Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intoxicação por Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (Convolvulaceae) em caprinos na Ilha do Marajó, Pará

Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa is a swainsonine-containing plant causing a glycoprotein storage diseases in ruminants, mainly in goats in northeastern Brazil. Seven farms were visited on the Marajo Island, state of Para, northern Brazil, six in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari and one in the municipality of Soure. In all farms native pastures had shortage of forage and were largely invaded by I. carnea subsp. fistulosa. On the three farms goats presented difficulties in standing, ataxia, hypermetria, wide-based stance, lateral gait, intention tremors, spastic paresis or weakness, abnormal postural reactions, nystagmus, loss of equilibrium and falling to the side or backward. On two farms the prevalence was of 32% (23/71) and 100% (32/32). On another farm one goat out of 19 had severe clinical signs, but the others of the flock were not examined clinically. Cattle, sheep and buffaloes were not affected. Six goats were euthanized and necropsied. No gross lesions were observed. Upon histological examination the main lesion was the vacuolization of the perikaryon of neurons and cytoplasm of epithelial cells of thyroid, liver, kidney, pancreas and macrophages of different organs. In the central nervous system the vacuolization of the perikaria was more severe in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and in nuclei of the brain stem, mainly the cerebellar nuclei. Wallerian degeneration of axons and gliosis was also observed. The high frequency of the disease on the three farms suggests that poisoning by I. carnea subsp. fistulosa is very important for goats on Marajo Island where there are large amounts of the plant in the pastures.
Ecological Role of Common Minke Whales in the Southwestern East Sea (Sea of Japan) Ecosystem during the Postcommercial Whaling Moratorium Period1

Abstract: Structure of the southwestern East Sea ecosystem and role of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in this ecosystem during the postcommercial whaling moratorium (post-CWM) period (1986–2007) were examined using an Ecopath model. Results showed that catch and biomass of common squid was highest in this ecosystem (catch, 0.302 t/km2; biomass, 1.031 t/km2). Although this ecosystem consists of primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and terminal consumers, most taxonomic groups were classified as secondary consumers. Common minke whales were classified as terminal consumers along with apex predators. Trophic level of common minke whales in this ecosystem was estimated at 3.34, and mean trophic level of this ecosystem was estimated as 2.91. Relative contribution of common squid to total energy flow at trophic level III, which includes common minke whales, was highest (72.0%). However, relative contribution of common minke whales at this trophic level was low (1.3%) compared with other taxonomic groups. This study is one of the first to address anthropogenic impacts (commercial whaling) on the trophic role of common minke whales in the East Sea, and it could potentially be used to understand the importance of common minke whales to this ecosystem within a context of potential biological removal (PBR).
Have population declines in Egyptian Vulture and Red-headed Vulture in India slowed since the 2006 ban on veterinary diclofenac?

Summary Populations of three vulture species of the genus Gyps, the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus have declined markedly on the Indian subcontinent since the mid-1990s and all are now Critically Endangered or Endangered. Gyps vultures have been killed by the widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, ingested when they feed on carcasses of domesticated ungulates treated with the drug shortly before death. However, it is not known whether Egyptian Vulture and Red-headed Vulture are also sensitive to diclofenac. Veterinary use of diclofenac was banned in India in 2006. Since then, the prevalence and concentration of diclofenac in domesticated ungulates carcasses has decreased and population declines of Gyps vultures have slowed or reversed. Here, we examine counts of Egyptian and Red-headed Vultures obtained on road transects in and near protected areas between 1992 and 2011. We found indications that the declines in both species appear to have slowed and possibly increased after the ban was introduced, though the small numbers of birds counted make this conclusion less robust than that for the Gyps species. These results suggest that both species may have been adversely impacted by diclofenac and that government bans on this drug, which are beginning to take effect, may benefit a wider range of vulture species in the Indian subcontinent than was previously thought.
Disability due to leprosy: a socio-demographic study in Leprosy Hospital, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by M. leprae bacilli and one of the important cause of preventable disability.Methods: This study was a cross sectional one, conducted at Leprosy Hospital, Sarol, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh over a period of two months, May and June 2018. The study used convenient sampling and all 20 disabled patients who were receiving treatment at Leprosy Hospital were included in the study. Socio demographic data which included age, marital status, occupation, type and duration of disability was collected and analyzed. To screen for activity limitation and safety awareness SALSA scale was used. A score of 25 or more points is indicative of activity limitation and disability.Results: In total 20 patients were evaluated, out of which 12 were male and 8 female and the mean age of patients was 51years. Around 90% of female patients were illiterate and financially dependent while on the contrary 90% male patients were literate and financially independent. All the patients presented with some or severe disability according to Salsa scale. There was significant association of age, education, marital status and employment status with disability.Conclusions: Inspite of elimination of leprosy in India, cases of disability and deformity have not declined as expected. Awareness about warning signs among patients and timely diagnosis by health professionals can curb cases of disability among leprosy patients.
Variation in phytoplankton composition and limnological features in a water–water ecotone of the Lower Paraná Basin (Argentina)

