Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subsidised by junk foods: factors influencing body condition in stray cats (Felis catus)

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are one of the most widely distributed and successful carnivores globally. While cats are popular pets, many unowned, ‘stray’ cats live freely in anthropogenic environments at high densities where they make use of anthropogenic resources. These stray cats present a management challenge due to concerns about wildlife predation, pathogen transmission, public nuisance and threats to cat welfare (e.g. vehicle collisions). In Australia, there are few studies of strays compared with pet cats or feral cats (free-roaming cats in rural areas that are independent of resources provided by humans). To contribute original data about stray cat biology, the carcasses of 188 euthanised stray cats were collected from Perth, Western Australia. Cats were assessed for general health, age, reproduction, diet and gastrointestinal parasite biomass. The influence of cat demographics, collection location, season, parasite biomass, diet and history of supplemental feeding by people were tested against body condition. Overall, strays were physically healthy and reproductive, with few life-threatening injuries or macroscopic evidence of disease; however, helminths were extremely common (95% of cats) and pose a threat. Nearly 40% of strays consumed wildlife, including two species of endemic marsupial. Alarmingly, 57.5% of strays were scavenging vast amounts of refuse, including life-threatening items in volumes that blocked their gastrointestinal tracts. These findings illustrate that strays need to be removed from anthropogenic environments for their own health and welfare and to prevent continued breeding. Targeted control programmes should prioritise removal of cats from areas where refuse is common and where valued native fauna exist.
Life-history strategies of primates

This thesis examines variation in the life-history parameters of primates using comparative techniques. Several theories of life-history evolution are introduced in the first chapter, together with a summary of the previous work on this topic. Scaling methods are used to separate variation in life-history parameters that is correlated with body weight from that which cannot be predicted from an animal's size. These methods are described in detail in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 describes the variation found in body size and basal metabolic rate and correlations with phylogeny, diet, habitat and other aspects of ecology. Patterns of variation in reproductive parameters, particularly reproductive rates (as measured by the intrinsic rate of natural increase, r_{max}) and reproductive effort (as measured by prenatal and postnatal infant growth rates), are described and compared with patterns reported in other studies. Possible reasons for the scaling relationships found are suggested and the influences of metabolic rate, phylogeny, diet, habitat and other aspects of ecology are investigated. This is carried out for all primates in Chapters 4-6 and in Chapter 7 there is a closer look at the cercopithecine monkeys. It is suggested that r_{max} is influenced by the predictability of the environment, with more unpredictable environments being associated with a higher r_{max} that more predictable environments. However, this is only found when body weight effects are removed from the r_{max} data. Growth rates do not appear to be correlated with environmental predictability but are mainly correlated with body size and relative metabolic rate. There is some indication that the degree of parental care may also be correlated with relative growth rates. It is concluded that no single theory of life-history evolution can amount for the variation found in primate life-histories, but that some aspects of several theories may be useful in describing the patterns found.
Genetic diversity analysis for moisture stress adaptive and quality traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A study was conducted to work out the genetic divergence for yield, morpho-physiological and quality traits in timely sown restricted irrigated and rainfed conditions. In the pooled analysis, cluster IV and V had 33 genotypes each and cluster III contained 29 genotypes, while cluster VI had 22 genotypes. Eighteen and 15 genotypes were included in cluster I and II, respectively. Maximum intra-cluster distance was reported in cluster III followed by VI, II, I and IV and minimum intra- cluster distance was found for cluster V. Genotypes included in III, VI and II revealed maximum diversity among themselves. Highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and III followed by I and III, I and VI. Moderate inter-cluster distance was noticed between II and IV in the pooled analysis. Parentage of 150 genotypes revealed that genotypes were belonging to different eco-geographical areas were included in the same cluster. This indicated that there is no association between clustering pattern and eco- geographical distribution of genotypes.
Nut and Kernel Characteristics of Exotic and Indigenous Almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch.) Genotypes under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir Valley

Almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) is an important nut crop of the world that is cultivated from the desert areas of Western China to the Mediterranean basin (Ladizinsky, 1999). It is one of the major and oldest tree-nut crops known to the mankind Investigations were carried out on nine almond varieties/selections (three exotic and six indigenous) to study their nut and kernel quality planted at experiment farm of Dryland Agriculture Research Station (DARS), SKUAST-Kashmir. Maximum nut weight (2.24 and 2.19 g) and nut length (39.88 mm and 40.69 mm) was recorded in Primorskij during 1 st and 2 nd year of study, respectively, however nut breadth was maximum in Waris (20.42 mm and 20.17). Kernel weight was recorded highest Primorskij(1.29 g and 1.26 g) along with kernel length (28.62 mm and 29.04 mm) during both the years whereas minimum kernel breadth was registered in Waris (12.68 mm and 12.44 mm), respectively. Minimum values for nut weight (1.11 g and 1.19 g) and nut length (26.37 mm and 25.27 mm) was recorded in KD-05 and KD-06, respectively. Nut breadth (17.00 mm and 16.86 mm), kernel weight (0.73 g and 0.80 g), kernel length (18.53 mm and 18.04 mm) was recorded minimum in KD-03 whereas minimum kernel breadth was minimum in Waris (10.85 mm and 10.53 mm). Maximum shelling percentage (57.58 % and 52.05 %) was recorded in Primorskij during both the year of study. Primorskij had papery shell with intermediate kernel and shell colour. From the present investigation it is concluded that Primorskij performed best under temperate conditions of Kashmir. K e y w o r d s
Impact of mixing treated industrial water with olive mill wastewater on vetch (Vicia sativa L.) germination and early seedling growth

Vetch is a forage crop that is widely grown in high rainfall areas in Jordan for forage production and grazing. Growing vetch species out of the season will need irrigation, which is very expensive. In here, we propose application of wastewater or olive mill wastewater as alternative to the fresh water. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of diluting the industrial water (IND) with olive mill wastewater (OMWW) on the vetch germination (GR) and early seedling growth under controlled conditions. The water treatments consisted of T1 (pure IND100%), T2 (mix of IND75% + OMWW25%), T3 (IND50% + OMWW50%), T4 (IND25% + OMWW75%) and T5 (pure OMWW100%) and tap water (control). This experiment was designed in a CRD with three replications for each treatment. Several measurements on the morphological and biochemical analysis were taken during this study such as seed germination (GR), as well as the seedlings fresh weight of shoot (FWS), dry weight of shoot (DWS), fresh weight of shoot (FWR), dry weight of root (DWR), shoot length (SL), root length (RL) and the ratios of DWS/DWR and SL/RL. The water treatments had a significant influence on data taken, in which the highest mean values of morphological characteristics were obtained under the T1, while the lowest were obtained under the T5 due to high phenols concentrations. The OMWW treatment showed an adverse effect on GR, DWS, DWR, SL, and RL due to low pH values (4.5) and high phenols concentration (1700 mg/L). In contrast, the industrial water showed low to moderate effect on the vetch seed germination. The means of DWS and DWR under T3 and T4 were not significantly different from each other but were different comparing with control. It is recommended that the use of a mixture of OMWW and the Industrial water will have a positive effect on Vetch growth.
Characterizing the Relationship Between Cell-Cycle Progression and a Transcriptional Oscillator

Characterizing the Relationship between Cell-Cycle Progression and a Transcriptional Oscillator by Sara Lynn Bristow University Program in Genetics and Genomics Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Steven Haase, Supervisor ___________________________ Blanche Capel ___________________________ Beth Sullivan ___________________________ David MacAlpine ___________________________ Thomas Petes An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University Program in Genetics and Genomics in the Graduate School of Duke University 2013 Copyright by Sara Lynn Bristow 2013 iv Abstract The cell division cycle is the process in which the entirety of a cell’s contents is duplicated completely and then equally segregated into two identical daughter cells. The order of the steps in the cell cycle must be followed with fidelity to guarantee two viable cells. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control cell-cycle events remains to be a fundamental question in cell biology. In this dissertation, I explore the mechanisms that coordinate and regulate cell-cycle progression in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell-cycle events have been shown to be triggered by oscillations in the activity of cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) when bound to cyclins. However, several studies have shown that some cell-cycle events, such as periodic transcription, can continue in the absence of CDK activity. How are periodic transcription and other cell-cycle events coupled to each other during a wild-type cell cycle? Currently, two models of cell-cycle regulation have been proposed. One model hypothesizes that oscillations in CDK activity controls the timing of cell-cycle events, including periodic transcription. The second model proposes that a transcription factor (TF) network oscillator controls the timing of cell-cycle events, via proper timing of gene expression, including cyclins. By measuring global gene expression dynamics in cells with persistent CDK activity, I show that periodic transcription continues. This result fits with the second model of cellcycle regulation. Further, I show that during a wild-type cell cycle, checkpoints
Investigation of The Attitudes of Secondary School Students With Different Learning Styles For E-Learning

