Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review of Methods to Reduce Livestock Depradation: I. Guardian Animals

The use of domestic animals to protect livestock was reviewed through visits to actual users, discussions with experts and a thorough literature search. Costs and benefits were analysed in terms of reduced livestock losses. The most common guardian animals are dogs, which have been shown to reduce predation (documented mostly for coyote) by 11? 100%. Livestock guardian dogs have also been used effectively against bear, wolf and cheetah. Donkeys are also used as guardian animals, and their effectiveness lies in their natural herding behaviour and aggression, especially against canids. The effectiveness of donkeys varies considerably dependent upon the predator species and the temperament of the individual donkey. Llamas are also used as a guardian animal, with approximately the same characteristics as the donkeys, and will defend themselves against most predators. The use of guardian animals appears to be an effective tool for reducing livestock depredation and should be evaluated in areas with high predation losses against the cost of changing production systems.
New cytotaxonomical determinants recognized in six taxa of Agave in the sections Rigidae and Sisalanae

New cytotaxonomical determinants are presented for the following taxa of Agave: (I) section Rigidae: Agave fourcroydes Lemaire (5x = 150), first karyotype; Agave angustifolia Haworth (sensu Gentry), new count (6x = 180), first karyotype; Agave angustifolia Haworth var. marginata Hort. (2x = 60); and Agave tequilana Weber, new count (2x = 60), first karyotype; (II) section Sisalanae: Agave sisalana Perrine (5x = 150), first karyotype; and (III) intersectional hybrid: Agave hybrid 11 648 new count (2x = 60), first karyotype. Chromosomes are classified and arm number, chromatin length, and variability are discussed. These results suggest (i) a speciation process via limited rearrangements and point mutations in the small chromosomes of the complement, within the euploidy level rather than karyotype diversification and (ii) a reconsideration to assign them to the 2C level of Stebbins karyotype classification. Key words: fiber agaves, karyotype analysis.
The Reptilian Baroreceptor and Its Role in Cardiovascular Control

Anatomical evidence for the existence of a depressor nerve in reptiles was first reported 100 years ago. Electrical stimulation of the central end of the cut nerve, however, did not produce an unequivocal fall in heart rate and blood pressure, so it was thought not to function as a depressor nerve. This remained the state of knowledge for fifty years when Marco Fedele performed a superb anatomical and physiological study of the depressor nerves of turtles and lizards. He demonstrated that there were two depressor nerves from each vagus; the superior nerve originated from the jugular ganglion or superior laryngeal nerve in turtles and from the superior laryngeal nerve or vagus in lizards; the inferior nerve originated from the nodose ganglion or slightly caudad of this ganglion. The nerves were shown to terminate in the proximal truncus arteriosus. Unlike the earlier workers, Fedele obtained a clear depressor effect on stimulating the depressor nerves. In more recent times baroreflexes have been demonstrated in response to hemorrhage and body tilting in reptiles, with snakes receiving particular attention. The evidence indicates that aquatic snakes are less effective at maintaining blood pressure than terrestrial and arboreal forms. The sensitivity (gain) of the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex, when it is expressed as a percentage change in heart rate per unit pressure change, is approximately the same in reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. In addition, the ultrastructural appearance of the baroreceptors of lizards is similar to that of mammals. A quantitative assessment of the ability of reptiles to correct disturbances in blood pressure has not yet been made, but techniques for obtaining this information are now available.
The influence of plane of nutrition and diet composition on the performance of dairy cows

