Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mineral status in blood serum of newborn calves in Assiut Governorate

The dynamics of some serum mineral concentrations during the first weeks of life of native and crossbred newborn calves in Assiut governorate were investigated. Blood samples of 25 Balady and 25 crossbred (Friesian x native) male calves were investigated. Blood was drawn from calves at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days after parturition. Serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were monitored. Levels of Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn increased (P < 0.05) in relation to age of Balady and crossbred calves when compared by the day 1 of age. In contrast, decreased in concentrations of Na and Cl (P < 0.05) in relation to age of Balady and crossbred calves when compared by the day 1 of age were detected whereas Mg and K values remained unchanged. Native calves had higher (P < 0.05) Ca, P and Fe in the 7 day than crossbred calves whereas Na and Cl were higher (P < 0.05) in native calves than crossbred calves at the first day after birth. Results from this study suggested that breed and age may play an important role in mineral homeostasis during the first weeks of life in the newly borne bovine calves.
Tax Reporting Aggressiveness and its Relation to Aggressive Financial Reporting

ABSTRACT: We investigate the association between aggressive tax and financial reporting and find a strong, positive relation. Our results suggest that insufficient costs exist to offset financial and tax reporting incentives, such that nonconformity between financial accounting standards and tax law allows firms to manage book income upward and taxable income downward in the same reporting period. To examine the relation between these aggressive reporting behaviors, we develop a measure of tax reporting aggressiveness that statistically detects tax shelter activity at least as well as, and often better than, other measures. In supplemental stock returns analyses, we confirm that the market overprices financial reporting aggressiveness. We also find that the market overprices tax reporting aggressiveness, but only for firms with the most aggressive financial reporting.
Studies on genetic variability and heterosis in vegetable pea ( Pisum sativum L.) under high hills condition of Uttarakhand, India

The estimates of genetic parameters of 39 (11 parents and 28 crosses) genotypes of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) indicated a good amount of genetic variation in the experimental materials under investigation. Characters like plant height, days to first picking, 100 green pod weight, green pod yield and days to 50% flowering revealed higher values of heritability in broad sense and genetic gain indicating that the additive gene actions are important in determining these characters. Therefore, selection programme based on these characters would be more effective in improving yield parameters of garden pea. The cross VRP-5 × Pusa Pragati manifested maximum significant heterosis for days to 50% flowering, DVP-2 × VL-7 for days to first picking and PMR-32 × snow pea for number of green pods per plant and green pod yield per plant, respectively. Key words: Vegetable pea, variability, heritability, genetic advance, heterosis.
Variação espacial como mecanismo promotor da coexistência em comunidades de insetos necrófagos

A coexistencia em comunidades locais pode ser mediada atraves de varios mecanismos tais como competicao interespecifica e heterogeneidade espacial e temporal. Neste trabalho e analisada uma guilda de insetos necrofagos para se determinar o papel desempenhado pela agregacao na estrutura da comunidade. Um experimento foi delineado para se testar as premissas derivadas do modelo de coexistencia por agregacao que, em resumo, requer que no balanco entre a competicao intra e interespecifica, a primeira deva ser maior, para fazer com a coexistencia seja possivel. Os dados coletados compreendem dois protocolos: a coleta de adultos visitando a carcaca e a criacao das larvas coletadas na carcaca. Os resultados demonstram que 21 especies necrofagas foram criadas e 18 especies coletadas. Todas as especies mostraram-se distribuidas de forma agregada sobre os recursos e, embora varios valores negativos foram obtidos nos indice de associacao, a tendencia geral foi de uma covariacao neutra entre as especies. A analise confirma que a agregacao pode manter a diversidade nesta comunidade.
Lice of the genus Philopterus Nitzsch (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) parasitic on hosts of the genus Emberiza (Passeriformes: Emberizidae)

