Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Landscape Dynamics of Mountain Pine Beetles

The magnitude and urgency of current mountain pine beetle outbreaks in the western United States and Canada have resulted in numerous studies of the dynamics and impacts of these insects in forested ecosystems. This paper reviews some of the aspects of the spatial dynamics and landscape ecology of this bark beetle. Landscape heterogeneity inﬂuences dispersal patterns in many ways, but little is known about these inﬂuences that can be used in management efforts, and the natural range of variability of this insect remains undeﬁned. Short range spread is often determined by the active responses of the beetle to chemical and physical cues. Long-range spread is often facilitated by winds above the canopy, which can move insects hundreds of kilometers. New concepts and tools are emerging that have been adapted from landscape ecology and spatial statistics. Categorical map analysis has been widely used to quantify infested landscapes. Spatial statistical analysis and point process models are acquiring more recent favor. Landscape entomology is an active area of forestry research.
Effect of Nitrogen and Spacing Levels on Growth and Yield Parameters of Kasuri methi (Trigonella corniculata L.) var. Pusa Kasuri

A field experiment was conducted with 4 nitrogen and 4 spacing levels in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Maximum plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, total dry matter accumulation per plant and fresh and dry yield per plant and per hectare were recorded when the crop was applied with 80 kg N/ha with a spacing of 30 x 20 cm (N4S4) under the Northern dry zone of Karnataka. K e y w o r d s
Relationships between total length and otolith measurements for 36 fish species from Gökçeada Island, Turkey

Summary The relationships between fish total length and otolith measurements (OL, OW and OR) were described by means of allometric power equation for 36 fish species from Gokceada Island, Turkey. Regressions were also estimated at genus level. A total of 14364 specimens were collected monthly using beach seine (0–2 m) and beam trawl (5–20 m) from June 2013 to June 2014. Generally, the otolith length showed the highest correlation for predicting fish total length. This paper represents the first relationships between otolith morphometrics and fish total length for 12 species. These relationships can be useful for researchers who examining stomach contents of piscivorous predators.
Phytotoxic effects of Cerbera manghas L. leaf extracts on seedling elongation of four monocot and four dicot test species

Exploration of allelochemicals with phytotoxic effects is intended to minimize a current dependency on synthetic herbicides in weed management. Several allelochemicals from the tropical tree Cerbera manghas (sea mango) have been reported as termiticides and bactericides. The present study investigated possible phytotoxic effects of C. manghas leaf extracts under laboratory conditions. Four monocots: barnyard grass ( Echinochloa crus-galli ), foxtail fescue ( Vulpia myuros ), Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ), and timothy ( Phleum pratense ) and four dicots: alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ), garden cress ( Lepidium sativum ), lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ), and rapeseed ( Brassica napus ) were used as test species. Elongation of both shoots and roots of seedlings was measured to assess any phytotoxic effects. The results showed that the sensitivities of shoots and roots were different between the test species, and the inhibition of seedling elongation significantly increased with increasing concentration of leaf extracts of C. manghas for all the test species. The IC 50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values showed that 8.50–32.30 and 4.26–34.67 mg dry weight equivalent extract mL −1 of C. manghas inhibited seedling elongation by 50%, for shoots and roots respectively. Isolation and identification of the phytotoxic substances from C. manghas are suggested for future investigation.
The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on some Physiological and Antioxidant Parameters in Female Rabbits

| The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanolic extract of 70% Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) on some physiological parameters and the alteration in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in female rabbits. Ten female adult rabbits were divided into two groups (5 rabbits/group), group1: Control group received orally normal saline for four weeks, group2: the treated group received (200 mg/Kg) B.W of the ethanolic extract of HS. Blood samples were collected from animals by cardiac puncture technique. At the end of experiment the results showed that there were significant increase in red blood cell count (RBCC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) with significant decrease in platelet count (Plt) and non-significant increase in the white blood cell count (WBCC), lymphocyte, monocyte and significant increase in granulocyte count in animals treated by HS extract as compared with control group. The results of liver enzymes showed that there were nonsignificant increase in activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and non-significant decrease in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in HS extract treated group as compared with the control group. The results of kidney function parameters explained that there were non-significant increase in level of urea but there were significant (p < 0.05) decrease in level of uric acid in animals treated with HS as compared with control. Moreover, the results of this study showed that there were significant (p < 0.05) decrease in serum triacylglycerol (TAG), cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), but there was non-significant (p > 0.05) changes in catalase activity (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), vitamin E (Vit E), and vitamin C (Vit C). The results obtained from this study explained that 70% ethanolic extract of HS increase (RBCC) count, enhance immunity by increasing granulocyte count, and had hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect in female rabbit.
Genetic characterisation of European grayling populations (Thymallus thymallus L.)

