Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of feeding of prefermented bioproduct containing gamma-linolenic acid and beta-carotene on selected parameters of broiler chicken meat quality.

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of addition of prefermented bioproduct with a increased content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially gamma-linolenic acid) and beta-carotene into commercial feed on the selected qualitative parameters. The chemical composition, the color, the loss of water, the pH and the concentration of lactic acid of the meat of broiler chickens (COBB 500) were monitored. Bioproduct was prepared from corn scrap, which was fermented using the lower filamentous fungus Umbelopsis isabellina CCF2412. The prepared material was mixed into the commercial compound feed intended for broiler chickens at a ratio of 10%, and was fed from the 11 th day of age of the chickens until the time of slaughter. The obtained results were compared with the results of control group, which was represented by broiler chickens fed only with a commercial compound feed. Feeding of bioproduct, in terms of chemical composition, affected mainly the fat content in breast and thigh meat, which was lower in the experimental group. Meat color (measured by colorimetric assay) was not affected and differences were significant only at a value a*, which was higher in the experimental group. Statistically significant differences in the water losses of meat were not recorded, but the feeding of bioproduct affected the pH of the meat, and also the concentration of lactic acid and both parameters were higher in the meat of control group.
Effect of various amended organic media on the tuberization of caladium cultivars

An experiment on the effect of different media on t he tuberization of caladium cultivars was conducted at Ornamental Horticulture Nursery Farm, Department of Horticultu re, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during 20 04. Four different caladium cultivars viz. Calypso, Fannie M onsoon, Gypsy Rose and White Christmas were planted i three media i.e. control, leaf mold and spent mushroom compost (SMC). The experiment was laid out in randomized co mplete block design with split plot arrangement. Different plant ing media had enormous effect on various growth par ameters. Maximum number of sprouts (5.7), number of leaves (17.8), l eaf ength (36.0 cm), lamina area (521.3 cm ), plant height (57.8 cm), number of tubers (4.8), tuber size/volume (55.2 cm ) and tuber weight (53.8g) were noted in SMC. Contr ol (soil + silt + FYM at 1:1:1 ratio), produced minimum values for th e mentioned parameters. In case of cultivars, cv. C alypso performed better in number of sprouts (5.7), numbers of leave s (19.4), leaf length (37.4 cm), lamina area (595.7 cm), plant height (64.4 cm), while minimum number of sprouts (2.0), n umber of leaves (8.8), leaf length (22.1 cm), lamin a area (196.9 cm ), number of tubers (1.6), tuber size (29.2 ml) and mi ni um tuber weight (32.0 g) was recorded for cv. Gy psy Rose. Maximum tuber size (57.6 cm ) and tuber weight (56.7 g) was recorded in cv. Whi te Christmas, while maximum number of tubers (4.2) was noted in cv. Fannie Monsoon. The i nteraction between media and cultivars was found no n significant for all the parameters.
Transmural unipolar electrogram morphology is achieved within 7s at the posterior left atrial wall during pulmonary vein isolation: VISITAG™ Module-based lesion assessment during radiofrequency ablation

Aims To assess the occurrence of a histologically validated measure of transmural (TM) atrial ablation – pure R unipolar electrogram (UE) morphology change – at first-ablated left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) sites during contact force (CF)-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Methods and results Exported VISITAG™ Module and CARTOREPLAY™ (Biosense Webster Inc.) UE morphology data was retrospectively analysed in 23 consecutive patients undergoing PVI under general anaesthesia. PVI without spontaneous / dormant recovery was achieved in all, employing 16.3[3.2] minutes (mean [SD]) of temperature-controlled RF at 30W. All first-ablated LAPW sites demonstrated RS UE morphology pre-ablation, with RF-induced pure R UE morphology change in 98%. Time to pure R UE morphology was significantly shorter at left-sided LAPW sites (4.9[2.1] s versus 6.7[2.5] s; p=0.02), with significantly greater impedance drop (median 13.5Ω versus 9.9Ω; p=0.003). Importantly, neither the first-site RF duration (14.9 versus 15.0s) nor the maximum ablation catheter tip distance moved (during RF) were significantly different, yet the mean CF was significantly higher at right-sided sites (16.5g versus 11.2g; p=0.002). Concurrent impedance and objectively annotated bipolar electrogram (BE) data demonstrated ~6-8Ω impedance drop and ~30% BE decrease at the time of first pure R UE morphology change. Conclusion Using objective ablation site annotation, TM UE morphology change was typically achieved within 7s at the LAPW, with significantly greater ablative effect evident at left-sided sites. The methodology described in this report represents a novel and scientifically more rigorous foundation towards future research into the biological effects of RF ablation in vivo. Condensed abstract Through appropriate use of the VISITAG™ Module and CARTOREPLAY™, unipolar electrogram morphology change indicative of histologically confirmed transmural atrial ablation in animal models, was proven to occur typically within 7s, during first-site contact force-guided ablation at the left atrial posterior wall during pulmonary vein isolation.
Infectious bronchitis virus infections of chickens in Belgium: an epidemiological survey.

