Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GROUPING OF RABBIT REPRODUCTION MANAGEMENT BY MEANS OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Cent trente lapines Californiennes x Neo Zelandaises ont ete artificiellement inseminees, un jour fixe de la semaine, durant une periode d'etude de treize mois. Toutes les inseminations ont ete pratiquees le Lundi, en utilisant 1 mi de semence diluee. Les lapines ayant moins de 8 lapereaux par portee (M1) ont ete inseminees le 3 ou 4eme jour post partum (PP) et celles avec 8 lapereaux ou plus par portee (M2) le 1 O ou 11eme jour PP. Toutes les lapines reconnues non gestantes ont ete considerees comme pseudo gestantes et inseminees le 24 eme jour PP (M3). La premiare insemination des lapines nullipares a ete pratiquee a l'age de 4 mois. 1679 inseminations artificielles ont ete pratiquees pendant cette experimentation. L'ovulation etait induite par 20µg de GnRH (Fertagyl, lntervet Lab.) pour toutes les lapines, sans tenir compte de leur receptivite sexuelle. Le taux de fecondation globale a atteint 58.5 %. Le taux de fecondation etait significativement influence par la lactation pour les lapines inseminees PP (P<0.001). Le taux de fecondation le plus eleve a ete observe chez les tapines inseminees apres un premiare insemination non fertile (type M3), (P<0.05). Entre les lapines M1 et M2 aucune difference n'a ete detectee. Le taux de fecondation chez les tapines nullipares etait superieur compare aux lapines M2 et inferieur compare aux lapines M3 (P<0.05). A cause de la variation de la duree de gestation, et bien que les lapines aient ete inseminees a jour fixe dans la semaine, l'insemination artificielle a finalement ete pratiquee entre le 1 er et le 12 eme jour PP. Neanmoins, la majorite des inseminations ont et pratiquees 3, 4 et 1 O, 11 jours PP. Le taux de fecondation le plus bas concerne les inseminations 3 a 5 et 9 a 12 jours PP. compares aux inseminations 1 a 2 et 6 a 8 jours PP. (50.53 % et 48.9 % vs 69.5 % et 66.6 %respectivement) (P<0.001). On remarque un interaction significative lapine/lactation lorsqu'on compare les tapines non allaitantes inseminees le 3, 4 et 1 Oeme jour ou les 11, 24eme jour et plus PP. et les tapines allaitantes inseminees les memes jours (71.7 %, 68.9 %, 71.5 % et 53.6 %, 48.7 %, 62.2 %, respectivement, P<0.001). Pas de difference de prolificite n'a ete detectee. Les moyennes generales obtenues etaient : Nb de /apereaux nes / portee : 7. 1 ± O. 1 Nb de lapereaux morts / portee : 0.6 ± 0.05. Nos resultats suggerent une meilleur organisation de la reproduction lorsque l'insemination artificielle est pratiquee a jour fixe dans la semaine. Pratiquement tous les diagnostiques de gestation par palpation abdominale sont pratiques le Vendredi (11 jours apres I.A. Les nids se font le Mardi (29 jours apres /.A.) et les mises bas surviennent le Jeudi ou le Vendredi (31 ou 32 jours apres I.A.) de la meme semaine. Neanmoins, le meilleur taux de fecondation etant observe chez les tapines inseminees le 1 er ou 2eme et les 6eme ou 8 eme jours, l'organisation de la reproduction peut etre envisagee sur deux jours fixes de la semaine.
The effect of feeding live yeast cultures on ruminal pH and redox potential in dry cows as continuously measured by a new wireless device