1. Structure and dynamics of phytoplankton were studied at six sites in a reach of the Lower Parana River floodplain, from the main course to a marginal shallow lake, connected through a stream. This system is defined as a water–water ecotone and thus, the aim of this work is to analyse the spatial changes of phytoplankton along the transitional system. 2. Temporal fluctuations in number of species and phytoplankton density were more pronounced in the river than in the shallow lake. Even though most species were ubiquitous, there was a clear segregation of the most abundant populations across the ecotone. Aulacoseira granulata var. granulata and other centric diatoms decreased towards the lentic system. 3. Transparency varied according to river discharge, being higher in the lake during high water phases, while the opposite behaviour was observed during dry periods. These fluctuations were related to precipitation and resuspension processes. 4. Nitrate concentration diminished towards the lake while soluble reactive phosphorus remained fairly homogeneous across the ecotone.
Financial Innovation and Industrial Growth Volatility: Evidence from the Nigerian Banking Industry

Traditional innovation-growth view posits that financial innovations help reduce agency costs, facilitate risk sharing, and ultimately improve efficiency and economic growth. The study examines the effects of financial innovation in the banking sector on industrial growth volatility. It used causal research design to analyse data obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin for the period 1981 to 2016 and tested for causality with the Toda-Yamamoto causality test. Our findings show that financial innovation, bank branch network and growth of banks’ credit to private sector significantly reduced industrial growth volatility while the quasi-money in the circulation exacerbated it.
Dairy Science and Technology

This book discusses the transformation of milk into high-quality produces, emphasizing the principles of physical, chemical, enzymatic, and microbial transformation. The text begins with an introduction to the chemistry, physics and microbiology of milk and then explains the manufacturing processes. After an extensive discussion of various dairy products and the procedures necessary for consumer safety, the book concludes with details on the manufacture and ripening of cheese.
What do we do with model simulation crashes? Recommendations for global sensitivity analysis of earth and environmental systems models

Abstract. Complex, software-intensive, technically advanced, and computationally demanding models, presumably with ever-growing realism and fidelity, have been widely used to simulate and predict the dynamics of the Earth and environmental systems. The parameter-induced simulation crash (failure) problem is typical across most of these models, despite considerable efforts that modellers have directed at model development and implementation over the last few decades. A simulation failure mainly occurs due to the violation of the numerical stability conditions, non-robust numerical implementations, or errors in programming. However, the existing sampling-based analysis techniques such as global sensitivity analysis (GSA) methods, which require running these models under many configurations of parameter values, are ill-equipped to effectively deal with model failures. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel approach that allows users to cope with failed designs (samples) during the GSA, without knowing where they took place and without re-running the entire experiment. This approach deems model crashes as missing data and uses strategies such as median substitution, single nearest neighbour, or response surface modelling to fill in for model crashes. We test the proposed approach on a 10-paramter HBV-SASK rainfall-runoff model and a 111-parameter MESH land surface-hydrology model. Our results show that response surface modelling is a superior strategy, out of the data filling strategies tested, and can scale well to the dimensionality of the model, sample size, and the ratio of number of failures to the sample size. Further, we conduct a "failure analysis" and discuss some possible causes of the MESH model failure.
Policy Instruments in Injury Crashes

Alcohol prohibition and law enforcement deployment are important policies designed to increase traffic safety and reduce injury crashes. This study uses data on county-level law enforcement and injury crashes to analyze the effect of traffic law enforcement and alcohol prohibition. The analysis controls for other factors that affect injury crashes such as age groups, road factors, and behavioral factors including driving under the influence convictions and suspended licenses. Analysis is presented through a negative binomial regression methodology. Results indicate that both increasing law enforcement personnel and alcohol prohibition reduce the number of injury crashes within a county. Moreover, if policymakers’ goals are to reduce the count of injury crashes to zero, law enforcement and alcohol prohibition are important combined factors in this goal.
Cooperation of Nicotinamide with Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Control Diabetes Mellitus-Induced by Streptozotocin in Rats

