochemical profiles, antioxidant and oxidative profiles of endangered local buffaloes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands at different stages of reproduction

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) have non-defined and non-descriptive breed of buffaloes. Andaman local buffaloes (ALB) are distributed in Andaman group of Islands and few numbers are available in Campbell Bay and Nicobar group of Islands. Andaman local buffaloes represent an admixture of different Indian breeds that had been brought to these islands in different phases of inhabitation and rehabilitation of migrated people. It is believed that the ALBs have the inheritance from Murrah, Nagpuri, Bhadawari and Marathwada. It is unique buffalo, well adapted to special type of tropical humid island climatic and environmental condition. The present study was designed to standardise the normal reference haematological and biochemical ranges in different stages of reproduction of Andaman local buffaloes which were maintained in the Andaman Districts of ANI, India from April 2019 to March 2020. In this study, haematological parameters, biochemical indices and antioxidant and oxidative stress profiles were estimated in healthy, normal physiological ALBs in different reproductive stages. The present study results clearly indicated that the values of haematological, biochemical and antioxidant profiles fell under the normal physiological ranges. The results of this study may serve as the reference values in which alterations due to metabolic, nutrient deficiency, physiological and health status can be compared for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for ALBs in ANI and its neighboring countries or other parts of the country with similar environmental and climatic conditions.

Investigating the reliability of electrically conductive adhesives for shingled photovoltaic Si modules

This paper discusses the environmental stability of an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) applied to shingled photovoltaic (PV) modules. This study aims to verify the degradation behavior of ECA joints when shingled PV modules are exposed to an accelerated aging test under hot and humid environmental conditions. To achieve this, we prepared shingled PV modules through an assembly process wherein five pre-cut crystalline silicon solar cells were bonded with a ECA paste cured by an infrared lamp, and then stored under damp heat (85 °C/85% RH) and high temperature (65 and 85 °C) conditions. To confirm the aging of the ECA, we determined the changes in the electrical resistance of the ECA and in the efficiencies of the shingled PV modules. Results suggest that the electrical properties of the ECA did not deteriorate under heat and moisture conditions, while the performance of the shingled modules degraded under the same conditions. It was confirmed that the degradation in performance was mainly due to a drop in the fill factor (FF) caused by current leakage. Physicochemical analyses of the samples revealed that Ag atoms, which diffused from the ECA joint to the Si wafer, acted as the shunt path for the solar cell. The bonding properties of the ECA joint to moisture were evaluated as well.

Haematology and biochemical profiles of endangered local cattle of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have two different genetic groups of cattle namely Andaman local cattle and Trinket cattle. Andaman local cattle are distributed in Andaman group of Islands and Campbell Bay of Nicobar group of Islands. Andaman local cattle are non-descriptive and represent an admixture of different Indian breeds that had been brought to these islands in different phases of inhabitation and rehabilitation of migrated people. It is believed that the Andaman local cattle have the inheritance from Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Hariana. It is unique cattle, well adapted to special type of tropical humid island climatic and environmental condition. The present study was designed to standardise the normal reference haematological and biochemical range for different age groups of Andaman local cattle which were maintained in the South Andaman and North and Middle Andaman district, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. In this study, haematological parameters, biochemical indices and antioxidant and oxidative stress profiles were estimated in healthy, normal physiological Andaman local cattle for different age groups. The present study results clearly indicated that the values of haematological, biochemical and antioxidant profiles were under the normal physiological range. These results of this study may serve as the reference values in which alterations due to metabolic, nutrient deficiency, physiological and health status can be compared for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for Andaman local cattle in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and its neighbouring countries or other parts of the country with similar environmental and climatic conditions.

Characteristics of Official Wheelchair Basketball Games in Hot and Temperate Conditions.

This study compared performance parameters of two wheelchair basketball games under hot (30.3 °C, 52% relative humidity) and temperate (21.6 °C, 30% relative humidity) environmental conditions and described the characteristics of wheelchair basketball. Eight wheelchair basketball players from two teams were monitored during two games using an indoor position tracking system. Total distance, mean- and peak-speed, playing-time, number of sprints, sprints per minute, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were recorded. Additionally, athletes with a lesion level above and below T6 were compared. No measured parameter differed between the games. Across quarters (Q) mean velocity (m/s) (Q1: 1.01; Q2: 1.10; Q3: 1.18; Q4: 1.06; p < 0.001) and sprints per minute (Q1: 16; Q2: 14; Q3: 23; Q4: 14; p = 0.033) differed significantly, independent of the conditions. Descriptive statistics did not reveal differences between the groups with a lesion level below or above T6. In the present study, hot environmental conditions seemed not to have an impact on activity parameters of wheelchair basketball players. It was speculated that the game intensity and therefore metabolic heat production was too low; consequently, the athletes had a sufficient heat loss to prevent a decrease in performance during the play in hot conditions.

Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Under Different Cover Crop Systems

Cultivated lands that support high productivity have the potential to produce a large amount of GHG emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). Intensive land management practices can stimulate CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions from the soil. Cover crop establishment is considered as one of the sustainable land management strategies under warm and humid environmental conditions. To better understand how the incorporation of cover crops affect three major GHGs, we compared trace gas fluxes in a no-till maize field over the whole growing season in 2018 in a no cover crop (Tr) system and three cover crop systems: crimson clover (CC), cereal rye (CR), and living mulch (LM) using white clover. In 2019, we further explored potential differences in the three GHGs between in-row (IR) and between-row (BWR) of maize for LM and Tr systems during the early growing season. Measurements were taken using a cavity ring-down spectroscopy gas analyzer in Watkinsville, GA. In 2018, the highest CO2 flux (7.00 μmol m−2 s−1) was observed from BWR of maize for LM. The maximum N2O flux observed in LM on June 20th in 2018 was when soil N increase rate was the largest. Soils served as sinks for CH4 and Tr system served as the smallest CH4 sink compared to the other three cover crop systems. For N2O, the highest fluxes were observed from the TrIR plot (4.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) in 2019 with the greatest N inputs. In 2019, we observed a smaller CH4 sink in TrIR (−0.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) compared to TrBWR (−0.67 μmol m−2 hr−1) due potentially to greater NH4+ inhibition effects on CH4 consumption from greater N fertilizer inputs. The net carbon equivalent (CE) from May 23rd to Aug 16th in 2018, taking into account the three GHG fluxes, soil carbon content, and fertilizer, irrigation, and herbicide application, were 32–97, 35–101, 63–139, and 40–106 kg ha−1 yr−1 for CC, CR, LM, and Tr, respectively. LM had the lowest net CE after removing white clover respiration (−16–60 kg ha−1 yr−1). Our results show that implementing different types of cover crop systems and especially the LM system have some potential to mitigate climate change.

Santino’s growth chamber: A chamber for studies with Aphelenchoides besseyi on plants

The soybean green stem and foliar retention syndrome (GFSR) [1], caused by Aphelenchoides besseyi, is reported in Brazilian fields located at the States of Mato Grosso, Pará, Amapá, Tocantins, and Maranhão, which correspond to warm climates with well-defined rainfall patterns when the air humidity is high during several consecutive days. Studies showed that the infection of plants by A. besseyi occurs in regions with a high frequency of rains and under temperatures higher than 28 °C, when the nematode founds adequate conditions to migrate from soil to shoot parts of plants to initiate its parasitism [2]. One of the challenges was the difficulty in simulating the natural conditions for the disease development, which needs luminosity, high temperatures, and moisture. These conditions can be reproduced using modern growth chambers, but these equipment are onerous and scarce in most Brazilian research centers. So, for the studies with A. besseyi and different plant hosts, it is difficult to reproduce the environmental conditions similar to those found in the field where this nematode is reported, especially under the operational and economic points of view. Considering these environmental conditions and the necessity in conducting studies under controlled environments with this pathossystem aiming a detailed investigation about the symptoms and the nematode parasitism, but also to isolate the effects due to exclusively the nematode parasitism instead of other effects that occur under field conditions, especially in crops like soybean, common bean, and cotton [1–4], the objective of this project was to develop a growth chamber for the cultivation of these plants under controlled environmental, simulating the necessary conditions for the GFSR development. For this, we used an environmental chamber [5] as the base to our project, where we could find the important aspects that need to be adjusted to suit our purpose.•We developed a plant growth chamber to be used under greenhouse conditions for the studies with Aphelenchoides besseyi and different host plants.•The soybean green stem and foliar retention syndrome (GFSR) needs specific environmental conditions of humidity and temperature for the development of the characteristic symptoms and for the nematode multiplication in the parasitized plants.•This method simulates adequately the environmental conditions found in the field, since the chamber is installed inside a greenhouse, assuring the reliable observation of the plant behavior in relation to the pathogen and allowing the conduction of experiments of this nature in regions different from those where the disease naturally occurs.

