Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Observations On The Pulmonary Anatomy Of The Domestic Fowl And Other Ground-Dwelling Birds

The pulmonary stereology of the adult domestic fowl (Gallus gallus variant domesticus) , the Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus) , the Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) , the White-breasted Water-Hen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), and the juveniles of the domestic fowl and Red Jungle Fowl were investigated. The lung of the domestic fowl was canpared with that of the Red Jungle Fowl at day 1 , day 7, and day 30 . A multistage sampling technique was used for pulmonary stereology. Standard stereological procedures of point counting, intersection counting, and measurement of intercept length, were employed for estimating volume density, surface area, and harmonic mean thickness respectively. The anatomical diffusing capacity was estimated from Weibel's model. The pulmonary stereological characteristics of the Red Jungle Fowl are broadly similar to those of the domestic fowl, but the Red Jungle Fowl has a higher specific volume of the lung and a thinner blood-gas (tissue) barrier, with a higher specific diffusing capacity of the barrier for oxygen than the domestic fowl. The lung of the White-breasted Water-Hen, a grounddwelling bird, has stereological characteristics similar to sane flying birds (non-passerine), thus showing that not all ground-dwelling birds have inferior pulmonary stereological characteristics. The domestic Muscovy Duck has pulmonary characteristics which are broadly similar to those reported for other Anseriformes, except for a greater thickness of the blood-gas (tissue) barrier. The specific oxygen diffusing capacity of the blood-gas (tissue) barrier was well below that of other anseriforms and birds in general. The juvenile of both the domestic fowl and the Red Jungle fowl has a thicker blood-gas (tissue) barrier than the adult. In each age group examined, the blood-gas (tissue) barrier was thicker in the domestic fowl than in the Red Jungle Fowl.
The effects of oxysterols on cell viability in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells: role of reactive oxygen species

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the cytotoxicity of oxLDLs has been linked to the formation of oxysterols (Schroepfer et al, 2000). 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) and 7- hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) are the major oxysterols found in oxLDLs. High concentrations (> 20 ? g/ml) of 7-KC and 7-OHC have been shown to induce apoptosis in human endothelial cells (Lizard et al, 1999). Preliminary results obtained in our laboratory have shown that 7-OHC and 7-KC, at concentrations below 20 ? g/mL, induce an increase in cell viability. Furthermore, it has been recently reported that oxLDLs induce proliferation and apoptosis in vascular cells, depending on the concentration and that both effects are mediated by superoxide formation (Galle, et al, 2001). In fact, besides the known cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), evidences have been accumulated indicating that these molecules are involved in several signal transduction pathways leading to antiapoptotic and proliferative effects (Haendeler et al, 2004). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ROS on cellular effects of 7-KC and 7-OHC in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelialcells (HUVEC) and A7r5 (rat vascular smooth muscle cells) for 24 and 48 hours with 7-KC or 7-OHC (1-10 μg/mL) increased cell viability, while a cytotoxic effect was induced at 20 ? g/mL. Both oxysterols induced an increase in intracellular ROS production in a time dependent manner. ROS production by 7-OHC was partially dependent on NADPH oxidase. Analysis of phosphatidylserine translocation and caspase-3 activation in HUVEC treated with 7-OHC showed an antiapoptotic effect of the oxysterol against bFGF deprivation and staurosporine treatment. Incubation of HUVEC with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor hydralazine or with the antioxidant N-acetilcysteine was not able to prevent the antiapoptotic effect of 7-OHC. Although 7-OHC did not induce an increase in ERK activation, treatments of HUVEC with two different MEK inhibitors (PD98059, U0126) antagonized the protective effect of the oxysterol. The results show that 7-OHC, at concentration below 20 ? g/mL is antiapoptotic by a mechanism independent on ROS production and dependent on activation of MEK/ERK pathway.
Germination Studies of Wisconsin Prairie Plants

