Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of ocean acidification, increased seawater temperature and a bacterial challenge on the immune response and physiology of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

Anthropogenic activities are fundamentally altering the chemistry of the world’s oceans. Many of these modifications could have a significant impact on the health of marine organisms. Yet, despite being proposed as one of the most significant threats that marine ecosystems face, to date very little is known about the impact of anthropogenic climate change, and ocean acidification in particular, on host defence. The aims of this thesis are to investigate the impact of environmental stressors on the invertebrate immune response, providing empirical data on how anthropogenically induced stressors will impact the invertebrate immune system and how this will impact organism condition and subsequent physiological trade-offs. Exposure to reduced seawater pH and increased temperature significantly reduced the immune response in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. This reduction in immune response could indicate stress-induced immune dysfunction. However, the immune system protects an organism from infectious disease, ensuring survival, and should therefore be evaluated functionally rather than immunologically. By subsequently exposing mussels to a bacterial challenge this study demonstrated that an earlier study which measured a reduction in host defence represented a trade-off of immune system maintenance costs, with mussels maintaining a capacity to up-regulate immune defence when required. However, whilst this immune plasticity ensures mussels are able to survive a pathogen exposure, such a strategy appears to be physiologically costly. This cost is seen as a reduction in
Cytogenetic Effects of Gamma Rays on Indica Rice Radha-4

The present study was conducted to understand the effects of different doses of radiations by gamma rays of Co 60 on cytogenetics of indica rice, Radha-4 at the Central Lab, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Nepal. The immature PMC of M1 generation plants were analyzed performing the usual smearing and squashing technique. Radiation had a significant effect causing different types of cytogenetic aberrations, such as univalent and multivalent association of chromosomes, chromatin-bridges, laggards, fragments, stickiness, and multinucleated cells. An increasing number of aberrant cells with increasing dose of radiation was identified. The greatest share of aberration was identified due to multivalent association as a result of translocation followed by bridges and laggards, and the least effect for the stickiness of the chromosomes. Finally, 35 KR doses of gamma rays was the most potent dose inducing cytogenetic aberrations in meiotic pollen mother cell of rice compared to other dose spectrum. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 27:25-36 (2006)
Influence of dietary calcium levels on bone development in broiler breeder pullets up to 18 weeks of age.

The effects of three levels of dietary calcium on bone development in broiler breeder pullets up 18 weeks of age were investigated. A total of 640 one-day-old Ross broiler breeder pullets were used and were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each having four replicates. The experimental design was split plot with four dietary treatments being the main plots and age as split plots. The four treatments were 1.0% Ca (0.45% Pi), 1.5% Ca (0.7% Pi), 2.0% Ca (0.9% Pi) and 1.0% Ca (0.45% Pi). The first 3 treatments were feed restricted according to Ross Breeders recommendations while the latter was ad libitum fed (served as control). Pullets were fed threeisocaloric and isonitrogenous diets: pre-starter (0 to 2 weeks); starter (2 to 4 weeks) and grower (4 to 18 weeks). At 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age, 5 pullets from each replicate were randomly selected and sacrificed by cervical dislocation and tibiae (left and right) and right humeri from each bird excised. Parameters studied were bone weight, bone length, bone width, bone ash, percent bone, true cortical area, bone strength and stress. These results showed that dietary Ca hadn’t statistical (P>.05) influence on bone formation of broiler breeder pullets on restricted feeding, except bone strength. Ad libitum feeding of broiler breeder pullets resulted in a significant (P<.05) increase in bone dimensions and bone breaking strength. However, ad libitum birds had significantly (P<0.0001) lower bone stress values than restricted groups, indicating less mineralization. However, stress required to break bones from ad libitum birds was significantly (P<0.0001) lower than that required to break bones from restricted group. These results showed that dietary Ca level had no significant effect on bone formation in broiler breeder pullets on restricted feeding up to 18 weeks of age, except bone breaking strength.
The genus Eremaeozetes (Acari : Oribatida) on the Galápagos Islands

Deux especes nouvelles d'Eremaeozetidae de l'archipel des Galapagos (Equateur) sont decrites et illustrees. Eremaeozetes irenae sp. nov. a ete recolte dans les habitats arides sur quatre des iles de l'archipel; E. darwini sp. nov. est recoltee frequemment dans la litiere organique et les mousses epiphytes des zones elevees de six iles. Des informations sur la repartition et les preferences ecologiques de ces especes sont fournies. Les stades juveniles des deux especes sont decrits. Il s'agit de la premiere description des stades juveniles du genre Eremaeozetes.
A Gene Odyssey: Exploring the Genomes of Endospore-Forming Bacteria

