Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Graded Levels of Fermented Cassava Meal on Broilers

Abstract A feeding trial lasting 9 weeks was conducted with 160 one-week-old broiler chicks to evaluate the nutritive value of fermented cassava meal (FCM) and determine any economic advantages that might be derived from using FCM as a substitute for maize in balanced starter/grower rations containing 0, 25, 37.5, and 50% FCM. The rations contained about 3028, 3010, 2999, and 2806 kcal metabolizable energy/kg and 23.12, 23.00, 23.03, and 22.74% protein, respectively. The results indicate that incorporating FCM up to 50% in the broiler rations produced no significant differences in live performance or carcass characteristics. However, there were reductions in feed cost, and cost per kg feed, but increases in revenue to feed cost, as the level of FCM increased in the rations. Revenue to feed cost indicates that it is economical to incorporate up to 50% FCM into broiler rations.
Prevalence of Internal Parasites of Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus Fish Species in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to March 2014 in Lake Ziway to determine the prevalence of internal parasites and identify the most common genera infecting fish. A total of 384 randomly selected fish species comprising of 221 Oreochromis niloticus and 163 Clarias gariepinus were sampled. All the sampled fish were eviscerated in laboratory to investigate the internal parasites. Chi-square statistic and comparison of proportion were used to analyse the data. The overall prevalence of internal parasites of fish was 20.83% (80/384). The major internal parasite genera identified in the body of fish were Contracaecum (62.50%), Clinostomum (31.25%) and Eustrongylides (6.25%). The distribution of parasite genera was significantly affected by fish species (p=0.022). However, the difference between sexes was not seemed to be statistically significant (p=0.362) despite the prevalence was slightly higher in male (22.75%) than female (18.97%) fish. In conclusion, fishermen and other people who have developed the habit of consuming raw fish are at higher risk of becoming infected by the zoonotic parasites. Therefore, awareness creation activities and control of fish parasites should be conducted in the study Lake.
ETHYL CARBAMATE FORMATION IN GRAIN BASED SPIRITS: PART II THE IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF CYANIDE RELATED SPECIES INVOLVED IN ETHYL CARBAMATE FORMATION IN SCOTCH GRAIN WHISKY

Ion chromatographic procedures are described for the identification and determination of a series of cyanide related precursors involved in ethyl carbamate formation in maturing grain whisky produced by the continuous distillation Coffey still process. These precursors include cyanide and copper cyanide complex anions, lactonitrile and isobutyraldehyde cyanohydrin (collectively determined as “measurable cyanide” or MC) and cyanate and thiocyanate anions. The components comprising MC may be determined individually using a pre-chromatographic separation procedure based on anion exchange resins. These techniques have been shown to be applicable for monitoring precursors involved in post-distillation ethyl carbamate formation in maturing grain whisky. Similar ion chromatographic procedures are described for the detection of a range of copper salts, incorporating cyanide, cyanate and thiocyanate, which are naturally occurring deposits within the copper Coffey still. These results are correlated with those based upon X-ray diffraction and secondary ion mass spectrometric techniques. Species identified included cuprous cyanide, cuprous thiocyanate, cuprous oxide, cuprous and cupric sulphide and copper cyanide cluster ions such as CuCN−, Cu(CN)2−, Cu2(CN)3− and Cu3(CN)4− and mixed species Cu(CN)2S−, CuSCN− and CuCNO+. In addition, an ion chromatographic procedure developed to investigate the role of carbamyl phosphate in ethyl carbamate formation, showed that conversion took place by means of its thermal decomposition into cyanate ion.
Plasma steroid concentrations in relation to the reproductive cycle of cultured male Rhamdia quelen