Factors related to the presence of mosquito eggs trapped in ovitraps DHF-endemic areas in Kendari City, Indonesia

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), one type of infectious disease caused by the dengue virus, is still becoming a public health problem in Indonesia. The high number of dengue cases in Indonesia, especially in Kendari City itself, is closely related to environmental conditions, especially when it is known that the city has entered the rainy season.Objective: This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors associated with the presence of mosquito eggs trapped in ovitraps DHF-endemic area in Kendari City, Indonesia.Methods: This study used an analytic observational approach with a cross-sectional design. The research sample in this study was 50 houses located in endemic areas of Kendari selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected by observation using a checklist sheet and direct observation in each room of the respondent's house based on lighting, temperature, humidity, and physical environmental conditions, as well as the presence of mosquito eggs or larvae trapped in the ovitrap. The analysis was carried out in two stages, namely univariate analysis and bivariate analysis using the Chi-Square test.Result: From 50 houses observed, 13 houses (26%) had the presence of mosquito eggs, 42 houses (84%) had bad air temperature, 19 houses (38%) had poor humidity, and 35 houses (70%) had a higher frequency. In addition, the temperature, lighting, and environmental conditions did not have a significant relationship with the presence of mosquito eggs in ovitraps in endemic areas of Kendari City, with p-values of 0.94, 0.52, and 0.39, respectively. In contrast, the humidity factor has a significant relationship with the presence of eggs with a p-value of 0.000.Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between humidity and the presence of mosquito eggs in ovitraps in endemic areas of Kendari City, Indonesia. It is recommended that residents increase Mosquito Nest Eradication (PSN) activities, perform selective abatization, and disseminate information about DHF through counseling or other activities conveyed through health workers with full support from community leaders and adjusted to the level of education of the local population.

Semi-Reliability Probability Damage Assessment of GFRP Bars Embedded in Steam-Curing Concrete Beams Based on the Multiple Factors Related Moisture Absorption Model.

GFRP bars will be damaged due to a series of irreversible hygroscopic chemical reactions under humid and hot curing environmental conditions. The multiple factors related to the moisture absorption model were established through the moisture absorption test of GFRP bars embedded in steam-curing concrete, which considered different curing temperatures, different thicknesses of the protective layer, and different diameters of GFRP bars. Semi-reliability probability damage assessment of GFRP bars embedded in steam-curing concrete was described by introducing the reliability and stochastic theory. Subsequently, the tensile test of GFRP bars was carried out to verify the feasibility of the damage assessment. The results showed that the moisture absorption curves of GFRP bars were basically in line with Fick’s law. In addition, the influences of the curing temperature, the thickness of the protective layer, and the diameter on moisture absorption performance were presented. The semi-reliability probability damage assessment model of GFRP bars embedded in steam-curing concrete beams adequately considered the multiple factors related to moisture absorption and the uncertainty and randomness of the influencing factors during the process of moisture absorption.

First report of the southern corn rust pathogen Puccinia polysora on Zea mays in North Dakota

Southern corn rust, caused by Puccinia polysora, is a yield-limiting disease on corn (Zea mays). As a biotrophic fungal pathogen, P. polysora requires a living host for its survival. Southern corn rust is favoured by high-temperatures and humid environmental conditions, and therefore is more prevalent in the southern United States. In August 2020, corn plants displaying signs and symptoms of southern rust were collected in a field in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Due to its rare occurrence in the region, spores of the pathogen were isolated and analyzed morphologically, and found to be consistent with P. polysora. This identification was confirmed by PCR analysis and Sanger sequencing, and demonstrated further using Koch’s postulates. The discovery of P. polysora poses a potential threat to corn yields across North Dakota, and surveillance must be enhanced to predict possible epidemics in the future.

Simulation Methodology Based on Wind and Thermal Performance for Early Building Optimization Design in Taiwan

In a subtropical climate like that of Taiwan, the high temperature and humid environmental conditions often result in discomfort and health effects for building occupants. With regard to building geometry, the wind environment and thermal comfort assessment, which can enhance energy efficiency and the comfort and health of occupants, both ought to be considered as soon as possible in the design process. In view of the limited comprehensive design evaluation methods and design workflows regarding wind and thermal performance currently available, this research aims to develop an early decision support workflow that includes suggested performance evaluation methods and design optimization processes. The results of our case study show that the building had clear performance results using the proposed evaluation methods, making it easier for architects to understand and compare alternatives. Appropriate analysis and visualization of the results also effectively assisted architects in determining design solutions and making relevant decisions. The methods and results in this article can facilitate performance-based buildings for healthy and energy-efficient built environments.

