Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of bovine brucellosis in smallholder dairying farming area, Moshi, Tanzania

PREVALENCE DE LA BRUCELLOSE BOVINE DANS LES PETITES EXPLOITATIONS DE BETAIL LAITIER DE LA REGION DE MOSHI EN TANZANIE Resume La prevalence des anticorps contre l'infection de Brucella abortus chez les bovins a ete evaluee a l'aide du Test de sero-agglutination pendant le mois d'avril 2003. Des serums etaient preleves a 417 bovins laitiers/locaux (de tous âges, sexes et races) eleves dans 113 petites exploitations choisies au hasard. Le mode d'elevage pratique pour la majorite du betail etait la stabulation. La prevalence globale des anticorps anti- Brucella abortus etait respectivement de 12,2% et 41,9% pour le betail individuel et les fermes. Les taux reels de seroprevalence selon l'âge etait d'environ 3,2/total 100 ans – risque. En utilisant le modele de regression logistique avec effet aleatoire comme methode analytique, on a constate que l'alimentation au tourteau de graines de coton, le sexe, l'origine des animaux et les niveaux de sang exotique etaient lies a la seropositivite a Br. abortus . Mots-cles: Seroprevalence, Brucella abortus , betail laitier, facteurs de risque, petite exploitation, Moshi, Tanzanie. The prevalence of antibodies to Brucella abortus infection in cattle was estimated by using serum agglutination test (SAT) during the period of April, 2003. Sera were obtained from 417 dairy/local cattle (of all ages, sexes and breeds) that were kept in 113 randomly selected smallholders farms. The majority of the cattle were kept under zero grazing regime. The overall prevalence of antibodies to Br. abortus were 12.2% and 41.9% for individual cattle and farms, respectively. True rates basing on the age seroprevalence profile were estimated at 3.2 per 100 cattle years-risk. Using random effect logistic regression model as analytical method, feeding cotton seed cake, sex, source of animals and levels of exotic blood were found to be associated with seropositivity to Br. abortus . Key words: Seroprevalence, Brucella abortus , Dairy cattle, risk factors, smallholder, Moshi, Tanzania. Bull Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr. (2005) 53(2), 97-105
Temperature indirectly affects benthic microalgal diversity by altering effects of top-down but not bottom-up control

Understanding the ecological mechanisms that underlie species diversity decline in response to environmental change has become an urgent objective in current ecological research. Not only direct (lethal) effects on single species but also indirect effects altering biotic interactions between species within and across trophic levels comprise the driving force of ecosystem change. In an experimental marine benthic microalgae–grazer system we tested for indirect effects of moderate temperature change on algal diversity by manipulation of temperature, nutrient supply and grazer density. In our model system warming did not exert indirect effects on microalgal diversity via effects on resource competition. However, moderate warming strengthened consumer control and thereby indirectly affected algal community structure which ultimately resulted in decreased diversity. Only in low temperature and low nutrient regimes did the antagonizing mechanisms of bottom–up and top–down regulation establish a balancing effect on algal diversity within 29 days (corresponding to 15–29 algae generations). Effects of thermal habitat change did not appear before 9–18 algae generations, which points to the relevance of longer-term experiments and ecological monitoring in order to separate transient biotic responses and subtle changes of community dynamics in consequence to global change.
Size and age at metamorphosis in marine fishes: an analysis of laboratory-reared winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) with a review of variation in other species