The plasma concentrations of testosterone (T) of cultured jundiaRhamdia quelen increased progressively during spermatogenesis and reached a peak at the beginning of spermiation (e.g. fluidization of the sperm and production of milt). Plasma peaks of T occurred simultaneously to the highest production of T by the testis, however, both plasma concentrations and testis production of T decreased progressively during spermiation. Concentrations of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) peaked c. 1 month after the peak of T, concomitant with enhanced production of 11-KT by the testis. The concentrations of 11-KT during the first cycle were extremely high (> 1 μg ml−1), but less during the second and third cycles, suggesting that this steroid is most important during the pubertal phase in male jundia. Plasma concentrations of both 17-hydroxy-4-pregene-3,20-dione (17-P) and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregen-3-one (17,20β-P) were significantly higher during spermiation than at any other times, and showed little variation. The pattern of steroid changes was cyclical and consistent with their proposed roles in male fish reproduction.
Interleukin-1 (cid:1) Elevates Cyclooxygenase-2 Protein Level and Enzyme Activity via Increasing Its mRNA Stability in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells: An Effect Mediated by Extracellularly Regulated Kinases 1 and 2

We investigated the regulation of PG production in human endometrial stromal cells (ESC) by IL-1 (cid:1) . We found that cy-clooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein levels and PGE 2 production in ESC were significantly increased by IL-1 (cid:1) . COX-2 mRNA, protein, and PGE 2 levels in IL-1 (cid:1) -treated ESC were decreased by a PKA inhibitor, a nuclear factor (NF- (cid:2) B) inhibitor, and an ERK1/2 inhibitor, but not by a p38 MAPK inhibitor or a PKC inhibitor, suggesting the possible involvement of PKA, NF- (cid:2) B, and/or the ERK1/2 signaling pathway(s) in IL-1 (cid:1) -mediated COX-2 gene induction in ESC. We then transiently transfected deletion mutants of the COX-2 promoter fused to the luciferase reporter gene and variants of (cid:3) 360/ (cid:4) 56 bp promoter construct carrying different site-directed muta- tions of selected cis -acting elements. We determined that a NF- (cid:2) B site ( (cid:3) 222/ (cid:3) 213 bp), a nuclear factor for IL-6 expression site (NF-IL6, (cid:3) 132/ (cid:3) 124 bp), and a cAMP response element ( (cid:3) 59/ (cid:3) 52 bp) were essential for the baseline COX-2 gene promoter regulation. The addition of IL-1 (cid:1) , however, did not af- fect the activity of these COX-2 promoter constructs. To in-vestigate the potential effects of IL-1 (cid:1) on COX-2 mRNA stability, ESC were treated with actinomycin D, a general transcription inhibitor, in the absence or presence of IL-1 (cid:1) . We found that 1) IL-1 (cid:1) significantly increased COX-2 mRNA stability; 2) continuous transcription was not required to sus- tain the IL-1 (cid:1) -induced COX-2 mRNA levels; and 3) COX-2 mRNA was highly unstable in the absence of IL-1 (cid:1) . Addition- ally, we found that the ERK1/2 signaling pathway was essential for stabilizing COX-2 mRNA. We conclude that levels of COX-2 mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity in ESC are con-trolled by various signaling pathways, including PKA, ERK1/2, and NF- (cid:2) B. Moreover, posttranscriptional mRNA stability is an important mechanism for IL-1 (cid:1) -induced elevation of COX-2 expression in ESC. ( J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87: 3263–3273, 2002) ESC were stimulated with IL-1 (cid:1) (1 ng/ml) in serum-free medium for 4 h. At this time point (control, h), two sets of cells were maintained original serum-free medium containing IL-1 (cid:1) . E , Addition of the transcriptional inhibitor Act D (10 (cid:3) g/ml) to the unchanged medium containing IL-1 (cid:1) . The COX-2 mRNA levels were not altered by the presence or absence of Act D, indicating that mRNA stability, rather than transcriptional activity, is the primary mechanism responsible for maintaining steady state levels. On the other hand, when IL-1 (cid:1) was eliminated by changing the medium to fresh IL-1 (cid:1) -free medium, mRNA levels declined significantly in the presence ( or absence ( (cid:4) ) of Act D. Total RNA was isolated at each mRNA levels
Development and Evaluation of the RZWQM‐CROPGRO Hybrid Model for Soybean Production