Climate-growth pattern of Pinus tabulaeformis plantations and their resilience to drought events in the Loess Plateau

Large-scale plantations were established under the Grain for Green project to improve the ecological environment of the Loess Plateau (LP) of China. However, there are increasing concerns regarding the sustainability of plantation ecosystems under climate change. In this study, we developed tree-ring width chronologies of Pinus tabulaeformis at seven sites along a precipitation gradient from south to north in the LP. Correlation analysis was performed to investigate the climate (temperature, precipitation, self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index)-growth relationship. Moreover, the tree resilience components were computed to study the adaptability of trees to extreme drought during the growth periods. The results showed that the differences in radial growth to climate change along the precipitation gradient and the cluster analysis of the tree ring width index (RWI)-scPDSI correlation coefficient illustrated that the climate-growth response pattern along the LP was divided into southern and northern regions. Tree growth in the southern region is limited by humid environment conditions, while tree growth in the early and middle growing seasons of the northern region is limited by warming-induced drought. As the temperature rising over the past fifty years, the growth was found to be negatively correlated with temperature, especially in the spring and autumn seasons of the northern region. In contrast, the effect of precipitation on tree growth became more negative in the southern region, but more positive in the middle and late growing seasons of the northern region. Moreover, tree resilience analysis showed that the high resistance of Pinus tabulaeformis in the southern region, whereas high recovery in the northern region. It was difficult for the growth of Pinus tabulaeformis to recover from drought in the southern region, but stronger adaptability to extreme drought events in the northern region. Our study illustrated that there are different climate response patterns and limiting factors of Pinus tabulaeformis along the precipitation gradient in the LP; thus, different ecological restoration and regional forestry management strategies should be initiated in the LP.

Cooling Interventions Among Agricultural Workers: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Agricultural workers perform intense labor outside in direct sunlight and in humid environmental conditions, exposing workers to a high risk of heat-related illness (HRI). The aim of this study was to use biomonitoring equipment to examine the effectiveness of selected cooling devices at preventing agricultural workers from exceeding the core body temperature threshold of 38.0°C (Tc38) and attenuating heat-related illness symptoms. METHODS: A sample of 84 agricultural workers in Florida were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: 1) no intervention, clothing as usual; 2) cooling bandana; 3) cooling vest; and 4) both the cooling bandana and cooling vest. Biomonitoring equipment worn by the participants included core body temperature and heart rate monitor belts, and an accelerometer to capture physical activity. RESULTS:A total of 78 agricultural workers completed one intervention workday. Logistic regression analysis revealed the bandana group had lower odds of exceeding a core body temperature of 38.0°C (OR 0.7, CI90 [0.2, 3.2]) and the vest group had higher odds of exceeding 38.0°C (OR 1.8, CI90 [0.4, 7.9). The use of both the cooling vest and bandana (combination group) showed the effect was little different from the control group (OR 1.3, CI90 [0.3, 5.6]. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first field-based study to examine cooling intervention among agricultural workers in the United States using biomonitoring equipment. This study found that agricultural workers that used a bandana while working in a hot environment has the potential to be protective against exceeding a core body temperature of 38.0°C. KEYWORDS: Temperature, Occupational exposures

Effective disease surveillance by using covariate information.

Effective surveillance of infectious diseases, cancers, and other deadly diseases is critically important for public health and safety of our society. Incidence data of such diseases are often collected spatially from different clinics and hospitals through a regional, national or global disease reporting system. In such a system, new batches of data keep being collected over time, and a decision needs to be made immediately after new data are collected regarding whether there is a disease outbreak at the current time point. This is the disease surveillance problem that will be focused in this article. There are some existing methods for solving this problem, most of which use the disease incidence data only. In practice, however, disease incidence is often associated with some covariates, including the air temperature, humidity, and other weather or environmental conditions. In this article, we develop a new methodology for disease surveillance which can make use of helpful covariate information to improve its effectiveness. A novelty of this new method is behind the property that only those covariate information that is associated with a true disease outbreak can help trigger a signal. The new method can accommodate seasonality, spatio-temporal data correlation, and nonparametric data distribution. These features make it feasible to use in many real applications.