The European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) is a fish species that is endangered throughout its distribution range. The development of conservation strategies requires a detailed understanding of grayling population genetic profiles. In three case studies, the population genetic structure and phylogeny of grayling in central and northern Europe was demonstrated through the application of microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers. Based on the strong genetic differentiation of the investigated populations, conservation units were defined. In addition, a method was developed to differentiate recent anthropological processes from historical processes of admixture among evolutionary distinct grayling lineages. The overall results show that both large-scale phylogeographical studies and detailed genetic analyses at a fine scale are necessary for the development of appropriate conservation guidelines for endangered species.
On the quantitative genetics of correlated characters under directional selection in age-structured populations

The evolution of correlated characters in natural populations depends on the demographic structure of these populations. This is often considerably more complicated than the structure of populations typically addressed by quantitative genetics, involving overlapping generations, age-dependent vital rates, and large fluctuations in recruitment from year to year. It is important to know more about such evolution because human exploitation of natural populations such as fishes is selective and has the potential to cause major changes in their properties. Here the theory of quantitative genetics of correlated characters under directional selection is extended to incorporate some demographic properties of non-equilibrium age-structured populations. Short-term evolution is described in terms of changes in a matrix of mean breeding values of the traits at each age, and depends on the selection differentials in operation, together with the variances and covariances of breeding and phenotypic values. Because the selection differentials depend on the current mean phenotypic values which are themselves changing as each cohort grows older, the dynamics of mean phenotypic values within cohorts are also followed. Together, the changes in mean breeding and phenotypic values are sufficient to predict the short-term transient evolutionary dynamics of correlated characters in non-equilibrium age-structured populations. The predictions are compared with the dynamics observed in some randomly generated populations, and the application of the theory to evolution in commercially exploited populations of fish is discussed.
Effects of varying seed rates of intercrops on forageyield of sweet sorghum

The experiment was conducted at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, U. S. Nagar, Uttarakhand, India during kharif seasons of 2013 and 2014 (sown on 10th June and 15th June) to test intercropping treatments for optimizing seed rate. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design consisting of nine treatments (sole sorghum, sole cowpea, sole ricebean, intercropping of cowpea and ricebean each with at 25, 50 and 75 per cent of recommended seed rates) with sweet sorghum. The recommended fertilizers viz., nitrogen (N) and P2O5 120 and 60 kg/ha for sole sorghum, 20 and 60 kg/ha for sole legumes and 80 and 60 kg/ha for intercropping systems, respectively, were applied. In sole sorghum 2/3 N along with all phosphorus were applied as basal and the remaining 1/3 N top dressed at 30 DAS. In legume crops, whole nitrogen along with phosphorus was applied as basal. The findings revealed that intercropping of cowpea with 25 per cent seed rate maintained higher green forage, dry fodder and digestible dry matter yield in sweet sorghum as well as the system productivity compared to remaining treatments, however, it was at par with sweet sorghum+cowpea (50%) intercropping treatment. Intercropping system reduced green forage, dry fodder, crude protein yield and crude protein content of cowpea and ricebean but enhanced the digestible dry matter yield. However, the digestible dry matter content of cowpea and ricebean remained unaffected.
Pathological changes associated with an outbreak of colibacillosis in a commercial broiler flock

Escherichia coli infection was diagnosed in 5-week old broiler chickens raised intensively on a medium-sized commercial farm in Gaube-Kuje, Abuja, Nigeria. Signs of weakness, depression and inappetance with ruffled feathers and pasted vents were reportedly observed in affected birds within the flock. Detailed post mortem examinations revealed diffuse splenomegaly and hepatomegaly with multifocal greyish areas on their surfaces while the diffusely enlarged kidneys were congested with mottled pale appearance. Histopathologically, the liver of affected broilers showed diffuse congestion, multifocal coagulative necrosis and cellular infiltration. Generalized perivascular and inter-septal oedema and haemorrhage were observed in the lungs of affected broilers with generalized lymphocytic depletion within the spleen as well as locally extensive congestion and haemorrhage within the kidney, and cellular infiltration and necrosis within heart musculatures. Microbiological evaluation of liver samples yielded pure E. coli growth only. A diagnosis of colibacillosis, especially colisepticaemia, was made with appropriate treatment based on culture and sensitivity test result involving Levofloxacin(R). The client was consequently advised to guard against possible predisposing factors as control and preventive measures for the disease outbreak on the farm. Keywords : Broiler chickens, Colibacillosis, Gross pathology, Histopathology, Natural infection
Deciphering X-chromosome inactivation and the role of MECP2e1 in Rett Syndrome patient induced pluripotent stem cells

Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects girls due primarily to heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2). MECP2 encodes four exons that are alternatively spliced into two isoforms, MECP2e1 and MECP2e2. MECP2 isoform-specific functions are unknown, but due to the higher abundance in the brain and MECP2e1-specific mutations associated with RTT, MECP2e1 is hypothesized to be the functional isoform in the brain. MECP2 is an X-linked gene subject to random Xchromosome inactivation (XCI) resulting in mosaic expression of mutant MECP2. The lack of readily accessible human brain tissue motivates the need for alternative human cellular models to study RTT. In this thesis, I established a novel human in vitro model of RTT by isolating human induced Pluripotent Stem cells (hiPSCs) from RTT patient fibroblasts. RTT-hiPSCs retained the MECP2 mutation, are pluripotent and fully reprogrammed, and retained an inactive X-chromosome in a nonrandom pattern. Taking advantage of the latter characteristic, I obtained a pair of isogenic wild-type and mutant MECP2 expressing RTT-hiPSC lines that retained this MECP2 expression pattern upon differentiation into neurons. Phenotypic analysis of mutant RTT-hiPSC-derived neurons demonstrated a reduction in soma size compared with the isogenic control RTT-hiPSC-derived neurons from the same RTT patient validating RTT-hiPSC-derived
Genomics in healthcare: GA4GH looks to 2022

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH), the standards-setting body in genomics for healthcare, aims to accelerate biomedical advancement globally. We describe the differences between healthcare- and research-driven genomics, discuss the implications of global, population-scale collections of human data for research, and outline mission-critical considerations in ethics, regulation, technology, data protection, and society. We present a crude model for estimating the rate of healthcare-funded genomes worldwide that accounts for the preparedness of each country for genomics, and infers a progression of cancer-related sequencing over time. We estimate that over 60 million patients will have their genome sequenced in a healthcare context by 2025. This represents a large technical challenge for healthcare systems, and a huge opportunity for research. We identify eight major practical, principled arguments to support the position that virtual cohorts of 100 million people or more would have tangible research benefits.
The ABCE1 capsid assembly pathway is conserved between primate lentiviruses and the non-primate lentivirus feline immunodeficiency virus

During immature capsid assembly in cells, the Gag protein of HIV-1 and other primate lentiviruses co-opts a host RNA granule, forming a pathway of assembly intermediates that contains host components, including two cellular enzymes shown to facilitate assembly, ABCE1 and DDX6. Here we asked whether a non-primate lentivirus, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), also forms such RNA-granule-derived intracellular capsid assembly intermediates. First, we found that, unlike for HIV-1, the FIV completed immature capsid and the largest putative assembly intermediate are unstable during analysis. Next, we identified in situ cross-linking conditions that overcame this problem and revealed the presence of FIV Gag complexes that correspond in size to early and late HIV-1 assembly intermediates. Because assembly-defective HIV-1 Gag mutants are arrested at specific intracellular assembly intermediates, we asked if a similar arrest is also observed for FIV. We analyzed four FIV Gag mutants, including three not previously studied that we identified based on sequence and structural similarity to HIV-1 Gag, and found that each is assembly-defective and arrested at the same intermediate as the corresponding HIV-1 mutant. Further evidence that these FIV Gag-containing complexes correspond to assembly intermediates came from co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrating that FIV Gag is associated with ABCE1 and DDX6, as shown previously for HIV-1. Finally, we validated these co-immunoprecipitations with a proximity ligation assay that revealed co-localization between assembly-competent FIV Gag and ABCE1 in situ. Together, these data offer novel structure-function insights and indicate that primate and non-primate lentiviruses form intracellular capsid assembly intermediates derived from ABCE1-containing RNA granules. Importance Like HIV-1, FIV Gag assembles into immature capsids; however, it is not known whether FIV Gag progresses through a pathway of immature capsid assembly intermediates derived from host RNA granules, as shown for HIV-1 Gag. Here we asked whether FIV Gag forms complexes similar in size to HIV-1 assembly intermediates and if FIV Gag is associated with ABCE1 and DDX6, two host enzymes that facilitate HIV-1 immature capsid assembly that are found in HIV-1 assembly intermediates. Our studies identified FIV Gag-containing complexes that closely resemble HIV-1 capsid assembly intermediates, showed that known and novel assembly-defective FIV Gag mutants fail to progress past these putative intermediates, and utilized biochemical and imaging approaches to demonstrate association of FIV Gag with ABCE1 and DDX6. Thus, we conclude that viral-host interactions important for immature capsid assembly are conserved between primate and non-primate lentiviruses, and could yield important targets for future antiviral strategies.
Effects of dietary inclusion of yacon, ginger and blueberry on growth, body composition and challenge test of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) against Edwardsiella tarda

