Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microsatellite Variation and its Comparison with Allozyme and RAPD Variation in Elymus Fibrosus (Schrenk) Tzvel. (Poaceae)

Genetic variation of ten Elymus fibrosus populations was analyzed using six microsatellite loci. The mean number of alleles per locus (A) was 1.8, ranging from 1.3 to 2.3, the mean percent of polymorphic loci (P) was 53.3%, ranging from 16.7% to 83.3%, and the mean gene diversity (HT) was 0.252, varying from 0.063 to 0.444. The total microsatellite variation for the species was HT=0.548. When partitioned (GST), 54% of the total variation was found among populations. Specific alleles were observed for different populations and geographical areas. In comparison with the genetic variation detected by allozymes and RAPDs, microsatellite loci always showed higher levels of genetic variation. For instance, the gene diversity (He) found at microsatellite loci was approximately 30 and 3 times higher than that at allozyme and RAPD loci (He= 0.008 and He= 0.097, respectively). In general, different pictures of the amount of the genetic variation were given by isozyme, RAPD and microsatellites but agreement was found regarding how this genetic variation is distributed among populations. In addition, a geographical pattern of population differentiation, where the Finnish and Russian populations were clearly separated from each other, was revealed by both the cluster and principal coordinates analyses when using both RAPDs and microsatellites.
Ochratoxin A in cereals and cereal products.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) was determined in cereals and in a large variety of cereal products (flour, bread, breadroll, pasta, other cereal-based foods) and in a variety of pulses. The detection limit for OTA was 0.01 pg/kg, except for rice and pasta (0.1 μg/kg). A total of 2374 samples were analysed, 68.6 % were found to contain OTA. However, only 1.4 % of the samples contained OTA at levels exceeding 3 μg/kg. The median values for the different groups of foods were between 0.011 μg/kg and 0.165 μg/kg. The mean OTA values for each type of cereal and cereal products were calculated, which constitute a part of a data base to determine the total OTA intake by the German consumer through all types of food.
Understanding menstrual characteristics from the perspective of reproductive energetics: a study on the adolescent Oraon tribal populations

Abstract The energetic costs of ovarian functions rely on the oxidizable fuels synthesized from carbohydrate, protein and fat that contribute to body’s fat storage. Energy deficient diet in association with low body fat may disrupt normal ovulatory function and lead to several menstrual irregularities. We examined the association of nutritional status with menstrual characteristics among a group of adolescent Oraon tribal population of West Bengal, India. We selected 301 adolescent girls, aged 10-19 years. Information on socio-demographic status, menstrual characteristics and assessment of the dietary intake and nutritional status were collected following standard protocol. ‘Healthy weight’ participants more likely reported irregularity in periods and skipping of menstrual cycle and shorter cycle length. Multivariate analysis revealed PBF has inverse association with PMS, duration of discharge and skipping of cycle (p<0.05); carbohydrate intake has direct association with duration of menstrual discharge (p<0.05); increased dietary fat intake has direct association with skipping of cycle, but not with BMI (p<0.05); increase in MUAC has direct association with dysmenorrhoea (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study indicates energy deficiency does alter the menstrual characteristics of the Oraon adolescent girls.
Genetic Diversity in Diploid Cultivars of Rhodesgrass Determined on the Basis of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana Kunth) is a highly variable, perennial forage grass widely cultivated in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Despite its economic importance, there is a lack of information on the genetic diversity within and among rhodesgrass cultivars, which are all based on genetic resources initially introduced from East and South Africa. The objective of this study was to assess genetic diversity within and among 13 cultivars of diploid rhodesgrass and to determine whether recent breeding efforts have resulted in cultivars distinct from the African source populations. For each cultivar, 15 individuals were examined for 237 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers generated from three EcoRI/MseI primer pairs. Partition of the variation revealed that the major proportion of the total genetic variation occurred within cultivars and with only 12 to 13% attributed to geographical origin or breeding history. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups among the cultivars investigated. Group one consisted mainly of recent Japanese cultivars and their African source population, group two contained mostly African cultivars, and group three contained one African cultivar. However, the genetic diversity within recent Japanese cultivars was comparable to the diversity within old African cultivars and there was no evidence of a reduced genetic base because of breeding efforts.
Evaluating impairment in Wisconsin Areas of Concern using relative abundance of Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is an important sportfish and has been suggested as a restoration target species in degraded aquatic environments such as “Areas of Concern” in the Great Lakes basin. Determining expected relative densities of fish and wildlife populations, such as Smallmouth Bass, in least-impacted situations is central to developing effective monitoring programs, assessing the level of relative impairment, determining appropriate restoration goals, and evaluating the efficacy of restoration efforts. We tested a straightforward classification scheme of Smallmouth Bass populations in least impacted non-wadeable rivers in Wisconsin based on parameters related to substrate and geographic location as both variables have been associated with relative Smallmouth Bass density. Coarse-substrate rivers tended to have higher Smallmouth Bass catch per effort values than fine-substrate rivers and southern rivers tended to have higher catch per effort values than northern rivers in Wisconsin. We used the expected Smallmouth Bass relative density estimates to assess the level of impairment of Smallmouth Bass populations in three Areas of Concern in Wisconsin (Milwaukee River and Estuary, Sheboygan River and Estuary, and the Fox River and Green Bay). We found that Smallmouth Bass catch per effort values were significantly higher in Areas of Concern than both the minimum and 25th percentile values for least-impacted rivers and were not significantly different from the median least-impacted values. Based on abundance, it does not appear that Smallmouth Bass populations are particularly impaired in these three Areas of Concern.
Cognitive Biases in Negotiation - Literature Review