The methods and rates of reproduction of the most important prairie species have been studied in some detail in connection with the establishment, on the University of Wisconsin Arboretum at Madison, of large-scale examples of the main plant associations of the prairie-forest border region. To assist with the restoration of the tall grass prairie (Andropogon-Sorghastrum) variotus additional studies have been made concerning the species composition of nearby prairie relics (Curtis and Greene, 1949), and the effect of fire on the behavior of prairie perennials (Curtis and Partch, 1948). The present paper reports briefly on one phase of the reproduction studies, namely the germination behavior of the seeds of 91 species of prairie plants.
The Effect of Irrigation on Spring-sown Chickpea

This study was aimed to determine agronomic and morphological characters of 12 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars under irrigated conditions in Diyarbak2r in 2000 spring season. The cultivars were sown in a Randomised Complete Block Design with four replications. Natural plant height, seed yield/plant, number of pods/plant, leaf size, number of leaflets per leaf, seed size and pod size were increased with irrigation application. However, protein content in grain decreased with irrigation.
Phylogenetic signal and potential for invasiveness

We hypothesized that the evolutionary stability of insect traits relevant to invasion risk can be used to characterize this risk and the confidence in assigning potential invasiveness. Different longhorned beetle species have biological trait combinations (diet breadth, host tree condition and adult feeding) that predispose them to different degrees of potential invasiveness if introduced outside their native range. Relevant biological information is often not available for newly introduced species; however, the approach described in the present study could rapidly allow risk to be assigned to such discoveries. To test this approach, we used a molecular phylogeny for 56 species of Cerambycidae from five subfamilies to measure phylogenetic signal associated with invasive traits. The biological traits were used to cluster species into seven hypothesized risk groups. Mapping these risk designations back onto the phylogeny allowed us to examine the risk within clades at different taxonomic levels and the stability of the risk designation. We used additional species known to be non‐native invasive problems to test our framework. Our method would have correctly predicted the risk of Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) but not Callidiellum rufipenne (Motschulsky). There was significant phylogenetic signal in both the biological traits and the risk category membership. Our approach can be modified for other groups of concern.
Stability Analysis of Regular and Chaotic Ca2+ Oscillations in Astrocytes

Ca2+ oscillations play an important role in various cell types. Thus, understanding the dynamical mechanisms underlying astrocytic Ca2+ oscillations is of great importance. The main purpose of this article was to investigate dynamical behaviors and bifurcation mechanisms associated with astrocytic Ca2+ oscillations, including stability of equilibrium and classification of different dynamical activities including regular and chaotic Ca2+ oscillations. Computation results show that part of the reason for the appearance and disappearance of spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ oscillations is that they embody the subcritical Hopf and the supercritical Hopf bifurcation points. In more details, we theoretically analyze the stability of the equilibrium points and illustrate the regular and chaotic spontaneous calcium firing activities in the astrocytes model, which are qualitatively similar to actual biological experiment. Then, we investigate the effectiveness and the accuracy of our nonlinear dynamical mechanism analysis via computer simulations. These results suggest the important role of spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations in conjunction with the adjacent neuronal input that may help correlate the connection of both the glia and neuron.
The Cryptocephalini of the Maltese Islands (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Four species of the Tribe Cryptocephalini have been asserted as occurring in Malta. These include Pachybrachis siculus, Cryptocephalus fulvus, C. plantaris and C. macellus. The occurrence of a fifth species, C. ochroleucus, remains doubtful. Taxonomic notes and some biogeographic remarks are reported.
Resource Scarcity Increases the Value of Pride

Resource scarcity can weaken our sense of control and be unpleasant and aversive. Yet no research to date has investigated how consumers regulate affect arising from resource scarcity. We examine this issue. Three studies show that affect regulation arising from scarcity leads consumers to value pride. Pride occurs from an achievement and conveys a sense of personal agency to be able to create positive outcomes; hence, it is uniquely suited to regulate resource scarcity by restoring control. Together, our findings demonstrate that affect regulation in response to resource scarcity is not driven by purely hedonic motives but, rather, is guided by instrumental motives where consumers value emotion that provides important epistemic benefits to the self. Our research resides at the intersection of resource scarcity and affect regulation, and by showing how consumers regulate resource scarcity, we connect these two research streams in a manner that has not been done previously.
First-Year Density and Growth as They Relate to Recruitment of White Perch to the Adult Stock in Oneida Lake, New York, 1968–2011

