Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A quantitative summary of attitudes toward wolves and their reintroduction (1972-2000)

This paper reports an analysis of support for wolves (Can is spp.) reported in 38 quantitative surveys conducted between 1972 and 2000. Of 109 records reported in these surveys, a majority (51 %) showed positive attitudestoward wolves and 60% supported wolf restoration. Attitudes toward wolves had a negative correlation with age, rural residence, and ranching and farming occupations, and positive correlation with education and income. Thirty-five percent of ranchers and farmers surveyed had positive attitudes toward wolves. Among surveys of the general population samples, 61 % expressed positive attitudes. Surveys of environmental and wildlife groups showed an average of 69% support. Surveys in the lower 48 states showed higher proportions of positive attitudes than surveys in Scandinavia and Western Europe, where a majority did not support wolves. Among all surveys, 25% of respondents had neutral attitudes toward wolves. Positive attitudes toward wolves did not appear to be increasing over time. Because attitudes toward wolves are often not strong among the general public, they have the potential to change rapidly if linked to other, stronger attitudes and beliefs. We expect that progress in education and urbanization will lead to increasingly positive attitudes over time. Negative attitudes associated with age are probably a cohort effect, and we should not expect the aging populations in the United States and Europe to lead to more negative wolf attitudes. Paradoxically, successful wolf reintroductions are likely to reduce general positive sentiment, since the presence of wolves gives people a more balanced experience with the animals. Traditionally, people with the most positive attitudes toward wolves have been those with the least experience.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infestations in Al-Anbar Province , West of Iraq.

Intestinal parasitic infestation still represents an economic and public health problem in the world particularly in the developing countries including the Middle East. To estimate the current prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among people living in Al-Ramadi City/ West of Iraq. 1804 faecal samples were collected from males and females of different ages attending Al Gailani-Central Medical Laboratory, Al-Ramadi/Al-Anbar, from June 2006 to October 2009. One methods used were direct faecal microscopic examination and formol-ether concentration. The total infectivity rate by intestinal parasites was 19.7%. The overall infection rate by intestinal protozoa was significantly higher than intestinal helminth infection. E. histolytica was the most prevalent intestinal parasitic infection, whereas E. vermicularis was the predominant helminth. The frequency of the parasitic infestations was slightly higher among females (20.7%) than males (19.1%). A significantly higher prevalence of parasitic infections among younger age groups than the older age groups, since age group ≤5 years showed the highest infection rate (33.3%) when it was compared with other age groups (5.3%). Intestinal parasitic infestation was more prevalent among younger age groups. Screening for parasitic infestation is necessary as part of the general health care programme. Preference should be given to screening the younger age group to improve the standards of infant care.
Microscopic fungi on Nymphaeaceae plants of the Lake Płociczno in Drawa National Park (NW Poland)

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of micromycetes associated with disease symptoms on the leaves and flowers of three plant species, Nymphaea alba (NA), Nymphaea candida (NC), and Nuphar lutea (NL), forming nympheid phytocoenoses on Lake Plociczno in Drawa National Park during the years 2009 to 2012. From all collected plant specimens, an overall number of 38 distinct taxa of fungi and chromistan fungal analogues was isolated. The largest diversity of taxa was found on NL (37 taxa), the lowest was on NC (4 taxa), and NA contained 12 taxa. Each year, anamorphic forms of Ascomycota were dominant in the taxonomic structure. For the first time in Poland, Septoria nupharis (NA, NL, NC) and Colletotrichum nymphaeae (NL, NC) were found on their spotted leaves. For both of the mentioned pathogens, Nymphaea candida is a new host plant in Poland. Botrytis cinerea , Elongisporangium undulatum (= Pythium undulatum ), Epicoccum nigrum , Fusarium incarnatum (= F. semitectum ), and Gibberella avenacea (= Fusarium avenaceum ) were found each year in the studied phytocoenoses. The confirmation of NA and NL flower infections by Botrytis cinerea , which leads to gangrene, is an important aspect of the gray mold epidemiology. Until now, the occurrence of smut fungi on nympheids in Drawa National Park was not observed. The taxonomic structure and the predomination of asexual stages of fungi, as well as the similarity coefficients, suggest that the seasonal decomposition of nympheids run naturally and contribute to maintaining the stability of the lake ecosystem.
Genetic trend of growth of Jamunapari kids

