Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Curcumin attenuates oxidative stress-induced altered histoarchitecture of testes in experimentally exposed rats to metal mixture (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, iron, and copper) for 28 days

This study was undertaken to assess the toxicity of mixture of six metals including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) at environmentally realistic concentrations and to determine whether curcumin was able to prevent testicular injury in rats. Forty-two rats were divided into seven groups, six animals/group: control (water), vehicle control (groundnut oil), curcumin (100 mg/kg body wt.), 10x mixture, 100x mixture, 10x plus curcumin, and 100x plus curcumin. At the end of exposure period of 28 days, rats were sacrificed and testes were collected for the analysis of oxidative stress markers, testicular enzymes, and histopathology. At 10x and 100x dose, % weight gain was significantly reduced compared to control, accompanied by decreased absolute testicular weight in 100x mixture group; however, relative weight among groups did not show any significant difference. Exposure of 10x and 100x mixture elevated the levels of lipid peroxidation products; whereas, catalase activity was significantly lowered. Glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity were almost comparable among groups. Significant decrease in 17-β-hydroxysteroid hydrogenase and acid phosphatase, increase in γ-glutamyl transferase activity at 100x exposure level was observed. Lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activity was comparable amongst all groups. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules and spermatogonial cells. Co-administration of curcumin with metallic mixture effectively countered 10x and 100x metal mixtures-induced oxidative stress and improved antioxidant status of the tissue and restored activities of testicular enzymes. In conclusion, evidence indicates that major action of metals in testicular degeneration may be oxidative stress.
Exploring the Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Job Satisfaction with the Mediating Role of the Level of Loyalty to Supervisor

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of ethical leadership behaviour on employees’ both intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction and also to find out a possible mediator effect of loyalty to supervisor in this relationship. A total of 223 academic and administrative staff who worked in Gumushane University in Turkey constituted the sample of the study. Mediation analysis was used to test the research model. Findings of our analysis have confirmed that ethical leadership is effective on loyalty to supervisor and also loyalty to supervisor increases employees’ job satisfaction. It was understood that from the intrinsic dimension side of job satisfaction, indirect effect had been defined over “Extra Effort for Supervisor, Identification with Supervisor and Internalization of Supervisor’s Values” dimensions of loyalty to supervisor. On the extrinsic dimension side of job satisfaction, “Dedication and Attachment to Supervisor (Ded*Attach), Identification with Supervisor and Internalization Supervisor’s Values” dimensions of loyalty to supervisor variable had mediated the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction. Briefly, as a result of mediator analysis we confirmed that a certain part of the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction came out over loyalty to supervisor.
An Overview of the Current Status of Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) Systematics

There has been significant progress over the last ten years in resolving some of the major taxonomic problems afflicting chrysopid systematics. Genera are now well-defined, ensuring the possibility of accurate generic assignation of most specimens; the number of monotypic genera have been reduced; and the use of new, non-morphological characters has clarified the relationships of certain species-complexes. However, several problems still remain and these are discussed in this paper. The relationships between the subfamilies and tribes of the Chrysopini are reassessed. A new generic phylogeny is proposed for the Nothochrysinae. Genus-groups are proposed for the Chrysopini in an attempt to clarify generic relationships within the tribe. Three new generic synonyms are proposed. Finally, a series of revisionary priorities is proposed for the Chrysopini.
The Effects of Dietary Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) Oil Supplementation on Broiler Feeding Behaviour, Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Meat Quality Characteristics

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with cinnamon oil on growth performance, behaviour, carcass traits and meat quality of broilers. One hundred and thirty-five Cobb 700 day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned into three equal treatment groups with three replicates (pens) of fifteen chickens each. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control (C) and basal diet supplemented with 0.5 (C1) or 1.0 (C2) ml of cinnamon oil per kg of feed. On day 49, 5 birds from each pen (15 per treatment) were slaughtered and the pectoralis major muscle samples were collected for meat quality evaluation. No effect of cinnamon oil supplementation on the probability of a bird standing at the feeder or the drinker was observed until the age of 17 days. Moreover, cinnamon oil supplementation did not affect body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. No significant differences were also found in internal organs’ weights and carcass characteristics among the treatments, although cold carcass weight was the lightest in the C1 group. At the same time, colour parameters, pH24, cooking loss, intramuscular fat and shear values were not affected by diets. The extent of lipid oxidation in raw pectoralis major muscle stored at 4ºC for up to 9 days or at -20ºC for up to 6 months was also not influenced by the dietary treatment. The present findings suggest that cinnamon oil at the selected concentrations may not have the potential to improve broiler growth performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics.
Do bacterial infections cause reduced ejaculate quality? A meta-analysis of antibiotic treatment of male infertility

