Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on body weights of Muzaffarnagari sheep

Estimates of co(variance) components were obtained for weights at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age in Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, over a period of 28 years (1976 to 2003). Records of 5530 lambs out of 169 rams and 1631 ewes were used for the study. Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), fitting six animal models, including various combinations of maternal effects. Heritability estimates for weight at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0·09, 0·21, 0·06, 0·10 and 0·14, respectively. Maternal heritability of body weight declined from 0·07 at birth to 0·02 at weaning. The maternal permanent environmental component contributed 10 to 11% to the total variance for all traits except weight at 12 months. A significant large negative genetic correlation was observed between direct and maternal genetic effects on weaning weight, suggesting the presence of antagonistic environmental, as well as perhaps genetic, effects in daughter and dam. Results suggest that maternal additive effects were only important in early stages of growth, whereas a permanent environmental maternal effect existed at all ages up to 9 months, probably as a carry-over effect of maternal influences present at weaning. Modest rates of genetic progress appear possible for all weights, but the presence of an antagonism between direct and maternal effects on weaning weight would complicate attempts to improve both by selection.
The first parasitic Trichoptera

Abstract. 1 A parasitoid habit is confirmed in larvae of an Australian micro‐caddisfly, Orthotrichia muscari Wells, being the first known incidence of this habit in the order Trichoptera. 2 Larvae of O.muscari are non‐specific parasites of pupae of other caddisfly species. 3 O.muscari is in an Australian/New Guinean/SE Asian species group in Orthotrichia, all members of which probably share the habit. Their larvae and pupae have atypical features that are interpreted as adaptations to their uncharacteristic niche.
Duration of the oestrous cycle and changes in plasma hormone concentrations measured after an induced ovulation in scimitar‐horned oryx (Oryx dammah)

To determine the duration and hormonal characteristics of the oestrous cycle in scimitar-horned oryx, ovulation was synchronized in 11 females using exogenous progesterone and a prostaglandin analogue. Daily blood samples were taken from six animals during 46 days (with a 7-day hiatus). The remaining five animals were blood sampled every 30 min for 6 h on three occassions druing 22 days, then resynchronized with prostaglandin analogue and pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin and blood sampled daily for another 21 days (with a 7-day hiatus). Behavioural observations were made on days 1 through 3 and 24 through 28 to determine the occurrence of oestrus. Only animals > 2 years old (n= 7) had plasma progesterone concentrations indicative of luteal function, with a mean luteal phase progesterone concentration of 13.6 ± 3.3 (S.E.) nmol.l−1 and a mean follicular phase concentration of < 3.2 nmol.l−1. Mean duration of the oestrous cycle estimated from plasma progesterone profiles and behavioural data 22.7 ± 1.1 (S.E.; n= 7) days, range 17-25 days. When estimated from behavioural data alone, mean duration of the oestrous cycle was 22.3 ± 0.3 (S.E.; n= 3) days, range 22-23 days. Mean length of the luteal phase was 17.3 ± 0.6 (S.E.; n= 8) days, range 14-19 days, and mean length of the follucular phase was 5.6 ± 0.5 (S.E.; n= 5) days, range 3-7 days. Pulses in plasma LH concentration detected by Cluster analysis ranged from 0.34-1.55ng. ml−1 in animals ≷ 2 years old (n= 3), and from 0.17-0.29ng. ml−1 in animals < 2 years old (n= 2), the difference in mean pulse height being significant (P < 0.01). No difference in mean plasma LH concentration was detected due to stage of cycle. Elevations in plasma oestradiol-17β concentration were observed at or preceding oestrus in three animals and during the mid-luteal phase in three animals. A significant decrease in haematocrit with time was recorded for blood samples from the third serial bleed. This was greater (P > 0.01) in animals > 2 years of age (n= 3), suggesting that these older animals adapted better to the stress of repeated sampling. Plasma cortisol concentrations also declined throughout the serial bleed but there was no difference in this decline between the two age groups. Results of this study define the duration of the oestrous cycle in scimitar-horned oryx and show that its hormonal components are similar to the well-characterized patterns of other species, especially cattle.
Hydrolysis of Soybean 7S and 11S Globulins Using Bacillus subtilis