The main objective of this work is to assess the role of nicotinamide in protecting β-cells of rat’s pancreas after STZ injection and to study the therapeutic potency of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Ten male albino rats were sacrificed and used for isolation and differentiation of MSCs into insulin producing cells within 4 weeks. Fifty male albino rats were divided into 5 groups. Group (1): normal control. The other groups were injected with STZ 50 mg/kg b.w. for induction of diabetes. Group (2): diabetic control, group (3): diabetic rats received oral nicotinamide (NIC) 100 mg/kg b.w. daily (NIC group), group (4): diabetic rats injected subcutaneously with differentiated MSCs 5x106 cells per rat (MSCs group), group (5): diabetic rats injected subcutaneously with differentiated MSCs 5x106 cells per rat and received oral NIC 100 mg/kg b.w. daily (MSCs + NIC group) the treatment continued for 4 weeks. The results indicated that injection with MSCs and administration of oral NIC ameliorate the glucose homeostasis by decreasing blood glucose and increasing insulin and C-peptide levels, improving antioxidant status by decreasing serum MDA level and increasing the activity of (serum TOC, liver SOD and GPX), serum lipid profile TC, TAGs, LDL-C and VLDL-C were deceased while HDL-C was increased while using both of MSCs and NIC caused more improvement which was evidenced in the histopathological examination of pancreatic cells. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­In conclusion: treatment with nicotinamide improves the diabetic state of rats as nicotinamide is believed to have anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidant properties. MSCs were successfully differentiated into numerous numbers of β-cells and injection with 5×106 MSCs clearly support pancreas tissue repair.
Hypoxia impairs the digestive advantage of individual southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis) with high resting metabolic rates and postprandial metabolic responses

Empirical studies suggest that individuals with a high resting metabolic rate (RMR) are at an advantage under favourable conditions because they digest food rapidly and exhibit a greater growth potential. However, we hypothesised that high-RMR individuals have less energy available for digestion under hypoxia than they do under normoxia due to their relatively high maintenance cost. To test this hypothesis, we measured the RMR and postprandial metabolic responses of juvenile southern catfish, Silurus meridionalis, under normoxia and moderate hypoxia. The results provided the first evidence that (1) both the RMR and postprandial metabolic rate showed repeatability across different water [O2] conditions and (2) the correlation between the RMR and postprandial metabolic traits differs with changes in environmental factors (water [O2]). These findings suggested that the digestive advantage of individual southern catfish with a high RMR is impaired under hypoxia.
Age at death in cattle: methods, older cattle and known-age reference material

Abstract New work is presented regarding the estimation of age at death in cattle based on the teeth. For younger cattle, before all the teeth are fully in wear, mandible stages are based on the eruption events, subdivided using wear on the most recently erupted tooth. For older cattle, a method of study using the position of the cement-enamel junction and the root arch of the molar teeth is presented. These are used to define summary mandible stages for older cattle. In order to suggest the ages at which the mandible stages occur, studies were made using reference material of known age at death at the Julius Kühn Museum, Halle, Germany (88 records), and two smaller collections in the UK (6 records). Further reference data were obtained from study of the literature (42 data points) (Jones and Sadler 2012). The results are presented using standard summary methods and the more detailed mandible stages.
Evaluation of five Mediterranean annual pasture species during early growth

Pasture factors causing differences in the liveweight gain of sheep stocked at 10 sheep ha-l on continuously grazed swards of five annual species were examined during autumn and early winter. Differences in liveweight gain were due to the availability of the pasture species for prehension by grazing sheep, and depended on the weight of pasture offered and also on the growth form of the grazed plants. Subterranean clover and the volunteer species, silver grass and erodium, rapidly assumed a prostrate form under continuous grazing, thereby restricting apparent intake. Wimmera ryegrass changed less in growth form in response to grazing and for this reason liveweight gain on ryegrass in autumn was better than on clover, silver grass, and erodium. These species differences were reflected in the "critical" weight of herbage required for sheep to maintain their liveweight. Critical weight was lowest in the erect-growing Wimmera ryegrass (c. 130 kg ha-l) and highest (635 kg ha-l) in the prostrate erodium.
Better criterion screening for left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiogram with different purposes