AbstractRecruitment of fish to the adult stock is often determined early in life, and identifying relationships between first-year abundance and subsequent recruitment has significant implications for monitoring and management. Despite the importance of White Perch Morone americana as both predator and prey in systems where they are abundant, relatively little has been published on their early life history, and their recruitment patterns are generally not well understood. We use data over a period of 44 years to investigate factors related to first-year density and growth of White Perch and their recruitment to the adult stock in Oneida Lake, New York. Simple linear regression was used to examine the relationships between select physical and biological factors and first-year density and growth of White Perch estimated from Miller high-speed sampler and trawl surveys and estimates of year-class recruitment to the adult stock determined from gill-net surveys. Akaike's information criterion corrected for sma.
Avian disease assessment in seabirds and non-native passerines birds at Midway Atoll NWR

dennis A. lapointe1, Carter T. Atkinson1, and John l. Klavitter2,3 1U.S. Geological Survey, pacific island ecosystems Research Center, Kīlauea Field Station, p.o. box 44, Hawaii national park, Hi 96718 2U.S. Fish & wildlife Service, midway Atoll national wildlife Refuge, 1082 makepono Street, Honolulu, Hi 96819 3U.S. Fish & wildlife Service, national wildlife Refuge System, 4401 n. Fairfax drive, Room 611, Arlington, vA 22203
Banks and Economic Growth: Implications from Japanese History*

Alexander Gerschenkron argued that banks facilitate growth in “backward” countries, and modern theorists sometimes similarly claim that banks can promote growth by reducing informational asymmetries and improving the allocation of funds. Japan has played a part in these debates. In early twentieth‐century Japan, firms relied heavily on bank debt, observers argue. Those firms with preferential access to debt outperformed the others, and those that were part of the zaibatsu corporate groups obtained that access through their affiliated banks. In fact, Japanese banks did not play the role attributed to them. Japan was not a bank‐centered economy; instead, firms relied on equity finance. It was not an economy where firms with access to banks outperformed their rivals; instead, such firms earned no advantage. And it was not a world in which the zaibatsu manipulated their banks to favor affiliated firms; instead, zaibatsu banks loaned affiliated firms little more than the deposits those firms had made with the banks. During the first half of the last century, Japanese firms obtained almost all their funds through decentralized, competitive capital markets.
Effect of nutrient management on growth, yield, quality, economics and nutrient partitioning of sweet corn

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy farm, Department of Agronomy, Dr. B S K K V, Dapoli (M.S.) during the rabi season of 2004–2005 to study the effect of nutrient management on sweet corn (var. Sugar 75). The growth, yield attributes, yield, quality and economics of the sweet com remained unaffected due to FYM and inoculation with Azotobacter. The growth, yield attributes, yield, quality and economics of the sweet com were significantly superior with 150% RDF level over control, 50% RDF and 100% RDF levels. The highest B: C ratio of 2.59 was recorded with 150% RDF level. Out of total nitrogen content in sweet com at harvest, 45.55% was accumulated in grains. The nitrogen accumulation in leaves, stem, cob sheath and cob axis were 23.21, 11.89, 11.68 and 7.66%, respectively. Out of total P uptake, 69.91% was retained by the grains and remaining 30% by the rest of the plant parts. Out of total K uptake, 44.21% was accumulated in grains while the leaves, stem, cob sheath and cob axis contained about 19.04, 12.18, 10.04 and 14.67%, respectively.
Comparative Study on the Breeding of Mainland and Island Subspecies of the Varied Tit, Parus Varius