1 The United Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan 2 Faculty of Education, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan 3 Khao C.P. Co., Ltd. 135 Moo 5, Ayutthaya 13260, Thailand 4 The Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan 5 School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai 982-0215, Japan 6 Faculty of Regional Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan 7 Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Effects of soil fertility on root colonization and plant growth of Pinus sylvestris nursery seedlings inoculated with different ectomycorrhizal fungi

Container‐grown Pinus sylvestris seedlings fertilized at several different levels were inoculated with vegetative mycelium of twelve isolates representing nine different ectomycorrhizal fungi. Eight isolates formed mycorrhizae of which Piloderma croceum and Cenococ‐cum geophilum were most promising. Mantle thickness and Hartig net/cortex ratio of colonized seedlings exhibited no differences. Although unfertilized seedlings were significantly smaller than those fertilized, they were significantly more colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi. There were no size differences between low fertilized, standrad fertilized and high fertilized seedlings. A wide array of fungus ecotypes should be tested to find a ground fertilization level at which tolerant strains can produce seedlings of acceptable size for transplantation.
Biochemical and Histopathological study Of The Proteinaceous Compounds Separated From Aqueous Extract Of Marus Albul L. Fruit in alloxan diabetic mice

This work was concerned with isolating and molecular weight determination of the proteinous compounds isolated from the cold and boiled aqueous extract of Marus Albal L. using different biochemical techniques . Also this study indicated the effect of the proteinaceous compounds Ac, Bc and Ab, Bb on some biochemical parameters including glucose, cholesterol and total lipids levels in blood serum and glycogen content in liver tissues in normal and diabetic mice . A single intraperitoneal injection of these isolated compounds with a dose of 75 mg / kg body weight was used . As well as pancreas were removed and stained with H and E of pancreatic sections. Results indicated that intraperitoneal injection of insulin and all the proteinaceous compounds Ac , Bc and Ab, Bb obtained by gel filtration chromatography from the plant used had hypoglycemic effect on serum glucose level in normal and diabetic mice. The rate of decrease was from (18.2) to (43.7) % in the normal and form (29.57) to (50.20) % in the diabetic mice respectively. While compounds (Bb) showed a negligible to an increasing effect (3.91) % in the normal and (7.99)% in the diabetic mice. Also the highest decrease was obtained for compound (Ac), this decrease were (16.8 )% and (15.73) % for serum cholesterol levels in the normal and the diabetic mice respectively . As well as the highest decrease was obtained for compound (Ac) , this decrease were(23.62) % and (28.88) % for serum total lipids levels in the normal and the diabetic mice respectively. Also a decrease between (5.8 , 14.1) % and (6.4 , 12.9) % glycogen content in liver tissues was obtained when the normal and in the diabetic mice respectively were injected intraperitoneally by the proteinaceous compounds Ac, Bc and Ab , Bb from plants used. Finally alloxan induced diabetic mice group, the endocrine pancreas histologically showed decreased in the size and number of Langerhans islets with vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of almost all cell in the atrophied islets as compared with control group. The histomorphometic study of the pancreas of the treated group didn't show a significant change of the pancreatic tissue. http://dx.doi. org/10.25130/tjps.24. 2019.046
Invertase protein, but not activity, is present throughout development of Lycopersicon esculentum and L.pimpinellifolium fruit

Summary • The presence and distribution of invertase is reported in two red fruited and hexose accumulating species of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum and L. pimpinellifolium , which differ markedly in fruit invertase activity. • Using antibodies raised against a highly conserved invertase peptide, all invertase isoforms in green and red tomato fruit were detected and visualized by chemi luminescence and western blotting techniques. Interacellular localization of invertase was examined by electron and light microscopy. • Invertase activities were much lower in green fruit than in red fruit from all cultivars. However, invertase protein was evenly distributed between all tissues of green and red fruit in tissue blots that had been extensively treated with preimmune serum that eliminated all non-specific binding. Immuno-gold labelling showed that invertase protein was present in the cell wall and vacuole, but not in the cytosol, of epidermal tissue from both species. • Invertase protein is present throughout fruit development in tomato. However, the increase in activity during ripening is due to changes in the activation state of the protein rather than the amount of protein present.
Effect of Inhibin-B hormone and its relationship with a number of sex hormones in men with Azoospermia