Offspring of adult winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) collected from Conception Bay, Newfoundland, were reared from fertilization to metamorphosis. We tested two hypotheses: 1) length and age at metamorphosis are equally variable among individuals and (2) length and age at metamorphosis are not correlated. Length at metamorphosis was significantly less variable than age at metamorphosis when data from all laboratory populations were pooled and in 15 of 18 populations. Coefficients of variation for length and age at metamorphosis for the pooled data were 0.051 and 0.123, respectively. Length and age at metamorphosis were positively correlated when the data were pooled (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and within 8 of 18 populations. Larvae that metamorphose late do so at larger sizes. When length and age at metamorphosis were converted to growth and developmental rates for the full larval period, significant positive correlations were evident between these rates for the pooled data (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) a.
Homocysteine, Β Vitamins and Immune Activation in Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). An inverse relationship usually exists between homocysteine and folate concentrations, and folate supplementation is often able to lower homocysteine concentrations. Thus, insufficient dietary intake of folate and/or vitamin B12 is considered to be responsible for the development of hyperhomocysteinemia. Inflammation and immune activation appear also to be important in the pathogenesis of CHD and may influence availability of folate. Blood concentrations of homocysteine, Β vitamins and neopterin were examined in 35 patients with CHD verified by coronary angiography, (2 1 patients with one-artery disease, 9 with two- or three-artery disease, 5 with restenosis). Compared to 30 healthy controls, a significant proportion of patients presented with increased homocysteine concentrations. Hyperhomocysteinemia coincided with lower folate and also with higher neopterin concentrations indicating immune system activation. In addition, correlations existed between neopterin and homocysteine (r = 0.472, ρ < 0.01) and folate (r = -0.370, ρ = 0.01). We conclude that higher homocysteine is not only associated with lower circulating folate but also with higher neopterin. Immune activation could be involved to cause an increased demand for folate resulting in hyperhomocysteinemia even when dietary folate intake is within the recommended range.
Habitat use and site fidelity of Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus wintering in Southern England

Between 1982 and 1991 Green Sandpipers were studied in mid-Hertfordshire through regular counts and observations of colour-ringed birds. Birds were present in the study area in every month of the year but only in low numbers during May. Overall, throughout the year, 35.1 % of the birds were found at gravel pit complexes and 37.8 % at disused watercress beds. There was a marked shift from gravel pits in summer and autumn to disused watercress beds and stream sides in winter. Colour-ringing showed that the population consisted mainly of birds which regularly spent the winter in the area; the overall return rate from one winter to the next was 83.5%. Individual birds changed sites between autumn and winter in a similar way to the population as a whole and, in mid-winter, were extremely faithful to particular sites to which they returned each year. The return rates from one winter to the next are negatively correlated with the number of nights with air frost in the first winter.
Combined genetic, genomic and transcriptomic methods in the analysis of animal traits

This paper reviews advances and current status in genetic, genomic and transcriptomic investigations of quantitative traits in livestock species and proposes possible strategies for integrating the vast amounts of information (outputs/datasets) arising from all three investigations into a systems genetics approach. This systems genetics approach is characterized by investigations of the genetic basis of -omic variations and gene regulatory/co-regulatory networks. This review is structured as follows. Genetics/genomics, transcriptomics, combined transcriptomics-genomics and, finally, systems genetics/biology. In the genetics or genomics part, we discuss current status and advances in quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping to fine-map multiple causative/candidate genes. We discuss the potential of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays (e.g. Affymetrix GeneChip® arrays) to identify SNP-trait associations and fine-map QTLs to less than 0.1 cM. We provide references and resources for SNP analytical methods and tools. In the transcriptomics part, we formulate common biological questions relevant to livestock microarray gene expression profiling (MGEP) experiments to detect differentially expressed (DE) genes. In the combined transcriptomics-genomics (known as genetical genomics), we discuss detection and mapping of expression QTL (eQTL) that harbour regulatory genes for normal trait QTLs or candidate genes detected under 'genetics' and 'genomics' approaches. Illustrations from our own recent genetical genomic investigations in mouse and pigs are provided. One of the current challenges in genetical genomics is to have a coherent approach to design an experiment with due considerations for sample size and controlling false discovery rates (FDRs), while maintaining statistical power to detect eQTLs. Here we provide some concepts for the design of genetical genomics experiments with factors affecting FDR and power. This is followed by a systems biology/genetics section where we focus on combining research outputs from four different sources, namely: genetics or genomics (e.g. SNP, QTL and eQTLs), transcriptomics (e.g. DE genes, gene networks, and heritability of gene transcripts) and phenomics (e.g. phenotypes and pedigree). As a proof of principle, we provide results from systems biology/genetics approach anchored to a gene network for myogenin (MYOG), a muscle-specific transcription factor essential for the development of skeletal muscle. Using bovine expression datasets and in silico approaches, we built a gene network for MYOG that represents 35 significant connections between genes in this network. In conclusion, this paper provides strategies and tools to integrate data from genetics and -omics experiments in animals and highlighted the value of such 'systems genetics' strategy in understanding the genetics of complex traits.
Overseeding manilagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.] with cool season turfgrasses