Ejaculate quality may limit male reproductive success, and consequently, sperm quality is of importance. Spermatozoa are perceived as "non-self" by the immune system and are exposed to immunological attacks in the male reproductive tract. To reduce immunological reactions against their own sperm, males are dependent on the testis being an immunoprivileged site. Immunoprivilege is obtained by the blood-testis barrier and by local immunosuppression by androgens. Despite this testicular immunosuppression, an influx of leukocytes may occur in testes. The condition in which males have a heightened level of leukocytes in semen is called leukocytospermia, and it is associated with reduced fertility. As the ability of immunosuppression by androgens may depend on current intensities of infectious organisms in the extratesticular soma, only males with high parasite resistance may be able to bear the cost of immunosuppression and consequently produce high quality ejaculates. This issue is addressed by a meta-analysis on the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment of male leukocytospermia-associated infertility. The analysis showed that antibiotic treatment of leukocytospermic men, without diagnosed genital tract infections, resulted in a significant improvement of ejaculate quality, that is, an increase in ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, number of motile spermatozoa, and number of spermatozoa with normal morphology. Moreover, the amount of leukocytes in semen was also reduced. This suggests that broad-spectrum treatment targeted toward bacterial infections reduces the density of leukocytes in semen and, at the same time, improves the quality of ejaculates produced. Our results emphasize the importance of parasitic resistance and immunity as factors that cause variations in ejaculate quality. Copyright 2003.
Naphthalene in Formosan Subterranean Termite Carton Nests

Naphthalene was detected in nest cartons of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. The concentration of naphthalene ranges from 50.56 to 214.6 μg/kg. This is the first report of naphthalene being associated with termites. Some possible functions of naphthalene in a termite society are discussed. Keywords: Naphthalene; Coptotermes formosanus; termite nest
Relation between anatomy and lifestyles in Recent and Early Cambrian chaetognaths

Abstract The Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten of the Early Cambrian Maotianshan Shale record an apparently sudden conquest of pelagic niches by ten phyla of metazoans. One of these phyla is Chaetognatha, a group of predatory marine worms. Given their role as major predators in modern planktonic ecosystems, the chaetognaths discovered in the Maotianshan Shale (Yunnan Province, South China) suggest that the pelagos at the time was already quite complex. Modern chaetognaths, however, can be divided into benthic and pelagic forms; the pelagic nature of Eognathacantha ercainella should therefore be validated by strong morphological evidence. Knowing that planktonic animals present morphological adaptations that increase their buoyancy, we studied the drag produced during the active phase of chaetognath locomotion for the modern forms Paraspadella gotoi (benthic) and Sagitta elegans (pelagic). By using a motion model developed by Jordan in 1992, we could calculate the resistive force produced by the undulatory movement of chaetognaths' bodies. This mechanistic approach evaluates the effect of three motion parameters (relative speed, total length, and tail ratio) on the drag force produced during locomotion. Our results show that the increase of size contributes to higher drag while the shorter tail of the pelagic form balances this effect by reducing the wetted surface subject to friction. For chaetognaths, therefore, a bigger body (both in length and width) and a shorter tail indicate a pelagic lifestyle, a finding that can be applied to the study of the fossil Eognathacantha ercainella. A discriminant analysis can confirm that the Early Cambrian chaetognath presents a pelagic morphology with similarities to modern bathypelagic and mesopelagic species.
The importance of conservancies for enhancing the value of game ranch land for large mammal conservation in southern Africa

Legislative changes during recent decades resulted in a massive shift away from livestock towards game ranching in southern Africa, resulting in significant increases in the abundance and distribution of many wildlife species. However, there are problems associated with game ranching from a conservation perspective, including persecution of predators, overstocking, introductions of exotic species and genetic manipulation of ‘huntable’ species. We suggest here that most of these problems could be overcome through promoting the formation of conservancies, where adjacent ranches remove internal fencing to form larger collaborative wildlife areas. Larger areas permit the reintroduction of the full range of indigenous mammals, tending to result in a land-use shift from high-offtake, low-value consumptive utilization towards higher value forms of hunting and ecotourism. Under these land-use conditions, ranchers tend to be more tolerant of predators and often actively reintroduce them. Freedom of movement for wildlife populations increases resilience to environmental shocks. The collaborative management agreements typical of conservancies tend to align more closely with conservation objectives than on single ranches. Fortuitously, there are financial advantages associated with conservancies: land-use options in conservancies are more profitable and there are economies of scale associated with cooperative management. Land within conservancies is likely to appreciate in value and attract external investment. In addition, conservancies are more conducive to developing partnerships with indigenous communities and investors and may thus increase the political and social sustainability of game ranching. However, ranchers are fiercely independent and may be resistant to removing fences due to the perception that they may relinquish control over their land and wildlife. Strategies are required to overcome such reluctance and promote the formation of conservancies to enhance the conservation value of game ranch land.
Comparative Ethology and the Systematics of Spider Wasps

