Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kind to kin: weak interference competition among white stork Ciconia ciconia broodmates

Altricial nestlings in structured families show a diverse array of behavioural mechanisms to compete for food, ranging from signalling scrambles to aggressive interference. Rates of filial infanticide are moderately high in white storks. It has been hypothesized that this unusual behaviour is an adaptive parental response to the absence of efficient mechanisms of brood reduction (aggression or direct physical interference) by nestlings. To test this latter assumption, we analyzed video recordings of 41 complete feeding episodes at 32 broods during the first half of the nestling period, when nestlings complete 90% of growth and chick mortality and size asymmetries are highest. Parents delivered food to all nestlings simultaneously by regurgitating on the nest floor. No direct (bill to bill) feeding was recorded. Senior nestlings were never observed to limit their junior nestlings from eating food, either by aggression or physical interference. Experimental feeding tests revealed that heavier nestlings handled prey items more efficiently and ate food at a higher speed. The high degree of tolerance shown by senior nestlings is unusual among birds with similar ecological and phylogenetic affinities, such as herons. Tolerance by seniors cannot be easily explained by absence of parental favouritism or proximate factors known to affect the occurrence of sibling aggression in other species (rate of food transfer, brood size, hatching asynchrony or length of nestling period).
Aspects of Water Relations of the Grapevine (Vitis Vinifera)

Diurnal patterns of leaf water potential (ψ) and stomatal resistance (rs) were investigated under different irrigation treatments and evaporative conditions. The ambient environment, especially solar radiation, had a dominating effect on leaf ψ. Water-stress-induced stomatal closure was observed at ψ of —13 bars, though shoot growth rate was inhibited before negative tensions became that large. Trunk diameter was very sensitive to water stress, even to hourly changes. Demonstrated as a simple yet effective indicator of water stress was the angle between the petiole and the lamina midrib.
The Study of Organophosphorus Pesticide; Alterations in the Rat Brain

THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF ®Qttor of ^dtloieiopi^p IN CHEMISTRY TO THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE NASEEM AHMAD KHAN M. Sc, M. Phil. INTERDISCIPLINARY BRAIN RESEARCH CENTRE AND DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 1989
Differential bleaching susceptibility and mortality patterns among four corals in response to thermal stress

Photo-physiological responses of one massive, Platygyra ryukyuensis, and three branching corals, Porites cylindrica, Montipora digitata and Seriatopora caliendrum, with different bleaching susceptibilities, exposed to thermal stress over a period of 30 h and thereafter their bleaching and mortality over a period of four months were investigated. The changes in maximum quantum yield (F v /F m ) and maximum electron transport rate (ETR m a x ) revealed three patterns during the 30 h treatment at 32°C under 450 μmol photons m - 2 s - 1 . P. ryukyuensis showed small but significant changes in F v /F m without changes in ETR m a x and S. caliendrum showed a drastic decrease in both parameters, while M. digitata and P. cylindrica showed similar trend in decrease of the F v /F m values only. After 30 h exposure to thermal stress, the total chlorophyll content decreased significantly only in S. caliendrum and zooxanthellae density decreased significantly in all tested coral species except of P. ryukyuensis. Mortality data over four months after the thermal stress treatment showed three trends. P. ryukyuensis and S. caliendrum showed no mortality and 100% mortality, respectively. Mortality in M. digitata was greater than that in P. cylindrica. These results suggest that in P. ryukyuensis (resistant coral) both the algae and the host are strong while in S. caliendrum (susceptible coral) both partners are weak. Although intermediate coral species, M. digitata and P. cylindrica showed the same level of F v /F m reductions and percentage loss of zooxanthellae, the host component seemed to be stronger in P. cylindrica than in M. digitata as revealed by their different mortalities. Thus, we conclude that variations in bleaching susceptibility and mortality among scleractinian corals are a result of the combined physiological responses of both partners of the symbiotic system to thermal stress.
Effect of narrow-row planting patterns on crop competitive and economic advantage in maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system