Manilagrass was overseeded with cool-season turfgrasses to examine suitability of these species for winter overseeding or planting in mixture with manilagrass for producing a year-round turf. Turf quality and percent of manilagrass in the mixture were estimated monthly for 2 years. Creeping bentgrass and rough bluegrass were not suitable for either purpose. Whereas, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, and Chewing fescue were suitable for winter overseeding, but it took 3 months with hard fescue and 6 months with others for regrowth of manilagrass to provide a satisfactory cover during the summer. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass were appropriate for producing a year-round turf, however, manilagrass did not provide enough coverage until middle of the summer. As such, manilagrass benefits the turf for only 2 to 3 months. Though some species improved quality of the turf, manilagrass was unable to make a gradual and smooth transition suggesting that further research is needed to overcome .
Studies on the ship-fouling alga Enteromorpha (Chlorophyceae, Ulvales) IV. Polysaccharide and nucleoside diphosphatase localization

Abstract In swimming zoospores, Golgi-derived adhesive vesicles contain glycoprotein. Cytochemical techniques visualize polysaccharide in adhesive vesicles and Golgi cisternae only after detachment from the Golgi stack whilst inosine diphosphatase (IDP-ase) and thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPP-ase) are localized in both the Golgi bodies and detached cisternae. In young settled cells, the Golgi bodies, abstricted vesicles and cell wall all show identical staining reactions and lDP-ase and TPP-ase are found in the Golgi bodies and endoplasmic reticulum. The significance of these results is discussed.
Divergence in juvenile growth and life history in two recently colonized and partially isolated chinook salmon populations

In 47 families of New Zealand chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha derived from two populations, differing in mean spawning date by 11–17 days and in juvenile life history, neither mean ovum weight nor mean time to hatch differed between the two populations, but substantial differences in mean family weight were apparent from 6 months after fertilization. Differences in growth rates from 12 to 24 months were relatively small, suggesting that most of the divergence in size and growth occurred during the first 6 months of life. There were differences in mean weight for families spawned 11–17 days apart, the approximate interval by which peak spawning date differs between the two populations, but these did not persist beyond 7 months. Differences between the two populations are consistent with their natural life history. The slower growing population experiences cooler temperatures during stream residence and is dominated by fish which spend a year in fresh water before seaward migration, whereas the faster growing population normally experiences warmer temperatures and migrates to sea in the first year of life. These results provide further evidence of life history evolution in partially isolated chinook salmon populations within 90 years (c. 30 generations) of becoming established.
Length‐mass models for some common New Zealand littoral‐benthic macroinvertebrates, with a note on within‐taxon variability in parameter values among published models

Abstract Regression models are developed and presented to predict dry mass (mg) from two linear dimensions (mm) for 17 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa common to littoral zones of New Zealand lakes. We also provide regression models to predict body length from head capsule width for the major insect taxa. Dry mass was best explained as a power function of all linear dimensions: M = aL b . Parameters are presented in the log10‐transformed linear form of this power function. Body length was a simple linear function of head capsule width for all insect taxa, hence parameters for these models are presented as untransformed values. We also provide family level models for the Chironomidae, and compare our chironomid body length‐mass model with other published Chrionomidae length‐mass models. There was a very high degree of variability in parameter values among published length‐mass models for the family Chironomidae (mean coefficient of variation for mass at length = 148%). We discuss the potential causes and implications of this variability.
A comparative study on Striga hermonthica interaction with a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum cultivar