state-of-the-science into their models. In this study, the CROPGRO plant growth model of Decision Support System for Agrotechnology chemical) in an agricultural system based on current Transfer (DSSAT v3.5) was linked to the Root Zone Water Quality theoreticalandexperimental knowledge,processdetails Model (RZWQM) to provide RZWQM users an option of using of the models vary widely depending on the objectives CROPGRO. In the hybrid model, RZWQM supplied CROPGRO and timeframe of the model developers (Ma and Shafwith daily soil water and N, soil temperature, and potential evapotranspi- fer, 2001; McGechan and Wu, 2001). Many agricultural ration (PET), whereas CROPGRO supplied RZWQM with daily water system models use components from other existing and N uptake and plant growth variables. The RZWQM-CROPGRO models to save development time. For example, the hybrid model was then evaluated against the original CROPGROoriginal soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] crop growth soybean model using several data sets from the literature. These data model, SOYGRO, developed at the University of Florsets represented various drought conditions. Results showed that the ida, used the soil water and N balance component from RZWQM-CROPGRO hybrid model simulated higher water stress
Social connectedness and self-perceived mental health in Canadian transitional aged youth

II SUMMARY FOR LAY AUDIENCE . III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . IV LIST OF TABLES . VIII LIST OF FIGURES . IX LIST OF APPENDICES . X ABBREVIATIONS . XI CHAPTER 1 . 1
The Most Important Transcriptional Factors of Osteoblastogenesis

Summary One of the key issues of organogenesis is the understanding of mechanisms underlying the differentiation of progenitor cells into more specialized cells of individual tissues. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic approaches of molecular biology have led to the identification of several factors and mechanisms regulating morphogenesis at the genetic level which affect the function of already differentiated cells. In the last few years, several reports about osteoblastogenesis have been published. This review presents recent findings on the role of the most important transcription factors supporting bone formation.
Ecosystem-Scale Effects of Nutrients and Fishing on Coral Reefs

Nutrient pollution and fishing are the primary local causes of coral reef decline but their ecosystem-scale effects are poorly understood. Results from small-scale manipulative experiments of herbivores and nutrients suggest prioritizing management of fishing over nutrient pollution because herbivores can control macroalgae and turf in the presence of nutrients. However, ecological theory suggests that the opposite occurs at large scales. Moreover, it is unclear whether fishing decreases herbivores because fishing of predators may result in an increase in herbivores. To investigate this paradox, data on the fish and benthic communities, fishing, and nutrients were collected on Kiritimati, Kiribati. Oceanographic conditions and a population resettlement program created a natural experiment to compare sites with different levels of fishing and nutrients. Contrary to theory, herbivores controlled macroalgae in the presence of nutrients at large spatial scales, and herbivores had greater effects on macroalgae when nutrients were higher. In addition, fishing did not increase herbivores. These results suggest that protecting herbivores may have greater relative benefits than reducing nutrient pollution, especially on polluted reefs. Reallocating fishing effort from herbivores to invertivores or planktivores may be one way to protect herbivores and indirectly maintain coral dominance on reefs impacted by fishing and nutrient pollution.
Avaliação da viabilidade de sementes de coração-de-negro (Poecilanthe parviflora Benth. - Fabaceae-faboideae) pelo teste de tetrazólio

The increasing demand for Brazilian tree species seeds has been followed by the raise of the necessity to develop methods to evaluate seeds viability, mainly due to fast tests, as such as the tetrazolium. Poecilanthe parviflora (coracao-de-negro) is a Brazilian tree species used in forest restoration. However, there is no established test to determine its seeds viability. So, the goal of this research was adequate the tetrazolium test to determine the seeds viability of this species. After preliminary studies, the seeds were pre-conditioned by their immersion in water, until they reach the moisture contents 30% and 40%, and hydrated between papers previously soaked with water, until they reach the moisture content 40%. After the pre-conditioning, seeds coats were removed manually and the embryos were immersed in 0,075% tetrazolium solution for 90 minutes, at 40°C. Tetrazolium test results were compared with the ones obtained in the germination test. The results indicated that the tetrazolium test can be used to evaluate P. parviflora seeds viability, mainly by the seeds immersion in water until they reach the moisture content 40% remove the seed coat and stain the embryo in 0,075% tetrazolium solution for 90 minutes at 40°C.
Characterization of Alternaria species associated with potato foliar diseases in China.