Effects of dietary inclusion of yacon, Polymnia sonchifolia (YC), ginger, Zingiber officinale (GG), and blueberry, Vaccinium ashei (BB), on growth, body composition and challenge test of rockfish against Edwardsiella tarda compared to ethoxyquin were investigated. Three hundred and sixty fish were randomly distributed into 12 flow-through tanks. Four experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (Con) with 0.1 g/kg ethoxyquin, and YC, GG and BB diets. Each diet was assigned to triplicate tanks of fish and hand-fed for 8 weeks. Externally normal fish after fourth and eighth weeks of feeding trial were infected with Edwardsiella tarda for challenge test. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed the YC diet were greater than those of fish fed all other diets. Feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention of fish fed the YC diet were higher than those of fish fed all other diets. In the both fourth and eighth weeks of infection trials, mortality of fish fed the Con diet was higher than that of fish fed all other diets. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of YC, GG and BB increased weight gain and SGR of fish. YC, GG and BB for 4 and 8 weeks lowered mortality of fish at occurrence of E. tarda.
Detection Efficiency of a Portable PIT Antenna for Two Small‐Bodied Fishes in a Piedmont Stream

AbstractPassive integrated transponder (PIT) tags have been used to infer demography and behavior of lotic fishes, but their application has mostly been limited to salmonids. We studied the efficiency of a portable PIT antenna in a small Piedmont stream (mean width = 2.4 m) in South Carolina by comparing two tag sizes (8- and 12-mm full-duplex tags) applied to two nongame species (Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdii and Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus). A 285-m stream reach was blocked off under base flow conditions in September 2016, and 8- or 12-mm PIT tags were implanted in 67 Creek Chub (62–138 mm TL) and 65 Mottled Sculpin (60–88 mm TL). Starting at 1 d after tagging, the study reach was sampled with the portable PIT antenna twice daily for five consecutive days, during which apparent survival of tagged fish was assumed. Generalized linear mixed-effects models with a logistic link identified that detection efficiency depended on species, tag size, body length, and the species × body length interaction.
Mouse Models of Glioblastoma

ABSTRACT Glioblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumors. The prognosis for glioblastoma is still very poor despite intensive treatment by surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. To develop new therapies for glioblastoma, preclinical mouse models are essential for analyzing the biology of glioblastoma, identifying new therapeutic targets, and evaluating the potential of new therapeutic strategies. Current preclinical glioblastoma models are classified into two categories: xenografts and genetically engineered mouse models. Xenografts are classified into two categories: glioblastoma cell-line xenografts and patient-derived xenografts. Glioblastoma cell-line xenografts generally have the advantages of high engraftment and growth rates, but it is doubtful whether glioblastoma cell-line xenografts reflect the true biological nature of glioblastoma. Patient-derived xenografts retain both the genetic and histological features of the primary tumor, and thus are expected to be good preclinical models in translational glioblastoma research. However, they cannot fully reflect the host’s antitumor immunity in human glioblastoma. Glioblastoma genetically engineered mouse models make it possible to pinpoint genetic alterations involved in tumor initiation and progression, but tumors are usually composed of cells with specific, homogeneous genetic changes, and thus cannot completely reflect the intratumoral genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity of glioblastoma. Presently, patient-derived xenografts and genetically engineered mouse models are excellent glioblastoma mouse models for current use, but more work is needed to establish mouse models that fully recapitulate human glioblastoma.
Seedling and adult‐plant stage resistance of a world collection of barley genotypes to stripe rust

Barley stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. hordei (PSH) is one of the major diseases in barley production regions worldwide. A total of 336 barley genotypes with diverse genetic backgrounds targeted for low-input barley production were tested for seedling and adult-plant stage resistance against six PSH races (0S0, 0S0-1, 1S0, 4S0, 5S0 and 7S0) originated from India. The seedling resistance was evaluated by inoculating the barley genotypes with six races separately under controlled conditions in Shimla, India. The same barley genotypes were evaluated for adult-plant stage resistance in the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) of Rajasthan Agriculture University, Durgapura, Rajasthan, India. Out of the 336 barley genotypes tested for seedling resistance, 119 (35.4%), 101 (30.1%), 87 (25.9%), 100 (29.8%), 91 (27.1%) and 70 (20.8%) genotypes were resistant to races 0S0, 0S0-1, 1S0, 4S0, 5S0 and 7S0, respectively. In the field, 102 (30.3%) genotypes showed the resistance response of which 18 (5.3%) genotypes were highly resistant to PSH. Barley genotypes AM-14, AM-177, AM-37, AM-120, AM-300, AM-36, AM-103, AM-189, AM-291, AM-275 and AM-274 showed resistance response to all six races at seedling and adult-plant stages. Seedling resistance reported in the current study is effective against the newly emerged race 7S0 and previously reported five races in India. Therefore, resistant barley genotypes identified in the current study provided effective protection against all six races at seedling and adult-plant stages. The stripe rust resistance identified in the current studies may be potential donors of stripe rust resistance to barley breeding programmes in India and elsewhere.