Inhibin-B is produced by sertoli cells and acts as a negative feedback mechanism of follicular stimulation hormone (FSH). In order to evaluate the effect of Inhibin-B in men with Azoospermia, the study measured the concentrations of the following hormones: Inhibin-B, FSH, Luteinizing Hormone Prolactin (PRL), (LH) and Testosterone (Testo). Serum for 30 normal men semen and 50 men with Azoespermia (zero sperm count in sperm). The mean concentration of the hormone Inhibin-B in patients with Azoospermia was (135.7 ±87.6) pg/ml, while in normal men (175.6 ±47.9) Pg / ml with a significant value of the group of healthy patients at a significant level (p≤0.01). The mean serum FSH concentration in patients was (13.7 ± 12.27) lU / L whereas in normal men (4.1 ± 2.84) lU / L, the relationship was significant between patients and healthy at a significant level (P≤0.01) the correlation with the Inhibin-B hormone is reversible relationship. The mean concentration of LH in patients was (12.8±11.87) IU/L and in the healthy (7.9±5.57) IU/L and the relationship between them was significant (P≤0.05) and the correlation with the Inhibin-B hormone is positive relationship. The mean concentration of the Testosterone In the patients was (2.37 ± 1.22) IU / L and in the healthy (5.1 ± 1.96) IU/ L, the relationship was of significant value at P≤0.01 and the correlation with the Inhibin-B hormone is positive relationship, and there is a difference in the mean concentration of PRL between the patients and the healthy where it reaches (8.88 ±5.16) IU / L in patients and (8.03 ± 4.2) IU / L in the healthy. where the relationship was non-significant value between both patients and healthy and the correlation with the Inhibin-B hormone is positive relationship . http://dx.doi. org/10.25130/tjps.24.2019.042
Some preliminary results of studies on the bill and tongue morphology of Gurney's Sugarbird and some southern African sunbirds

Nectarivory has evolved independently in different avian families. Nectar feeding habits of Old World sunbirds (Nectariniidae) and sugarbirds (Promeropidae) (Skead 1967, Maclean 1993, Cheke et al. 2001) are shared by many other groups of birds. These include hummingbirds (Trochilidae), honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and honeycreepers (Drepanididae) that also probe flowers in search of nectar, and all include insects in the diet (Skead 1967, Paton and Collins 1989). Generally sunbirds, hummingbirds and honey-eaters all have long protrusile tongues, with tips adapted according to diet. Sunbird and hummingbird tongues have tubular tips through which nectar is ‘sucked’ (Liversidge 1967, Hainsworth 1973, Paton and Collins 1989), whereas honey-eaters and sugarbirds have brushlike tongues for collecting nectar from flowers (Liversidge 1967, Paton and Collins 1989). Relative to hummingbirds, little is known about the form and function of the bill and tongue of sunbirds (Nectariniidae) and sugarbirds (Promeropidae), other than the work of Scharnke (in Delacour 1944), Liversidge (in Skead 1967) and Schlamowitz et al. (1976). These authors described the form and shape, with diagrams, of various sunbird tongues and bills. However, no quantitative data was provided on the number of specimens used nor measurements of the various sections described. Liversidge (in Skead 1967) also included descriptions of the sugarbird tongues and bills but again included no quantitative data nor sample sizes. He described the feeding mechanism in both sunbirds and sugarbirds. The tongue morphology and lengths of three East African sunbird species (n = 1 for each) were described by Schlamowitz et al. (1976). Only bill culmen lengths of most southern African sunbirds and sugarbirds are well recorded (De Swardt 1990, 1995, Tree 1991, Maclean 1993). Consequently, I investigated the morphology of the bills and tongues of some southern African sunbird species and Gurney’s Sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi, and related it to their feeding mechanisms. I made use of scanning electron microscopy to see the details of the bills and tongues. Methods
Between-isolate difference in dispersal ability of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and vulnerability to inhibition by Pinus densiflora