Abstract Narrow-row planting patterns directly affect crop yield and competition in intercropping systems. A two-year (2012 and 2013) field experiment was conducted to determine the interactive behavior between intercrops in a maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system. Maize plants were planted in different narrow-wide row planting patterns, whereas soybean was planted in wide rows. The total biomass and grain yield of maize increased with increasing maize narrow-row spacing, but the opposite trend was observed for soybean. The aggressivity, competitive ratio, and partial relative crowding advantage values for maize were greater than those for soybean. Moreover, the competitive interaction of the intercrops was affected by the distance between maize and soybean rows. The highest intercrop land equivalent ratio (LER) 1.61 and 1.59 was found in the 40:160 planting pattern (i.e. 40 cm narrow-row spacing and 160 cm wide-row spacing of maize) during 2012 and 2013, respectively. Combined with actual yield loss and LER, the intense intra-specific competition of maize plants reduced the depression for the associated soybeans when the maize narrow-row spacing was less than 30 cm. When the narrow-row spacing was wider than 50 cm, soybean growth was seriously depressed by maize because of the stronger inter-specific competition between maize and soybean. The maximum yield and economic advantage appeared in the 40:160 narrow-wide row planting pattern. Therefore, intercropping advantage may be achieved by changing the row spacing and distance between intercrop rows to coordinate the inter-specific competition between maize and soybean.
The Role of Neuroinflammation in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

ii Dedication . v Acknowledgments . vi Vita . viii Publications . ix Fields of Study . x Table of Contents . xi List of Tables . xvii List of Figures . xviii Chapter 1 Introduction to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . 1 1.1 Summary of disease . 1 1.2 SOD1 rodent models of ALS . 3 1.3 Role of non-neuronal cells in the pathogenesis of ALS . 4 1.4 Mouse and human in vitro co-culture models of familial and sporadic ALS . 8
Combining Ability for Yield and its Attributes in Response to Arsenic Absorption in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize (Zea mays L.; 2n=20) is the third most important cereal crop after paddy and wheat in India. Globally, it continues to expand rapidly at an average rate of 20% per year (CIMMYT, 2008). It has assumed greater significance owing to its demand as food for human; feed for livestock and poultry and as raw material for industries. The total production of maize in India has taken a giant leap from merely 1.73 million tonnes in the year 1950-1951 to 21.81 million tonnes in the year 2015-2016, which is almost 12.6 times that of 1950-1951. It covered an area of 8.7 m ha with mean yield of 2.51 t ha -1 . (Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, India, 20152016). Bihar is one of the leading maize producing states after Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka in India with the annual production of 2.4 million tonnes over an area of 7.02 lakh hectare. The average yield of maize in Bihar accounting for 5.34 t ha -1 , was higher than the country’s average yield i.e. 2.51 t ha -
REARING OF JUVENILE DONKEY-EAR ABALONE (Haliotis asinina) IN FLOW-THROUGH TANKS WITH THE ADDITION OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES

This study investigated the effects of the addition of coral rubble and polyvinylchloride (PVC) guttering as substrates on the growth of donkey-ear abalone ( Haliotis asinina ) reared in a flow-through water system. The tanks were100 cm long x 50 cm wide x 40 cm deep, filled with sea water up to 30 cm high. Hatchery-produced abalone with a mean initial shell length of 30.9 ± 0.1 mm and wet weight of 5.5 ± 0.1 g were stocked at 25 individuals/tank that corresponded to stocking densities of ca. 50 abalone/m 2 of the bottom area of the tank. Juvenile abalonewere provided with an excess red seaweed Gracilaria spp daily over 175 days. The results show that growth and growth rates in shell length and wet body weight were not significantly different between treatments (P>0.05). Survival rates of juveniles reared in the tank with the addition of coral rubble and/or PVC guttering were 100%, but 98% for juveniles in the tank without the addition of substrate. The average daily growth rates of shell length and wet body weight were 0.087 + 0.037 mm and 0.088 + 0.044 g for juveniles reared in the tank with the addition of coral rubble; 0.081 + 0.030 mm and 0.077 + 0.032 g for juveniles reared in the tank with the addition of PVC guttering; and 0.082 + 0.032 mm and 0.078 + 0.039 g for juveniles reared in tank without addition of substrates.
Waterbugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha and Gerromorpha) as sources of essential n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Central Siberian ecoregions