Comparisons on the breeding ecology between Parus varius varius in the mainland of Japan and P. v. owstoni in the Izu Islands were studied using nest boxes from 1972 to 1975. The result obtained was as follows.1. Breeding season. Little difference was found in the seasonal distribution of the date of the first egg laying in two subspecies. In both subspecies, the earliest clutch was found in late March, and the latest clutch was found in early or middle June. The first large peak in the seasonal distribution was in early or middle April, and the second rather indistinct peak was in late May (Fig. 2). The brood in which a first egg was laid before May 10 was called "the early brood", and the brood in which a first egg was laid on and after May 11 was called "the late brood". 2. Clutch size. The mean of the clutch size was 6.2 in the mainland subspecies (Fig. 3), and 3.9 in the island subspecies (Fig. 4). The dif ference in the clutch sizes seems to be closely related to the difference of the breeding density in two subspecies.3. Egg weight and nestling weight. Marked differences were found in egg and nestling weights, those in the island subspecies being larger in correlation with the adult body size (Table 2, Fig. 5). 4. Incubation period and nestling period. The incubation period reckoned from the date of the completion of clutch to the date of the first hatching of young was hardly different in two subspecies, and the mean was about 14 days in both subspecies (Table 3). The nestling period reckoned from the date of the first hatching of egg to the date of the first young to fly was a little longer in the island subspecies. The mean was 18.3 days in the mainland subspecies and 19.0 days in the island subspecies (Table 4). 5. Breeding success. In the mainland subspecies, when losses from predation are included, about 75 per cent of the eggs hatched successfully and about 80 per cent of them gave rise to flying young (Table 5). When losses from predation are excluded, over 95 per cent of the eggs hatched successfully, and also over 95 per cent of them gave rise to young which left the nest. In the island subspecies, no losses by predation were observed probably because of the absence of any snakes and Apodemus argenteus. Percent hatched was over 95%, and percent flying was also over 95% (Table 6). These values were not significantly different from those excluded losses from predation in the mainland subspecies.6. Breeding density. The breeding density in the island subspecies was remarkably higher than that in the mainland subspecies. The number of pairs per 1 km. was five to six in the mainland subspecies, and ten to fifteen in the island subspecies (Table 7).
A Predictive Model of Rainfall Interception in Forests. II. Generalization of the Model and Comparison with Observations in Some Coniferous and Hardwood Stands

SUMMARY A previously validated model of rainfall interception in forests, and the evaporation of the intercepted water, has been used to predict quantitative responses to varying climatic conditions, properties of stands, and interactions between them. If evaporation in a given period is expressed relative to the total duration of rain then, in the range of conditions investigated, response to increase in either potential evaporation rate or rainfall intensity may be limited by low values of the other. For a given number of rain hours, loss is much greater if the rain falls intermittently rather than in storms of many hours duration. The proportion of rain which falls through the canopy, without even temporary interception, affects the rate of input of water to the system and hence appreciably affects the evaporation rate when rainfall intensity is limiting. This proportion may be estimated by (1-crown cover). The effect of changing the canopy saturation capacity from 0 5 to 2-0 mm is usually small and this capacity can be sufficiently accurately estimated by visual inspection. Varying the ratio of roughness length to stand height from 0 05 to 0 15 gives estimates of evaporation which may diverge by as much as + 20% from the value obtained when the ratio is assumed to be 0 1. A simple model of evaporation of water running down the trunks suggests that this is usually small but may be large enough to warrant separate estimation in some circumstances.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and plant regeneration in Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok]

ABSTRACT Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok] is a small deciduous shrub which produces fruit that contain high concentrations of nutritional and medicinal compounds. It is also highly drought and cold tolerant, so it has been exploited for soil and water conservation purposes. Using mature leaves as initial explants, an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation system has been developed for Chinese dwarf cherry. Leaf segments from cultivar ‘99-02’ were successfully transformed with Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harbouring the vector prolC1 which contained the rolC gene, the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII), and the β-glucuronidase gene (gus). Transformation was confirmed using a histochemical β-glucuronidase (GUS) assay, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ampliﬁcation, and by reverse transcription-PCR of the rolC gene. Transgenic shoots of Lines 1 and 2 showed significant increases in root numbers and root lengths compared to non-transformed control shoots on medium without any added auxin or with a low concentration of auxin. This optimised genetic transformation procedure will provide a tool for future molecular breeding of Chinese dwarf cherry.
Haematology, Serum Biochemistry and Hormone Profile ofRabbit Bucks Fed Dietary Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate

Citation: Olatundun Bukola Ezekiel and Ogunlade Jacob Taiwo. “Haematology, Serum Biochemistry and Hormone Profile of Rabbit Bucks Fed Dietary Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate”. EC Veterinary Science 5.10 (2020): 76-83. Abstract Olatundun Bukola Ezekiel1* and Ogunlade Jacob Taiwo2 1Department of Agricultural Education, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Nigeria 2Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Olatundun Bukola Ezekiel, Department of Agricultural Education, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Nigeria. Received: August 27, 2020; Published: September 24, 2020
Screening for resistance against Rhizoctonia bataticola causing dry root-rot in chickpea

One hundred seventy chickpea genotypes procured from AICRP-Chickpea Unit, NBPGR and ICRISAT were evaluated for locating new and better sources of resistance against dry root rot through blotter paper technique and in multiple disease sick fields at JNKVV, Jabalpur during 2007 to 2010. The susceptible cultivar BG 212 showed 100 per cent mortality i.e. rating 9 in 1–9 scale. The studies led to conclusion that out of 170 accessions, 68 genotypes exhibited resistant reaction ( 20% mortality showed necrotic root lesions leading to extensive root rotting. The genotypes identified as resistant are of great value and may be exploited in breeding programme for developing high yielding resistant varieties.
Risky Spending after Experienced Loss: The Moderating Effect of Socioeconomic Background

Research shows that loss experiences affect risk-taking. Effects of socioeconomic background are however understudied. In two experiments we manipulated experienced losses versus gains. In Study 2 we measured and tested disappointment and surprise as mediators. We find in line with recent life-history theory that a loss triggers risky simulated (study 1) and actual (study 2) purchases for the past poor, and actual savings for the past rich. These different reactions are explained partly by differences in coping with disappointment. For both past rich and poor a loss tends to increase gambling via reduced surprise. The past poor are more optimistic and expect a higher payment than the past rich. Implications for avoiding scarcity traps and future research are discussed.
Nutrition of Borneo's ‘exploding’ ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Colobopsis): a preliminary assessment

Functional effects of ants in rainforest canopies depend on difficult to characterize ant diets. In Bornean dipterocarp forests, certain diurnal, arboreal, territorial, and ecologically dominant ‘COCY’ ant species (Colobopsis cylindrica clade) grazed epiphytic biofilms on adaxial leaf surfaces, as well as on tree trunks and branches. Microscopic examination of worker buccal pellets revealed numerous (mainly ascomycete) fungal spores, together with insect appendages and cuticle. Direct observations, video‐imaging, and δ15N isotope data rule out feeding by predation, but isotopes cannot separate fungi from plant and insect exudates as principal nitrogen sources. Lipid‐rich products, extracted from pellets in situ, are hypothesized sources of essential sterols. Also present in pellets were colorful mandibular gland (MG) compounds unique to this ant clade and deployed, as a derived character state, in suicidal defense of foraging territories. Mildly antimicrobial and highly adhesive MG products also occur basally in the clade and may have first evolved for roles in microbial sterilization and food‐gathering and processing. Proteomic studies of YG COCY ants detected 2% proteins in hypertrophied, product‐filled MG reservoirs, but SDS‐PAGE qualitative analysis revealed mostly low‐molecular mass proteins and peptides (8–15 kDa), too small for enzymes but consistent with membrane‐binding proteins and/or antimicrobial peptides. Breakdown of chitin and chitosan in pellets may occur with enzymes derived from molting fluids in insect cuticle (proteases and chitinases) and/or fungi and bacteria. To the extent that COCY workers collect and consume pathogenic and/or beneficial phyllosphere microbes, ant effects on plants may be mediated by these activities.