Between April 2012 and July 2015, cloacal and/or tracheal swab samples were collected from four hundred and twenty-four Belgian chicken broiler, breeder and layer flocks. All flocks were kept for production purposes and presented clinical signs suggestive of an infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection. The samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect the presence of ribonucleic acid (RNA) of IBV. When positive, approximately four hundred base pairs (bp) encoding for the hypervariable region of the IBV S1 protein were sequenced. Sequencing results, cycle threshold (Ct) values and vaccination history were used as criteria to try and distinguish vaccine strains from field strains. Of all samples examined, 22.4% was negative. In 16.4% of the samples that did contain RNA from IBV, the genotype could not be determined. In most cases, this was due to the recovery of RNA quantities below the lower limit of detection of the sequencing PCR. The remaining positive submissions predominantly revealed RNA from IBV strains that belonged to the 4/91-793B (46.8%), D388-QX (25.2%), D274-D207 (5.8%) and Massachusetts (4.0%) genotypes. Estimations indicated that approximately 58%, 11%, 37% and 46% of these detections, respectively, were vaccine strains. Infections with types CK/CH/Guandong/Xindadi/0903, Ukr/27/2011, NGA/295/2006 and Q1 were observed sporadically. The results indicate that IBV infections are highly prevalent in Belgian chickens and that at least eight different IBV types were circulating during the monitored period. This underlines the necessity of providing flocks with a strong and broad protective immunity against IBV.
Beneficial Microorganism and Phosphorus Application Influence Growth, Biomass and Harvest Index in Irrigated and Dryland Wheat under Calcareous Soils in Semiarid Condition

*Corresponding Author Email: amanullah@aup.edu. pk ISSN : 2348-8808 (Print), 2348-8867 (Online) http://dx.doi. org/10.21921/jas.v4i2. 7778 Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan An Open Access International Peer Reviewed Quarterly Field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of phosphorus (P) and BM on growth, biomass and harvest index in irrigated and dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Siren-2010) under calcareous soils in Northwestern Pakistan. The experiment was conducted under full and limited or dryland irrigated conditions at the Research farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar during winter. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design. The results revealed that growth, biomass and harvest index was significantly higher for full than limited condition and for treated plots (rest) than control. The interaction of BM x P x IC revealed 1 1 that under full irrigated condition the increase in both P and BM levels (90 kg P haand 30 L ha, respectively) and under limited irrigated condition the intermediate levels of both P and BM (60 kg 1 1 P haand 20 L ha, respectively) increased growth, biomass and harvest index in wheat under calcareous soils in semiarid condition.
Effect of Seed Priming on Maize in the Western Hills of Nepal

With a view to identify the effect of seed priming technology on maize in the western hills of Nepal, five different varieties of maize including farmers' local were tested during summer seasons of 2004 at three sites of Gorkha, Palpa and Myagdi districts using mother-baby scheme with primed and non-primed treatments. Results of mother trials combined over locations revealed that primed treatments silked three days earlier and matured six days prior to non-primed counterparts. Significant increase in grain yield, average of 11.6% and maximum of 27.8% was recorded. Farmers' response in baby trials combined over locations showed that plant stand after germination in primed treatment was found better as reported by 80% of the respondents. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(4): 470-478
Effects of short-term exposure to mobile phone radiofrequency (900 MHz) on the oxidative response and genotoxicity in honey bee larvae

Exposure of different animal species to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) could cause various biological effects such as oxidative stress, genotoxic effects and dysfunction of the immune system. However, there are a lack of results on oxidative stress response and genotoxicity in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) after exposure to RF-EMF. This study was performed to investigate the effects of exposure to RF-EMF on the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidation level and DNA damage in honey bee larvae. Honey bee larvae were exposed to RF-EMF at 900 MHz and field levels of 10, 23, 41 and 120 V m−1 for 2 h. At a field level of 23 V m−1 the effect of 80% AM 1 kHz sinusoidal and 217 Hz modulation was investigated as well. Catalase activity and the lipid peroxidation level decreased significantly in the honey bee larvae exposed to the unmodulated field at 10 V m−1 compared to the control. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activity in the honey bee larvae exposed to unmodulated fields were not statistically different compared to the control. DNA damage increased significantly in honey bee larvae exposed to modulated (80% AM 1 kHz sinus) field at 23 V m−1 compared to the control and all other exposure groups. These results suggest that RF-EMF effects in honey bee larvae appeared only after exposure to a certain EMF conditions. The increase of the field level did not cause a linear dose-response in any of the measured parameters. Modulated RF-EMF produced more negative effects than the corresponding unmodulated field. Although honey bees in nature would not be exposed to such high field levels as used in our experiments, our results show the need for further intensive research in all stages of honey bee development.
Arguing on-line and off: a study of students' argumentation in the context of computer-mediated discussion and individually written assignments.