Summary Seventy-six first-calf cows (heifers), 32 second·calf cows and 39 adult cows participated in a trial in which three diets composed of 60:40, 75:25, 90:10 proportions of compound to hay (hay dry-matter digestibility 0·6) were given for the first 36 weeks of lactation in amounts to provide daily an estimated 125, 156 MJ and ad libitum digestible energy (DE) for heifers, and 156, 187 MJ and ad libitum DE for the other parities. The ad libitum intakes were 150 and 200 MJ DE daily for heifers and for older cows respectively. Greater compound content of the diet and larger daily allowance of DE were associated with increased occurrence of mastitis and lameness but not digestive upsets. Dry·matter (D.M.) digestibility was increased with a greater proportion of compound in the diet but was not affected by the amount consumed or stage of lactation. Milk yield and live·weight change were increased linearly and additively by a greater intake of digestible dry matter and by a greater proportion of compound in the diet, throughout the lactation save for no effect of diet composition on live·weight change in early lactation. On equal feed intakes older cows gave more milk and lost more live weight than heifers in early lactation but not thereafter; responses to additional feed were equal for all parities studied. Milk fat concentration was reduced both by increased allowance and by the high compound diet. Milk solids·not·fat (SNF) concentration was not affected by the treatments. Yield of milk fat was not affected by amount eaten and was reduced by the 90:10 diet. Yields of SNF and milk energy were increased by amount eaten and by increased compound in the diet. Thirty-two primiparous cows continued on their experimental treatments without interruption to the end of the second lactation. In the second lactation the effects on yields of milk, milk energy, and SNF were magnified indicating a cumulative effect from lactation to lactation. Little cumulative effect was observed on either milk fat yield, or concentrations of fat and SNF in milk. More generous feeding was associated with reduced milk output/unit D.M. consumed in the first but not the second lactation. More generous feeding improved live·weight change less in the second than in the first lactation. No cumulative effects over two lactations were observed consequent upon variation in diet composition.
Water quality and sediment and nutrient export from New Zealand hill‐land catchments of contrasting land use

Abstract Measurements were made of suspended sediment (SS), volatile suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, turbidity, black disk visibility, pH, alkalinity, and temperature, at monthly intervals for 2–5 years on nine streams draining catchments with pasture, pine plantation, and native forest land uses. Stream flow and flow‐weighted concentrations of SS, N, and P were also measured for up to 2 years from pasture, native forest, and mixed land‐use catchments enabling calculation of export (kg ha‐1 yr‐1). During 1996–97, export from the pasture stream was 2.5‐ to 7‐fold higher for SS (988), total P (1.50), total Kjeldahl N (5.65), nitrate N (4.37), and ammoniacal N (0.34) than from the stream draining native forest. In contrast, export of DOC (25.5) and dissolved reactive P (DRP) (0.25) from the pasture stream were within 20% of the native stream's values. Export of SS and nutrients (except DRP) from the pasture catchment was 4‐ to 15‐fold higher during the winters of 1995 and 1996 than winter 1997 when rainfall was half the normal level. Streams draining native forest had lower temperature, sediment, and nutrient concentrations (except DRP), and higher water clarity, than those draining pine forest and pasture. A pine/scrub stream had the highest SS and turbidity and lowest DRP, pH, and alkalinity. Pasture streams had the highest concentrations of all N species (geometric means 2‐to 4‐fold > native), total P, and DOC, and also showed the greatest variation in water quality attributes in relation to season and flow. The influences of land use were attributable to differences in both source materials of sediment and nutrients available for transport and changes in rates of in‐stream processing.
Is Nut Cold Tolerance a Limitation to the Restoration of American Chestnut in the Northeastern United States?

American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a dominant hardwood species in the eastern United States, growing from Maine to Georgia and west to the Ohio Valley (Harlow et al. 1979). Arguably, American chestnut may have been the most important hardwood species in North America, renowned for its quick growth, massive size, and great utility (Harlow et al. 1979). Unfortunately, within 50 years of the introduction of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica)--a fungal disease native to Asia--American chestnut was functionally removed as an overstory tree from eastern forests (Griffin 2000).
S100A9 induces aggregation-prone conformation in Abeta peptides: a combined experimental and simulation study