Differences among four isolates of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and one of B. mucronatus in vulnerability to the inhibitory effect of Pinus densiflora on nematode dispersal were investigated by inoculating boiled and living branch sections 5 cm long. The intrinsic dispersal ability and vulnerability to the inhibitory effect of living branches differed among isolates. Additionally, the degree of branch inhibition of nematode dispersal was examined by inoculating the five isolates on 2.5 and 5.0 cm long, P. densiflora living branch sections. An increase in section length induced an 80% decrease in the number of nematodes of all isolates passing through the branch. The extent to which passing nematode number decreased as branch section length increased can be used to express susceptibility of pine species to pine wilt disease. Virulence had no relation to intrinsic and realised dispersal rates in B. xylophilus.
Testing Orthopyroxene Diffusion Chronometry on Rocks From the Lanzo Massif (Italian Alps)

Rocks from the northern and central zones of the Lanzo peridotite massif contain large (>3 mm) orthopyroxene crystals, often within a fine‐grained matrix. The rocks have been decompressed and cooled from the spinel peridotite field, via plagioclase peridotite to near the ocean floor. Orthopyroxene preserves evidence of the early part of this cooling history in the form of Cr and Al (plus various trace elements) loss profiles. Independent geological constraints can be placed on the cooling rates by considerations of absolute age (slowest possible cooling rate) and thermal modeling (fastest possible cooling rate), allowing a test of cooling rates retrieved from orthopyroxene diffusion chronometry. Quantitative profiles (mostly along the crystallographic c axis) and qualitative maps were measured for a series of orthopyroxene crystals, and the cooling rate extracted by diffusion modeling. It is possible to successfully extract reliable cooling rates from frozen Cr diffusion profiles in orthopyroxene, suggesting that the available experimental data are applicable to natural orthopyroxene. However, there are caveats related to the diffusion mechanism, boundary conditions when passing through the spinel‐plagioclase peridotite transition, and the potential effect of ubiquitous clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae on diffusion pathways and element partitioning. The usual issues of extracting 2‐D or 1‐D data from a 3‐D system apply, in addition to issues relating to shearing of orthopyroxene grains leading to moving boundaries. Al diffusion in orthopyroxene may be a more useful tool than Cr for assessing cooling rates, but its diffusivity is currently unconstrained.
Expression of MADS-box Genes in Narrow-petaled Cultivars of Rhododendron macrosepalum Maxim.

Japanese old azalea cultivars have various floral mutations. We isolated MADS-box class C homologous genes from wild-type Rhododendron macrosepalum to analyze the expression patterns in the floral organs of the narrow-petal mutational cultivars ‘Hanaguruma’, ‘Gin-no-zai’, and ‘Seigaiha’. The AG homologous genes RmAG1-1/-2/-3 were 99–100% identical to RkAG1-1/-2, which was isolated from R. kaempferi. In ‘Hanaguruma’, ‘Seigaiha’, and the wild type, the relative expression level of RmAG in whorl 2 was much lower than that in whorl 3. In contrast, the relative expression level of RmAG in whorl 2 of ‘Gin-no-zai’ was approximately 15.5% of that in whorl 3. In ‘Gin-no-zai’, the petals with mutations were categorized as 1 of these 3 types: type 1, consisting of narrow petals with traces of anthers; type 2, consisting of narrow petals only; and type 3, consisting of petals that coalesced with the neighboring petals. The relative expression levels of RmAG gradually increased from type 3 to type 1 petals. These results suggest that the degree of staminoidy for the petals in whorl 2 is attributable to the expression levels of RmAG.
Foliar Extrafloral Nectar of Humboldtia brunonis (Fabaceae), a Paleotropic Ant‐plant, is Richer than Phloem Sap and More Attractive than Honeydew

The ant‐plant Humboldtia brunonis secretes extrafloral nectar (EFN) despite the lack of antiherbivore protection from most ants. EFN was richer in composition than phloem sap and honeydew from untended Hemiptera on the plant, suggesting that EFN could potentially distract ants from honeydew, since ants rarely tended Hemiptera on this plant.
Predicting early lactation energy balance in primiparous Red Dairy Cattle using milk and body traits

