Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Description of Growth Patterns in a Crossbred Population of Native×Commercial Broiler Chicken

Four nonlinear models including Logistic, Gompertz-Laird, Richards, and von Bertalanffy were compared to achieve the best prediction of growth parameters describing the growth curve in a crossbred chicken population. Growth data (weekly body weights of chicken from birth to 84 days of age) were collected on 303 birds (174 females and 129 males) of F2 cross of the Arian line broiler chicken (Line B) and Urmia native chicken. Some statistical criteria such as Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Corrected Akaike Information Criterion for small sample sizes (AICc), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) were used to find the best model. The results showed that the estimated values of the initial weight (W0) and final Weight (Wf) in male were significantly (P< 0.01) higher than the female birds in all models. The average estimated initial weight calculated by Gompertz-Laird (0.038 kg) was closer to the average observed initial weight (0.044 kg). Regardless of sex of the birds, the calculated age (ti) and Weight (Wi) at the inflection point were relatively the same in Gompertz-Laird, Richards and von Bertalanffy models, indicating that the growth patterns described by these models are similar. Meanwhile, the different ti and Wi values between the sexes in the four models revealed the different growth pattern in males and females. The goodness of fit indices (R and adjusted R) were higher than 0.97 in all models, indicating that these models could appropriately be fitted on the growth data. However, based on the AIC, AICc, and BIC criteria, Gompertz-Laird model showed better performance, therefore, it was chosen as the best model to analyze the growth pattern in crossbred of .
Possibilities for improving storage-rot resistance of sugar-beets through breeding.

Experimental work was begun at Fort Collins, Colorado, in the spring of 1948 in order to investigate the possibility of attacking this problem effectively by breeding for storage rot resistance. The work performed thus far includes comparison of uninoculated field-grown roots of various strains for keeping quality and preliminary studies pertaining to resistance of strains and of individual roots as measured by rate of rotting following artificial inoculation. Definite conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the selection techniques used must await the outcome of further work, especially progeny tests, and consequently this paper is presented merely as a progress report.
The relative importance of tree and stand properties in susceptibility to spruce beetle outbreak in the mid‐20th century

Tree susceptibility to potentially lethal agents is determined not only by attributes of individual trees, but also by neighborhood effects at a range of scales. For example, effects of disturbances on individual trees are often contingent on the size, configuration, and other properties of neighboring trees. Wildfires can modify postfire properties of individual trees as well as of entire forest stands, both of which can affect subsequent ecological processes, including subsequent disturbances. In recent years, much has been learned about how disturbances interact, but numerous questions concerning underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. For example, the relative importance of forest properties at different spatial scales in determining how fires affect forest susceptibility to subsequent disturbances is not well understood. This study explicitly compares the relative importance of tree vs. fine-scale neighborhood effects (e.g., stand properties at <7 m radii), on susceptibility to a 1940s' spruce beetle outbreak. Attributes of individual trees and of stand structure were spatially reconstructed at five 250-m2 sites that were partly burned in the late 19th century and then affected by spruce beetle outbreak in the 1940s. Random Forest models and classification trees were used to compare the relative importance of variables for susceptibility to spruce beetle attack. Individual tree properties (diameter at breast height and age) were the most important predictors of susceptibility to the outbreak across all sites combined and at each of the sites individually. In contrast, neighborhood effects were poor predictors of susceptibility. This study suggests wildfires reduce susceptibility to outbreaks primarily by reducing the size of postfire live trees and only secondarily by modifying stand structure. One implication of this is that management strategies that aim to modify stand structure over large areas in order to reduce susceptibility to spruce beetle outbreaks may be unnecessarily intensive.
PSII-I protein plays an essential role in dimerization of photosystem II