Abstract All species of the louse genus Philopterus described from hosts in the passerine genus Emberiza have been reviewed and compared with the earliest described and valid species: P. citrinellae. A redescription of P. citrinellae is given, supported by measurements and illustrations of pertinent features. Nine new junior synonymies of P. citrinellae are proposed and discussed. The new synonyms and their respective type hosts are: Philopterus zohrae Ansari, 1955 from Emberiza bruniceps; Penenirmus blagoveshtchenskyi Touleshkov, 1961 from Emberiza calandra; Docophorulus cumulatus Złotorzycka, 1964 from Emberiza calandra calandra; Docophorulus residuus Złotorzycka, 1964 from Emberiza schoeniclus schoeniclus; Philopterus indefinitus Fedorenko & Volkov, 1980 from Emberiza spodo‐cephala; Philopterus topicalis Fedorenko & Volkov, 1980 from Emberiza elegans; Philopterus parvulus Fedorenko & Volkov, 1980 from Emberiza rutila; Philopterus sibiricus Fedorenko & Volkov, 1980 from Emberiza leucocephalos; and Philopterus fron‐tosus Fedorenko, 1985 from Emberiza aureola. In addition, four new host records for P. citrinellae are included.
Aphrodisiac activity of Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex Don extract in male mice.

Objective: To study the effect of V. tessellata on the sexual behaviour of male mice and general toxicity, if any, in mice. Methods: An aqueous suspension (2 g/kg, wet wt.) or extract (water or alcohol, 200 mg/kg) of root, flower or leaf of V. tessellata was administered ( p.o.) to male mice and 1 hr, after administration their mounting behaviour was observed. The most active extract (alcohol extract of flower) was administered (50 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) to different groups of male mice and their mounting behaviour, mating performance and reproductive performance were determined. The general short term toxicity of the alcohol extract in male mice was also determined. Results: The flower and, to some extent, the root, but not the leaf of V. tessellata was found to stimulate the mounting behaviour of male mice. This activity was found in the alcohol extract of the flower. This extract (50 or 200 mg/kg) also increased mating performance in the mice. The pups fathered by the extract treated mice were found to be normal with an increasing trend in the male/female ratio of these pups. The alcohol extract was devoid of any conspicuous general toxicity. Conclusion: The alcohol extract of V. tessellata flower stimulates the sexual behaviour of male mice.
Serous Cutaneous Glands in Phyllobates bicolor (Anura: Dendrobatidae): An Ontogenetic, Ultrastructural Study on Secretory Product Biosynthesis and Maturation

Abstract Secretory activity of serous (poison) cutaneous glands was studied with light and transmission electron microscopy over the ontogenetic cycle of the Black-legged Dart Frog Phyllobates bicolor. Serous gland activity includes two steps: biosynthesis and maturation. Biosynthesis is performed by the rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, and follows the usual pathways of exocrine secretory processes. Maturation is typical of anuran serous glands, which accumulate their products in syncytial secretory units. Maturation involves merging processes between secretory deposits (vesicles and/or granules) distally from the Golgi stacks, as well as an increase in the surface area between the syncytial cytoplasm and the secretory vesicles/granules. In P. bicolor, this interface area increases through the formation of peculiar cytoplasmic outgrowths. These outgrowths allow transport processes involved in maturational changes of secretory product. During maturational storage, the secretory products of P. bicolor acquire a repeating substructure of spherical to short tubular subunits. This recurrent pattern is seen in cutaneous poisons of several anuran species, regardless of their phylogenetic relationships. Among anurans, condensing serous cutaneous products into repeating aggregations of subunits appears to be a successful strategy, which allows intracytoplasmic accumulation of pharmacologically active and/or toxic molecules through various post-Golgian processes. The present findings provide evidence of a novel repertory of cytological activities that stress the large diversity of the maturational pathways leading to the peculiar repeating arrangement of secretory subunits.
Prudent male mate choice under perceived sperm competition risk in the eastern mosquito fish

