Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical Effect of Insurgency on Cowpea (Vigna Spp) Production in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the effect of insurgency on cowpea production in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria. This study is quantitative research where 120 cowpea farmers were randomly interviewed using structured response questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 35% of the respondents fell within the age bracket of 28-33 years; males constituted 55% and 42% had primary education. The findings further reveaed that 77.50% perceived the effect of insurgency on their livelihood. Majority up to 70.80% of the respondents perceived increase in poverty and job loses respectively. Almost 52.5% of the respondents were affected by the conflicts, then children 21.7%, women 13.3% and adult men 8.3%. 32.50% of the respondents lost their houses, 29.20% lost their livestock, and 16.70% and 13.30% lost their crops and sustained body injuries respectively. Majority up to 67.50% of the respondents suggested that all the methods, 16.70% suggested military action, 6.70% negotiation, 5.0% and 4.20% of the respondents suggested state of emergency and amnesty respectively. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that 74% variation in output was accounted by the independent variables in the model. However, educational level, sex and income were significant at p< 0.001, while household size, farm size and distance from farm to homestead were significant at p< 0.05. Chi-square analysis revealed that the variables included in the model such as sex, educational level, age, income and distance from farmlands to homestead were significant at p< 0.05, with the exception of farm size, marital status and farming experience. The study concluded that insurgency exists in the study area and the effects include loss of lives, crops, and destruction of infrastructures, such as schools, telecommunication mast, mosques, churches, markets and houses. The study recommended that education and employment opportunities be provided to the youths in the study area.
Patterns and Determinants of Floristic Variation across Lowland Forests of Bolivia

Floristic variation is high in the Neotropics, but little is known about the factors shaping this variation at the mesoscale. We examined floristic composition and its relationship with environmental factors across 220 1‐ha permanent plots in tropical lowland Bolivia. For each plot, abundance of 100 species (93 tree and 7 palm species ≥10 cm diam) was obtained. Climatic data, related to rainfall seasonality and temperature, were interpolated from all available weather stations in the region, and soil properties, related to texture and fertility, were obtained for each plot. Floristic variation was strongly associated with differences in water availability and temperature, and therefore the climatic gradient shaped floristic variation more strongly than the edaphic gradient. Detrended correspondence analysis ordination divided lowland Bolivia primarily into two major groups (Southern Chiquitano region vs. the Amazon region) and a multiple response permutation procedure distinguished five floristic regions. Overall, the tested environmental variables differed significantly among the five regions. Using indicator species analysis, we distinguished 82 strong indicator species, which had significant environmental preferences for one floristic region. These species can be used as indicators of environmental conditions or to determine which floristic region a certain forest belongs. Given the predicted decreases in rainfall and increases in temperature for tropical lowland forests, our gradient approach suggests that species composition may shift drastically with climate change.
Helminthic Parasites from Willets, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae), from Texas, U.S.A., with Descriptions of Kowalewskiella catoptrophori sp. n. and Kowalewskiella macrospina sp. n. (Cestoda: Dilepididae)

Abstract During a survey of endohelminths from willets Catoptrophorus semipalmatus from the Texas Gulf coast, U.S.A. , 22 species were found, including 1 acanthocephalan, 3 cestodes, 3 nematodes, and 15 trematodes. Two new species of cestodes, Kowalewskiella catoptrophori sp. n. and Kowalewskiella macrospina sp. n. (Dilepididae Railliet and Henry, 1909), are described. Willets represent new host records for 3 nematodes (Capillaria sp., Skrjabinoclava sp., and Skrjabinocara sp.) and 6 trematodes (Levinseniella hunteri, Lyperosomum sp., Probolocorpha glandulosa, Prosthogonimus ovatus, Renicola glandoloboides, and Stephanoprora sp.). A key to species of Kowalewskiella is included.
Stimulation of growth and some biochemical parameters by magnetic field in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tissue cultures