Summary Aquatic systems are considered to be a main source of essential long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are preferentially synthesized by microalgae and transferred along food chains to terrestrial consumers. Emerging aquatic insects comprise a significant part of this transfer of the essential PUFA from water to land. Quantitative data on PUFA content and composition are available mainly for rheophilic insects while taxa that are characteristic of wetlands and stagnant water bodies, such as aquatic Heteroptera, remain relatively unstudied. We investigated the role of various waterbug taxa (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha and Gerromorpha) inhabiting different ecoregions in temperate Central Siberia (Russia) as potential sources of PUFA. The ecoregions were steppe, forest-steppe, hemiboreal forest and montane coniferous forest. Although these waterbugs insects are aquatic in both larval and adult stages, they can disperse through the landscape and transfer essential PUFAs from water to land so making them potentially available to terrestrial consumers. Species of Naucoridae, Notonectidae and Corixidae were generally dominant in all ecoregions, attaining maximum biomass in the steppe. We showed that habitat or ecoregion played a major role in the variability of fatty acid composition of Notonectidae and Gerridae but not Corixidae. In contrast, the biochemical composition of the only naucoridae, Ilyocoris cimicoides, was largely affected by life stage. Both the dominant families and species within them differed with respect to their mass-specific contents of essential long-chain PUFA of the n-3 family, namely eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Corixid species had the highest content of these two essential PUFAs among the waterbug studies, and relative to literature reports for other aquatic insects. Corixids thus appear to be a potentially important vector for transfer of the essential biochemical compounds from water to land, especially in steppe ecoregions with numerous ephemeral water bodies.
Inquiry and Evidence : A Pragmatist Philosophy of Scientific Practice ∗

In the first part of this paper, I will sketch the main features of traditional models of evidence, indicating idealizations in such models that I regard as doing more harm than good. I will then proceed to elaborate on an alternative model of evidence that is functionalist, complex, dynamic, and contextual, which I will call dynamic evidential functionalism. I will demonstrate its application to an illuminating example of scientific inquiry, and defend it from some likely objections. In the second part, I will use that alternative to solve a variety of classic and contemporary problems in the literature on scientific evidence having to do with the empirical basis of science and the use of evidence in public
A High density linkage map for Nile tilapia

Tilapia is widely farmed fish species whose production has been supported by a long, successful breeding program (Neira, 2010) and has become the third most important aquaculture fish after the carp and salmon with production in 140+ countries (FAO) . After the development of 58K SNP array (joshi et al., in prep), the development of the high density linkage map and the utilization of these modern genomic technologies has potential to accelerate genetic progress for disease resistance and certain commercial traits in Tilapia. Further, higher resolution linkage maps offer greater power to detect and resolve QTLs, help in linkage analysis and can be integrated with physical maps to reveal and resolve assembly errors, thereby producing higher quality genome assemblies. To date, two assemblies (NCBI assembly: O. niloticus Orenil 1.1 and O_niloticus_UMD1) and four linkage maps of varying resolution have been published for Nile tilapia (Table 1), with the current map containing 3,802 SNP markers possessing a map length of 1176 cM (Palaiokostas et al., 2013).
Effect of various treatments on seeds germination inIndian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk)