GOMPARATIVE anatomy has always been the major wellspring of taxonomic data. For practical reasons it probably will always remain so. A curator cannot be expected to identify and arrange his collections on the basis of chromosome number, serum agglutinations, and behavior during courtship. "Keys" will always be important by-products of taxonomic investigations, and keys must always be based largely on morphological characters, preferably external ones. But they are only by-products. In his studies of the natural relationships of organisms and in his attempts to interpret the patterns of evolution within groups, the systematist must avail himself of all possible sources of data. Once he has arrived at certain conclusions, it may then be possible to re-evaluate the morphological characters in such a way as to present a key which will be useful and yet far more meaningful than one compiled hurriedly for purposes of identification. If this is not possible, progress has still been made toward a classification which more nearly approximates the ideal, even though it may still be necessary to depend upon artificial keys for identifying specimens. The inconvenience of using ethological characters in classification is obvious: one must work with living specimens in their normal habitat or under conditions closely resembling their normal habitat. It would be impossible to maintain, however, that behavioral characters are less "important" than structural characters; indeed, it would be easier to maintain that the reverse were true. It has been stated recently that "biological characters are of paramount importance to the classifier, for habits and behavior are certainly deeply rooted and are often the product of a very ancient evolution" (Delacour and Mayr, 1945, p. 49). In his admirable essay on "The Comparative Method in Studying Innate Behaviour Patterns," Lorenz (1950, pp. 239-240) states:
Extraction, Physicochemical, and Functional Properties of Proteins From Milk Thistle Silybum Marianum L. Gaernt Seeds

Protein fractions from Silybum marianum seeds were sequentially extracted based on solubility and then compared with protein isolate in terms of the yields and physicochemical properties. Molecular weights of protein fractions were in the range of 16.3–112.1 kDa. Secondary structure of the protein fractions had a high amount of β-types. Albumin fraction was the dominant seed protein with a characteristic profile of tryptophan residues in most hydrophilic environments. Solubility of protein fractions was lowest at pH 4–5. Besides high levels of essential amino acids favorably compared with recommended levels for pre-school children, S. marianum seed proteins could also be used as protein extenders and acid formulations.
Effects of chromium supplementation on early lactation performance of Holstein cows

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium (Cr) supplementation on early lactation performance of Holstein cows. Experiment 1 involved 12 primiparous (PP) and 22 multiparous (MP) cows, while exp. 2 involved 18 PP and 22 MP cows. In each trial, cows were fed total mixed rations (TMR) and assigned to one of two treatments: control or 0.5 mg kg−1 supplemental chelated Cr from week 6 prepartum to week 16 postpartum The cortisol response to synthetic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) intramuscular (i.m.) and the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) i.m. were evaluated as well, during weeks 2 and 6 postpartum in exp. 2 During the first 16 wk of lactation, supplemental Cr tended to increase milk yields in PP cows by 13% (P = 0.06) and increased milk production by 7% (P < 0.05) in exps. 1 and 2, respectively, but had no effect in MP cows. Despite increased milk yield, Cr supplementation had no adverse effect on milk composition, reproductive perform.
Dietary Valine Requirement of Fingerling Catla catla

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary valine requirement of fingerling Catla catla (3.50 ± 0.15 cm, 0.63 ± 0.04 g). Seven casein gelatin-based diets (33% crude protein; 3.34 kcal/g digestible energy) containing graded levels of valine (0.51%, 0.69%, 0.91%, 1.12%, 1.31%, 1.49%, 1.71% dry diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation at 08:00, 12:30, and 17:30 h. Absolute weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR%), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV), valine retention efficiency (VRE), valine gain (VG), energy retention efficiency (ERE), and carcass protein improved significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing concentrations of dietary valine from 0.51% to 1.12%. Quadratic regression analysis of AWG, PPV, DPD, VG, ERE, and carcass protein at 95% maximum (Y95%max) response against varying levels of dietary valine yielded the requirement at 1.04%, 1.03%, 1.05%, 1.04%, 1.01%, and 0.98% of dry diet, respectively. It is recommended that inclusion of valine at 1.02% of dry diet, corresponding to 3.09% of dietary protein, is optimum in formulating valine-balanced feeds for fingerling C. catla.
Knowledge of complementary feed and its effect on the child nutrition