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the attitudes of secondary school students with different learning styles towards e-learning. The study is a descriptive research designed as a relationship survey method. The sample of the study consists of 360 students in a public school in Konya in the 2018-2019 academic year. “Grasha-Riechmann Learning Styles Scale” and “Attitude Scale Towards E-Learning” were used as data collection tools in the research. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t test and one way ANOVA. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 statistical package program. According to the results of the study, when the learning styles were ranked as preferred, the students (35.2%) had “Independent” and at least (5.6%) “Avoidant” learning styles. The mean scores of students' attitudes towards E-learning were 4,12. This value shows that students' attitudes towards E-learning are positive. As a result of the study, the attitudes of the students towards E-learning show a statistically significant difference according to their learning styles (F (358) = 42.86, p <. 01).
Accumulation of Annulate Lamellae in the Subcortical Layer during Progesterone‐induced Oocyte Maturation in Xenopus Laevis

Changes in the fine structure, the location and the number of stacks of annulate lamellae during progesterone‐induced maturation of oocytes of Xenopus were determined by electron microscopy. longitudinal sections of full‐grown oocytes, about 260 stacks of annulate lamellae were observed with marked concentration in the subcortical layer, particularly in the vegetal hemisphere. After exposure to. progesterone, annulate lamellae increased and accumulated further in the subcortical layer. A significant increase of annulate lamellae around the vegetal side of the germinal vesicle seen 3 h after progesterone application. In oocytes 6 h after progesterone application, an average of 320 stacks of annulate lamellae were seen in longitudinal sections and more than two‐thirds of the pore complexes of annulate lamellae were localized in the subcortical layer less than 50 from the oocyte surface, the rest being distributed in the deeper ooplasm. At the time of ger‐ minal vesicle breakdown, all the annulate lamellae underwent complete decomposition. The results were discussed from the view point of comparative developmental biology.
Predictive Models for Optimisation of Acetone Mediated Extraction of Polyphenolic Compounds from By-Product of Cider Production

Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to provide predictive models for optimisation of extraction of selected polyphenolic compounds from cider apple pomace under aqueous acetone. The design of experiment (DoE) was conducted to evaluate the influence of acetone concentration % (v/v), solid-to solvent ratio % (w/v), temperature (˚C) and extraction time (min) and their interaction on phenolic contents, using the Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). The experimental data were analysed to fit statistical models for recovery of phenolic compounds. The selected models were significant (P 0.05), except for Chlorogenic acid and Quercetin 3-glucoside which had significant lack of fits (P R2 > 0.9000 and adjusted reasonable agrees with predicted . Coefficient of variation < 5% for each determination at the 95% confidence interval. These models could be relied upon to achieve optimal concentrations of polyphenolic compounds for applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
EFFECT OF β-LACTAGLOBULIN GENOTYPES ON OVINE MILK COMPOSITION IN ALTAMURANA BREED

The distribution of the two main genetic variants of the B-lactoglobulin gene, LGB*A and LGB*B, was analyzed by PCR-RFLP and the effects of the substitution of Tyr20 with his encoding variants on ovine milk composition were studied. In the sampled population of Altamurana sheep the two genetic variants, the frequency of LGB*A and B, was 0.625 and 0.375, respectively. The chemical composition of milk did not differ considerably among the LGB genotypes; the most significant differences regarded fat for the AA and whey protein content for the BB genotype.
Investigating the role of Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin One (TRPA1) in cardiovascular regulation

‘Investigating the role of TRPA1 in cardiovascular regulation’, NYAS meeting, “Animal Models and Their Value in Predicting Drug Efficacy and Toxicity”, New York Sept 2011 POSTER ‘Investigating the role of TRPA1 in cardiovascular regulation’, Kings College Graduate Showcase, Kings College London, June 2011, POSTER
Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements

Accurately quantifying species’ area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area‐based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home‐range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home‐range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross‐validation to quantify bias in empirical home‐range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation‐induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home‐range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation‐informed home‐range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation‐informed home‐range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum.
The Ghanaian currency notes and coins: A medium of exchange for pathogenic microbes