Inflammation is one of the prominent pathological features in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, there have been various proposed roles of neuroinflammation, such as the driving forces, bystander, byproduct or the neuroprotective response. Notwithstanding these diverse possible mechanisms, experiments have found that S100A9 is one of the pro-inflammatory proteins abundant and over-expressed in the inflammation sites of AD. In this paper, we examine the role of S100A9 in the oligomerization process of Aβ peptides by means of replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation and experimental investigations. Our experiments, based on atomic force microscopy and Thioflavin T spectroscopic assays, have clearly indicated that the close interaction between S100A9 and Aβ has significantly enhanced the Aβ oligomerization. In line with the experimental observation, our simulation studies have revealed that the pro-inflammatory S100A9 protein interacts with the Aβ peptides directly, mainly through hydrophobic interactions with the Aβ central hydrophobic core region. In addition, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the residues of the S100A9 homodimer and the two ends of the Aβ peptides is found to cause a straightening of the Aβ12–24 peptides. A more straight Aβ12–24 peptide with a higher β-content then may function as a template to induce the folding of new incoming Aβ peptides, which leads to the formation of aggregation-prone oligomers.
Reproductive biology of the seastar Ceramaster grenadensis from the deep north-western Mediterranean Sea

Ceramaster grenadensis is one of the most abundant bathyal seastars in the north-western Mediterranean Sea and also presents a wide geographic distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. As with other species in this genus, little information is available on the biology and reproductive strategy of C. grenadensis. In this context, we describe for the first time the reproductive cycle of this species from bathyal depths in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. Specimens (N = 141) were collected seasonally from 194 benthic trawls (141 Otter Trawls and 53 Agassiz trawls) conducted during 10 cruises from October 2008 to April 2013. Open slope and canyon systems were sampled at depths between 900 and 2250 m. The population distribution of C. grenadensis showed a depth-related structure, with the smaller adult specimens and juveniles present at greater depths. Sex ratio was 2:1 females per male, constant among seasons and depths. Histological analyses of the gonads showed an asynchronous ovarian organization, with previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes throughout the year. These oogenesis patterns suggest a continuous reproduction. However, the Pyloric Caeca Index (PCI) decreased in summer while the Gonad Index (GI) increased in autumn in males, suggesting a higher spawning capacity in autumn. In both sexes, an increasing GI and PCI trend was observed with increasing depth.
No-tillage farming, soil fertility and maize root growth

Sustainable land management involves preservation of soil properties associated with soil quality and fertility. Conservation or no-tillage farming by retaining crop residues after harvesting can considerably contribute to soil fertility and crop productivity. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare effects of two agricultural practices, conventional using mouldboard ploughing (CP) and no-tillage (NT), on soil fertility and on root growth of maize. The study is conducted on two adjoined fields on Chernozem in Eastern Austria. Soil samples are taken to assess essential physical and chemical soil parameters. Qualitative and quantitative observations on maize root system are conducted. Rooting patterns and spatial extension of seminal roots are examined on soil profile walls. Soil cores are taken on different positions and split into subsamples. Roots of each subsample are washed out and morphological parameters are measured. Results show differences in soil parameters primarily in the top soil where aggregate stability, bulk density, air-filled porosity, plant-available water, nitrogen and phosphorus contents were higher in NT than in CP. Maize roots in the ploughed field spread widely, while in the no-tillage one the root growth was deeper. Better shoot growth and higher yields are mainly obtained in NT than in CP.
Development and Characterization of EST-SSR Markers for the Endangered Tree Magnolia patungensis (Magnoliaceae)