Abstr Act : An experiment was carried out on four dry Holstein cows fitted with rumen cannulas that were divided into two groups. The crossover design experiment was divided into 4 periods of 3 weeks. Each period consisted of a 17-day preliminary period followed by a 4-day experimental period. Cows were fed twice daily the total mixed ration based on maize silage and concentrate. Control cows (Control) received the basal diets while experimental animals (Yeast) received the basal diet supplemented with 3.0 g of live yeast (BIOSAF Sc 47, Lesaffre, France) at each feeding. During each experimental period ruminal pH and redox potential (Eh) were monitored continuously using a developed wireless probe. Further, in each experimental period five samples of ruminal fluid were taken at 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 13:30 and 16:30 h to determine the content of volatile fatty acids, lactic acids and ammonia. On the last day of each period, blood samples were taken for determina - tion of blood parameters and acid-base balance. Average daily dry matter intake throughout the experiment was 8.2 kg/day and was not affected by the treatment. The average ruminal pH in Control was 6.16 that was significantly lower than in Yeast, being 6.26 ( P 0.05). Lactate and ammonia concentrations at individual sampling times and overall mean did not differ significantly between treatments ( P > 0.05). Blood pH and CO 2 were not affected by the treatment.
An annotated checklist and key to the Crinoidea of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands

Twenty-one species of crinoids in six families are now known from the Marianas Islands, 17 species from Guam and 10 from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). This paper adds nine previously unreported crinoid species each to Guam and the CNMI. The nomenclature of all 21 species is reviewed and updated following Rowe et al. (1986), Hoggett and Rowe (1986) and Messing (1995, 1998a). One apparently juvenile comasterid does not fit comfortably in any known genus and may represent a new taxon. A simple key to the shallow-water species of Guam is included. Crinoid faunal diversity on Guam is compared with that known elsewhere in the Indo-West Pacific.
Response of five wheat cultivars to early drought in the Pampas

La production de ble dans la Pampa argentine est frequemment penalisee a la suite des secheresses precoces qui se produisent pendant la croissance vegetative. Les criteres morphologiques et physiologiques utiles pour resister a une telle secheresse precoce et produire des rendements substantiels sont encore controverses. Dans cette etude, nous avons analyse le comportement de cinq varietes de ble en termes de croissance vegetative, consommation en eau, developpement phenologique, accumulation de biomasse et rendement, avec et sans irrigation. L'analyse de la croissance vegetative a permis de mettre en evidence que certaines varietes etaient favorisees par de fortes capacites de tallage et un systeme racinaire vigoureux, meme en conditions irriguees. D'autres varietes ont developpe des capacites d'adaptation a la secheresse: seconde generation de talles apres la periode de stress hydrique ou augmentation du front racinaire. En ce qui concerne la mise en place des composantes du rendement, il est apparu que les deux caracteristiques les plus favorables etaient une periode de remplissage des grains longue et/ou un indice de recolte eleve. Les varietes etudiees semblent avoir developpe des strategies variees pour tendre vers l'une ou l'autre de ces caracteristiques. Certaines de ces strategies correspondent a un fonctionnement physiologique specifique. C'est le cas pour la variete de ble dur qui a montre une croissance tardive particulierement elevee, sans doute due a la photosynthese de l'epi. D'autres strategies relevent de l'adaptation des plantes aux conditions d'alimentation en eau limitees; c'est le cas de la plasticite du developpement phenologique. Un resultat important de cette etude est que la resistance a la secheresse developpee par les organes vegetatifs n'a pas toujours ete favorable au rendement final.
A new look at the scaling of size in mammalian eyes