In contrast to what is known about adaptive mate choice in females, we know far less about how fluctuating reproductive costs might affect male mate choice. In many species, sperm competition can have a direct bearing on male fertilization success, and choosy males should be expected to respond adaptively to the perceived cost of sperm competition and to adjust their mate preferences accordingly. Here, we conducted a series of experiments investigating male mate choice under sperm competition risk in the eastern mosquito fish, Gambusia holbrooki. We tested male association preferences before and after manipulating their perceptions of sperm competition risk associated with initially preferred and nonpreferred females. We found that individuals were consistent in their preferences if they did not have the opportunity to witness other males associating with the initially preferred female. By contrast, males spent significantly less time with initially preferred females if, in the interim, she had been seen in the vicinity of another male. A similar opportunity to observe the initially nonpreferred female with another male had no effect on subsequent male mate choice. Our results suggest that choosy males may be capable of adjusting their preferences in response to shifts in their perception of sperm competition risk. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Differential accumulation of abscisic acid and its catabolites in drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant sunflower seeds

Abstract Eleven sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) inbred lines were evaluated in field and laboratory studies under drought and irrigation. In the field, lines B59, R419 and B67 had reduced seed and oil yield under drought, while no reduction was observed for R432, HAR4 and B71. Lines HA89, R415, R049, RHA274 and R423 presented intermediate responses. In laboratory tests, seeds of line B59 had reduced germination percentages at 200 and 400 mM mannitol, while germination of seeds of lines R432, B71, HAR4, RHA274 and HA89 was reduced only at 400 mM mannitol. Drought-sensitive B59 and drought-tolerant B71 grown under irrigation and drought conditions in the field were selected for hormone assays. Abscisic acid (ABA) and its catabolites in pericarp, embryonic axis and cotyledons of dry and germinated seeds of B59 and B71 were determined. ABA was the major component of the pericarp of dry seeds from B71 and B59 plants grown under drought. The embryonic axis of B71 dry seeds from drought-grown plants also showed high ABA content. The major findings from this study are: (1) the drought-sensitive and -tolerant lines exhibited different ABA and catabolite profiles; (2) water environment during maternal plant growth affected ABA content and the composition of catabolites in mature and germinated seeds; (3) ABA content did not affect germination performance in our conditions; and (4) the dry and germinated seed parts showed different ABA and catabolite profiles.
Degradation and reorganization of thylakoid protein complexes of Bryum argenteum in response to dehydration and rehydration

Abstract We analyzed the desert moss Bryum argenteum Hedw. , a dominant moss in biological soil crusts in northwestern China, during dehydration and rehydration. There was almost no change in chlorophyll content between hydrated and almost completely desiccated B. argenteum samples. The amounts of thylakoid protein complexes, including the PSI monomer, PSII supercomplex, the PSII monomer, and LHCII, gradually decreased as the dehydration time of B. argenteum was extended. Analysis by two-dimensional sodium dodecylsulfate-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the amount of the PSII core subunits CP47 and CP43 and the PSI core subunits PsaA/B decreased during dehydration. The amount of thylakoid protein complexes increased rapidly during rehydration under light conditions, but increased slowly, and to lower levels, during rehydration in the dark. Rehydration of B. argenteum in chloramphenicol solution under light conditions resulted in a decrease in FV/FM within 10 min. An analysis of chloroplast ultrastructure showed that the number of grana decreased during dehydration. Taken together, our results suggest that the thylakoid protein complexes of B. argenteum degrade during dehydration and then reassemble during rehydration, and that this affects the full recovery of photosynthesis in this species.
Evaluation of Weed Emergence Model AlertInf for Maize in Soybean