This chapter provides hints about how much of the sporulation process and its regulation is conserved. The recent release of the complete bacterial genome of Bacillus halodurans has provided data that are in general agreement with the conclusions of the chapter. It is noteworthy that this complex operon is fully conserved in B. anthracis, B. stearothermophilus, Clostridium acetobutylicum, and C. difficile, whereas it is absent from all other genomes sequenced so far. The current sequence data indicate that all the genes involved in the B. subtilis phosphorelay are present in B. anthracis and B. stearothermophilus, with the possible exception of spoOE. It was reasonable to expect that many genes involved in the sporulation process would be highly specific to endospore formers. The most significant variations are seen when the interface between the bacterium and its environment is involved. The various Bacillus and Clostridium species inhabit a wide range of ecological niches, and it seems logical that environmental signals would be differentially relayed to SpoOA depending on their chemical nature, that hostile signals threatening spore viability would be countered with an adequate coat shell, and that germination signals would be detected by a specialized, niche-appropriate array of receptors. The conclusions suggested in this chapter are obviously tentative and doomed to be contradicted by the endless flow of incoming genomic data.
A revision of European species of Leccinum Gray and notes on extralimital species

This paper deals with the generic delimitation of Leccinum and the taxonomic and nomenclatural implications of the phylogenetic results presented in previous papers by Den Bakker et al. (2004a, 2004b). 28S nrDNA data, used in the past to answer questions concerning genus delimitation of Leccinum, are reanalysed. The phylogenetic inferences based on 28S nrDNA largely coincide with Leccinum sensu Singer. The only species that is excluded from Leccinum is L. eximium. At least one truffle-like genus, Chamonixia, should be included in Leccinum. Morphological characters proposed in the past to delimit the genus are discussed in the light of the phylogenetic results. It is concluded that there is no single diagnostic morphological character that unites species of the genus Leccinum and that a better sampling, and other genes that provide a finer phylogenetic resolution, are needed to reach a final answer about the genus delimitation of Leccinum and other genera in the Boletaceae. The second part of this paper discusses characters used in Leccinum-systematics in the past and contains a revision of the European species of Leccinum with notes on related North American species. Sixteen species are accepted for the European continent, of which one, Leccinum albostipitatum, is described as new to science.
Optimizing Interventions to Control Emerging Infectious Diseases

Inherent uncertainties surrounding emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases pose unique challenges to control efforts. Concurrent with the acceleration of disease emergence in recent decades, advances in modern computational methods have enabled new approaches to optimize interventions for disease control. In this dissertation, we leverage mathematical modeling and novel data sources to reveal new approaches to designing and evaluating strategies for controlling cholera, Ebola, and several other communicable diseases. In Chapter 1, we use a mathematical model to demonstrate the impact, and interaction, of key factors which cause vaccine-derived herd immunity to wane over time. We demonstrate that oral cholera vaccines can be powerful tools for quickly protecting a population for a period of time that depends critically on vaccine coverage, vaccine efficacy over time, and the rate of population turnover through human mobility. We use these findings to show that pre-emptive vaccination may best be targeted at intermediatemobility settings and through a strategy that blends routine vaccination with mass campaigns. In Chapter 2, we develop a quantitative framework for comparing the control performance of quarantine and symptom monitoring of contacts with suspected exposure to an infectious disease. We use a mathematical model of seven case study diseases to show
Innovation in the Teaching-learning Processes: A Case Study Using Just-in-Time Teaching and Peer Instruction

La calidad de los aprendizajes constituye uno de los principales desafios de la educacion superior por lo que se han promovido el ejercicio de una docencia centrada en el estudiantado y el desarrollo de innovaciones pedagogicas con metodologias activas. El presente articulo tiene por objetivo evaluar el impacto del uso de ensenanza justo a tiempo e instruccion entre pares en los resultados de la docencia de una asignatura de caracter disciplinar en 17 estudiantes de una carrera de formacion inicial docente perteneciente a una universidad del Consejo de Rectores de Chile. Se hizo uso de un diseno de pre y postest, entre agosto y diciembre de 2012. En el analisis se utilizaron tecnicas descriptivas que permitieron realizar una caracterizacion del perfil de ingreso e inferenciales para explicar estadisticamente las diferencias observadas en el desempeno de los sujetos. A nivel de percepcion, se observo una valoracion positiva de la interrelacion entre docente y estudiantes en el aula, aspecto que se destaco por sobre el mejoramiento en el manejo de los contenidos disciplinares.
Studies on Major Agronomic Characteristics of Korean Artemisia annua L.