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of various treatments on seed germination in ber. The treatments consisted of T1 (control seed sown fresh, T2 (H2SO4 for 8 minutes),), T3 (Seed kernel sown), T4 (18% salt solution dip for 24 hrs), T5 (18% salt solution dip treatment for 48 hours), T6 (cracking of seed coat with hammer), T7 (18% salt solution dip treatment+36hrs water dip treatment), T8 (One year old seed sown). The results of this experiment show that among various treatments days taken for seeds germination ranged from 9.60-18.40 and 9.2-19.6 days during 2005 and 2006 respectively. There was early seed germination in T3 treatment followed by the T8. In T3 treatment germination were started 9.6 and 9.2 days after sowing seeds during 2005 and 2006 respectively. The duration of seed germination among various treatments ranged between 10 to 32.3 days. Minimum numbers of the days taken for completion of germination of seeds were recorded in T3 treatment followed by T8. In this treatment seed germination was completed with in 10 days after seed germination was started. The seed germination ranged between 18.6-68.6 and 17.0 -71.6 percent during 2005 and 2006 among various treatments respectively and maximum percent seed germination was recorded in T8, in which germination was 68.6 and 71.6 per cent during 2005 -06 respectively. The mean maximum seedling height was recorded in T8 treatment and this was followed by the T3 treatment. The results are very encouraging that within same season there was 70.52 per cent seedling become bud able in T8 treatment. Maximum height of budded plant was recorded in T8 when seeds were sown after one-year storage this was followed by T4 and minimum (61.30cm) was recorded in T2.
Comparação de dois métodos de controle de nematódeos gastrintestinais em borregas e ovelhas de corte

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o controle de helmintos gastrintestinais em ovinos de corte em um sistema de pastoreio Voisin em quatro estacoes do ano. Foi realizado no Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuaria da Universidade Passo Fundo no periodo de junho de 2005 a julho de 2006. Foram utilizados 84 femeas das racas Suffolk, Ile de France puras e mesticas as quais foram subdivididas em quatro grupos composto de 21 animais cada. Os grupos foram designados como G1 (ovelha tradicional), G2 (borrega tradicional) tratadas a cada 60 dias com Levamisole; os grupos G3 (ovelha Famacha®), e G4 (borrega Famacha®) foram avaliadas pelo metodo Famacha®. As variaveis analisadas foram peso vivo e ovos por grama de fezes (OPG). Em relacao ao peso vivo nao houve diferenca estatistica (P>0,05) entre borregas e ovelhas dos grupos tradicionais quando comparadas aos do metodo Famacha®. Ocorreram diferencas no OPG no decorrer das estacoes do ano para as borregas. Houve uma significativa reducao na frequencia dos tratamentos pelo metodo Famacha® quando comparado ao metodo tradicional, de 90,39% para as borregas e 90,93% para as ovelhas, tornando este metodo uma alternativa viavel.
Nitric Oxide Production from Nitrite Occurs Primarily in Tissues not in the Blood: Critical Role of Xanthine Oxidase and Aldehyde Oxidase

Recent studies have shown that nitrite is an important storage form and source of nitric oxide (NO) in biological systems. Controversy remains, however, regarding whether NO formation from nitrite occurs primarily in tissues or in blood. Questions also remain regarding the mechanism, magnitude, and contributions of several alternative pathways of nitrite dependent NO generation in biological systems. To characterize the mechanism and magnitude of NO generation from nitrite, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, chemiluminescence NO analyzer, and immunoassays of cGMP formation were performed. Addition of nitrite triggered a large amount of NO generation in tissues such as heart and liver, but only trace NO production in blood. Carbon monoxide increased NO release from blood suggesting that hemoglobin acts to scavenge NO. Administration of the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor oxypurinol or aldehyde oxidase (AO) inhibitor raloxifene, significantly decreased NO generation from nitrite in heart or liver. Isolated enzymatic studies revealed that AO had the similar capability as XO to reduce nitrite with the formation of NO. Overall, NO generation from nitrite mainly occurs in tissues not in the blood, with XO and AO playing critical roles in nitrite reduction; and this process is regulated by pH, oxygen tension, nitrite, and reducing substrate concentrations.
The Effect of Contractual Complexity on Technology Sourcing Agreements