The thesis compares argumentation in two media, electronic computer conferences, conducted for educational purposes, and individually written course assignments in a distance education Business Management course. The study reveals the influence of multimodality on argumentation and identifies ways in which the students adapt their argumentation to comply with the contextual and ideological requirements of two media. A linguistic understanding of argumentation is developed and applied, wherein argumentation is seen as a discourse, subject to social and ideological influences. Theme analysis, drawing on systemic functional linguistics, is the predominant analytical tool, while qualitative methods of research, in the form of interviews and document analysis, are also used. Theme analysis revealed that the argumentation in the computer conferences was organised around interpersonal cohesion, foregrounding the writer as a persuasive voice in the text, while the argumentation in the assignments was organised around ideational cohesion, foregrounding the course content, with little visible presence of the author. The consequence of these different interpersonal positionings was that propositions were made differently in each medium, counter-arguments were developed differently, and the sources to which the students attributed their arguments were different. It was concluded that the exigencies of the dialogic technology of the computer conferences, plus their educational context produced cooperative forms of argumentation. The social and ideological influences shaping the assignment argumentation were more diverse. The interviews revealed that the attitudes towards argumentation held by the students influenced how they engaged in the computer conferences, with some students prioritising argument and others prioritising the communication of information. It was also found that students with an orientation to academic writing found that there was a strong relationship between their conference argumentation and assignment argumentation, and believed this aided their assignment writing. This indicates potential for developing subject specific argumentation and academic writing.
Invasive invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, reverses trophic cascade in a north‐temperate lake

Trophic cascades can determine the structure of aquatic food webs, a role often used to manage water quality in lakes. However, trophic cascades are subject to multiple interacting drivers of environmental change. For example, invasive species can dramatically alter food webs, though we know less about invasive species effects on managed trophic cascades. Here, we investigate the changing food web dynamics of Lake Mendota (Wisconsin, U.S.A.) over a 40‐yr time period. Piscivore stocking (biomanipulation) beginning in 1988 coupled with a 1987 die‐off of cisco (the dominant zooplanktivore) led to decreased zooplanktivory that cascaded to increases in the large‐bodied herbivorous zooplankton Daphnia pulicaria and greater water clarity. In 2009, the invasive spiny water flea Bythotrephes longimanus was first detected in Lake Mendota and soon reached record densities. As a result of this invasive invertebrate predator, zooplanktivory increased to 47% of the earlier cisco period. Concomitant with the spiny water flea population explosion were declines in D. pulicaria and water clarity as both exhibited a strong negative relationship to zooplanktivory across the 40‐yr time series. We argue that the trophic cascade of 1987–1988 created an environment of high food resources and low fish planktivory that promoted the proliferation of Bythotrephes as it functionally replaced cisco in Lake Mendota's food web. Our results highlight how a manipulated, eutrophic lake was vulnerable to adverse impacts by invasive species, calling attention to the importance of understanding interactions among drivers of environmental change.
Interactive effects of elevated temperature and CO2 on nitrate, urea, and dissolved inorganic carbon uptake by a coastal California, USA, microbial community

: Average global temperatures and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels are expected to in crease in the coming decades. Implications for ocean ecosystems include shifts in microbial community structure and subsequent modifications to nutrient pathways. Studying how predicted future temperature and CO 2 conditions will impact the biogeochemistry of the ocean is important because of the ocean’s role in regulating global climate. We determined how elevated temperature and CO 2 affect uptake rates of nitrate, urea, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) by 2 size classes (0.7−5.0 and >5.0 µm) of a microbial assemblage collected from coastal California, USA. This microbial community was incubated for 10 d using an ecostat continuous culture system that supplied the microorganisms with either nitrate or urea as the dominant nitrogen source. Biomass parameters, nutrient concentrations, and uptake rates were measured throughout the experiment. In all treatments, urea uptake rates were greater than nitrate, and larger microorganisms had higher uptake rates than smaller microorganisms. Uptake rates of urea and DIC within both size fractions were higher at elevated temperature, and uptake rates of nitrate by smaller microorganisms increased with elevated CO 2 . These findings suggest that the rate at which nutrients cycle in temperate coastal waters will increase as temperature and CO 2 levels rise and that the effect will vary between nitrogen substrates and different microorganisms.
Achene Micromorphology of the Genus Cyanus Mill. (Compositae) in Turkey and its Taxonomic Importance