In this study, the effects of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. on a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum genotype were investigated, and the underlying tolerance mechanisms were distinguished. The sensitive sorghum cv. CK60-B and the tolerant sorghum landrace Tiemarifing were grown in pots with and without seed infestation. Both sorghum genotypes responded to infection by the parasite, but it was evident that CK60-B was more strongly affected than Tiemarifing. Sorghum plant height, final leaf number, green leaf area, kernel yield, number of kernels and 1000-kernel weight were significantly reduced by infection, which also had a marked effect on the phenological development of CK60-B: the majority of the plants remained vegetative and, in the remaining plants, flowering was delayed by about 2 weeks. No effect on the phenological development of Tiemarifing was observed. The tolerant land race showed significantly lower and delayed emergence of S. hermonthica than the sensitive cultivar, and this could be explained by a delay in the onset of attachment. Significantly higher numbers of reproductive parasitic plants were found in the pots with the sensitive sorghum plants. It is concluded that differences in root architecture and the resulting early infection and higher S. hermonthica numbers are partly responsible for the stronger effects of the parasite on the sensitive cultivar.
Bioaccumulation of platinum group metals in dolphins, Stenella sp., caught off Ghana

Platinum group metals (PGMs) concentrations were measured in the tissues= of dolphins (Stenella sp.) caught along the Ghanaian coastline. Tissues from specimens caught by fishermen from Dixcove, western Ghana, were analysed in 2006 for palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh) using the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) analytical technique. Elevated PGM levels were found in the liver, with fresh weight ranges of 0.040–0.481 μg g−1 for Pd, 0.239–0.946 μg g−1 for Pt, and 0.011–0.037 μg g−1 for Rh, supporting other reports of PGM accumulation. This is the first study to show the accumulation of PGM in marine mammals, although the sources of this pollution are not clear and therefore need to be investigated further. The presence of the PGM is very significant, since dolphin meat ('kako') is consumed in Ghana. This presents a health risk, due to a possible accumulation of PGMs in humans.
Planting Geometry and Plant Population Affect Dryland Maize Grain Yield and Harvest Index

Water for dryland grain production in the Texas panhandle is limited. Agronomic practices such as reduction in plant population or change in sowing time may help increase maize (Zea mays L.) yield potential. Tiller formation under dryland conditions leads to more vegetative growth and reduced yield. We hypothesized that clump planting dryland maize would reduce environmental stress, tillering, and vegetative growth, and increase harvest index by having more soil water available during grain filling. Clump planting was studied during 2008 at Bushland, Texas. Two plant populations—30,000 and 40,000 plants ha−1—and three plant geometries—clumps of three or four plants (3 PPC or 4 PPC) and equally spaced single plants (ESP)—were grown in 75 cm rows. Growing season precipitation was 209 mm. Harvest index (HI) 200-seed mass and harvested ears were higher in 3 PPC and 4 PPC compared with ESP. Three PPC planted at 40,000 plants ha−1 had the highest harvest index of 0.46. The ESP produced 27% more unproductive ears compared with 3 PPC and 4 PPC. Leaf area index (LAI) was 14% more in ESP than in 4 PPC. The lower population produced higher HI and seed mass than the higher population, regardless of geometry. Grain yields were not significantly higher for clumps, yet increased number of productive ears, seed mass, and HI values, suggesting clump geometry may be a good strategy for dryland maize production.
Phylogenetic Relationships Among Members of Salvelinus Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Divergence

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was isolated from five species of the genus Salvelinus (alpinus, confluentus, fontinalis, malma, and namaycush) and from the closely related taxon, Hucho hucho. Restriction sites recognized by 14 endonucleases were mapped for each of the species and percent sequence divergence estimated between species pairs. A phylogeny of Savelinus based on restriction analysis of mtDNA, using Hucho as an outgroup, readily resolved the three subgenera: Baione, Cristivomer, and Salvelinus. Within Baione, no differences were detected between the mtDNA of brook (S. fontinalis fontinalis) and aurora (S. f. timagamiensis) trout. However, members of the subgenus Salvelinus were more variable such that two groups were resolved, one consisting of S. alpinus alpinus, S. a. oquassa, and S. malma, and the other of S. a. stagnalis and S. confluentus. A composite distance phenogram representing the phylogeny of the subfamily Salmoninae was constructed using the sequence divergence data obtained in the curre.
The early development of the Pigeon's egg, with especial reference to polyspermy and the origin of the periblast nuclei