Data recorded on body weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age pertaining to 1 188 kids maintained at Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, under intensive and semi-intensive systems of management were used. Data recorded from 1983 to 1996 on body weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were subjected to least-squares analysis. Least-squares means at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 3.10′0.03, 9.69′10, 13.65′0.15, 18.67′0.20 and 22.96′0.26 kg respectively. The heritatility estimates were 0.28. ′0.06. 0.26′0.08. 0.19′0.07, 0.19′0.07 and 0.28′0.08. Estimates of heritability obtained for 6 and 9 month of body weight in the present study were in lower side The estimates of genetic change in body weight at birth, 3,6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.11′0.05. 0.38′0.15, 1.04. 26. 2.46′0.35 and 2.43′0.45 kg respectively. The estimates of anvironmental trend were negative for birth 3.6,9 and 12 months of age. The estimates for phenotypic trends were 0.04′0.01, 0.20′0.31 and 0.26′0.04 kg, respectively, for 6, 9 and 12 months of age. The effect on phenotypic scale was influenced by environment, though the genetic trends were positive, Results indicated that the adverse environment might have modified the performance despite of high genetic potential of growth. Therefore, optimum environment is essential for proper exploitation of genetic merit.
Ultracytochemical analysis of E-PTA-positive synaptic junction. Three cases of Down's syndrome together with Alzheimer-type dementia

The synaptic junction from three autopsy cases of adults with Down's syndrome and Alzhemer-type dementia was examined ultracytochemically, using the ethanolic phosphotungustic acid (E-PTA) method. A noteworthy finding was the presence of variable shaped vesicles which were not observed in the ordinary E-PTA-treatcd preparations. Many of these vesicles displayed a wide variety of abnormal shapes between the presynaptic dense projections. Such a change has escaped detection in the E-PTA-treated preparation so far. The presynaptic terminal was considered to be one of the central regions for observing pathological changes, associated with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the possibility is raised that the qualitative analysis of synaptic junctions, using the E-PTA method, facilitates the acquisition of further information concerning synaptic changes.
The effect of the neurotoxin lipopolysaccharide on the coagulability and red blood cell ultrastructure of blood from healthy individuals

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin, which is found on the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria and is shed off during infections. This membrane contains a rich network of endotoxins that may circulate in the blood. Chronic inflammatory diseases are accompanied by hypercoagulable phenotypes. It is known that inflammation is typical initiated by proinflamatory cytokines but the origin of inflammation is still unclear. The study‟s hypothesises is the LPS molecules from dormant microbes are resuscitated and bring about inflammatory changes seen in chronic inflammatory diseases, by changing red blood cells (RBCs) ultrastructure affecting coagulations. The following objectives direct the study: to investigate the effects of LPS on the ultrastructure plasma (fibrin networks) and RBCs, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) a high resolution CrioCrossbeam 540 from ZEISS; to investigate the effect of LPS on RBCs shape and morphology using light microscope (LM); to investigate possible damages to RBCs‟ elasticity using the atomic force microscope (AFM). For this investigation 30 healthy individuals were used, each person served as their own control. A miniature concentration of LPS (0.2 ng.L -1 ) was added. To study coagulation parameters blood was drawn into citrate tubes and aliquoted into two separate tubes one tube LPS was added to whole blood (WB) and PPP. To study the clotting properties of blood, Thromboelestograph (TEG) was conducted with and without added LPS. © University of Pretoria III From TEG results it was observed that the initiation time of a clot in minutes and the kinetics of the clot decreased with the addition of LPS in both whole blood and platelets poor plasma. It was observed that when LPS added to blood an increase in clots strength was evident in treated blood compared to untreated blood. There was an increase in the angle of the clot given with variable strength size of the clot, making it difficult for the clot to be dissolved. Clot hypercoagulability and increased clot strength are common characteristics found in inflammation. From this investigation it was found that LPS changed the fibrin fibres forming matted mass deposits affecting coagulation. When viewing with SEM it was seen that LPS causes agglutination of plasma proteins on RBCs‟ surface changing the ultrastructure. The elasticity of RBCs decreased according to AFM results justified the shape changes of RBCs that have been exposed to LPS. These are also principal characteristics of hypercoagulation. Based on these results it was concluded that LPS could in part be the cause of physiological changes seen in inflammatory conditions where an underlying bacterial component is present.
Amino acid profile of Synechocystis aquatilis isolated from an estuary near Mangalore-coast

Fourteen amino acids were detected in a planktonic cyanobacterium, Synechocystis aquatilis, isolated from the estuarine waters of Mangalore -coast and maintained in axenic conditions in laboratory. Methionine was found tobe the highest. Rare amino acids like ornithine and tryptophan were also found.
Necrosis in grapevine buds ( Vitis vinifera cv. Queen of Vineyard) III. Endogenous gibberellin levels in leaves and buds

The endogenous content of free and bound gibberellins (GA) in leaves and buds of Queen of Vineyard grapevines was determined. Lateral buds on shoots from vigorous vines had about double the free GA activity of buds from less vigorous vines. No difference in the activity of bound GA was found. The GA content in the leaves of Queen of Vineyard was uniform, regardless of the vigor of the plants. The relation between vigor, GA content and bud necrosis in Queen of Vineyard vines is discussed and a causal dependence is suggested.
The food requirements and ecological relationships of a seabird community in North Norway