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this paper is also to thoroughly review those studies in the management literature that focused on bias in negotiation and to ascertain a couple of new research trajectories that could be observed as the result. As a matter of fact, a human’s judgment making capacity and behavior could be greatly influenced by cognitive misperceptions thus affecting decisions in negotiations. Whilst Thompson (2006) analytically examined the effects of biased decision-making processes for negotiations, the intention of this paper is to fill the gap through a systematic assessment of the literature. Methodology: I have provided a theoretical background on decision makers’ cognition in this paper to provide context and introduce the research; after which we take a closer look at the literature and discuss its results. Based on this, I noted that limited research, with alternate results were done based on the interaction between biases bothering on mood, culture, personality as well as education and experience on the negotiators’ judgments. Finally, we suggest that future research trajectories might be on multilateral and integrative negotiations, the role of third parties and a better comprehension of the cognitive bias and how to rise above it in negotiations. Findings: Despite the fact that this topic is considered important, it is surprisingly under-researched. Author was able to identify the void and inadequacies of the literature identified in journal articles systemizing the intersection of negotiation studies, from cognitive biases studies, group decision making and from the decision making and judgment literature. Value Added: This paper showed that there are only a handful of papers that focus on why, how and when cognitive biases influence negotiation process. Recommendations: There is a great need for papers that focus on cognitive biases in the negotiation process.
Serum stress parameters in pigs transported to slaughter under commercial conditions in different seasons

To determine the influence of slaughter transports carried out under commercial conditions, 162 pigs weighing 98 kg and of both sexes were studied. A total of seven transports were performed in summer and in winter conditions, with durations of 1 h and 13 h 15 min within each season. Cortisol, glucose, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin and total protein serum concentrations were measured. All variables increased during transport and decreased during lairage ( P < 0.001), with cortisol values being 3.47 ± 0.19, 8.52 ± 0.28, and 6.96 ± 0.18 µg/dl at loading, unloading and exsanguinations, respectively, except for glucose (0.54 ± 0.03, 0.44 ± 0.04, and 0.86 ± 0.03 g/l). Short journeys did not allow the total recovery from the loading stress. A certain level of dehydration was observed, especially during lairage on the longest journeys (increase of 6.87 ± 1.29 g/l for total proteins; P < 0.01). Winter transports were slightly more stressful ( P < 0.01 for cortisol and LDH, and P < 0.001 for CPK), with poorer recovery during lairage (CPK decrease being -141 ± 559 and -2 906 ± 730 IU/l for winter and summer journeys, respectively; P < 0.01). Females showed higher stress reactivity. Genetics modulated the effect of the rest of influencing factors, with Nn individuals showing a rougher reaction in short and winter conditions, but with lower dehydration levels. Under Mediterranean commercial conditions, stress in transported slaughter pigs was largely determined by season and genetics, so that an adaptation of handling procedures to these seasonal variations appears crucial if transport stress is to be reduced. Also, an improvement in stress resistance could be obtained by controlling the halothane gene of pigs.
Hematological and serum biochemical parameters of broilers fed with Andrographis paniculata as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of Andrographis paniculata on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of broilers as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter with one hundred and fifty commercial, one day-old broiler chicks. The chicks were fed basal diet (T1), basal diet with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin (T2), basal diet containing A.paniculata-1.0 g/kg (T3), basal diet containing A.paniculata-2.0 g/kg (T4) and basal diet containing A. paniculata - 3.0 g/kg (T5) and were maintained for six weeks period.The result revealed that the packed cell volume were ranged from 29.66 to 32.83% and hemoglobin levels ranged from 12.16 to 13.06 g/dl which did not vary significantly between treatment groups. The total leukocyte count was significantly higher in T5 compared to control group with no difference between the levels of A. paniculata. The serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in A. paniculata fed group did not vary significantly from virginiamycin and control groups. A. paniculata fed group had significantly higher serum total protein, albumin and globulin than virginiamycin and control diet fed groups. The serum glucose level did not vary between treatment groups than antibiotic and control diet fed groups. Serum aspartate transaminase, alkaline transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly lower in A. paniculata fed groups. It was concluded that feeding A. paniculata improved the immune status and hepatoprotective activity in broilers. Key words: Andrographis paniculata, hematology, serum bio-chemicals, broilers.
Patient and practitioner perspectives of psychological need support in physical therapy

