Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of Challenges to Genetic Improvement of Indigenous Livestock for Improved Food Production in Nigeria

Indigenous livestock production is intertwined with the life style of Nigerians. The Nigerian livestock industry employs the bulk of the rural work-force, and indigenous livestock breeds are abundant in the industry. These breeds are distributed across the diverse agro-ecological production systems, and are carriers of unique and responsive genotypes shaped by the needs of their managers. Despite their unique features, most indigenous livestock breeds are characteristically low in production and productivity. Improvement of these breeds represents a logical starting point for improving food security and agricultural productivity in Nigeria. To better understand natural genetic variation in these indigenous livestock breeds and strategies for improvement, better genetic characterization is required. Molecular assisted selection (MAS) will be valuable in the pursuit of selection for increased production, but the application of MAS to livestock improvement is constrained by a variety of limitations. The focus of this paper is to elucidate the potential of MAS as a tool for genetic improvement of indigenous livestock, to identify constraints and challenges in MAS implementation and propose solutions to increasing MAS feasibility in pursuit of improved food security and sustainability in Nigeria. Keywords: Food security, Genetic improvement, Genomic Selection, Indigenous livestock, Marker assisted selection, Nigeria
In vitro explants regeneration of the grape Wink (Vitis vinifera L. Wink)

The effects of different hormones and their concentration combinations, different explant types, dark periods, on the regeneration of the grape ‘Wink’ was investigated using in vitro leaves, petioles, internodes and radicles. The results showed that of all the media prepared, the explants on following media produced the highest regeneration rate: 78.74±1.60% of the leave explants on the medium prepared with MS+18.20 μM,TDZ+0.49 μM IBA regenerated with a mean of 6.75±0.75 shoots per explant; 39.33±1.47% of the petioles on the medium prepared with MS+9.10 μM TDZ+0.49 μM IBA regenerated with a mean of 3.55±0.50 shoots per explant and 41.37±1.13% of internodes on the same medium regenerated with a mean of 4.74±0.64. However, radicles did not generate on any of the media. TDZ enhanced regeneration rate of leaves better than BA. From 0 week to 4 weeks in dark, leave explants displayed a higher rate of regeneration for 2 or 3 weeks. Adventitious shoots were rooted on 3/4 MS+1.73 μM IBA medium, and the rooted plantlets survived after acclimatization and they were transplanted to the greenhouse. Key words: Grape, explants, regeneration, hormones, adventitious shoots.
An Assessment of Different Techniques for Inoculating Phaseolus vulgaris with Rhizobium

SUMMARY A technique to better ensure reliable nodulation of pot-grown, P. vulgaris plants with cultured strains of Rhizobium is described. Nodulation, dinitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) activity and growth of 28-day-old plants were all stimulated markedly when seeds had been inoculated with cultured Rhizobium phaseoli suspended in alginate gel (Agrigel) rather than in sucrose solution. Nodulation attributes of plants inoculated with R. phaseoli strain RCR 3644 which had been sub-cultured repeatedly on yeast mannitol agar slopes were consistently inferior to those recorded for the same strain but recently cultured from a freeze-dried sample. Some of the potential problems with open pot culture of nodule-dependent legumes are discussed.
How Informed are the Smart Guys? Evidence from Short-Term Institutional Trading Prior to Major Events

We examine the information content of trading by examining institutional investors' ability to trade in the correct direction in the days immediately preceding large value-relevant events. Prior to takeovers, institutional investors are actually small (insignificant) net sellers and there is no evidence that their trading can predict takeover premiums. Institutional trading in the five and ten days prior to earnings announcements is uninformative of earnings announcement returns. For large positive and negative price moves other than takeovers and earnings announcements, we find institutional selling ahead of large up-moves, and institutional buying ahead of large negative returns. We further examine short-term institutional net buying unconditionally and find that it is uninformative of future one- and two-week stock returns. In contrast, we find that institutional trading on and after earnings announcements is profitable. Overall, our findings suggest that aggregate institutional profits may primarily stem from their ability to process publicly available information rather than their ability to extract private information.
Composição química, caracterização e quantificação da população de microrganismos em capim-elefante cv. Cameroon (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) e suas silagens