In this study, various magnetic field intensities between 2.9 to 4.8 mT by 1ms-1speed applied to mature embryos of Flamura-85 wheat variety and effects of magnetic field on different physiological (regeneration rate, average plant fresh weights, and average plant lengths) and biochemical [total protein, and chlorophyll amounts, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities] parameters were investigated. Compared to the control group, an increase was detected on physiological parameters of 2.2 and 19.8 s magnetic field applied Flamura-85 wheat variety. Total protein and chlorophyll amounts, SOD, CAT, POX and APX enzyme activities of 2.2 and 19.8 s magnetic field applied experimental groups presented increase compared to the control, depending on applied magnetic field intensity. Key words: Antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll amount, growth parameters, magnetic field, plant tissue culture, protein amount, wheat.
Thermal ecology of male tarantulas (Aphonopelma anax) during the mating season

During the mating season, male tarantulas abandon their burrows and actively search for widely distributed females, which remain fossorial. As a result, males are exposed to larger fluctuations in environmental conditions without the protection of a permanent retreat. Body temperatures (Tb) of active male tarantulas (Aphonopelma anax) encountered fortuitously in the field ranged from 24.7 to 35.1°C and preferred Tb's measured in a laboratory thermal gradient ranged from 22.1 to 31.3°C. The thermal options available to males at random points in their environment varied substantially throughout the day but temperatures typically exceeded 40°C. In comparison, temperatures within burrows remained below 40°C. Indices calculated from these temperature data suggested that males thermoregulated effectively during the day, while environmental temperatures were within their preferred Tb range at night and so active regulation of Tb was unnecessary. In addition, I determined the exact times that males ceased locomot.
Lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ and not transforming growth factor β inhibits retinal microglial migration from retinal explant

Background/aims: The retina possesses a rich network of CD45+ positive myeloid derived cells that both surround inner retinal vessels and lie within the retina (microglia). Microglia migrate and accumulate in response to neurodegeneration and inflammation. Although microglia express MHC class II, their role remains undefined. The aims of this study are to investigate changes in human microglia phenotype, migration, and activation status in response to pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimulation. Methods: Donor eyes were obtained from the Bristol Eye Bank with consent and whole retina was removed. 5 mm retinal trephines were cultured in glucose enhanced RPMI on cell culture insert membranes for up to 72 hours. The effects of lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ (LPS/IFNγ) and transforming growth factor β inhibits (TGFβ) stimulation, alone or in combination, on migration, phenotype, and activation status (iNOS expression) of microglia were studied using immunofluorescence and cytokine analysis by ELISA. Results: CD45+ MHC class II+ retinal microglia were observed within retinal explants, and in culture microglia readily migrated, adhered to culture membrane, downregulated MHC class II expression, and produced interleukin 12 (IL-12) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα). Following LPS/IFNγ stimulation microglia remained MHC class II− iNOS−, and secreted IL-10. Migration was suppressed and this could be reversed by neutralising IL-10 activity. TGFβ did not affect ability of microglia to migrate and was unable to reverse LPS/IFNγ induced suppression. Conclusions: Microglia readily migrate from retinal explants and are subsequently MHC class II−, iNOS−, and generate IL-12. In response to LPS/IFNγ microglia produce IL-10, which inhibits both their migration and activation. TGFβ was unable to counter LPS/IFNγ effects. The data infer that microglia respond coordinately, dependent upon initial cytokine stimulation, but paradoxically respond to classic myeloid activation signals.
Assembly of an artificial protein hydrogel through leucine zipper aggregation and disulfide bond formation