Almost all species of seabirds at Horney and Reinoy are increasing in numbers. The Herring Gull colony is one of the largest in Europe. Most species feed mainly on capelin, but sandeels are important for Briinnich's Guillemots, Razorbills and Shags. Diets remained closely similar from year to year but consistently differed between species. Puffins and Razorbills fed largely on immature fish while other species took mostly two year old fish. The majority of the two year old capelin consumed by auks in June and July were ripe, although most capelin spawn in March and April. Foraging ranges were extremely short, breeding success and chick growth rates unsually high. Food consumption totalled 9000 tonnes yr-1, of which 7500 tonnes were capelin. Food appeared to be superabundant, and dietary differences between species probably reflect anatomical and behavioural adaptations rather than niche partitioning through active competition. Seabirds appear to select capelin of high lipid content since they fed predominantly on ripe two year old fish during chick-rearing, when spent fish were of poorer nutritional value.
Analyses of somaclonal variation in endosperm-supported mature embryo culture of rye (Secale cereale L.)

ABSTRACT Genetic variations, and especially somaclonal variations, are undesirable in genetic transformation. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and coupled restriction enzyme digestion-random amplification (CRED-RA) markers were used for detection of the variation in calli that were obtained from endosperm-supported mature embryo of rye on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different auxins (2,4-D, dicamba and picloram) at a range of different concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mg/L). High level of auxins caused a reduction in the genomic template stability (GTS) value. While the highest GTS was observed in the calli maintained on MS medium with 2 mg/L dicamba (98.4%), the calli maintained on MS medium with 12 mg/L picloram were found to show the least GTS (81.7%) when RAPD patterns were analysed. Epigenetic changes were more frequent and variable than genetic changes when compared to RAPD and CRED-RA results. DNA hypermethylation was observed at higher concentrations of 2,4-D and picloram, whereas DNA hypomethylation was observed in dicamba. These results indicate that RAPD and CRED-RA techniques can be used for detection of somaclonal variation in in vitro cultures, which is a fundamental step in plant genetic transformation.
The impact of environmental endocrine disrupting compounds on ovine fetal adrenal gland development and function

Humans and wildlife are constantly exposed to ubiquitous environmental chemicals which have the capability to disrupt the endocrine system. These endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are found within everyday items including food cartons, baby-milk formula and can even be inhaled in dust particles. In utero exposure to EDCs has been found to disturb normal fetal hypothalamic, pituitary, gonadal and thyroid function in both genders. In contrast, despite increasing evidence of correlation between EDCs and metabolic diseases, chemical effects on the adrenal gland have received little attention. This study examined ovine fetal adrenal glands available from pregnant domestic sheep (Ovis aries) exposed to a real-life cocktail of EDCs found within human sewage sludge fertiliser (normal agricultural practice). Ewes were exposed for 80 day windows (0-80, 30-110, 60-140), or continually throughout gestation (0-140 days) and fetal adrenals subjected to immunohistochemistry for specific markers (CYP17A1 and AGTR1) or to real time PCR for the target genes (CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3βHSD, MC2R, AGTR1 and ER1). Adrenal zone thickness stained for AGTR1 and CYP17A1 protein were significantly reduced (p=0.037 and p=0.031 respectively). AGTR1 and CYP17A1 gene expression exhibited a significant treatment by gender interaction (p=0.027 and p=0.032 respectively) in the females from the mid and late gestation treatment groups. ER1 gene expression was also significantly reduced in mid and late treatment goups compared with controls (p=0.042). These data illustrate that in utero exposure to EDCs within sewage sludge dysregulates the developing ovine fetal adrenal gland. It is hypothesised that this fetal adrenal dysregulation may contribute to the increasing incidence of human metabolic disease.
On two large specimens of Zu cristatus (Trachipteridae) from the Gulf of Genoa (NW Mediterranean)

A propos de deux grands specimens de Zu cristatus (Trachipteridae) dans le golfe de Genes (Mediterranee nord-occidentale). Deux specimens de Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1820) ont ete captures dans le golfe de Genes (mer Ligure). L'un d'eux est le plus grand specimen capture en Mediterranee. Des analyses morphometriques et meristiques ont ete effectuees sur les deux specimens et les donnees morphologiques disponibles de cette espece sont discutees.
The Effects of Some Chemicals and Growth Substances on Pollen Germination and Tube Growth of Date Palm

Boric, fumaric, gibberellic (GA), indoleacetic (IAA), and succinic acids at concentrations of 0.05, 0.5, 5, 50, or 100 ppm in a basic sucrose and agar medium stimulated pollen germination and tube growth of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Both germination and tube growth increased with increasing concentration of boric acid, GA, and IAA without injurious effects. Maximum pollen germination was observed at 0.05 ppm succinic acid and 0.5 fumaric acid.
A pest and disease survey of the isolated Norfolk Island honey bee (Apis mellifera) population