Values of pH, ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen (NH3-N), chemical composition, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and microbial populations of elephantgrass silages produced with enzymatic-bacterial inoculants, were evaluated in six fermentation periods (1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days), using laboratory silos. A 6 x 3 (six fermentation periods x three inoculants) factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design, with three replicates, was used. The following bacterial inoculants were evaluated: control (without inoculant), Sill All C4 (Alltech of Brazil) and Bacto Silo Tropical C (Katec). The CP, NDF and ADF contents were affected only by the fermentation period. The IVDMD, however, was affected by the inoculant × fermentation period interaction.The IVDMD concentration, however, was affected by the interaction between inoculant and fermentation period. There was a significant effect of inoculant and period on pH value, being observed reduction of 0.5769; 0.62327, and 0.80218 units/day of fermentation for the control silage, silage treated with Sil All, and Bacto Silo, respectively. It was observed inoculant × fermentation period interaction for NH3-N. The lactic acid bacteria population in the grass before ensiling was 104 cfu/gram of fresh forage, reaching maximum value of 108 cfu/gram of fresh silage at 14 days of fermentation to the control silage, and at 7 days of fermentation to the silages treated with inoculant. The enterobacter were not detected after the third day of fermentation and the maximum values of 104, <10, and 103 cfu/gram were registred for the silage to control, Sil All, and Bacto Silo Tropical C silages, respectively.
Isolation and characterization of edible oil from wild olive

We report for the first time new edible oil extracted and quantified from fruit samples of wild olive (Olea cuspidata) possibly use for human consumption. Fruits and oil of wild olive were assessed for physical and chemical properties, while saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were quantified using gas chromatography. Results indicate that fruits of wild olive contain moisture (42.1 ± 1.6 - 60.7 ± 2.6%), crude protein (0.5 ± 0 to 1.1 ± 0.01%), total oil (32.1 ± 1.1 to 38.6 ± 1.2%), fiber (2.6 ± 0.4 to 6.5 ± 0.3%), ash (1.7 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.4 %) and carbohydrate (0.5 ± 0.0 to 14.3 ± 0.7%). The refractive index of the oil (1.331 to 1.372), specific gravity (0.91 to 0.93 ), pH values (5.1 to 5.5), iodine value (75.2 ± 1.2 to 91.4 ± 1.5), peroxide value (14.2 ± 0.2 to 20.3 ± 0.8 mg/kg oil), saponification number (175.6 ± 1.2 to 187.3 ± 1.8 mg KOH /g ), unsaponificable matter (12.6 ± 0.4 to 15.6 ± 0.8 g/kg), acid value (0.7 ± 0 to 1.3 ± 0 mEg/ kg and total phenol (23.6 ± 1.5 to 92.4 ± 2.1 mg/kg) were also determined. Concentration of fatty acids; oleic acid (69.3 to 74.5%), linoleic acid (1.3 to 3.2%), linolenic acid ( 11.2 to 15.2%) palmitoleic acid (1.10 to 2.10%), palmitic acid (11.2 to 14.0%) and stearic acid (0.1 to 0.2%) remained closed to those reported for the commercially available olive oil extracted from Olea europea. The new oil can be used as alternative to olive oil in human diet after toxicological studies.
Experiments on egg discrimination in two North American corvids: further evidence for retention of egg ejection

In the absence of brood parasitism in North America, black-billed magpies, Pica hudsonia (Sabine, 1822), and yellow-billed magpies, Pica nuttalli (Audubon, 1837), may have retained egg-discrimination behaviour that evolved in Eurasian magpies, Pica pica (L., 1758), in response to parasitism by Old World cuckoos. We further examined this hypothesis by testing the egg-discrimination abilities of black-billed magpies and the American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, 1822, which has no history of brood parasitism. In addition, we tested an alternative hypothesis that black-billed magpies evolved or retained egg discrimination to counter conspecific parasitism by testing their ability to eject foreign conspecific eggs and by using a signal detection model to estimate the level of conspecific parasitism required for ejection to be favoured. Black-billed magpies ejected all non-mimetic eggs and 62% of mimetic eggs. Significantly more mimetic eggs were ejected during the incubation stage than during the laying .
The response of male broiler chickens to diets with various protein contents during the grower and finisher phases

Abstract 1. In two trials, each using 960 male broilers from 21 to 42 d of age increasing dietary protein from 175 to 220 g/kg at equal ME increased body‐weight gain from 986 to 1090 g and gain:food ratio from 0·439 to 0·499, while abdominal fat pad weights (40·7 to 35·2 g) and total carcass fat content (140 to 118 g/kg) decreased. 2. From 42 to 49 d gain: food ratio increased with increasing protein content, while body‐weight gain and abdominal fat were not affected. 3. Broilers fed on the lower‐protein diet from 21 to 42 d showed compensatory growth during the finisher phase (371 versus 331 g gained) and utilised food more efficiently (0·383 versus 0·340 g gained/g food consumed). 4. Decisions regarding nutrient concentrations during grower and finisher phases should take into account compensatory growth and food utilisation as well as body‐weight gain, food consumption and carcass composition.
THE EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC WORD OF MOUTH (EWOM), PRODUCT QUALITY AND PRICE ON PURCHASE DECISIONS