We present a strategy to stabilize artificial protein hydrogels through covalent bond formation following physical association of terminal leucine zipper domains. Artificial proteins consisting of two terminal leucine zipper domains and a random coil central domain form transient networks above a certain concentration, but the networks dissolve when placed in excess buffer. Engineering of a cysteine residue into each leucine zipper domain allows formation of disulfide bonds templated by leucine zipper aggregation. Circular dichroism spectra show that the zipper domains remain helical after cysteine residues and disulfide bonds are introduced. Asymmetric placement of the cysteine residues in the leucine zipper domains suppresses intramolecular disulfide bonds and creates linked “multichains” composed of ca. 9 protein chains on average, as determined by multiangle light scattering measurements. These “multichains” act as the building units of the physical network formed by leucine zipper aggregation. The in.
RAPD analysis of genetic variability in a multiprovenance base population of Eucalyptus grandis hill ex maiden

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability among individuals of a base population of Eucalyptus grandis and to build a molecular marker database for the analyzed populations. The Eucalyptus grandis base population comprised 327 individuals from Coff's Harbour, Atherton and Rio Claro. A few plants came from other sites (Belthorpe MT. Pandanus, Kenilworth, Yabbra, etc.). Since this base population had a heterogeneous composition, the groups were divided according to geographic localization (latitude and longitude), and genetic breeding level. Thus, the influence of those two factors (geographic localization and genetic breeding level) on the genetic variability detected was discussed. The RAPD technique allowed the evaluation of 70 loci. The binary matrix was used to estimate the genetic similarity among individuals using Jaccard' s Coefficient. Parametric statistical tests were used to compare within-group similarity of the means. The obtained results showed that the base population had wide genetic variability and a mean genetic similarity of 0.328. Sub- group 3 (wild materials from the Atherton region) showed mean genetic similarity of 0.318. S.P.A. (from Coff's Harbour region) had a mean genetic similarity of 0.322 and was found to be very important for maintenance of variation in the base population. This can be explained since the individuals from those groups accounted for most of the base population (48.3% for it). The base population plants with genetic similarity higher than 0.60 should be phenotypically analyzed again in order to clarify the tendency of genetic variability during breeding programs.
STUDIES ON QUALITY OF MULTIFOLIOLATE ALFALFA

Breeding programs are focused on developing varieties with higher productivity, improved quality of green mass, resistance to diseases and pests, durability, quick recovery after cutting and etc. In the selection of varieties with high quality For this purpose the breeders use methods that directly influence protein and fiber content or increasing the percentage of leaf with more than 3 leaflets per leaf. The development of new alfalfa generation – multifoliolate is the achievement in this direction. I n this paper the results from studies on Bulgarian multifolilate alfalfa variety (Mnogolistna 1) are presented. Studied genotypes differ in content of crude protein, amino acids and neutral and aciddetergent fiber and digestibility of dry matter in different parts of plants.
Mobility Limitations of Bound Polygalacturonase in Isolated Cell Wall from Tomato Pericarp Tissue

Enzymically active cell wall isolated from mature-green and ripening tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill CV. 'Rutgers') fruit was employed to investigate the mobility of the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG, EC 3.2.1.15). Cell walls from mature-green 'Rutgers' fruit or from the ripening mutant rin, which alone exhibits little or no release of pectin, were unaffected by the addition of enzymically active cell wall from ripening 'Rutgers' fruit, indicating that PG is either not transferred at all or is not transferred to sites of pectin hydrolysis. The quantity of pectin released by the addition of soluble PG to enzymically active wall depended on the quantity of enzyme added. Similar data were obtained using purified PG2. Pectin solubilization from all wall isolates exhibiting enzymically mediated pectin release diminished with time; however, transfer to fresh buffer initiated a resumption of autolytic activity, indicating that an inhibitor is released during the course of pectin hydrolysis. Depolymerization of cell wall polyuronides by the endopol- ygalacturonases (EC 3.2.1.15) is believed to be the dominant feature of softening metabolism in tomato and several other fruit types (Hobson, 1964; Huber, 1983). Purified polygalacturon- ases (PGs) and crude PG extracts readily hydrolyze pectic pol- ymers in solution and also cause solubilization of uronic acids from isolated cell walls of normal tomato and from the mutant rin (Ali and Brady, 1982; Themmen et al., 1982). Little is known about the action of these enzymes in the wall environ- ment. In previous work (Rushing and Huber, 1984), we reported on the use of isolated cell wall to investigate details of PG- mediated wall hydrolysis in ripening tomato fruit. Evidence of the enzymic nature of cell wall autolysis included the depend- ency of activity on ripening and the inhibitory and stimulator effects of Ca ++ and NaCl, respectively, which are known to influence the activity of purified PG (Ali and Brady, 1982; Pressey and Avants, 1982). Additional studies revealed the te- nacity of PG binding to isolated cell walls. Treatments with high ionic strength, which have been used to facilitate extraction of PG (Hobson, 1964; Ali and Brady, 1982; Pressey, 1986), did not reduce autolytic activity in wall isolated from ripening tomato fruit (Rushing and Huber, 1987). Other results suggested that PG maybe regulated through the interaction of pH, soluble Ca ++ , and ionic strength of the apoplast (Rushing and Huber, 1987). These factors may regulate PG activity by affecting the mobility of the enzyme within the cell wall (Rushing and Huber, 1985). In this paper, we report on the use of autolytically active cell wall to investigate the mobility characteristics of PG bound to cell wall.
DIFFERENTIATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA IN ATI.ANTIC HERRING, CLUPEA HARENGUS