PSII-I is a small membrane-spanning protein, which is associated with the PSII reaction center complex. It is universally found in cyanobacteria as well as green plants, although its function is still not known. In this communication, We attempted to elucidate the role of the PSII-I protein in the thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus (formerly Synechococcus) elongatus strain BP-1 by targeted disruption and biochemical analysis. The psbI gene encoding PSII-I was cloned by PCR and used for gene disruption. The psbI-disruptant could grow autotrophically like wild type. Oxygen-evolving activity of PSII particles was approximately 20% lower in the mutant than in wild type. MonoQ column chromatography of the crude PSII particles revealed that the PSII dimer is missing in the psbI-disruptant. The molecular size of the monomer PSII from the mutant was confirmed by gel filtration chromatography. These suggest that PSII-I is specifically involved in dimerization of PSII complex or stabilization of the PSII dimer. The crude PSII from the psbI-disruptant exhibited lower efficiency of light-harvesting than that of wild type. These findings imply that dimerization supports structural integrity of the functional PSII or in supramolecular interaction between PSII and antennae complexes.
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON THE NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF MULBERRY SILK MOTH (BOMBYX MORI) LARVAE

The macronutrient content of immediate premetamorphosis larvae of the mulberry silk moth (Bombyx mor? ) was determined. These large insect larvae are raised easily under colony conditions, and are accepted eagerly by a variety of sight-feeding amphibian, reptilian, avian, and mammalian insectivorous animals. The protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy content were compared to, and found to exceed, those of another commonly cultured insect, the mealworm larvae of Tenebrio molitor.
Association of components of flowering with seed yield in fifteen short-day onion cultivars in Ethiopia

Fifteen onion genotypes (three local and 12 exotic cultivars) were evaluated in 1999/2000. There were significant differences among the genotypes in time to flowering, flower characters and seed production potential. Red Creole Select, Agrifound Dark and Light Red, Nasik Red, Poona Red, Violet de Galmi and K1 were the best cultivars in terms of flower characters and seed yield potential. Seed yield/plant had high correlation with number of flower stalks/plant, number of seeds and flowers/umbel and umbel size. Days to bolting and to the flowering period had significant negative correlations with seed yield/plant.
Effect of DksA Protein on the Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Towards Novel Amine N-Halamine Polymeric Nanoparticles as Powerful Antibiotics

A novel amine N-halamine polymeric nanoparticles (ANHP NPs) based on 4-(allyloxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (ATMP) were well developed as an antimicrobial agents by the aid of the radical copolymerization for deactivating pathogenic bacteria. The as-prepared ANHP NPs were systematically characterized by the different physical and chemical techniques like H NMR, FTIR, SEM and the modified iodometric/thiosulfate method. Sterilizing action of the ANHP NPs on bacterial strain was evaluated by selecting different types of Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains as model microorganisms. The effect of DksA protein on the susceptibility of E. coli towards the ANHP NPs was investigated via the plate counting technique and the zone of inhibition test. The experimental results showed that DksA protein has an excellent resistance against the ANHP NPs. Such an in-depth study on the DksA effect on the susceptibility of E. coli against the antibiotics opens up a new thought for us to develop the novel potential antibiotics.
Wintering waterbird assemblages in the central part of the Gulf of Gabès in southern Tunisia

Although the Gulf of Gabès is recognised as an Important Bird Area, several aspects of the ecology of waterbirds inhabiting this area still need to be investigated. We observed how waterbird foraging guilds varied among habitats. In total, 49 species belonging to 16 families were recorded. Winter visitors accounted for 73% of counts. The avifauna was dominated by shorebirds (52% of records), followed by large wading birds (25%), open-water birds (18%) and waterfowl (5%). However, the structure of local waterbird communities and their composition in terms of foraging guilds varied according to habitat type. The bird communities of sandy beaches were dominated by open-water birds, whereas large mudflats were dominated by shorebirds, and wadi estuaries showed a more even representation of foraging guilds. Locally rare species had narrow distributions, whereas locally abundant species were found widely within the gulf. For four species the 1% population level criterion of the Ramsar Convention was exceeded. Overall, our results show that the Gulf of Gabès hosts important numbers of waterbirds with different ecological requirements, which confirms the importance of this gulf as a wintering area for Palearctic waterbirds.
Increase in heterotrophic soil respiration by temperature drives decline in soil organic carbon stocks after forest windthrow in a mountainous ecosystem