The allometric dependence of eye size on body mass in adult mammals must be largely due to the fact that small heads cannot bear large eyes. This obvious but neglected point is explored using brain mass as a measure of the relevant aspect of head size. Data are taken from the literature. Although there are large interspecific variations in the ratio of eye mass to brain mass, brain mass itself varies over a much greater range, making it possible to discern a clear correlation between the two masses. Indeed, much of the data suggest a simple proportionality (isometry). Over a wide range of body sizes, body mass seems to have no separate and consistent effect on eye/brain ratio, although this ratio is low in many small mammals with poor vision. In species with brains weighing between about 220 and 5200 g, the data can be interpreted as suggesting that eye mass is independent of brain mass, as if increases in eye size beyond a certain point produce little advantage. Whether this ‘plateau’ is functionally meaningful is unclear, however, and large whales do have much bigger eyes, even allowing for their unusually thick sclera.
ISOLATION OF EGG DROP SYNDROME VIRUS AND ITS MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION USING SODIUM DODECYL SULPHATE POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Six isolates of egg drop syndrome (EDS) virus were recovered from five different outbreaks of EDS in commercial laying hens in and around Faisalabad. The aberrant eggs were fed to the susceptible laying hens for experimental induction of infection. The samples from infected birds (egg washing, cloacal swabs, oviducts and spleens) were collected, processed and inoculated into 11-day old duck embryos. The presence of virus in harvested allanto-amniotic fluid was monitored by spot and microhaemagglutination tests and confirmed by haemagglutination inhibition and agar gel precipitation tests. The EDS virus grew well in duck embryos and agglutinated only avian but not mammalian red blood cells. These isolates were purified through velocity density gradient centrifugation. Protein concentration was determined through Lowry method and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was conducted by loading 300 µg protein concentration on 12.5% gel using discontinuous buffer system. All the six isolates showed 13 polypeptides, which were identical to those described in the referral EDS-76 virus (strain-127). The molecular weights of the polypeptides ranged from 6.5 KDa to 126 KDa.
Justification of Balanced VHF-LISN Termination

Mains cable termination of equipment for radiated emission testing is currently under discussion in CISPR/A-I Joint Ad-hoc Group-6 (JAHG-6), with both balanced and unbalanced Very High Frequency Line Impedance Stabilization Networks (VHF-LISN) being proposed for standardization. Based on the results of Round Robin Testing (RRT), this paper discusses the justification for using the balanced VHF-LISN for the power cable of Equipment Under Test (EUT). The paper concludes that a balanced VHF-LISN is suitable for the current radiated emission test of the enclosure port of EUT, and where consideration of emission from an unbalanced power supply network is necessary, an unbalanced VHF-LISN is effective.
Flight distance and blood parasites in birds

Flight distance reflects the risk that an individual animal is willing to take when approached by a potential predator. Because residual reproductive value is the average number of offspring that an individual of a given age class is expected to produce after the current reproductive event, individuals with low residual reproductive value should take greater risks than the average individual to make them more likely to gain at least some reproductive success. Therefore, I predicted that individuals belonging to bird species with intense infections with virulent parasites to take greater risks than individuals of species with few or no virulent parasites. In a comparative study of mean flight distance of 133 different bird species, as estimated from the distance at which individuals fled when approached by a human, relative flight distance decreased with the number of blood parasite species and the prevalence of blood parasites, as expected if parasitism reduces residual reproductive value. Birds that take great risks in terms of reduced flight distance run elevated risks of mortality by predators that are allowed to approach potential prey. However, relative flight distance decreased independently for species richness and prevalence of blood parasites and for risk of predation due to the European sparrow hawk Accipiter nisus. These findings suggest that standardized measures of flight distance provide reliable information about risk taking by individuals, with important consequences for life history, parasitism, and risk of predation. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
Hydrocoryne iemanja (Cnidaria), a new species of Hydrozoa with unusual mode of asexual reproduction

Hydrocoryne iemanja sp. nov. was found in an aquarium, growing on rhodoliths of coralline algae collected on the south-eastern coast of Brazil (20°40′S 40°2′W). The colonies were reared through maturity in the laboratory. Each colony had up to 7 sessile, long and thin monomorphic zooids, very extensible and flexible, arising from a chitinous, hard dark-brown plate with minute spines. Medusae budded from near the basal part of hydrocaulus, and were released in immature condition, acquiring fully developed interradial gonads 5–7 days after release. Asexual reproduction by longitudinal fission was observed on the hydrocaulus of the polyps, both for those in normal condition and those with injuries. Fission started at the oral region, extending aborally, with a new hard plate formed in the basal part of hydrocaulus. When fission reached the new hard plate, the new polyp detached, becoming free and sinking to the bottom, starting a new colony. Detached polyps were morphologically indistinguishable from other polyps, being able to produce medusae. Mother and daughter polyps undertook subsequent fissions. This mode of longitudinal fission is distinct from other modes of longitudinal fission, a process known for a few species of cnidarians. Further studies of this process may shed light on the understanding of the evolutionary pathways in Cnidaria and animals. Hydrocoryne iemanja sp. nov. is distinguishable from its two congeners by the distinct marginal tentacles of the medusae—short and with a median nematocyst knob—an unambiguous character useful even for the identification of newly liberated medusae.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA RECOVERED FROM AVIAN SOURCES

