Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Narcine bentuviai, a new torpedinoid ray from the Northern Red Sea

ABSTRACT A new species of electric ray, Narcine bentuviai, superfamily Torpedinoidea, family Narcinidae, is described from seven specimens collected from 80–200 m in the Gulf of Elat (= Gulf of 'Aqaba) off the Sinai Peninsula. It is readily distinguished from the 12 other described species of the genus Narcine by having a much larger first than second dorsal fin and by a distinctive color pattern: brown with a pair of large black spots posteriorly on the disc, one on the first dorsal fin, one on the upper lobe of the caudal fin, and blackish over most of the dorsal surface of the electric organs. Heteronarce Regan is regarded as a junior synonym of Narcine Henle.
Genetic evidence for introgression between domestic pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Belgium and Luxembourg: a comparative approach with multiple marker systems

Hybridization between wild species and their domestic relatives can be an important conservation and management problem. Genetic purity of the wild species is desirable per se and the phenomenon can have unpredictable evolutionary consequences. Declining European wild boar populations were frequently restocked with farmed wild boars that sometimes had been crossed with domestic pigs. We used simple polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic tests to detect the presence of mitochondrial DNA and coat colour alleles of domestic origin in wild boars from Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Microsatellite genotypes were used to test for genetic admixture between the wild boars and domestic pigs. Although almost one-third of all Luxembourg wild boars carried Asian mitochondrial DNA haplotypes originating from domestic pigs, microsatellite-based clustering only identified four putatively admixed individuals in Luxembourg. By contrast, clustering identified wild boar × domestic hybrids in most sampling locations in Belgium. We interpret these results as evidence of releases of hybrid captive-reared wild boars. Our results emphasize the need (if working with classical markers) to use different systems to obtain an understanding as to whether hybridization between wild and domestic relatives might have affected the genetic make-up of a local population. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 104–115.
Influence of Trinexapac‐Ethyl on Diamond Zoysiagrass in a Shade Environment

'Diamond' zoysiagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. ] has excellent shade tolerance when compared with other zoysiagrass cultivars. However, because of excessive shoot growth and carbohydrate depletion, turf stand declines with time when shade levels exceed 80%. Two separate studies were conducted to determine if the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (TE), which suppresses shoot growth, could improve turf performance of Diamond zoysiagrass under shade conditions. Well-established turf was subjected to a constant 86 and 88% shade in the greenhouse and polyhouse, respectively. Trinexapac-ethyl treatments included monthly applications at 0.048 kg a.i. ha -1 (MTE), bimonthly applications at 0.096 kg a.i. ha -1 (BTE), trimonthly applications at 0.192 kg a.i. ha -1 (TTE), and the untreated control. Treatments in 1997 were made from January through August for the greenhouse study and from April to September for the polyhouse study. Diamond receiving MTE and BTE maintained acceptable turf quality throughout the study, while turf quality of the control deteriorated to unacceptable levels <3 mo after shading. Diamond treated with TTE maintained better turf quality than that of the control, but was inferior to MTE and BTE treatments. Compared with control plots, turf receiving MTE and BTE had (i) 76 to 73% less shoot vertical growth and 77 to 75% less clippings, (ii) 40 to 38% higher total nonstructural carbohydrate content, (iii) 60 to 50% higher root mass and 51 to 46% higher root viability, and (iv) 48 to 42% higher photosynthesis. Results suggested that monthly or bimonthly repeated application of TE at 0.048 or 0.096 kg a.i. ha -1 greatly enhanced the shade tolerance of Diamond zoysiagrass.
Development of γδ thymocyte subsets during prenatal and postnatal ontogeny

In this report, we describe 12 subpopulations of porcine γδ thymocytes based on their expression of CD1, CD2, CD4, CD8‐isoforms and CD45RC. Our data suggest that γδ thymocytes can be divided into two major families: (a) one large family of CD4–γδ thymocytes that could be further subdivided according to the CD2/CD8αα phenotype and (b) a small family of CD4+γδ thymocytes bearing CD8αβ and possessing certain unusual features in comparison with other γδ thymocytes. Maturation of γδ thymocytes within the CD4– family begins with proliferation of the CD2+ CD8– CD1+ CD45RC–γδ common precursor. This developmental stage is followed by diversification into the CD2+ CD8αα+, CD2+ CD8– and CD2– CD8– subsets. Their further maturation is accompanied by a loss of expression of CD1 and by increased expression of CD45RC. Therefore, individual subsets develop from CD1+ CD45RC– through CD1– CD45RC– into CD1– CD45RC+ cells. On the other hand, γδ thymocytes within the CD4+ family bear exclusively CD8αβ, always express CD1, but may coexpress CD45RC. These cells have no counterpart in the periphery. Our observations suggest that all peripheral CD8+γδ T cells express CD8αα and that two subsets of these cells differing in major histocompatibility complex II expression, occur. We propose that one subset acquires CD8αα in the thymus while the second acquires CD8αα as a result of stimulation in the periphery.
The Zoology of Tapeworms