ABSTRACT Purpose To examine strategies utilized by physical therapists that contributed to patient perceptions of basic psychological needs support articulated within Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physical therapists (n = 9) and physical therapy patients (n = 9) undergoing rehabilitation for a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. Results Both patients and practitioners articulated the value of specific competence (e.g. matching rehabilitation challenges with patient abilities) and autonomy support strategies (e.g. active decision-making). Interestingly, both patients and therapists emphasized the salience of relatedness need support, a finding indicative of the potential importance of this need in a rehabilitation environment. The possibility that relatedness need support may be of equal – or potentially greater – importance than the other two needs in a rehabilitation setting, is however, antithetical to SDT contentions. Whether the primacy of relatedness need support is an artifact of the sample used in the current study or a reflection of a broader rehabilitation trend, is uncertain and remains a topic for further investigation. Conclusions Understanding the strategies physical therapists use to support patients’ psychological needs may have substantial implications for patient motivation and rehabilitation adherence, such as, improved psychological well-being, enhanced function, and increased adherence to physical therapists’ recommendations.
Bovine mammary gland UDP-GalNAc:GlcNAcβ-R β1→4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase is glycoprotein hormone nonspecific and shows interaction with α-lactalbumin

We have identified a novel N -acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity in lactating bovine mammary gland membranes. Acceptor specificity studies and analysis of products obtained in vitro by 400 MHz1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the enzyme catalyses the transfer of N -acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) from UDP-GalNAc to acceptor substrates carrying a terminal, beta-linked N -acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue and establishes a beta1-->4-linkage forming a GalNAcbeta1-->4GlcNAc ( N, N '-diacetyllactosediamine, lacdiNAc) unit. Therefore, the enzyme can be identified as a UDP-GalNAc:GlcNAcbeta-R beta1-->4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta4-GalNAcT). This enzyme resembles invertebrate beta4-GalNAcT as well as mammalian beta4-galactosyltransferase (beta4-GalT) in acceptor specificity. It can, however, be clearly distinguished from the pituitary hormone-specific beta4-GalNAcT by its incapability of acting with an elevated activity on a glycoprotein substrate carrying a hormone-specific peptide motif. Furthermore, the GalNAcT activity appeared not to be due to a promiscuous action of a beta4-GalT as could be demonstrated by comparing the beta4-GalNAcT and beta4-GalT activities of the mammary gland, bovine colostrum, and purified beta4-GalT, by competition studies with UDP-GalNAc and UDP-Gal, and by use of an anti-beta4-GalT polyclonal inhibiting antibody. Interestingly, under conditions where mammalian beta4-GalT forms with alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) the lactose synthase complex, the mammary gland beta4-GalNAcT was similarly induced by alpha-LA to act on Glc with an increased efficiency yielding the lactose analog GalNAcbeta1-->4Glc. This enzyme thus forms the second example of a mammalian glycosyltransferase the specificity of which can be modified by this milk protein. It is proposed that the mammary gland beta4-GalNAcT functions in the synthesis of lacdiNAc-based, complex-type glycans frequently occurring on bovine milk glycoproteins. The action of this enzyme is to be considered when aiming at the production of properly glycosylated protein biopharmaceuticals in the milk of transgenic dairy animals.
Efecto del color de la capa externa en la edad al primer parto, prolificidad e intervalo entre partos en un rebaño de ovejas de pelo en Campeche, México