Fowl cholera (FC) is still a major threat for poultry industry in Pakistan. Despite the extensive vaccination programme, outbreaks continue to occur. Six Pasteurella multocida isolates were recovered from several farms in Faisalabad with outbreak of FC. The isolates were characterized by biochemical profiles, Analytical Profile Index (API) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Isolates were found resistant to streptomycin and cephradine and susceptible to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. API resulted in 86.1 to 98.6% identification. The results indicated that API system and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were helpful for the quick diagnosis and selection of appropriate antimicrobial agents, respectively. Furthermore, both the systems were quick and inexpensive.
The Effects of Taraxacum officinale L. and Berberis vulgaris L. Root Extracts on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Toxicity in Rats

Background: Taraxacum officinale and Berberis vulgaris have long been used as herbal remedies for treatment of a variety of complaints including liver dysfunction and gallbladder disease. However scientifically reliable data are needed to verify their minimum effective doses. Objective: In present study, the effects of Taraxacum officinale L. and Berberis vulgaris L. root extracts at the different doses 10, 20 and 30 times higher than average dose (THD) used in traditional systems of medicines were tested against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver toxicity in rats. Methods: The root extracts of T. officinale at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg/day and B. vulgaris at doses of 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg/day, relative to 10, 20 and 30 THD average doses used in traditional systems of medicines were prepared by dissolving dry extracts in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide in distilled water. Eighty male Wistar rats, 5 months old, were divided in 8 groups of 10 rats each. Liver intoxication was induced in 7 groups by intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg of 1:1 CCl4 in olive oil for two successive days. One group was kept as control and six different doses of medicinal plants extracts were administered to six groups simultaneously with CCl4 administration. After three days the serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP, liver tissue glutathione level and catalase activities as well as liver tissue microvesicular steatosis and pericentral coagulation necrosis were determined. Results: In control group the blood levels of ALT, AST, ALP and liver tissue injury were increased whereas the serum GSH level and catalase activity decreased significantly after 3 days of beginning of carbon tetrachloride liver toxicity as compared to normal group. In T. officinale treated group at the dose of 750 mg/kg/day, the serum ALT and ALP levels and in B. vulgaris at the dose of 900 mg/kg/day, the serum ALP levels reduced significantly as compared to control group. The liver micro vesicular steatosis was inhibited significantly in both groups at the doses of 30 THD as compared to control group. Conclusion: In the present study administration of T. officinale and B. vulgaris root extracts at with 30 THD ameliorated CCl4 induced liver damage.
NUCLEAR FUNCTIONS OF ADENOMATOUS POLYPOSIS COLI: REGULATION OF THE G2-M CELL CYCLE TRANSITION & INTERMEDIATE FILAMENT INTERACTION