Introduction: Introduction of semisolid food in an infant who is on liquid diet is known as complementary feeding. When breast milk is no longer enough to meet the nutritional needs of the infant, complementary feeding should be started. Methods: 500 mothers with children 6-24 months of age attending OPD in Mc Gann were interviewed. Data was collected using a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire with the mothers regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices of complementary feeding Results: Knowledge, attitude and practices were assessed in 500 mothers. The mean age of complementary feeding was 8.24 ± 2.79 months. Only few had correct information from health personnel. 23% of mothers started complementary feeding at 6 months of age. 21.6% of mothers used commercial foods. Male child, illiterate mothers, low socio-economic group and rural mothers tend to wean late (p<0.001). Parity, had no influence on complementary feeding age (p>0.05). 34.1%, 34.5% and 23.8% of children were under weight, stunted and wasted respectively. There was significant association between delayed complementary feeding and malnutrition of the child. Conclusion: There is lack of knowledge in mothers regarding complementary feeding, there has to be proper recommendation about timing of complementary feeding. Mean age of complementary feeding was delayed due to improper information, false beliefs and attitudes, illiteracy, low socio-economic status and rural mothers, thus leading to malnutrition of the child. Hence, mothers should be educated properly regarding complementary feeding, foods, preparation and practice to prevent malnutrition and improve the health status of the children.
Auxin transport and a graviresponse in plants: Relevance to ABC proteins

Phospho-glycoproteins (PGPs) belong to the ATP-binding cassette protein subfamily B (ABCB) subgroup of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. The involvement of ABCB proteins in auxin transport is first suggested base on the results of expression levels of PGP1/ABCB1. PGPs have also been shown to mediate the cellular and long-distance transport of auxin. Interactions among PIN-formed and P-glycoprotein in auxin transport have been shown although PINs and PGPs characterize coordinated and independent auxin transport mechanisms. ABC (ABCB)/ PGP is also suggested to have an important role in a graviresponse in plants. This review is describing auxin transport and a graviresponse in plants focused on structures and functions of ABC proteins. ©2011 Jpn. Soc. Biol. Sci. Space; Article ID: 112502009
Influence of xylanase-supplemented feed on the development of selected bacterial groups in the intestinal tract of broiler chicks

The colonization of Lactobacillus spp. , enterobacteria and facultatively anaerobic gram-positive cocci was monitored in intestinal samples of growing broiler chicks from 24 h to 28 days of age. Rapid bacterial growth occurred within the first week, followed by stabilization and decline of colony forming units (CFU). Xylanase supplementation led to significantly lower CFU per gram of wet weight for total presumptive enterobacteria and total gram-positive cocci in luminal and tissue samples in the first 3 weeks. Lactobacillus spp. colony counts from tissue samples were higher for animals with the xylanase-supplemented diet, but luminal CFU were not. The composition of dominant Lactobacillus spp. strains was different in duodenal and jejunal tissues, but distribution of Lactobacillus spp. colony forms was unaffected by xylanase treatment. Mucosa-associated Enterococcus spp. displaced the dominant gram-positive cocci in the jejunal samples. d- and l-lactic acid and acetic acid concentrations were significantly higher in ileal samples from the control group on days 7 and 14, while butyric acid concentrations were higher in the xylanase-treated group. It is concluded that the less viscous intestinal environment caused by the xylanase slowed proliferation of gram-positive cocci and presumptive enterobacteria in enzyme-supplemented animals in the first 3 weeks of life.
Forage shrubs in North Island hill country. 3. Forage digestibility

Abstract A range of shrubs was evaluated as potential sources of forage for grazing animals. Shrubs were established in rows in hill pastures near Wood ville. Nine “true” shrubs, and two erect grasses, pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), and toetoe (C. fulvida) were evaluated. The true shrubs were: Chamaecytisus palmensis, tagasaste; Medicago arborea, tree medic; Ulex europaeus, gorse (two variants: wild gorse and short-spined gorse); Cytisus scoparius, broom; Robinia pseudoacacia, black locust; Leptospermum scoparium, manuka; Cassinia leptophylla, tauhinu; and Ceanothus griseus, ceanothus. Digestibility of shrubs was assessed by in situ (nylon bag) digestion in cows' rumens, and by in vitro (cellulase) methods. The two methods ranked most forages similarly, but some inconsistencies did occur. Tree medic and tagasaste were highly digestible (71–73% estimated in vivo DM digestibility). Manuka, pampas, and toetoe had low digestibility (48–56%). Stem material was less digestible than leaf. Digestibility was .