CONTENTS . Introduction . 2 Value of the Material . 2 Amount of Material . 2 Acknowledgments . 3 I . Methods . 3 tim . Illustrated by charts . 4 I11 . Polyspermy . 19 (a) Polyspermy in Bryozoa. and Bonnevie’s explanation of Polyspermy . 19 (b) Polyspermy in Holothuroidea . 21 (c) Polyspermy in Insects . 21 (d) Polyspermy in Selachians . 21 Rlickert’s explanation for the migration of the supernumerary sperms . 22 (e) Polyspermy in the Newt . 23 ( f ) Polyspermy in Reptiles . 23 (g) Polyspermy in Birds . 23 (h) The cause of the migration of the supernumerary sperm nuclei in the pigeon . 24 (i) Polyspermy in Plants,--Ephedra . 26 ( j ) Accessory cIeavage and segmentation of egg fragments . 27 (k) “Inwandering Follicular Cells” . 27 (1) Evidence of the disappearance of the supernumerary nuclei in the pigeon and comparison with other meroblastic vertebrate eggs 30 (m) Function of the supernumerary sperms . 33 I V . Area of Primary Cleavage . 35 (a) Maturation Stage . 35 (b) Direction of the First Cleavage Plane . 35 (c) The 4-celled stage . 37 Asymmetry . 37 (a) The 8-celled and later stages . 41 V . The Segmentation Cavity . 46 Description by Duval . 46 Description by Kijlliker . 47 PAQE .
Atrial natriuretic peptide in physiological doses does not inhibit the ACTH or cortisol response to corticotrophinreleasing hormone-41 in normal human subjects

Whilst it has been postulated that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may modulate pituitary hormone release, several investigations in non-human species have reported conflicting results when looking for an effect on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, in a recent study significant inhibition of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-stimulated ACTH in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells occurred only with the complete peptide alpha-ANP(1-28). We have therefore investigated whether this form of ANP can inhibit CRH-stimulated ACTH and cortisol release in human subjects. Six healthy male volunteers received human alpha-ANP or placebo, and human CRH or placebo, on four separate occasions. ANP was infused at a rate of 0.01 micrograms/kg per min in order to achieve levels in the high physiological range. CRH was given as a bolus dose of 100 micrograms 30 min into the ANP infusion. Cortisol and ANP were measured by radioimmunoassay, the latter after extraction. ACTH was measured by immunoradiometric assay. The data were analysed by Student's paired t-test on basal, peak and incremental levels. Basal levels of ANP were within the normal range (2-5 pmol/l). With ANP infusion, mean +/- S.E. M. peak ANP levels were 29.6 +/- 3.1 pmol/l. There were no significant differences in mean basal cortisol and ACTH levels on each of the 4 study days. Mean peak cortisol and ACTH levels after CRH and ANP did not significantly differ from those achieved with CRH and placebo ANP. We thus conclude that at high physiological doses, circulating ANP does not inhibit CRH-stimulated ACTH or cortisol release.
Urinary Pteridine Levels during Proliferation of Malignant and Normal Cells

A rapid method was described earlier for estimation of total urinary pteridines, a method found suitable for monitoring cancer patients under therapy (Trehan and Noronha [1993] J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr., 14, 195-203). This method was employed in the present study for monitoring development of Yoshida ascites tumor and regeneration of liver in partially hepatectomized rats. During tumor development the total urinary pteridines to creatinine ratio was found to increase progressively by more than five fold. The progressive increase in urinary pteridine levels correlated well with the tumor development. However, when partially hepatectomized rats with rapidly regenerating normal liver cells were monitored over a 13-day post-hepatectomy period, almost normal excretory levels of pteridines were found throughout this regeneration period. This clearly brings out that though both the systems investigated involved proliferating cells, the increased urinary pteridine excretion was associated solely with malignant cell growth and not with proliferating normal tissue.