Abstract AlertInf is a recently developed model to predict the daily emergence of three important weed species in maize cropped in northern Italy (common lambsquarters, johnsongrass, and velvetleaf). Its use can improve the effectiveness and sustainability of weed control, and there has been growing interest from farmers and advisors. However, there are two important limits to its use: the low number of weed species included and its applicability only to maize. Consequently, the aim of this study was to expand the AlertInf weed list and extend its use to soybean. The first objective was to add another two important weed species for spring-summer crops in Italy, barnyardgrass and large crabgrass. Given that maize and soybean have different canopy architectures that can influence the interrow microclimate, the second objective was to compare weed emergence in maize and soybean sown on the same date. The third objective was to evaluate if AlertInf was transferable to soybean without recalibration, thus saving time and money. Results showed that predictions made by AlertInf for all five species simulated in soybean were satisfactory, as shown by the high efficiency index (EF) values, and acceptable from a practical point of view. The fact that the algorithm used for estimating weed emergence in maize was also efficient for soybean, at least for crops grown in northeastern Italy with standard cultural practices, encourages further development of AlertInf and the spread of its use. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. , CHEAL; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. , ECHCG; johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers, SORHA; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. , DIGSA; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. , ABUTH; maize, Zea mays L. ; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Waterlogging and canopy interact to control species recruitment in floodplains

P>1. The extent to which seedling recruitment contributes to local functional diversity depends on the environmental filters operating in a plant community. Classical community assembly models assume that habitat constraints and competition act like hierarchical filters with habitat filtering as the dominant one. Alternative models assume a synergic interaction since responses to environmental stress and competition may impose physiological trade-offs in plants. 2. River floodplains are an ideal system to test the relationship between habitat and competition filtering in community (re)assembly, as flooding causes changes in both habitat stress (waterlogging, resulting in anoxia and toxicity) and competition (dieback of vegetation) on one hand and acts as an effective seed dispersal vector on the other hand. 3. We conducted a mesocosm experiment on early community assembly from a pool of 34 floodplain species covering a wetness gradient. Seed mixtures were sown in a full factorial design with water level, canopy and mowing as controlling factors. We measured the biomass of all species after one growing season and determined germination and seedling growth traits, both outside (response to waterlogging/no waterlogging) and in a growth-chamber (response to light/darkness). 4. Species recruitment was analysed in relation to the controlling factors and measured functional traits using co-inertia analysis. Furthermore we analysed the effects of the controlling factors on several aspects of functional diversity. 5. There was no establishment in grass sward, unless mowing was applied. Species-rich communities only developed when germination and early establishment phases occurred on waterlogged bare soil. High water level did not suppress establishment but reduced the total biomass and lowered inter-specific competition. The effect of mowing on species richness depended upon the interplay between waterlogging and canopy. 6. Establishment success under canopy required seedling strategies to tolerate shade. The elimination of typical wetland specialists from oxic mesocosms was clearly an effect of their poorer and/or slower germination and lower competitive abilities in comparison to non-wetland plants, leading to their disappearance in this low-stress environment. 7. Our results indicate that single stress factors can enhance species richness and functional diversity through limiting competition but a synergic interaction of different stresses can lead to reduced richness.
Development of a New Methodology Capable of Characterizing the Contribution of a Controlled Venting System to Impact Attenuation in Chamber Structures for Head Protection

Currently, ice hockey helmet technologies are based mainly around foam energy absorbers. There is a need in the head protection industry for improved designs, capable of protecting the brain under a wide range of impact conditions. Air chambers are new, thin-walled collapsible energy absorber structures which have the potential to replace or to be used in conjunction with current helmet technology. The chambers consist of several engineering parameters, each of which needs to be examined to understand its mechanical response under impacts. This study was designed to investigate a new methodology capable of investigating the air venting system. This research thereby analyzed the role the chamber’s controlled air release device plays in managing impact energy. The results demonstrated that, as the air chamber approaches the critical failure region, the air released though the controlled vent can prevent larger peak forces. This research identified that an engineered thin-walled collapsible chamber does use air as a mechanism to absorb impacting force.
Impact of nematode-induced galls on Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC (Melastomataceae) traits in the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil

We tested the hypothesis that parasitic Ditylenchus sp. , leaf gall inductor, decrease plant performance by reducing the number of leaves, shoots, and plant height, increasing herbivory damage and nematode colonization in aggregate plants. We compared the effects on 30 paired healthy and attacked individuals of Miconia prasina. Nematode infection did not affect the number of leaves and shoots and plant height. The damage by free-feeding herbivores was greater in healthy plants, while the number of insect galls was higher in attacked plants. The number of leaf miners did not vary. Healthy plants were more grouped than the attacked plants, and the mean plant distance and the index of nematode attack were positively related.
Quantification and localization of microcystins in colonies of a laboratory strain of Microcystis (Cyanobacteria) using immunological methods

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanobacterial hepatotoxins responsible for animal poisonings and human health incidents. Whilst the colony-forming Microcystis spp. are among the most commonly encountered MC-producers, quantitative data are lacking on MC concentrations per colony and on the localization of MCs within Microcystis colonies. We have quantified and localized MCs in colonies of a laboratory strain of Microcystis aeruginosa using antibodies against microcystin-LR. MCs were quantified in 70 colonies of Microcystis EBRO. The MC quota per colony (n = 70) ranged from 0.36 to 15.23 ng colony−1 and showed a positive relationship with colony size. MC distribution within the colonies was determined using cryosectioning and immunogold localization. MCs were specifically localized in the nucleoplasmic region of the cells and were also associated with major inclusion bodies, with a preferential association with the thylakoids (the most abundantly labelled subcellular site) and around polyphosphate bodies. All of the cells in the MC-containing colonies were specifically labelled for MCs with no gradients in MC antibody labelling across colony transects being apparent. The toxins were also found to be associated with colony mucilage. MC antisera are useful for the investigation of MC distribution within cyanobacterial populations by ELISA, and may be used in the future to localize the toxins within cyanobacterial colonies, filaments and gyres from natural environments.
Seasonality, distribution and taxonomic status of avian haemosporidian parasites within the Greater Cape Town area, South Africa

A total of 9 304 birds representing 29 families, 55 genera and 78 species were captured at 10 sites within the Greater Cape Town area. Forty-one avian haemosporidian parasites from three genera were present in 20 avian families, with 1 978 (21.2%) individuals infected with one or more parasite species. Leucocytozoon spp. (12.6% of infected birds) exhibited the highest infection rate, followed by Haemoproteus spp. (9.6%) and Plasmodium spp. (0.6%). Prevalence of infection varied from 4.5% at Patryskraal to 28.0% at Tygerberg Nature Reserve. Columbidae had the highest infection rate by Haemoproteus spp. Ploceidae and Sylviidae were infected by all three haemosporidian genera, with Ploceidae the most heavily infected, with six species of avian haemosporidia. All study sites had similar seasonal patterns with two peaks. The first peak coincided with the end of the rainy season in August or September, and the second during January and February, when population sizes peaked on account of seasonal breeding and the presence of large numbers of immature birds susceptible to infection. The prevalence of infections had two seasonal lows, without a complete winter interruption, with the first low occurring in late autumn/early winter. The second low, known as ‘spring relapse’, resulted from acute primary parasitaemia, which follows a peak in haemosporidian infection. Seasonal prevalence patterns as recorded throughout the year in this study are typical of medium latitudes with mild climates and warm seasons. Avian haemosporidian parasites are classified according to the avian families or subfamilies that they infect; this is also taken as the maximum level of specificity for the practice of avian haemosporidian taxonomy. Description of a new species is based upon morphology of gametocyte development in the peripheral blood of the avian host. This does not distinguish between morphologically identical gametocytes from different avian host families, nor is species or family level a valid taxonomic character. Thus, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon spp. encountered in this study are considered to be relegated to synonymy with previously described, morphologically similar valid species in avian hosts of other families following the taxonomic path of Valkiunas, thereby eliminating duplication of species.