According to the recommendations for the standardization and interpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) of AHA/ACCF/HRS declared in 2009, there are more than 30 criteria for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The sensitivity of the various criteria is generally quite low. However, the specificity of ECG in LVH could be 85 to 90%, acting as a strong predictor for cardiovascular events. To investigate the proper criteria in epidemiological screening with different purpose, 5209 qualified ECG out of 6830 people were selected from cross-sectional Handan eye study. Two criteria were chosen: (1) Sokolow-Lyon index, sum of SV1+RV5 or V6 ≥ 35 mm; (2) Cornell voltage duration product, men: (SV3+RaVL)×QRS duration ≥2440 ms; women: (SV3+(RaVL+8 mV))×QRSduration ≥ 2440 ms. The ECG-LVH group contains 829 individuals (12.18% of the cohort), including 607 by Sokolow-Lyon index and 278 by Cornell voltage duration product. After data estimation, we found that there were no statistical differences between ECG-LVH population and normal population. While evaluated these data in the group that have retinopathy without diabetes, the Sokolow-Lyon index and Cornell voltage duration product were statistically different with normal population (P= 0.023 and P= 0.014, respectively). We use the simple MiniMental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluated the mental status of the population and found that when the score was above 15, there was no statistically different between the positive and negative people in Sokolow-Lyon index (P= 0.135); however, in evaluated Cornell voltage duration product, there was statistical difference (P=0.001). When we evaluated the data associated with atherosclerotic factors, we found no differences in Cornell voltage-duration product; as for the Sokolow-Lyon index, the differences were shown in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterols and uric acid (P= 0.03, 0.04 and 0.04, respectively). Different criterion should be chosen for different purposes. For atherosclerotic screening or epidemiological survey of cardiovascular diseases, the Sokolow-Lyon index might be better. If we use the criterion for epidemiological ophthalmology such as our Handan eye study, both Sokolow-Lyon index and Cornell voltage duration product could be used. As for the evaluation of mental status and its relationship with the LVH risk factors, we might choose Cornell voltage duration product. Key words: Left ventricular hypertrophy, electrocardiagram, Sokolow-L(l)yon index, Cornell voltage-duration product.
Uptake of imazalil by citrus fruit after postharvest application and the effect of residue distribution on sporulation of Penicillium digitatum.

Imazalil applied to citrus fruit after harvest moved into the rind while the fruit were wet from the treatment. Imazalil was absorbed by the epicuticular wax and cuticle within a wetness period lasting 1-3 min, but less than 1% of it moved through the cuticle during this period. However, 30-45 min after fruit were dipped in imazalil (1,000 μg/ml) for 15 sec, the fungicide was recovered from tissue deeper than 1 mm into the rind. About 40% of the applied imazalil remained on the fruit surface after the fruit dried. At comparable treatment concentrations and times, significantly more imazalil adhered to fruit that were dipped than to fruit treated with a nonrecovery spray over brushes saturated with the fungicide (.)
Effects of individual or combined housing systems on behavioural and growth responses of dairy calves

Abstract This study was carried out to investigate the effects of individual versus combined housing systems on behavioural and growth responses of dairy calves in order to test the hypothesis that when calves were kept in early age individually and later in groups, they would increase growth performance and social behaviours. Twenty-four Holstein Friesian calves were allocated to two different housing systems. After three days of colostrum feeding, individually housed (IH) calves were kept in pens (1 m×1.5 m) for 60 days while combined housed (CH) calves were kept in group pens (3 m×3 m) for 30 days after individual housing during the period of 4–33 days. Each calf was monitored twice a week for a period of 1 h starting at 08.00, 10.00, 12.00, 18.00, 20.00 and 22.00 h at 10-min intervals. Behavioural activities were playing, walking, licking objects, idle standing, lying, restlessness, grooming and tongue playing. Calves’ live weights, body measurements and feed intakes were determined on a weekly basis. The results were: 1) combined housing calves increased their calf starter intake (37.35±1.24 kg vs. 23.39±0.86 kg; p<0.001), alfalfa hay intake (8.76±0.35 kg vs. 7.14±0.43 kg; p<0.05) and total feed intake (46.11±1.04 kg vs. 30.53±0.86 kg; p<0.001) compared to individual housed calves; 2) combined housing increased the proportional events of playing (12.80 vs. 2.86%), walking (19.14 vs. 3.81%) and grooming (8.06 vs. 4.60%), but decreased licking objects (1.03 vs. 2.94%), idle standing (20.73 vs. 36.29%), lying (30.19 vs. 39.53%) and restlessness (1.69 vs. 3.47%) compared to individual housing systems (p<0.001) without affecting tongue rolling (6.36 vs. 6.50%); 3) combined housing system increased body weight gain by about 2.36 kg and body length by about 1.48 cm per calf compared to those kept in individual pens (p<0.05). In conclusion, combined housing system provided calves more opportunity to show their walking, playing and grooming activities, reflecting increases in feed intake, body weight gain and length compared to individual housing system.
PLANT-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS: STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF GRASSHOPPER GRAZING ON BLUE GRAMA GRASS'

A bstract. Results of a laboratory experiment where we measured the influence of grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes) feeding upon leaves of hydroponically grown blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) are presented. Performance of both the plant and animal conditions are given: growth rate of the plants held at three temperatures, amount of food ingested by the grasshoppers, digestive efficiencies, weight change of grasshoppers, the amount of litter cut, and the pH change of the root medium. The experiment indicates that there are plant processes triggered by grasshopper feeding which result in increased energy transport levels within the plant. Most of this energy expenditure occurs in the belowground complex of the plant. Moreover, regrowth potentials of the plant on which grasshoppers had been feeding is much higher than for plants that had simply been clipped. Hence, we suggest that perhaps the largest single effect displayed by aboveground insect grazers on grassland ecosystem plants (viz., grass) is the increase in belowground respiration and root exudation.