There are many stories, and many names well known to public health workers, as well as many whose work should be better known than it is. For example, in 1943 this reviewer was privileged to work with Benjamin E. Holsendorf in the East Harlem district of New York City in a rat control campaign, and it was a pleasure to find his important work on ratproofing given extensive and sympathetic consideration by Dr. Williams. This book is a notable contribution to the still unwritten history of American public health and will very probably be the standard work on the subject for many years to come. GEORGE ROSEN
Competition theory — science and application in mixed forest stands: review of experimental and modelling methods and suggestions for future research

Competition in forest stands has long been of interest to researchers. However, much of the knowledge originates from empirical studies that examined the effects of competition. For instance, many studies were focused on the effects of the presence of herbaceous species on the development of tree seedlings or the decrease in individual tree growth with increases in stand density. Several models that incorporate competitive effects have been developed to predict tree and stand growth, but with simplified representations of competitive interactions. While these studies provided guidance useful for forest management, they contributed only partially to furthering our understanding of competitive mechanisms. Also, most competition studies were conducted in single-species stands. As competitive interactions occurring in mixed stands are characterized by a higher degree of complexity than those in single-species stands, a better understanding of these mechanisms can contribute to developing optimal management sc.
Irradiation, Stage of Maturity at Harvest, and Storage Temperature during Ripening Affect Papaya Fruit Quality

Solo-type papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit at the mature green (MG) or one- quarter yellow (QY) stage of maturity were imported through the Port of Miami, Fla. , and either irradiated (0.675 kGy) or not irradiated. Fruit condition and quality attributes were determined after ripening to the edible ripe stage at 25 °C before and after storage for 7 days at 10, 12, or 15 °C. The incidence and severity of peel scald was increased by irradiation regardless of storage and ripening regime; however, the degree of severity was dependent on fruit maturity at irradiation. Irradiated QY fruit tended to have the most serious incidence and severity of scald. Mature green fruit ripened at 25 °C without storage had the lowest incidence of fruit with hard areas in the pulp ("lumpy" fruit). The QY fruit generally were second only to irradiated MG fruit stored at 10 °C in incidence of lumpiness. Anthracnose sp. decay and stem-end-rots affected 53% of all fruit. The least decay occurred on fruit ripened at 25 °C without storage, regardless of fruit maturity, and the most decay occurred on QY fruit with or without irradiation. Fruit ripened at 25 °C without storage had more palatable pulp (5.5 N) at the edible ripe stage than did fruit held in storage and then ripened. The effect of fruit maturity or irradiation dose on fruit firmness, however, was dependent on the storage temperature. Mature green fruit ripened at 25 °C lost less weight than did those stored at cold temperatures prior to ripening. We recommend that importers obtain fruit with only a slight break in ground color, and distribute them as rapidly as possible, while maintaining transit/storage temperatures at or above 15 °C with or without exposure to irradiation.
Effect of the diet amended with risk elements contaminated soil on risk elements content in tissues and hematological parameters of rats

Penetration of rat organisms by risk elements (As, Cd, Pb) originated from differently contami- nated soils as well as interactions between the risk elements and selected essential macro- and microelements were investigated. Rat diet contained 10% of individual soils (based on dry weight) which were: (i) Fluvisol heavily polluted by As, Cd, Zn, and Pb, (ii) Luvisol contaminated by As, Cd, and Zn, and (iii) uncontami- nated Chernozem. Male Wistar rats used for the experiment were housed in cages in a room with controlled temperature for 60 days and fed ad libitum on the mentioned diet. The levels of both risk and essential elements were measured in liver, kidney, and bones of the animals and main biochemical parameters were determined to assess potential toxic effect of the soil-derived risk elements. Alternatively, in vitro Physio- logically Based Bioavailability Test (PBET) was used for evaluation of the bioaccessible pool of elements in the soil-amended diets. The element contents in the rat tissues reflected the risk element contents in the contaminated soils. Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of the risk elements decreased in the order Cd > As > Pb and were influenced by the soil physicochemical parameters. Significant changes in essential elements (Cu, Fe, Mg, P) deposition in rat tissues attended the high levels of the risk elements. Total leukocyte count in the blood of the rats fed the heavy polluted soil indicated adverse effect of soil-derived risk elements on biochemical parameters of the animals.
Proximate, fatty acid and mineral composition of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton 1822) from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Gulf