To investigate genetic relationships among spawning stocks ofAtlantic herring, Clupea harengus.in the Gulfof Maine and GulfofSt. Lawrence, mitochondrial DNAs from ripe females at three localities were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis. Using seven variable restriction enzymes. mtDNAs from 69 completely characterized individuals produced 26 composite digestion patterns. The majority of individuals (65%) possessed composites which were common to two or more spawning localities; the other individuals displayed locality specific "unique" composites. Analysis of relation­ ships among these unique composites suggested that some may have been derived from other areas. These results are not consistent with the idea that separate genetic stocks of Atlantic herring exist in the Gulf of Maine. The relationships among discrete spawning stocks of Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, are problematical. A large number ofstocks and stock complexes are recognized throughout the eastern and western North Atlantic; these delineations are based largely on meristic characters, spawn­ ing time, and spawning location. Tagging studies in the western North Atlantic have shown exten­ sive migration and mixing ofstocks during nonre­ productive periods (Creaser et al. 1984). More limited studies of spawning fish have demon­ strated that some tagged individuals returned to their spawning locations (Wheeler and Winters 1984). Recent work has advanced the hypothesis that specific environmental attributes essential for growth and survival of larval herring largely determine where Atlantic herring will spawn mes and Sinclair 1982). The notion that spawn­ ing occurs near areas suitable for larval retention could explain the discontinuous or patchy distri­ bution of spawning areas. Similarly, the occur­ rence of fall spawning and spring spawning At­ lantic herring stocks may be a function of completion of larvae growth and metamorphosis constrained by resources within the larval reten­ tion area (Sinclair and Temblay 1984). There is thus a reasonable model to explain the existence of geographically or temporally discrete spawn­ ing stocks. However, the genetic structure among these different spawning groups is unresolved. Implicit in the Atlantic herring stock concept is
Differentiation of pork from beef, chicken, mutton and chevon according to their primary amino acids content for halal authentication

The detection of pork in various food products has been an important subject of study in many countries. The current study was aimed to differentiate pork from selected meats of beef, mutton, chevon and chicken based on their primary amino acid contents using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with derivatization by o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and ultraviolet (UV) detection. The results show that the most discriminative amino acids between pork and others were valine, histidine, serine, alanine and arginine. The findings here lay the ground work for the future research to develop a marker for halal meat authentication based on the amino acids content. Keywords: RP-HPLC, OPA, Amino acids, halal meat, pork
Load of Aeromonas salmonicida in Swamp Water and its Pathogenicity to Koi, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