El objetivo principal fue evaluar el efecto del color de la oveja (cafe, blanco, pinto, Blackbelly, y negro) en edad al primer parto (EPP, n = 578), prolificidad (PRO, n = 475) e intervalo entre partos (IEP, n = 438) en un rebano de ovinos de pelo en Campeche, Mexico. De manera secundaria se evaluaron ano de parto, mes de parto, y numero de parto de la oveja (primiparas, multiparas). Se analizaron datos de caracteristicas reproductivas de cinco anos (2006-2010) de 340 ovejas y sus crias. El rebano se manejo bajo condiciones semiextensivas; las ovejas y sus crias pastoreaban durante el dia y se encerraban toda la noche. El analisis estadistico se efectuo con el procedimiento GLM del paquete estadistico SAS mediante modelos de efectos fijos. Las medias generales de cuadrados minimos de EPP, PRO e IEP fueron 463,9±13,0 dias, 1,71±0,60 corderos nacidos por oveja parida, y 295,7±17,9 dias, respectivamente. El color de la oveja influyo (P ≤ 0,05) en EPP e IEP; los menores promedios para EPP fueron para las ovejas blancas (435,8±1,4), cafe (438,5±2,4) y pintas (439,7±3,6), mientras que en IEP los menores promedios fueron para las ovejas pintas (284,9±6,9, blancas (288,8±1,6), y negras (291,7±5,8). Hubo efectos significativos (P ≤ 0,05) de ano de parto, mes de parto, y numero de parto en las tres caracteristicas. Por sus menores promedios obtenidos en edad al primer parto e intervalo entre partos, se concluye que en este rebano las ovejas blancas y pintas deberian preferirse en un programa de seleccion en un intento por disminuir los promedios de ambas caracteristicas.
Scale of habitat connectivity and colonization in fragmented nuthatch populations

Studies of effects of landscape pattern on population dynamics should consider the spatial scale at which habitat connectivity varies relative to the spatial scale of the species' behavioral response. In this paper, I investigate the relationship between the degree of connectivity of wooded patches measured at different spatial scales and the colonization of these patches by nuthatch Sitta europaea populations. I used different threshold distances to calculate the degree of habitat connectivity. A threshold distance is the distance beyond which the probability of successfully bridging the distance by dispersing individuals is assumed to decrease rapidly. The sum of the degree of connectivity over all patches in a region provides a measure for the overall degree of connectivity. Based on this measure, I could first give an indication under what conditions species may experience effects of constrained dispersal in that region. Second, the degree of connectivity of the individual patches was related with the observed colonizations of these patches. The degree of habitat connectivity measured for threshold distances of ca 2.4-3 km best explains the colonization probability of unoccupied patches. These threshold distances give an indication of the distances covered by dispersing nuthatches that led to successful colonizations.
Space Use, Survival, Movements, and Reproduction of Reintroduced Louisiana Black Bears

Abstract Studies of reintroduced animals are beneficial to evaluate the success of reintroduction programs and to understand factors influencing fitness of reintroduced individuals. The geographic distribution of the federally threatened Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) has been reduced to 3 isolated populations due to habitat loss and excessive harvest. We reintroduced 23 adult female Louisiana black bears and their cubs to east-central Louisiana, USA, and documented postrelease space use, survival, movements, and reproduction. Individual females used larger home ranges after reintroduction than they had in the source population (P = 0.037). Spring ranges of reintroduced females were smaller than summer, autumn, and annual ranges (all P < 0.09), which did not differ from each other (all P > 0.60). Survival of reintroduced females did not differ between their first (S = 0.933) and second (S = 1.00) year after release or from annual survival of females in the source population (S = 0.964–1.00). Mean straight-line distance traveled by females from their release sites to the center of established home ranges or last recorded locations was 22.7 km. Six females reproduced after reintroduction and produced 15 cubs. Mean postrelease litter size of parturient reintroduced females (2.5) was similar to reported mean litter size of females in the source population (2.4). Our results suggest that the Louisiana reintroduction program is proceeding favorably; however, future studies should continue to monitor survival and reproduction of reintroduced females in Louisiana. Additional demographic parameters (i.e., cub survival) should be estimated to allow for population viability analysis to determine if the new population is self-sustaining.
Deep Learning-Based Video Coding

The past decade has witnessed the great success of deep learning in many disciplines, especially in computer vision and image processing. However, deep learning-based video coding remains in its infancy. We review the representative works about using deep learning for image/video coding, an actively developing research area since 2015. We divide the related works into two categories: new coding schemes that are built primarily upon deep networks, and deep network-based coding tools that shall be used within traditional coding schemes. For deep schemes, pixel probability modeling and auto-encoder are the two approaches, that can be viewed as predictive coding and transform coding, respectively. For deep tools, there have been several techniques using deep learning to perform intra-picture prediction, inter-picture prediction, cross-channel prediction, probability distribution prediction, transform, post- or in-loop filtering, down- and up-sampling, as well as encoding optimizations. In the hope of advocating the research of deep learning-based video coding, we present a case study of our developed prototype video codec, Deep Learning Video Coding (DLVC). DLVC features two deep tools that are both based on convolutional neural network (CNN), namely CNN-based in-loop filter and CNN-based block adaptive resolution coding. The source code of DLVC has been released for future research.