Magnolia patungensis (Magnoliaceae) is an endangered tree species endemic to China. To facilitate analysis of its genetic variability, we developed novel polymorphic expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers using transcriptome data. In total, 37 774 SSRs amounting to 91.52 Mb were identified from 131 132 unigenes, with the frequency of 28.81% and the average density of 2.42 kb. Mononucleotide (50.81%) and dinucleotide (34.12%) were the most abundant repeat types. We randomly selected 102 putative loci to test the amplification efficiency and the degree of polymorphism using three populations from which 15 individuals per population were sampled. The successful amplification rate was 36.27% and the polymorphism rate 12.75%. The 13 polymorphic SSR marker primers selected were used to characterize the genetic diversity of M. patungensis. A total of 40 alleles were identified for the species, ranging from 2 to 5 per locus. At the population level, the mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 1.9 to 2.5, and the mean observed and expected heterozygosity values from 0.308 to 0.446 and 0.304 to 0.424, respectively. Significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.286) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.627) among populations were discovered. Transferability of the markers was tested in five congeneric species. Nine loci were successfully amplified in M. dandyi, eight in M. insignis, M. fordiana and M. hookeri, and seven in M. conifera. These new EST-SSR markers will be an essential tool for the conservation of this endangered species as well as for investigating the evolutionary history for M. patungensis and its congenerics.
Complete Chloroplast Genome of Triaenophora shennongjiaensis (Orobanchaceae), an Endangered Medical Herb from China

Triaenophora shennongjiaensis (Orobanchaceae, Lamiales) is a medical herb whose population size in China is extremely small. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop conservation and management strategies for this endangered species. In this study, we determined the complete chloroplast genome of T. shennongjiaensis using Illumina paired-end sequencing data. The plastome is 153 799 bp in length, with a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (25 838 bp), one large single copy region (84 649 bp), and one small single copy region (17 474 bp). The plastome contains 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes and 37 transfer RNA genes, 17 of which are duplicated within the IRs. Evolutionary analysis showed that the ndhK gene had potentially undergone positive selection. Phylogenetic analysis based on 20 plastomes of Lamiales indicate that T. shennongjiaensis is closely related to Rehmannia species. Our work contributes to the study of the evolutionary history of Lamiales and conservation management of T. shennongjiaensis.
The Other-Race-Effect on Audiovisual Speech Integration in Infants: A NIRS Study

Previous studies have revealed perceptual narrowing for the own-race-face in face discrimination, but this phenomenon is poorly understood in face and voice integration. We focused on infants’ brain responses to the McGurk effect to examine whether the other-race effect occurs in the activation patterns. In Experiment 1, we conducted fNIRS measurements to find the presence of a mapping of the McGurk effect in Japanese 8- to 9-month-old infants and to examine the difference between the activation patterns in response to own-race-face and other-race-face stimuli. We used two race-face conditions, own-race-face (East Asian) and other-race-face (Caucasian), each of which contained audiovisual-matched and McGurk-type stimuli. While the infants (N = 34) were observing each speech stimulus for each race, we measured cerebral hemoglobin concentrations in bilateral temporal brain regions. The results showed that in the own-race-face condition, audiovisual-matched stimuli induced the activation of the left temporal region, and the McGurk stimuli induced the activation of the bilateral temporal regions. No significant activations were found in the other-race-face condition. These results mean that the McGurk effect occurred only in the own-race-face condition. In Experiment 2, we used a familiarization/novelty preference procedure to confirm that the infants (N = 28) could perceive the McGurk effect in the own-race-face condition but not that of the other-race-face. The behavioral data supported the results of the fNIRS data, implying the presence of narrowing for the own-race face in the McGurk effect. These results suggest that narrowing of the McGurk effect may be involved in the development of relatively high-order processing, such as face-to-face communication with people surrounding the infant. We discuss the hypothesis that perceptual narrowing is a modality-general, pan-sensory process.
Management of Multi Organ Dysfunction in Neonatal Encephalopathy

Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) describes neonates with disturbed neurological function in the first post-natal days of life. NE is an overall term that does not specify the etiology of the encephalopathy although it often involves hypoxia-ischaemia. In NE, although neurological dysfunction is part of the injury and is most predictive of long-term outcome, these infants may also have multiorgan injury and compromise, which further contribute to neurological impairment and long-term morbidities. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care for moderate to severe NE. Infants with NE may have co-existing immune, respiratory, endocrine, renal, hepatic, and cardiac dysfunction that require individualized management and can be impacted by TH. Non-neurological organ dysfunction not only has a negative effect on long term outcome but may also influence the efficacy of treatments in the acute phase. Post resuscitative care involves stabilization and decisions regarding TH and management of multi-organ dysfunction. This management includes detailed neurological assessment, cardio-respiratory stabilization, glycaemic and fluid control, sepsis evaluation and antibiotics, seizure identification, and monitoring and responding to biochemical and coagulation derangements. The emergence of new biomarkers of specific organ injury may have predictive value and improve the definition of organ injury and prognosis. Further evidence-based research is needed to optimize management of NE, prevent further organ dysfunction and reduce neurodevelopmental impairment.
An Evaluation of Effects of Mass Selection and Seed Irradiation With Thermal Neutrons on Yield of Corn 1

Although the irradiation treatment was detrimental to yield, the irradiated strain significantly outyielded the original variety and yielded only slightly less than the mass-selected control strain after four generations of selection. It is doubtful that irradiation of an already genetically variable population will prove to be particularly valuable as a breeding procedure; yet it is too early to draw definite conclusions. Additional generations of selection are needed. Because of its simplicity and apparent effectiveness, the use of mass selection of individual plants is suggested as a possible method of yield improvement in populations of corn segregating for genes controlling yield. Where the advantages of hybrids other than yield are desired, mass selection is suggested as a possible means of increasing the frequency of favorable genes in segregating populations prior to inbreeding. If over-dominance exists at any locus, mass selection will not be successful in altering gene frequency for that locus after an equilibrium point is reached. Some possible explanations are advanced for the apparent lack of success of early corn breeders using mass- selection and ear-to-row breeding techniques.
Comparative Pathogenicity of Duck Hepatitis A Virus-1 Isolates in Experimentally Infected Pekin and Muscovy Ducklings

Duck hepatitis virus (DHV) has always been considered one of the threats endangering duck farming in Egypt since the 1960s. In the current study, suspected DHV samples (n = 30) were obtained from commercial Pekin, Mulard (hybrid), and Muscovy duck farms and backyards in Beheira, Alexandria, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, and Giza provinces between 2012 and 2017. Diseased 3–21-day-old ducklings showed a clinical history of high mortality rates and nervous signs. Samples were screened by RT-PCR targeting the 5′UTR region and VP1 gene. The PCR-confirmed samples (n = 7) were isolated via allantoic route inoculation onto 9-day-old specific-pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs. Embryos showed stunting, subcutaneous hemorrhages, and liver necrotic greenish-yellow foci. Duck hepatitis A virus-1 (DHAV-1) isolates were genetically analyzed in comparison to other field and vaccine strains. Phylogenetic analyses of the full-length VP1 gene sequences revealed that the obtained DHAV-1 field isolates clustered into genetic group 4 alongside other Egyptian strains isolated during the same period (95.9–99.72% similarity). Amino acid substitutions in the carboxyl-terminal of VP1 (I180T, G184E, D193N, and M213I) were identified in two strains. Also, deletion mutation at I189 was detected in three DHAV-1 strains. Additionally, the two amino acid residues E205 and N235 were common among the isolated strains and other virulent DHAV-1 strains. Two DHAV-1 isolates originated from Pekin source were selected for conducting the comparative pathogenicity testing based on detected point mutations at C-terminus of VP1. We evaluated the pathogenicity of these isolates by investigating clinical signs, mortality rates, and gross pathological and microscopic lesions. The study revealed that experimentally infected Pekin and Muscovy ducklings showed similar clinical signs including squatting down, lateral recumbency, and spasmodic kicking. Muscovy showed milder pathological changes in the liver compared to Pekin ducklings. Histopathological findings supported the gross pathological lesions detected in both breeds. In conclusion, these data provide updated information on the genetic diversity and pathotyping of Egyptian DHAV-1 strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of comparative pathogenicity of recent DHAV-1 strains in Pekin and Muscovy ducklings in Egypt and the Middle East region.