Micro- and macromorphological achene features of 20 knapweeds taxa from Turkey were searched using light and scanning electron microscopy. The achene surface was examined in detail for each taxon and a dendogram was established by numerical analyses derived from the observed micromorphological features. Cyanus pinardii was distinguished by epappose while Cyanus depressus was distinguished by longer pappus than achene. The results indicated that the examined taxa had very high variations in their achene surface. According to the results, pericarp texture and color, hilum position and pappus hairs could be used for taxonomical diagnosis of the Cyanus taxa. The hairiness of the surface and elaiosome in the basal of pericarp were characteristic in all Cyanus taxa.
High precision automated detection of labeled nuclei in Gigapixel resolution image data of Mouse Brain

There is a need in modern neuroscience for accurate and automated image processing techniques for analyzing the large volume of neuroanatomical imaging data. Even at light microscopic levels, imaging mouse brains produces individual data volumes in the TerraByte range. A fundamental task involves the detection and quantification of objects of a given type, e.g. neuronal nuclei or somata, in brain scan dataset. Traditionally this quantification has been performed by human visual inspection with high accuracy, that is not scalable. When modern automated CNN and SVM-based methods are used to solve this classification problem, they achieve accuracy levels that range between 85 – 92%. However, higher rates of precision and recall that are close to that of human performance are necessary. In this paper, we describe an unsupervised, iterative algorithm, which provides a high performance for a specific problem of detecting Green Fluorescent Protein labeled nuclei in 2D scans of mouse brains. The algorithm judiciously combines classical computer vision techniques and is focused on the complex problem of decomposing strong overlapped objects of interest. Our proposed technique uses feature detection methods on ridge lines over distance transformation of the image and an arc based iterative spatial-filling method to solve the problem. We demonstrate our results on mouse brain dataset of Gigabyte resolution and compare it with manual annotation of the brains. Our results show that an aptly designed CV algorithm with classical feature extractors when tailored to this problem of interest achieves near-ideal human-like performance. Quantitative comparative analysis, using manually annotated ground truth, reveals that our approach performs better on mouse brain scans than general purpose machine learning (including deep CNN) methods.
Effects of stocking density on growth of zebrafish (Danio rerio, Hamilton, 1822)

The effect of stocking density on growth of zebra fish was examined. Total five different stocking densities (5, 15, 25, 35 and 45 individuals per 2 liters of water) were maintained in triplicate for a period of 60 days. One month old zebrafish were randomly stocked into 15 tanks and fish were fed with commercial diet. The mean weight gain, specific growth rate and length gain for treatment 1 (5 fish/2liter) and treatment 2 (15 fish/2 liter) were significantly (p 0.05) difference among treatments. The result of this study suggests that the stocking density of zebrafish could be 15 fish per 2 litre of water in a laboratory system with aeration. Bangladesh J. Zool. 44 (2): 209-218, 2016
Effect of Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis) protein hydrolysate in the reduction of oil uptake in deep-fried squid

1, Hau, E.H. , Amiza, M.A., Mohd Zin, Z. , Shaharudin, N.A. and. Zainol, M.K. Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Mengabang Telipot, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecule Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia School of Biosciences, Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Egg mimicry by the Pacific koel: mimicry of one host facilitates exploitation of other hosts with similar egg types

When brood parasites exploit multiple host species, egg rejection by hosts may select for the evolution of host-specific races, where each race mimics a particular host's egg type. However, some brood parasites that exploit multiple hosts with the ability to reject foreign eggs appear to have only a single egg type. In these cases, it is unclear how the parasite egg escapes detection by its hosts. Three possible explanations are: (i) host-specific races are present, but differences in egg morphology are difficult for the human eye to detect; (ii) the brood parasite evolves a single egg type that is intermediate in appearance between the eggs of its hosts; (iii) or the parasite evolves mimicry of one of its hosts, which subsequently allows it to exploit other species with similar egg morphology. Here we test these possibilities by quantifying parameters of egg appearance of the brood-parasitic Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis) and seven of its hosts. Koel eggs laid in the nests of different hosts did not show significant differences in colour or pattern, suggesting that koels have not evolved host-specific races. Koel eggs were similar in colour, luminance and pattern to the majority of hosts, but were significantly more similar in colour and luminance to one of the major hosts than to two other major hosts, supporting hypothesis (iii). Our findings suggest that mimicry of one host can allow a brood parasite to exploit new hosts with similar egg morphologies, which could inhibit the evolution of host defences in naive hosts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.