Summary Intensifying forest disturbance regimes are likely to impact heavily on future carbon (C) budgets of forest ecosystems. Our understanding of how forest disturbance affects the sources of soil CO2 efflux (Fs) is however poor. This may lead to uncertainties over future C sink estimates of forest ecosystems and associated feedbacks to the atmosphere. We investigated the impact of forest windthrow on the heterotrophic and autotrophic sources of Fs, underlying biotic and abiotic drivers (i.e. plant community composition, soil organic matter (SOM) properties and soil microclimate), and consequences for soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in situ along a disturbance chronosequence in the European Alps. This chronosequence facilitated the study of temporal changes in the above parameters between the third and sixth years after windthrow. Along the chronosequence, structural equation modelling revealed that soil temperature, soil moisture, SOM properties, and plant community composition explained 90% of the variation in Fs. While no direct interactions among plants and SOM properties could be determined, plants significantly affected soil microclimate. Windthrow had no obvious effect on Fs because reduced autotrophic soil respiration (Ra) was offset by a ˜60% increase in heterotrophic soil respiration (Rh), principally due to increased soil temperatures. Ra after windthrow was dominated by grasses and herbs rather than trees; however, a high abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi suggests an important indirect tree contribution to post-windthrow Ra. SOC stocks significantly declined over the post-windthrow period. Our results show that Rh was by far the dominant source of Fs after forest windthrow. Since C losses from Rh and SOC stocks were in the same order of magnitude, this study demonstrates that post-windthrow declines in SOC stocks were mainly driven by a temperature-related increase in Rh. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Identification of Nigella sativa Seed and Its Adulterants Using DNA Barcode Marker

Adulteration, misidentification, and substitution are the biggest challenges in maintaining safety and therapeutic efficacy of medicinal herbs. Nigella sativa seed, which is well known medicinal herb susceptible to adulteration or substitution due to its great therapeutic value. Adulteration and substitution by morphologically similar seeds are the primary concern in commercially available Nigella sativa seed. In this study, we have used DNA barcode marker to find out adulteration, misidentification, and substitution of Nigella sativa seed sold in various markets. We collected 10 samples, which were labelled as Black seed/Nigella sativa seed from open markets in India (1 No.), Pakistan (1 No.), Saudi Arabia(1 No.), Egypt (2 No.), Turkey (1 No.), Syria (1 No.), Tunisia(2 No.) and Oman (1 No.). All samples collected from different geographies were studied morphologically. Although few samples were quickly identified as Nigella sativa seeds, few were tough to detect and differentiate accurately. This is where DNA barcode marker proved to be useful. Plant DNA were obtained from seed coat cells of samples, was amplified by PCR with forward and reverse rbcl and matK primers as recommended by CBOL (The Consortium for the Barcode of Life). PCR amplification of plastid genome with matK was not very successful, while PCR amplification with rbcl primers was quite successful. We used rbcl sequences for alignment and further analysis. PCR products obtained were subjected to electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose plate. PCR products were sent to Macrogen (Seoul, South Korea) for DNA sequencing. DNA reads obtained with rbcl sequences were aligned and analyzed for nucleotide composition, conserved sites, variable sites, singleton sites and parsimony-informative sites, genetic distance and phylogenetic tree using MEGA 7. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using UPGMA method. NCBI Blast along with phylogenic tree and nucleotide characteristic were used to identify Nigella sativa seeds from different geographies and discriminate two adulterants as Allium cepa seed and Clitoria guianensis seed. Both of these adulterants are different regarding their active medicinal contents and therapeutic utility from Nigella sativa seed. This study proved the utility of DNA marker, especially rbcl loci in accurately identifying medicinal herb and its adulterants.
Increased concentrations of chloride beneath stands of saltbushes (Atriplex species) suggest substantial use of groundwater