Norfolk Island is one of Australia’s most remote communities, located about 1,400 km east of the mainland. This report is the first documented survey of pests and diseases affecting the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) population on Norfolk Island. The only invertebrate pest detected during the survey was the lesser wax moth (Achroia grisella), and only one honey bee virus was identified (Lake Sinai virus 1). The microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae was also detected in the majority of adult bee samples, but Nosema apis was not present in any of the samples analyzed. Given that honey bee imports to Norfolk Island ceased in 1992, we discuss possible scenarios for N. ceranae introduction to the island. Lineage analysis also determined that Norfolk Island’s honey bees are for the most part from Eastern Europe (probably A. m. ligustica and A. m. carnica) with a small percentage from Western Europe (probably A. m. mellifera). This survey has identified a remote and isolated honey bee population that is relatively free from major pests and diseases that affect honey bees around the world. This knowledge will help inform trade policy and management strategies for maintaining the unique health status of honey bees on Norfolk Island.
An Exploration of the Mechanisms of Object Memory Destabilization: Involvement of the Cholinergic and Ubiquitin Proteasome Systems

AN EXPLORATION OF THE MECHANISMS OF OBJECT MEMORY DESTABILIZATION: INVOLVEMENT OF THE CHOLINERGIC AND UBIQUITIN PROTEASOME SYSTEMS Mikaela L. Stiver Advisor: University of Guelph, 2016 Professor Boyer D. Winters Consolidated memories may become destabilized during reactivation, resulting in a transient state of instability, presumably for updating or maintenance. Resilient engrams, such as remote memories, are reliably destabilized with salient novelty or cholinergic receptor activation during reactivation. Moreover, protein degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome system has been linked to destabilization of fear and object location memories. Given the role of calcium in regulating proteasome activity, we hypothesized that cholinergic receptors, specifically M1 muscarinic receptors (mAChRs), are linked to the ubiquitin proteasome system via inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R)-mediated release of intracellular calcium stores. Accordingly, we investigated these mechanisms using a modified spontaneous object recognition paradigm and microinfusions into the perirhinal cortex, a brain region strongly implicated in object processing. Indeed, we established a novel pathway linking M1 mAChRs, IP3Rs, and proteasome activity to remote object memory destabilization. This research has the potential to expand our understanding of memory modification.
Yield and Composition of Muskmelon as Influenced by Preplant and Trickle Applied Nitrogen

Field experiments were conducted to determine N-use-efficiency of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) grown in a loamy sand under trickle irrigation and black plastic mulch. Nitrogen rates of 0, 67, or 100 kg N/ha preplant plus 0, 50, or 100 ppm trickle applied N (fertigation) were compared. Significant increases in stem growth, soil NO3-N, petiole NO3-N, and early and total yields generally were attained with increasing preplant N fertilization rates. Muskmelon yield response to increasing N fertigation response was increased in regimes that received no preplant N. Fertigation response was reduced in regimes that received 67 or 100 kg preplant N/ha. A significant curvilinear relationship was established between soil saturation extract NO3-N and petiole NO3-N.
Alien Insects Dominate the Plant-Pollinator Network of a Hawaiian Coastal Ecosystem1

Abstract: Little is known regarding pollination webs involving island coastal plants and pollinators, and roles that nonnative flower visitors may play in these interaction networks. Plant-pollinator observations made in March 2008 and 2009 were used to describe the pollination network for Ka‘ena Point, one of Hawai‘i's best-conserved coastal communities. The network includes 15 native plant species, two native bee species, and 26 nonnative insect taxa, forming 119 interactions. Network connectance is 29.4% and weighted nestedness is 17.9, which are similar to values of other dry-habitat, island networks. The network's structure has a core of generalized pollinators plus several more-specialized pollinators. Nearly all plant species interact with two or more generalist pollinators and a variable number of specialists. Small, nonnative bees (Lasioglossum, Ceratina), wasps (Proconura), and flies (mostly Tachinidae) were responsible for 72.7% of flower visits, and they visit five plant species not visited by native bees. The two native visitors were the bees Hylaeus anthracinus and H. longiceps (both proposed as endangered). Hylaeus spp. (especially females) provided 19.8% of flower visits, foraging at high visitation rates and on many species, including the endangered Scaevola coriacea and Sesbania tomentosa. In Hawai‘i's coastal habitat, nonnative insects form novel interactions with native species and may maintain an ecosystem's function following loss of most of the original native pollinators. However, their high visitation rates suggest that the two remaining native Hylaeus species are potentially important pollinators for many of the native plants on which they rely for nectar and pollen resources.