The microbial load of the “old” and “new” Ghanaian Cedi notes and coins obtained from vari-ous sources in Cape Coast, Ghana was studied using the dilution plate technique between September 2005 - March 2006 and September 2008 - March 2009. Isolations were made on Mac-Conkey agar for coliforms and other enteric bacteria, Plate Count agar for total viable bacteria and Sabouraud agar for fungi. Generally, the notes carried significantly higher microbial loads than the Cedi coins (p 0.05) be-tween bacterial loads isolated from the “old” notes and coins on one hand and “new” Cedi notes and coins on the other hand suggesting that the Ghanaian currency notes and coins were being mishandled by majority of the populace. The presence of various types of bacteria and fungi on the “Cedi” notes and coins suggests that they may act as vehicles for pathogens of some communicable diseases.
Insecticidal Activity of Radish, Raphanus sativus Linn. (Brassicaceae) Roots Extracts.

Chemical constituents of Raphanus sativus Linn. roots were extracted and tested for their toxicity against adults and second instar nymphs of A. gossypii under laboratory conditions. The most effective fraction against both adults and nymphs was methylene chloride fraction with LC50 values of 386.63 and 309.43 ppm, followed by ethyl acetate fraction with LC50 values of 394.9 and 334.37 ppm then petroleum ether fraction with LC50 values of 636.2 and 424.56 ppm, for adults and nymphs, respectively. Also, the volatile components of each fraction were qualitatively and quantitatively identified and characterized by GC/MS technique. Moreover, the impact of the sub-lethal concentrations of R. sativus roots extracts on transaminases and alkaline phosphatase of A. gossypii was studied. Great inhibition of all tested enzymes activity was observed. This suggested the high potency of R. sativus roots extracts as environmentally friendly alternatives of traditional insecticides. Chemical constituents of Raphanus sativus Linn. roots were extracted and tested for their toxicity against adults and second instar nymphs of A. gossypii under laboratory conditions. The most effective fraction against both adults and nymphs was methylene chloride fraction with LC50 values of 386.63 and 309.43 ppm, followed by ethyl acetate fraction with LC50 values of 394.9 and 334.37 ppm then petroleum ether fraction with LC50 values of 636.2 and 424.56 ppm, for adults and nymphs, respectively. Also, the volatile components of each fraction were qualitatively and quantitatively identified and characterized by GC/MS technique. Moreover, the impact of the sub-lethal concentrations of R. sativus roots extracts on transaminases and alkaline phosphatase of A. gossypii was studied. Great inhibition of all tested enzymes activity was observed. This suggested the high potency of R. sativus roots extracts as environmentally friendly alternatives of traditional insecticides.
Phytochemical and Nutrient Evaluation of the Leaves and Fruits of Nauclea Latifolia (Uvuru-ilu)

The Phytochemical and Nutrient evaluation of the leaves and fruits of Naulcea latifolia (Uvuru-ilu) was undertaken because of the wide application of the plant in ethnomedicine. Ethanolic extracts of the plant parts were analysed for their phytochemicals, proximate composition including minerals and some vitamins using standard methods. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds in the leaves and fruit samples. The leaves of Nauclea latifolia contained tannins 0.374%, alkaloid 2.387%, 0.373% flavonoid, 1.25% saponins, 0.377% phytate and 16.897mg/kg of HCN. The fruit also revealed the presence of 0.214%, 1.407% 0.433%, 0.833%, 0.377% and 9.270mg/kg for tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phytates and cyanogenic glycosides respectively. The proximate analyses of the leaves and fruits revealed that Nauclea latifolia is rich in proteins 12.51%, fats 1.49%, fibre 34.82%, ash 5.46%, carbohydrates 46.69%, moisture 68.93% and dry matter 31.07% in the leaves while the fruit should 15.42%, 1.74%, 35.88%, 8.19%, 38.79%, 44.72% and 55.28% of proteins, fat, fibre, ash, carbohydrates, moisture and dry matter respectively. The analysis also show that the leaves and fruit contain essential minerals such as Ca 52.104, Mg 3.17, K 427.50, P 457.83 in mg/100g w/w basis for the leaves as well as 85.51 Ca, 4.50 Mg, 368.67 K, and 429.86 P. Vitamin A and C analysis for the leaves gave 17.65 mg/100g and 56.74 mg/100g respectively while we got 36.22 and 67.47 respectively from the fruits on a mg/100g basis. The phytochemical analysis supports the extensive use of the leaves and fruits of nauclea latifolia in ethnomedicine in many parts of Africa and the proximate analysis showed that its use in the feeding of ruminants and human consumption of the fruits is a good practice.