Effect of Incorporating Early Feather Restriction Gene (KS) From Native Chicken to Purebred Chicken

Fast growing chicken suffers more in a hot humid condition than a slow growing one. The slow feathering affects the insulation mechanism of the chicken, thus enhance birds ability to dissipate heat during heat stress to a greater extent. As a consequence, slow feathered birds are more adaptive to hot humid environmental conditions. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of incorporating early feather restriction gene (KS) in exotic population. A total of 34 slow feathered (SF) native chicks with KS gene of 28-day-old were collected from different villages and markets and were reared up to sexual maturity. After attaining sexual maturity, 2 males and 8 females of SF native chicken were randomly chosen to make a di-allelic cross with rapid feathered (RF) Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Fayoumi (FY). The crossbred progeny of each cross were reared up to 105 days to assess growth, survivability, heat tolerance and carcass yield under hot humid Bangladeshi condition. The collected data were arranged in a 3(genotype)×2(feather pattern)×9(age) factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and analyzed by SAS. Among genotypes, the highest survivability was obtained in Desi×Fayoumi (96.7%) and in SF chicks (96.1%) and the lowest in Desi×RIR (91.5%) and in RF chicks (90.5%). The SF chicks exhibited an average 8% heavier live weight than that of their RF counterparts. The cloacal temperature varied among genotypes and between feathering patterns (FP); being highest in Desi×RIR (430C) and in RF chicks (41.60C) and lowest in RIR×Desi (400C) and in SF chicks (41.40C). In case of Desi×RIR, RIR×Desi and Desi×Fayoumi, cloacal temperature increased linearly by 0.047, 0.044 and 0.0320C for each gram of live weight increase. Further, the cloacal temperature increased linearly by 0.036 and 0.0440C for the increase of each gram of live weight gain in case of RF and SF chicks, respectively. There was no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference of dressing percentage for the effect of either genotype or FP (55.4% for SF vs. 46.6% for RF birds). Genotype and FP had significant effects (P&lt;0.05; P&lt;0.01) on total meat yield; being highest in Desi×RIR (24.6%) and in SF birds (26.2%) and lowest in Desi×Fayoumi (21.4%) and in RF birds (20.6%). Breast meat yield of SF birds (9.2%) was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher than that of RF birds (7.1%). The highest thigh meat yield was obtained in Desi×RIR (7.6%) and in SF birds (8.3%) and the lowest in Desi×Fayoumi (6.7%) and in RF counterparts (6.0%). The highest drumstick meat yield was obtained in RIR×Desi (5.6%) and in SF birds (5.9%) and the lowest in Desi×Fayoumi (5.0%) and in RF birds (4.8%). Genotype and FP had significant interaction effect on total meat yield as well as fractional meat yields. The study revealed that incorporation of ‘Ks’ gene in the exotic one by crossing with native chicken and rearing under hot humid environment may be a means of improving growth, survivability, heat tolerance and carcass yield.

Etiological prevalence and antifungal sensitivity patterns of dermatophytosis in India - A multicentric study.

The prevalence of dermatophytes varies with season, geographical area, socio-economic factors and effective management strategies. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of pathogenic dermatophytes, clinical types of dermatophyte fungal infection, and in vitro antifungal drug susceptibility testing against dermatophytes. Three hundred and ninety five patients with dermatophytosis were enrolled from five cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Hyderabad) across India. All patients were subjected to clinical examination and investigations, including potassium hydroxide microscopy, fungal culture and antifungal drug susceptibility testing. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common species identified (68.4%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (29.3%). Within species, T. mentagrophytes was prevalent in humid environmental conditions (Mumbai and Kolkata), whereas T. rubrum was prevalent in noncoastal areas (Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad). Tinea corporis (71.4%) and tinea cruris (62.0%) were the common clinical types observed. antifungal drug susceptibility testing data indicated that minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of 90% of organisms (MIC-90) was lowest for griseofulvin (0.25-3.0 μg/mL). Among oral antifungals, the mean MIC of itraconazole was within the range (0.84 [0.252] μg/ mL), whereas high mean MIC values were reported for terbinafine (0.05 [0.043] μg/mL). Among topical agents, lowest mean MIC values were reported for luliconazole (0.29 [0.286] μg/mL), eberconazole (0.32 [0.251]) μg/mL and amorolfine (0.60 [0.306]) μg/mL. Lack of correlation between in vitro antifungal susceptibility and clinical outcome and absence of defined MIC breakpoints. T. rubrum was the most common, followed by T. mentagrophytes as an emerging/codominant fungal isolate in India. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical type of dermatophytosis. Mean MIC of terbinafine was above the reference range, while it was within the range for itraconazole; griseofulvin had the lowest mean MIC. Luliconazole presented the lowest mean MIC values across cities.