Abstract The relationship of milk fat–protein ratio (FP), body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW) and their changes (ΔBCS, ΔBW) to energy balance (EB) in early lactation, and usefulness of the traits for predicting of EB of primiparous Finnish Red Dairy Cattle were studied. BW on the first test-day after calving correlated negatively (r=−0.30; P<0.02) with EB, suggesting large loss of body reserves for heavier cows. FP correlated significantly (r=−0.37) with EB on the first but not on the other test-days. Thus, when a single measure of FP is used to predict EB, records on the first test-day after calving seem to be the most appropriate. Milk FP was a better predictor of EB than BCS, BW or their changes. The accuracies of predictions were moderate; the best prediction explained 39.4% of EB variation. The low accuracy was suggested to be caused by imprecision in estimation of the EB.
Embryo retention, character optimization, and the origin of the extra‐embryonic membranes of the amniotic egg

This study summarizes the data relevant to understanding the appearance of the amniotic egg and provides new analyses to determine the inferences that can be drawn from these data. A survey of the recent literature shows that a consensus exists on the probably primitive absence of extended embryo retention in caecilians, despite recent suggestions to the contrary. The two most recent studies on the evolution of embryo retention in sarcopterygians both suggest that early amniotes lacked extended embryo retention. New analyses of length distribution of random trees suggest that the data on embryo retention do not include a phylogenetic signal, and this implies that character optimization of these data does not yield reliable information on the primitive condition for amniotes. Thus, the study of ancestral features of amniotes will probably have to exploit data from the fossil record.
Tertiary trisomics in pea (Pisum sativum)

Five tertiary trisomics, isolated in the progenies of interchange heterozygotes, were morphologically classified into four groups. They might be named as slender, succulent, enlarged internode and small-erect stipule, respectively. At MI, characteristic pentavalent configuration was accounted in 38.4% cells; the modal configuration was 1111+6II (50.0 %). At AI, 7-8 disjunction was about 66.7%. Pollen fertility ranged from 30 4 to 67.0 %, while seed yield was very poor, ranging from 0-4 seeds per plant.
MICROPROPAGATION OF THE COLD-HARDY APPLE ROOTSTOCK KSC-3: A MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The cold-hardy apple rootstock KSC-3 (Malus × domestica Borkh.) was micropropagated on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium using single node explants as the starting material. Explants grown on media containing BAP (0.5–5.0 mg L−1) and zeatin (5.0 mg L−1) produced multiple shoots. The largest number of shoots (≥ 5.0 mm) were obtained with 1.0 mg L−1 BAP. On the basis of useable shoots (≥ 15.0 mm), however, there was no difference in shoot number between 0.5 and 1.0 mg L−1 BAP. With increasing BAP concentration, shoot length decreased, while stem diameter increased. The longest shoots were obtained with 5.0 mg L−1 zeatin. Rooting was achieved by culturing individual shoots on either full or 1/4 strength MS. Reducing the MS concentration in the absence of exogenous auxin increased the percentage of rooted shoots and the median number of roots/shoot. When auxins were present, reducing the MS concentration had little effect on rooting. NAA, IBA and IAA were effective in promoting root formation while 2,4.
Global change challenges the Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax): modelling extinction risk with respect to predicted climate and land use changes

Matthias C Wichmann1,2*, W Richard J Dean3 and Florian Jeltsch2 1 UFZ Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig-Halle, Department Ökologische Systemanalyse, PF 500 136, D-04301 Leipzig, Germany 2 University of Potsdam, Department of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany 3 DST Centre of Excellence in Birds as Keys to Biodiversity Conservation at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa * Corresponding author, e-mail: max@rz.uni-potsdam.de
A Time Course Study of Production of Virulence Factors by Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an epitome of opportunistic pathogens. It is the third most common pathogen associated with hospital acquired catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This pathogen forms biofilms on the surface of indwelling catheters which are resistant to antimicrobial agents as well as to host defense mechanisms leading to chronicity and recurrence of infections. In the present study, elaboration of virulence factors by immature and mature biofilm cells of P. aeruginosa was assessed in vitro. It was observed that with increase in time period of biofilm generation from 1 to 4 day (immature biofilms) there was increase in elaboration of majority of virulence traits. However 5 day old biofilms (mature biofilms) were least producers of all the virulence determinants which continued till 7 th day. Implications of these findings in relation to urinary tract infections caused by biofilms of P. aeruginosa have been discussed.