This study aims to determine the effect of E-Wom (Electronical World of Mouth), Product Quality and Price on Purchasing Decisions The type of research used in this study is descriptive associative using a causal approach. The population in this study are Xiaomi consumers who have purchased Xiaomi mobile phones. The sampling technique used is non-probability sampling and the type of sampling used is purposive sampling. The method of data collection using questionnaire and analysis technique using SEM (Structural Equational Modeling) wherein there is an inner model and outer model test and the tools used are SmartPLS 3.0. Data collection techniques using questionnaires that have been tested for validity and reliability. The results showed that partially electronic variable word of mouth, product quality and price had a positive and significant effect on purchasing decisions.
Effect of Nigella Sativa on Lipid Profile in Albino Rats

Background: Coronary heart disease is a global health problem. Dyslipidemia is one of its major risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Nigella sativa seeds in the diet on lipid profile in albino rats. Material and methods: Eighty-four albino rats were divided into six groups. Control groups I, III and V were given; low fat diet with 3% sunflower oil, high fat diet with 20% sunflower oil and high fat diet supplemented with 1% colic acid and 0.5% propylthiouracil as atherogenic elements respectively. The Experimental groups II, IV and VI were given above diets respectively supplemented with Nigella sativa seeds. Lipid profile was estimated at 0, 12 and 24 weeks. Results: Albino rats fed on low fat diet containing 3% sunflower oil supplemented with Nigella sativa showed significant reduction in TC and LDL cholesterol and rise in HDL cholesterol. Those on high fat diet containing 20% sunflower oil with Nigella sativa seeds showed significant reduction in TG and LDL cholesterol and increase in HDL cholesterol. While in those given high fat diet with 20% sunflower oil, along with 1% cholic acid and 0.5% propylthiouracil with the addition of Nigella sativa, there was significant reduction in TC and LDL cholesterol and rise in HDL cholesterol. Conclusion: Nigella sativa seeds in the diet has a favorable effect on lipid profile by lowering the triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increasing the HDL cholesterol in albino rats.
Protein for adaptations to exercise training

Abstract Nutrient intake before, during, and after training will influence the adaptations that occur in response to the training stimulus. The influence of protein on training adaptations is receiving increasing attention from researchers. Methodological issues should be carefully considered when evaluating evidence of nutritional influence on training adaptations. Evidence suggests that adaptations to training are due to changes in the types and activities of various proteins in response to each exercise bout. Thus, study of the acute metabolic and molecular responses to exercise plus nutrition may provide valuable information about the expected influence on training adaptations. The type of protein, timing of protein ingestion relative to exercise, concurrent ingestion of other nutrients with protein, as well as the type of exercise training performed will impact the adaptations to training with the intake of protein. Protein is an important nutrient for muscle hypertrophy with training, but there is little support for the need for very high (e.g. >2.5–3.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight) intakes. Traditionally, endurance athletes have focused on carbohydrate intake, but recently protein has been touted to be critical during and after endurance exercise. There is evidence for and against the importance of protein for endurance exercise and more, well-controlled studies are required to delineate the importance of protein for endurance exercise adaptations. Whereas nutritional manipulations have customarily been focused on preventing protein degradation, muscle damage, and oxidative stress, recent evidence suggests that these processes may be critical for the optimal adaptive response to training.
Project Title: Effect of finishing cattle on high protein dried distillers grains on animal performance and carcass and meat characteristics. Submitted To: Agricultural Utilization Research Institute Minnesota Corn Growers Association Project Team Leader:

processes. Specifically, some ethanol plants have begun to produce high protein dried distillers grains by separating the corn oil from the stillage. The resulting co‐product contains more protein and less fat than traditional distillers grains plus solubles. There is little research to show how these new co‐ products impact livestock performance and meat quality. This research provides feedlot managers and livestock producers with more information about these new feed products. Ethanol facilities may also benefit from this research by having access to more data on feed performance for high protein dried distillers grains.
Occurrence of Pasteurella multocida in the nasopharynx of healthy buffaloes and their immunity status

The study was carried out on 247 slaughtered buffaloes at the Ahvaz abattoir in Khouzestan province of Iran. Nasopharyngeal swabs and 10 ml blood samples were taken immediately after slaughter. The swabs were streaked on 5% sheep blood agar plates. The cultures were incubated at 37 0 C for 24 h, and the plates were examined for colonies resembling Pasteurella multocida. Suspicious colonies were further purified, and examined microscopically and biochemically. The isolates were biotyped biochemically, and their pathogenicity for mice was examined. Sera samples were tested for the presence of P. multocida antibodies by indirect haemagglutination test. Sera, which showed titres of 16 or above, were regarded as positive. P. multocida was isolated from the nasopharynx of 10 out of 247 healthy buffaloes examined. There was no relationship between the infection and sex or age of the animals. Out of 10 isolates, 6 belonged to type B and 3 were not classified. They were pathogenic for mice and caused death within less than 24 h after infection. Indirect haemagglutination test demonstrated that P. multocida antibody titres of ≥ 16 were in 67 (27.12%) buffaloes.
Effect of age at maturity on life-span and generation time of New Zealand common smelt, Retropinna retropinna (Richardson)