The population structure of Alternaria species associated with potato foliar diseases in China has not been previously examined thoroughly. Between 2010 and 2013, a total of 511 Alternaria isolates were obtained from diseased potato leaves sampled in 16 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities of China. Based on morphological traits and molecular characteristics, all the isolates were identified as Alternaria tenuissima, A. alternata or A. solani. Of the three species, A. tenuissima was the most prevalent (75·5%), followed by A. alternata (18·6%) and A. solani (5·9%). Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of representative Alternaria isolates showed that A. solani was distinct from the two small-spored Alternaria species. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial coding sequence of the histone 3 gene divided the same collection of isolates into three main clades representing A. tenuissima, A. alternata and A. solani, respectively. The pathogenicity of the isolates on detached leaves of potato cv. Favorite did not differ significantly between the three species or between isolates from different geographical origins. The results indicate that the population structure of Alternaria species associated with potato foliar diseases differs from that reported previously in China. This is the first report of A. tenuissima causing potato foliar diseases in China.
Effects of seasonal variation in host quality and availability on parasitism by the egg parasitoid Telenomus coloradensis

Hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is one of the most important defoliator in North American forests. The common egg parasitoid Telenomus coloradensis Crawford (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) plays a significant role as a natural control agent, with parasitism levels in spring typically higher than in fall. The objectives of this study were to quantify changes in host acceptance and reproductive performance of the parasitoid in relation to (1) host egg fertilization in fall, (2) host diapause status, (3) host embryonic development in spring, and (4) host deprivation during summer. Our results indicate that T. coloradensis do not have the capacity to develop in unfertilized host eggs, whereas early‐diapausing eggs are more suitable for the parasitoid than post‐diapausing eggs. Furthermore, the host physiological suitability decreases with embryonic development in spring. Finally, a host deprivation period during the summer tends to negatively affect the parasitic activity of T. coloradensis. These laboratory results confirm previous hypotheses concerning T. coloradensis seasonal ecology and contribute to a better understanding of the effect of hemlock looper egg physiology and availability on the reproductive potential of T. coloradensis.
Effects of heavy metal stress on free amino acids in the haemolymph and proteins in haemolymph and total body tissue of Lymantria dispar larvae parasitized by Glyptapanteles liparidis

Heavy metal contamination of the forest pest insect Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera; Lymantriidae), the gypsy moth, can alter its haemolymph composition, as has already been shown for carbohydrates and lipids in recent studies. L. dispar larvae are frequently parasitized by Glyptapanteles liparidis (Bouché) (Hymenoptera; Braconidae) larvae, which can — to some extent — regulate the population size of the pest insect. The parasitoids feed on the haemolymph of L. dispar larvae; hence, a different haemolymph composition of the host alters the trophic situation of the parasitoids. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether metal contamination also affects the concentrations of free amino acids in L. dispar haemolymph, and protein concentrations in their haemolymph and tissue. L. dispar larvae were parasitized on the first day of the second instar and then reared on diets contaminated with Cd, Pb, Cu or Zn at two concentrations each. Haemolymph and total body tissue of the larvae (fourth instar/third day) were analyzed. The concentrations of the free amino acids were elevated in five out of the eight contamination groups (Cd6, Pb4, Cu6, Cu10, Zn60), whereas haemolymph protein concentrations were significantly reduced in all contaminated individuals. The haemolymph protein concentration was 18 mg/ml in the control group and decreased to less than 10 mg/ml due to cadmium and zinc contamination at both concentrations and in the low copper contamination group. In contrast, total body proteins (136 μg/mg dry weight in the control group) were elevated due to heavy metal stress. Analyses of haemolymph protein concentrations during the fourth instar demonstrated an increase of the proteins from day one to day four (followed by a decrease on the fifth day) in the control group and the cadmium contamination group. A steady increase of proteins from the first to the fifth day in the copper and zinc contaminated larvae indicated a retarded development in these groups. Thus, the present study along with other recent studies demonstrated, that heavy metal stress changes the concentrations of all main haemolymph compounds of L. dispar larvae.
The application of molecular markers to the study and conservation of fish populations, with special reference to Salmo