Fish is the best source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The objective of this study was to investigate the proximate, fatty acid and mineral composition of hilsa ( Tenualosa ilisha ) from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Gulf. In general, egg protein and lipid contents were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the muscle tissues. However, lipid contents of muscle and egg tissues of hilsa from the Bay of Bengal were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the Arabian Gulf. Iron, zinc and manganese content in eggs were significantly higher than those of muscle tissues, while calcium and potassium in muscle were significantly higher in egg tissues (p<0.05). Among the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monosaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in both tissues, palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) were the principal SFA and MUFA, respectively. There was no significant difference between the ΣPUFAs of both muscle and egg tissues and the PUFAs were dominated by both EPA and DHA. Among the ΣPUFAs, Σn-3 PUFAs constituted about 80%. The result of the study showed that both hilsa muscle and egg represent a very good source of n-3 PUFA for human diet. However, hilsa from the Bay of Bengal could be a better source of n-3 PUFA, because of higher lipid content in its muscle compared to that of the Arabian Gulf.
The potential of safeners and protectants to increase tolerance of tree seeds to pre-emergence herbicides.

The application of pre-emergence herbicides is often necessary to achieve efficient establishment of trees in nurseries and direct-sown woodlands, but due to environmental and commercial pressures, and the current European Union review of herbicide registration, the number of herbicides available in the future will be reduced. Alternative approaches for finding effective treatments are needed. The utilisation of safeners and protectants to permit the use of otherwise phytotoxic herbicides has been investigated in many crops over the past 50 years. Some safening chemicals are currently used as seed coating treatments or included in herbicide products to achieve crop tolerance. The future potential of this approach for tree seed protection is reviewed in this paper. Activated charcoal has been the most commonly used protectant in the past, and its potential as a seed-coating treatment for preventing damage from subsequent pre-emergence herbicide application was tested in a trial using container grown plants. It gave effective protection of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L. ) and field maple (Acer campestre L.) from simazine damage, but there appeared to be little evidence for a protective action with napropamide or pendimethalin. Further research is therefore required before the use of activated charcoal as a protectant against herbicide damage to tree seed in nurseries and direct sown woodlands can be recommended more widely.
Model to estimate lysine requirements of broilers

The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a model to predict the digestible lysine requirements of broilers using the factorial approach, and to evaluate the model using as reference the model presented in Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine. The model partitions the requirement for maintenance and growth for feather-free body protein and feather protein, in which the inputs are body and feather protein weight and the daily rates of protein deposition in the feather-free body and feathers. The parameters that express the lysine requirement for maintenance were obtained in metabolism trials with roosters, and those for the efficiency of lysine utilization in experiments with broilers from 1 to 42 d. Based on these results the model proposed was: Lys (mg/d) = [(151×BPm −0.27×BPt) + (0.01×Pt×18)] + [(75×BPD/0.77) + (18×FPD/0.77)], where Lys = digestible lysine requirement (mg/d), BPm=body protein weight at maturity (kg), BPt= body protein weight at time t (kg) FPt= feather protein weight at time t (kg), BPD=body protein deposition (g/d), FPD = feather protein deposition (g/d). The model yields sensible predictions of the digestible lysine requirements of broilers of different strains and ages growing at their potential, and suggests a lower lysine requirement after 27 d than does the Brazilian model. The proposed model is the first step in the development of a simulation model that predicts the food intake of a broiler and hence the dietary amino acid content that would optimise performance.
Effect of Replacing Soybean Meal with Processed Kidney Bean Meal on Egg Production and Economics of White Leghorn Layers

An experiment was conducted in Haramaya University to find out the effect of replacing Soybean meal (SBM) by processed kidney bean (PKB) on egg production, feed intake and economic benefit for white leghorn layers. Hundred eighty white leghorn layers of similar initial body weight of 1121.17 g ± 24.92 and age of 6.5 months and 30 cocks were randomly distributed into five treatments using complete randomized design (CRD). PKB replaced SBM at a rate of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. The recommended level of SBM (26%) in the ration was used as a base of replacement. Feed intake (FI), Hen Day Egg Production (HDEP), egg weight and egg mass were recorded daily. Economic replacement was assessed at the end of the experiment. The result of chemical analysis showed that Crude Protein (CP) and Metabolizable Energy (ME) content of PKB was 28% and 32182.2 Kcal respectively, which was lower than SBM but higher than noug seed cake (NSC). This indicates that the substitution capacity of PKB for SBM was better than NSC. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect on final body weight and body weight change. Average daily feed intake (FI) was showed significant difference (P T2>T1>T4>T5 and Mmarginal Rate of Rreturn (MRR) indicated profitability of PKB replacement upto 75% and beyond this replacement a decrease in economy of production by 1.83 units.
Effect of Work-Family Conflict on Quality of Work-Life in Ghana