The tumor suppressor APC is implicated in regulating multiple stages of the cell cycle. APC participation in G1/S is attributed to its recognized role in Wnt signaling. APC function in the G2/M transition is less well established. To identify novel protein partners of APC that regulate the G2/M transition, APC was immunoprecipitated from colon cell lysates and associated proteins were analyzed by MALDI-TOF. Topoisomerase IIα (topo IIα) was identified as a potential binding partner of APC. Topo IIα is a critical regulator of G2/M transition. Evidence supporting an interaction between endogenous APC and topo IIα was obtained by co-immunoprecipitation, colocalization, and FRET. The 15 amino acid repeat region of APC (M2-APC) interacted with topo IIα when expressed as a GFP-fusion protein in vivo. Although lacking defined nuclear localization sequences, M2-APC predominantly localized to the nucleus. Furthermore, cells expressing M2-APC displayed condensed or fragmented nuclei and were arrested in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Although M2-APC contains a β-catenin binding domain, biochemical studies failed to implicate β-catenin in the observed phenotype. Finally,
Effects of the pesticide dimethoate on a non-target generalist carabid, Pterostichus melas italicus (Dejean, 1828) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract This study draws attention to the toxicity of dimethoate at sub-lethal concentration to beneficial carabid beetles living in olive groves agroecosystem of Calabria, Italy. Short- and long-term effects of dimethoate on a non-target generalist predator in agroecosystems, Pterostichus melas italicus (Dejean, 1828) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) adults, were quantified by toxicity test, total haemocyte counts and morphometric analyses. In laboratory toxicity tests, beetles of both sexes exposed to field concentration of this toxicant showed a reduction of activity and a mortality of 10% after 72 h. Moreover, the impact of dimethoate on the total haemocyte counts (THCs) was recorded as a significantly lower number of circulating haemocytes in treated animals compared to controls at 48 h. Morphometric analyses showed that dimethoate caused long-term sub-lethal effects as a reduction of some morphometric parameters in P. melas italicus populations from two olive groves (treated and natural). In addition, a significant reduction in body size of females from long-term treated olive grove and a sexual dimorphism alteration were observed. As a result, data suggested that dimethoate may cause sub-lethal effects on this non-target carabid species.
Immunohistochemical expression patterns of AP2α and AP2γ in the developing fetal human breast

Aims: AP2α (TFAP2A) and AP2γ (TFAP2G) transcription factors have been implicated in the control of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal breast epithelium and in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns of TFAP2A and TFAP2G in the developing fetal breast anlage with other relevant markers.
Developing scenarios to assess sunflower and soybean yield under different sowing dates and water regimes in the Bekaa valley (Lebanon): Simulations with Aquacrop

In a semi-arid environment, the main challenge for crop production is water limitation in space and in time. Considered as appropriate tools, models are used to evaluate the effects of water deficit on crop productivity for better irrigation planning and sustainable yield. The AquaCrop model was tested using data collected during a 4-year experiment on soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. The model was found to accurately simulate final crop biomass, yield and cumulative evapotranspiration: in fact the Wilmot index of agreement (IoA) values were 0.97, 0.96 and 0.96, respectively, for soybean and 0.93, 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, for sunflower, while the relative RMSE was 0.04, 0.05 and 0.02, respectively, for soybean and 0.04, 0.06 and 0.04, respectively, for sunflower. The analysis of irrigation scenarios showed that the early planting of sunflower could demonstrate a greater efficiency than late sowing. In addition, applying three irrigations, of 100 mm each, prior to flowering, at mid flowering stage and at the beginning of seed formation could lead to highest yields (ranging between 4.51 and 2.34 t ha -1 ) and crop water productivity (CWP) (ranging between 1.5 and 0.78 kg m -3 ). Sunflower yields were low (0.42 t ha -1 to 0.37 t ha -1 ) and unreliable when one single irrigation was performed only at the beginning of seed formation, while highest values (ranging between 1.97 and 1.74 t ha -1 ) were obtained when it was done prior to flowering. The highest yields and crop water productivity for soybean were obtained when the crop was sown in April and by applying three irrigations,
Health Insurer Bargaining Power and Firms’ Incentives to Manage Earnings: Evidence From an Economic Shock

Health insurance premiums account for a significant portion of the cost base of U.S. corporations. A recent study finds that health insurance premiums increase for firms that experience positive profit shocks, suggesting that the U.S. health insurance market is not perfectly competitive. Motivated by this finding and the economic importance of health insurance premiums, this is the first study to examine firms’ earnings management incentives in the face of insurance carriers with strong bargaining power. We use an innovative data set for a large sample of U.S. firms with detailed information on insurance premiums and insurance plan characteristics. Using an economic shock to insurance firms’ bargaining power and difference-in-differences tests, we find that firms manage their reported earnings downward when insurance providers have strong bargaining power. We further show that this effect is more pronounced in settings in which there are ex ante reasons to expect stronger incentives to manage earnings downward. We also provide preliminary evidence suggesting that downward earnings management has the intended effect of mitigating future increases in health insurance premiums. Our analyses highlight an inefficient health insurance market as an important determinant of firms’ financial reporting choices.