Most research on strategic alliances ignores the underlying contracts that govern the terms of the relationship. This is problematic since it is how these contracts are structured that determines how firms will benefit from a relationship. We present a novel method to analyze contractual complexity in a multidimensional framework in an attempt to link together the contractual complexity and control rights literatures. We find that the stage of development, age and prevalence of the underlying technology most influence complexity. Contractual complexity also influences the allocation of control rights. We also explore the importance of prior relationships on the underlying contract. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Effect of different levels of digestible undegradable protein on the fattening performance of Kermani male lambs

The influence of three levels of digestible undegradable protein, 19.86 (group 1), 26.47 (group 2) and 33.08 (group 3) (g kg DM) on the performance of Kermani male lamb breed was investigated. Thirty six lambs aged 6-7 months with an initial live weight of 29±2.5 kg were used. The animals were fed for a period of 95 days. The level of metabolisable energy, 10.5 MJ kg DM, was similar in all the groups. Dry matter intake (DMI) was measured daily and live weight gain (LWG) was determined fortnightly. The data were statistically analyzed using completely randomized design with 3 diets (n=12). Mean values for the performance of the lambs for 1, 2 and 3 groups were as follows: LWG 173.2, 200.8 and 210.4 g day (S.E. 5.8, P<0.05); DMI 1480, 1510 and 1600 g/day (S.E. 0.019 P<0.05); feed conversion efficiency 8.54, 7.39 and 7.58 (S.E. 0.19, P<0.05). The results showed that the group which contained 26.47 g digestible undegradable protein (g kg DM) was economically viable (group 2 in comparsion to group 3 and 1 has higher profit, 16979 and 32317 Rials, respectively).
Parasitic Zoonoses in Livestock and Domestic Animals of Myanmar and Neighbouring Countries

Most parasitic zoonoses are neglected diseases despite causing a considerable global burden of ill health in humans. A review of available literatures indicates that many parasitic zoonoses are endemic in neighbouring countries of Myanmar. However, the information on zoonotic parasitic diseases in Myanmar is very limited. The prevalence of some parasitic zoonoses in livestock of Myanmar and its neighbouring countries has been highlighted in this review. Prevention and control programs against sources and reservoirs of parasitic zoonoses and other zoonoses should be planned by public health and veterinary officers based on reliable information from systematic surveillance.
Quantifying biliverdin in liver and spleen samples from multiple avian species

ABSTRACT Avian eggshells exhibit a variety of colors and patterns whose functions include camouflage, detection of brood parasites, and facilitation of embryonic development. In addition, eggshell coloration, specifically blue-green coloration, may signal a female's quality to her mate. This signaling hypothesis relies on the assumption that biliverdin, the pigment responsible for blue-green eggshell coloration, is an indicator of female quality. Biliverdin is the product of heme degradation and has antioxidant and immunomodulating properties, supporting the possibility that if only a limited amount of biliverdin can be produced, deposition of this pigment into eggshells may be costly to females. However, these putative physiological functions of biliverdin were established by mammal-based studies, even though mammals produce an enzyme—biliverdin reductase—that readily converts biliverdin into bilirubin. Thus, the assumed physiological properties of biliverdin stem from data based on the end-product bilirubin, rather than biliverdin itself. Therefore, to assess the physiological role of biliverdin in birds, it is essential to quantify biliverdin in nonmammalian tissues in a manner that is repeatable, uses relatively accessible laboratory equipment, and is accurate at very low concentrations. Here, we develop a protocol that quantifies biliverdin in avian liver and spleen, the 2 organs that are predominately responsible for biliverdin production. Biliverdin concentration in both tissues was highly repeatable (R = 0.99) and could be accurately quantified at concentrations as low as 3.1 nM, which was less than the concentration of biliverdin in every sample that we tested. Recovery was calculated based on additions of biliverdin standard to each sample, and recoveries typically ranged from 60% to 95% for all 16 species (13 families, 4 orders) of birds in this study. Use of this assay will allow for the quantification of biliverdin concentration in a tissue-specific manner, which will be critical in determining the type and extent of biliverdin's physiological role.