The main molecular techniques which can be used to generate genetic markers, and the applications of these markers to studies of fish populations are outlined. Published and ongoing studies, in the authors' laboratories, on brown trout and Atlantic salmon are used to compare the resolution and applicability of allozyme, mitochondrial DNA and minisatellite (variable number of tandem repeats) markers for studies on population structuring, genetic variation within populations, and the impact of the accidental and deliberate introduction of non-native salmonids on the genetic make-up of natural populations.
Variational Methods with Higher–Order Derivatives in Image Processing

This is an overview of recent research of the authors on the application of variational methods with higher–order derivatives in image processing. We focus on gray-valued and matrix-valued images and deal with a purely discrete setting. We show that regularization methods with second–order derivatives can be successfully applied to the denoising of gray–value images. In 1D the solutions of the corresponding minimization problems are discrete polynomial splines (sometimes with higher defects) and inf-convolution splines with certain knots. The proposed methods can be transferred to matrix ﬁelds. Due to the operator structure of matrices, new tasks like the preservation of positive deﬁniteness and the meaningful coupling of the matrix components come into play.
Role of genotypes and agrotechnical elements in cereal crop models

The interactions of ecological conditions, genotypes and agrotechnical elements determine the yield quantity, quality and stability in cereal (wheat, maize) production. The applied input- level can modify the adaptive capacity of crop models to ecological conditions. The effects of agrotechnical elements (crop rotation, fertilization, irrigation, crop protection, plant density) were studied in the long-term experiment on chernozem soil. Our scientific results proved that the high yields and good yield-stability were obtained in the input-intensive crop models, so these models had better adaptive capacity, high yield and resilience. Maize had lower ecological adaptive ability than winter wheat. The optimalization of agrotechnical elements reduces the harmful climatic effects so we can increase the yield and yield stability of cereals agro-ecosystems. The yields of wheat varied between 2 and 7 t ha−1 in extensive and 8 and 10 t ha-1 in intensive crop models and the yields of maize ranged between 2 and 11 t .
Water Deficit Decreases Gas Exchange Parameters and Marketable Quality of Rosa hybrida ‘Club-Nika’ Irrespective of Training Systems

The present study was carried out to investigate biochemical, morphological, and physiological processes involved in the adaptive processes of cut roses grown in arching and high-rack culture systems under water deficit condition. Rose plants ‘Club-Nika’ were subjected to three water regimes [control (100% of irrigation needs), moderate water stress (75%), and severe water stress (50%)] factorially combined with two training systems defined as arching and high-rack systems. Water deficit significantly reduced morphological and qualitative traits as well as water relations of cut roses. Water deficit significantly reduced Net CO2 assimilation rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs), whereas it did not affect Water Use Efficiency (WUEi) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci). Surprisingly, water deficit did not affect chlorophyll content [chl a, chl b and total chl (a + b)] and proline accumulation of leaves. Considering the lack of change in intercellular CO2 concentration, it seems likely that both stomatal closure and metabolic impairment limit photosynthetic CO2 assimilation under water deficit. Regardless of irrigation regimes, rose plants trained with high-rack culture system showed a superiority for most of the qualitative and quantitative attributes compared to those trained with arching system. The high-rack system resulted in 60% higher extraquality stems (> 60 cm) compared with the plants trained with arching. It can be concluded that cut roses respond to water deficit through adaptive changes in physiological and morphological levels to reduce water loss without any negative impact at biochemical level.