Errors in ageing may seriously affect calculations of the generation time of fish, particularly short-lived species. Ages of common smelt, Retropinna retropinna, from the Waikato River system in the North Island of New Zealand were estimated from counts of increments observed in sagittal otoliths. Ages were verified in the laboratory using the oxytetracycline marking method. The estimated mean deposition rate was one increment per day. The ages of 86 smelt sampled at sites on the Waikato River system ranged from 2 days to 18 months. The birth dates of diadromous fish occurred primarily during austral autumn and winter; whereas lacustrine-reservoir fish hatched during the spring and summer, with a few fish originating from winter spawning. The generation time of the majority of smelt was approximately 1 year rather than 2 as was previously described from analyses of length frequency distributions. Short generation times help explain the rapid increases in the abundance of smelt when they are introduced into new habitats and also the rapid changes in the meristic character, the mean number of rakers on the first gill arch.
Evaluating the Anti-inflammatory and Anti- microbial Properties of Plumeria rubra (Frangipani) for the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases in Animal Agriculture

Plumeria rubra (frangipani) leaves and flowers were extracted using ethyl acetate by maceration process of solvent extraction. The leaves and flowers were screened for phytochemicals, anti-microbial and antiinflammatory activities. The leaves and flower extracts showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, balsam, cardiac glycosides, phenols, terpenes and steroids. The extract indicates the absence of flavonoids, saponins and resins. The leaves and flower extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, resins, terpenes and steroids; absence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and balsam. The zones of inhibition ranges from 10-28mm and the plant extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram-negative bacteria. It was more pronounced on gram negative bacteria especially Proteus mirabilis. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate crude extract was effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is usually resistant to most antimicrobial agents. The extracts were also effective against the fungi Candida albicans. The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for the prevention and treatment of diseases in animal agriculture.
The Public Health Impact and Policy Implications of Online Support Group Use for Mental Health in Singapore: Cross-Sectional Survey

Background The wide mental health treatment gap continues to pose a global and local public health challenge. Online support groups are on the rise and could be used to complement formal treatment services for mental health. Objective This study aimed to examine the prevalence of online support group use and explore factors associated with the use in the general population using data from a national cross-sectional mental health survey in Singapore. Methods Singapore residents aged 18 years and above participated in a nationally representative household survey in which the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was administered by trained interviewers to examine the use of online support groups for mental health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the association of online support group use with various sociodemographic and health factors. Results A total of 6110 respondents with complete data were included in this study. Overall, 10 individuals per 1000 adults (1%) reported seeking help from online support groups for their mental health problems. Compared to younger adults (those aged 18 to 34 years) and those with university education, individuals aged 50 to 64 years (P<.001; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.3) and those with preuniversity qualifications (P=.02; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.8) were less likely to use online support groups for mental health, respectively. Participants with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorder were 6.8 times more likely (P<.001; 95% CI 3.0-15.4) to use an online support group; in particular, individuals with major depressive disorder (P<.001; OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.1-13.8) and obsessive compulsive disorder (P=.01; OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.7) were more likely to use an online support group for their mental health. Conclusions Online support groups could be used to complement formal treatment services, especially for mood and anxiety-related disorders. As online support group use for mental health issues may be more prevalent among younger people, early detection and accurate information in online support groups may guide individuals toward seeking professional help for their mental health problems.
Genetic Algorithm PDN Optimization based on Minimum Number of Decoupling Capacitors Applied to Arbitrary Target Impedance

The current demand in Power Distribution Network (PDN) design is characterized by the accurate placement of decoupling capacitors and the minimization of their number aimed at cost saving. The paper proposes an optimization algorithm for accordingly placing decoupling capacitors one-by-one and iteratively evaluating the cost function of each PDN design solution. This allows the designer to identify the minimum number of decaps whenever the input impedance satisfies the target impedance requirements. The algorithm is based on the Genetic Algorithm accordingly adapted for the specific application of PDN design. It may involve the evaluation of the input impedance at multiple locations, representing either multiple ICs, as well as multiple power input areas/pins of the same IC. The validation of the developed optimization algorithm is carried out by applying it to a manufactured PCB and by employing typical (low inductance) decaps for PDN design. The optimization process led to a decap configuration that effectively takes into account the decap value, the parasitics inductance, and the decap location. An accurate experimental test further validates the optimized PDN.