Summary. This paper examines the accumulation of soil chloride and the increase in electrical conductivity of the groundwater beneath stands of saltbushes (Atriplex species) in a plant spacing trial conducted near Kellerberrin in Western Australia. The trial had a randomised block design with 5 plant spacings (1 by 1 m, 1 by 2 m, 2 by 2 m, 2 by 3 m, and 3 by 3 m), 5 saltbush species (Atriplex undulata D. Dietr., A. amnicola Paul G. Wilson, A. vesicaria Heward ex Benth., A. paludosa R. Br. and A. bunburyana F. Muell.) and 3 replicate plots (each consisting of 25 plants in 5 by 5 array). The saline groundwater at the site was between 0.5 and 1.2 m below the surface for the duration of the experiment. Over a 2-year period there was a substantial increase in soil chloride concentration beneath the saltbushes. These increases were proportional to saltbush ‘leaf density’ (weight per unit soil surface area) and inversely proportional to the initial concentration of chloride in the soil. There was a substantial increase in the electrical conductivity of the groundwater which was also proportional to ‘leaf density’. It is argued that the increases in soil salinity and groundwater electrical conductivity were primarily due to the use of groundwater by the saltbush stands. Salt accumulation data suggest that about 60–100 mm of groundwater was used (transpiration and evaporation) over the 2 years. These results are discussed in terms of the ability of saltbushes to lower local watertables, thereby making saline soils better suited to the growth of superior annual pasture species.
The Role of Tetraspanin CD37 in B-Cell Malignancy

Members of the tetraspanin superfamily of transmembrane proteins have roles in a variety of processes including cellular adhesion, migration, activation, proliferation, survival, and solid tumor metastasis. Although numerous tetraspanin proteins are expressed by immune cells, only a few have expression that is restricted to these cells. CD37 is not found in non-hematologic tissues and is highly expressed by mature B-cells, with greater than 15 times higher expression compared to other immune cells (Deckert et al., 2013). Recently there has been significant interest in CD37 as a therapeutic target in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), as evidenced by the ongoing clinical development of four different anti-CD37 therapies. However, very little is known about the biological function of this protein. Ligation by the CD37-targeting peptide otlertuzumab leads to induction of both pro-survival Akt activation and pro-apoptotic SHP1 signaling, although cellular death is heavily favored (Lapalombella et al., 2012). Furthermore, CD37 is critical to normal plasma cell development, clustering VLA-4 (α4β1 integrin) on the surface of germinal center B-cells to allow integrin-mediated activation of Akt (van Spriel et al., 2012). In CLL, expression of the VLA-4 subunit CD49d is associated with more aggressive disease and promotes homing and adhesion to supportive cells within lymphoid tissues. This prompted us to explore the role of CD37 expression in B-cell malignancy using a CD37-deficient Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL. For these studies, we monitored mice that were CD37 wild type, heterozygous knockout, or homozygous knockout (all hemizygous for the TCL1 transgene). While no significant difference was observed in the time until appearance of leukemia in peripheral blood, loss of CD37 led to decreased survival of TCL1 mice (p=0.032). In the same timeframe, non-TCL1 mice with CD37 deficiency did not exhibit impaired survival. While CD37 is predominantly seen in B-cells, the protein serves a role in other immune cells despite substantially lower expression. Our results are consistent with the recent reports on impaired dendritic cell migration in CD37 deficient mice, which is associated with decreased anti-tumor immunity in the context of a subcutaneously injected mouse cell line expressing a foreign human antigen (Gartlan et al., 2013). Our data support a potential role for CD37 in anti-tumor immune response against the syngeneic leukemia that arises spontaneously in the TCL1 model of CLL. Given the complex nature of this global knockout model, other functions of CD37 may be obscured. Ongoing studies will examine engraftment of CD37-deficient or wildtype TCL1 leukemia into healthy mice to elucidate whether the B-cell intrinsic role of CD37 is supportive of the leukemia, independent of an extrinsic role in anti-tumor immunity. [Figure 1. ][1] Figure 1. Disclosures Byrd: Acerta Pharma BV: Research Funding. [1]: pending:yes
Estudo preliminar das sementes e do óleo de cinco espécies da amazônia.