Among the fishery resources, swamps are very important for various fish species such as Oreochromis nilotica, Oreochromis mossambica, Anabas testudineus, Channa punctatus and Heteropneustes fossilis . Swamps require shorter time and small investment for fish culture (Rahman et al . 1998). However, diseases are major problems in fish production both in culture system and wild condition in Bangladesh (Rahman and Chowdhury 1996). Bacteria, especially Aeromonas sp. is one of the causative agents of fish diseases. Bangladesh is situated in the tropical zone. Temperature is one of the important factors which affect the growth of pathogenic bacteria (Ljungh and Wadstrom 1982). Aeromonas sobria increases and grows at 17- 25Â°C (Rahman and Chowdhury 1996). Aeromonas sp. is the causative agent of various kinds of ulcerative disease of fishes (Karunasagar and Sugumar 1995). Yesmin et al . (2004) and Chowdhury and Baqui (1997) reported that Aeromonas is a very common pathogen in carps and live fishes. Hossain et al . (2006) worked on the bacterial load, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their artificial infection to Oreochromis niloticus . The present study was undertaken to investigate the bacterial load in swamp water and the pathogenicity of A. sobria in A. testudineus. Â doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0. 2162 J. bio-sci. 15: 181-184, 2007
Complement in the Induction of IgA and IgE Antibody Production

The IgA-antibody forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes in BALB/c and CBA mice depleted of complement by cobra factor (CoF) was suppressed to 10 to 40% of the level in controls. The IgE response to alum-precipitated ovalbumin was measured in NIH mice by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rat skin. Reaginic antibody was scarcely detectable in CoF-treated animals whereas controls had titers of up to 1:2000. Fourteen days after boosting with ovalbumin, control mice had peripheral eosinophilia whereas animals which had received CoF before priming 6 weeks earlier had levels only minimally raised above normal. Studies of the generation of T cell blasts, “education” of thymus cells, and priming of splenic T cells indicated that activation of T cells by antigen proceeded normally under conditions in which thymus-dependent antibody production was suppressed by in vivo complement depletion. Pure sheep IgG anti-mouse C3 and pure F(ab′)2 anti-mouse C3 antibody both inhibited the in vitro T-dependent antihapten response of mouse spleen cells to TNP-KLH.
Can Turtle Mortality be Reduced in Managed Fields?

Abstract Early-successional habitats, including agricultural fields, appear to provide important foraging and nesting resource areas for Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle) and Terrapene Carolina Carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) in the northeastern US. Mowing and agricultural activities can elevate turtle mortality rates. We performed two experiments to evaluate the risk of turtle mortality associated with 1) style of mower, 2) mower blade height, and 3) tractor tires. Mower blade height did not affect mortality rates when set to ≤15 cm. Different types of mowers appear to exert differential effects on mortality, with sickle bar mowers resulting in 50% lower mortality rates than rotary mowers and other models. However, mortality due to crushing by tractor tires may be as high as 46%, independent of blade type and height.
Flow-induced periodic snap-through dynamics

Abstract The stability and post-critical behaviour of periodic snapping are investigated experimentally for a buckled elastic sheet with two clamped ends under an external uniform flow. In addition to experimental investigations, low-order numerical simulations are conducted with the elastica model for the deformation of the sheet, which is coupled with the simple quasi-steady fluid force model based on Bollay's lift theory, in order to identify the deformed shape of the sheet in an equilibrium state and the critical velocity where the sheet begins to snap. Continuous exposure to fluid-dynamic loading induces snap-through oscillations from an initial equilibrium state. While the critical flow velocity for bifurcation is inversely related to the ratio of the streamwise distance of the sheet to its length, it is not significantly affected by the mass ratio of the sheet and the surrounding fluid, leading to divergence instability. In the post-equilibrium state, regular oscillations with the same dominant modes persist in the sheet for a broad range of the flow velocity. As the sheet crosses the midline in the snapping process, the bending energy stored in the sheet is released quickly, and the time for energy release is found to be lower than that required for energy storage. Because of the initial buckled shape, the minimum bending energy of the sheet over a cycle remains at least 40% of its maximum magnitude.