The study sought to find the relationship between Work- Family Conflict (WFC) and Quality of Work-Life (QWL), specifically, sex differences in WFC, the relationship between WFC and QWL and the differences in WFC and QWL between dual-earner couples and single- earner couples. Data were collected from 172 employees using a battery of questionnaires. Data collected were analysed using a series of tests including regression analysis and multi-variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) methods. It was observed that, females employees experience WFC more than their male counterparts. However, WFC did not significantly relate to QWL and no significant difference in WFC and QWL was observed between dual-earner couples and single-earners. The implications of the findings, limitations and recommendation for future studies are discussed. Keywords: Work-Family Conflict (WFC), Quality of Work-Life (QWL), Couple Earner Type
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, LIGHT, SALINITY, DROUGHT STRESS AND SEEDING DEPTH ON GERMINATION OF Cucumis melo var. agrestis

For understanding of seed germination, the ecology of weeds can assist in predicting their potential distribution and in developing their effective management strategies. In this experiment, the effects of various environmental factors on seed germination of Cucumis melo var. (agrestis) were investigated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions during 2009, in the department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The treatments comprised of different temperature regimes (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C); salinity levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mM of NaCl); osmotic stress (0, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.6 MPa) and seed sowing soil depths (0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 cm). Results revealed non- significant effects of temperatures on germination and germination time whereas significant effects on seed germination index (8.39) at 25°C. Seed germination at 25 mM to 100 mM salinity was statistically similar to control treatments; whereas, the 150 mM salinity showed maximum reduction in seed germination and seed germination time, and minimum in seed germination index. The -0.4 MPa osmotic potential had reduced the seed germination of C. melo up to 25% and seed germination of C. melo was completely inhibited at -0.8 Mpa osmotic potential. Osmotic stress at -0.6 MP showed maximum reduction in seed germination and minimum in seed germination time and the germination index. Seedling emergence was 57.50 to 62.50% at seeding depths of 0 to 1cm but decreased as the soil depth increased. Maximum MGT and GI was recorded when seeds were planted at 1.0 cm soil depth. Below and above this depth, the seeds showed decrease in emergence. Seed germination of C. melo was delayed in respect of time to start germination and time to 50% germination (except in drought osmotic stress and soil sowing depth) with increased temperature, salinity, osmotic stress and sowing depth.
Integrative approaches to protein homology search

Many methods have been developed to search for homologous members of a protein family in databases, and the reliability of results and conclusions may be compromised if only one method is used, neglecting the others. This thesis introduces an integrative approach to homology search and shows that an effective combination of homology search methods reveals superior results (Alam et al., 2004). Two protein sequence database search methods (called CHASE (Comparative Homology Agreement SEarch) and GenCHASE (Genomic CHASE)) were developed, which serve as a major step to improve the detection of remote homology. CHASE combines methods that search proteins in protein databases. We implemented some improvements in CHASE that we now call CHASE2. An evaluation based on the SCOP database reveals that, on average, a coverage of 55 percent and 49 percent can be obtained by CHASE2 and CHASE respectively, in searches for distantly related homologues (i.e. members of the same superfamily, but not the same family - the most difficult task), accepting only 10 false positives, while the individual methods obtain a coverage of 31 to 44 percent. GenCHASE combines methods that search proteins in genomic sequences and predict gene structure. Using GenCHASE we have found several candidates for ABC, S100, and Cadherin proteins. Experimental verification of some of these candidates is underway.
An experience of cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi control with nets in Trentino, Italy.

In 2007, we started a three-year survey in a sweet cherry orchard in order to assess the effectiveness of anti-insect net coverings in reducing the Cherry Fruit Fly (CFF), Rhagoletis cerasi Loew damage. The plantation was already previously infested; around 100% of the fruits were damaged by the pest in 2006. Three covering methods (net on the soil under the plants; net on the plants; net on the plants sewed up at the trunk level) and a control plot without net were compared each season in twice replicated blocks. The flight of the CFF adults was recorded by means of 1 yellow sticky trap (mod.Rebell Amarillo) per replicate. The damage was assessed at harvest time dissecting one by one 100-200 fruits/plant. Unfortunately, a low pest pressure and damage occurred every year in the plantation. The maximum damage level was recorded in 2008, when 6.8% of the fruits in the control plot were infested by R.cerasi. All the covering systems we tested reduced every year the damage compared with that in the control plot. The most effective method (but also the most complicated for the producers) was the net on the plants sewed up at the trunk level. The damage in this block was reduced by 91%, 85% and 88% respectively in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Our results indicate that in order to effectively limit the CFF damage in already infested plantations, is necessary to prevent the activity both of the adults hibernated in the soil under the plants and the adults may come from surrounding infested orchards. The synchronism between the phenological development of the crop and the flight of the pest may vary considerably from one season to the other and this seems to be crucial to determine the level of damage on the fruits at the harvest time.