Resultadospreliminares sao apresentados sobre a composicao das sementes e dos oleos das seguintes especies da Amazonia: Couroupita guianensis, Pachira aquatica, Eglerodendron pariri, Parkia gigantocarpae Parkia opositifolta,o que representa parte de uma tentativa de se estabelecer, aditivamente, o potencial economico daquela regiao. Enquanto as duas primeiras, pelo teor de oleo apresentado (29,4 e 44,1%, respectivamente) podem ser considerados como oleaginosas, as duas especies de Parkiaapresentaram proteinas com altoteor de triptofano, merecendo ser estudadasmais detalhadamente. A especie Eglerodendron pariri,ao contrario, nao se revelou como fonte potencial,quantitativa ou qualitativa, quer de oleo, quer de proteina. Na especie Couroupia guianensisencontrou-se predominância de acido linoleico (>80%) enquanto que nas amostras de oleo de Parkia gigantocarpae P. opositifoliasobressai a presenca de 12-15% de acidos de peso molecular elevado (C20:0 e C22:00) e um teor de aproximadamente 40% de C18:2. 0 acido palmitico e o principal componente dos Oleos de Pachira aquaticae Eglerodendron pariri.A separacao e a identificacao de acidos responsaveis, no Oleo de P. aquatica,pela resposta positiva ao teste de Halphen, nao foram definitivas. Nos cinco oleos o β-sitosterol foi o componente maior da fracao esterolica, isoladaa partir do material insaponificavel.
Empirical evidence of plasticity in life-history characteristics across climatic and fish density gradients

Understanding how environmental productivity and resource competition influence somatic growth rates and plasticity in life-history traits is a critical component of population ecology. However, evolutionary effects often confound the relationship between plasticity in life-history characteristics and environmental productivity. We used a unique set of experimentally stocked populations of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to empirically test predictions from life-history theory relating to patterns in immature growth rates, age- and size-at-maturity, and the energy allocated into reproduction across climatic and fish density gradients. Our results support theoretical predictions that plasticity in life-history characteristics is a function of environmental variables. In particular, we demonstrate that immature growth rates are best explained by climatic and density-dependent competition effects and that age-at-maturity and the energy allocated to reproduction depends on juvenile growth conditions. Empi.
Heat shock proteins, estrogen and progesterone receptors expression in breast carcinomas

Human breast cancers may over express heat shock protein (HSP) members, proteins which are involved in cell proliferation and differentiation as well as with disease prognosis and drug resistance. The expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in breast cancers correlates with stage of disease, the lower the stage, the higher the expression. Here, we studied the expression of HSP27 and HSP70 in 39 breast tumors to determine any correlation between HSPs expression and both grade and estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. Proteins expressions were determined immunohistochemically with specific monoclonal antibodies. Results showed that no significant association between tumor grades and the HSP27 expression, a weak HSP27 cytoplasmic immunostaining was visible in 13% of the tumors , moderate immunostaining in 31%, high in 15% and 41% of the tumors did not show any immunoreaction, on the other hand very significant relationship was found between tumor grades and the HSP70 expression (P<0.005). Weak and moderate staining was detected in 10% each, strong nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was observed in 77%. The expression of HSP 27 was not associated with the expression of ER or PR receptors (p<0.05). HSP70 expression associated well with the expression of ER (P<0.001) but not with the expression of PR (p<0.05). No significant relationship was found between tumor grade and steroid receptors. Our findings contribute to the better understanding of the role of heat shock proteins in breast cancer. Also, the role of steroid receptors in the induction of heat shock proteins