In order to development medicinal Artemisia herbs of high quality, Korean A. annua L. were investigated with its ecological and morphological characteristics, and basic statistical data of agronomic characteristics. This species, which is annual herb, is mainly distributed to marginal land, riverside, roadside, grassland. Ecological niche is low species in competition of the others. Its pollination is basically anemogamous, but is frequency pollinated by insects. This species is characterized as tap root, 1~3 pinnate compound leaf of ovate or narrowly ovate, stem is green, erect and solitary. Inflorescence is paniculate, receptacle is not hair. Capitulum, consist of ray floret and disk floret, is subglobose shape. Additionally, this species could be easily discriminated from related Artemisia herbs by the capitulum size. Ray floret is female, disk floret is bisexual. Flowering season is from August to October. Seed is achene unattached hair. Stem length ranged from 179 cm to 225 cm, and stem diameter and number of branch were , , respectively. Length and width of leaf were , , and leaf number of main stem were , respectively. Fresh weight of aerial parts and root were , , and its dry weight were , , respectively.
Chemical factors of the leaf surface involved in the morphogenesis of Blumeria graminis

The epidermal surface and the wax of leaves of barley (Hordium vulgare) induced appressorium (APP) differentiation of the fungus of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. The epidermal surfaces and waxes of non-host plants, on the other hand, induced less APP differentiation in this fungus. Bioassays of thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) fractions of barley wax revealed that the highest APP differentiation-stimulating activity was in the aldehyde fraction. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of barley aldehydes showed that the main aldehyde was that with a C26 chain length. The amount of aldehydes in wax of cabbage, a non-host plant of B. graminis, was greater than that in wax of barley in TLC spots. However, the main aldehydes in cabbage wax were those with C28 and C30 chain lengths. In the wax from tobacco, also a non-host plant of B. graminis, the amount of aldehyde in TLC spots was much less, although the main aldehyde was that with a C26 chain length as was found in barley aldehydes. Chemically synthesized C26 aldehyde showed the potential to strongly induce APP differentiation of B. graminis. Therefore, it was concluded that C26 aldehyde, a component of barley wax, is the factor highly responsible for the APP differentiation of B. graminis.
Time Series Reversal in Trend Following Strategies

A reversal pattern in the time series context from 12 to 24 months after the formation of trend following signals is observed. By decomposing the trend following strategy returns according to their performance, we find that instruments with sell signals in the trend following portfolio (i.e. "losers") contribute to this type of reversal, even if their profits are not realised. The instruments with buy signals in the trend following portfolio (i.e. "winners") contribute much less. More specifically, the sub-portfolio which consists of "loser" instruments in a trend following strategy which later shows positive returns, i.e. the "fault losers", continue to provide a significant alpha which is immune to momentum risks. A double-sorted strategy combining both time series continuation and reversal yield to an average return of 18% per annum, which is significantly higher compared to the trend following strategies.
Impact of genetic and non-genetic factors on growth profile in Malpura and Avikalin lambs

Records on 1 405 lambs pertaining to Malpura and Avikalin sheep were utilized to assess the impact of certain genetic and non-genetic factors on growth profile traits, and their relative contributions to the total variability were quantified. Results revealed that breed influenced all the body weights significantly barring birth weight. Body weights from birth to yearling age were significantly influenced(P<0.01) by lambing year, sex of lamb and dam's weight at lambing. Factors included in this study explained 19.28, 14.57, 26.54, 27.27 and 27.55% variability in birth weight, 3, 6, 9 and 12-month-body weight respectively.
Características fisiológicas de mudas de Eucalyptus spp submetidas a estresse salino.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations on quantum potential efficiency of the photosystem II (Fv/Fm), index of the intensity of the green color in leaves (SPAD value), dry leaf biomass, leaf area and potassium (K) and sodium (Na) concentrations in Eucalyptus seedlings leaves. The experiment was carried out in a green house, using 11.5 L pots filled with sand and irrigated with nutrient solution, in Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ). The experiment was set up according to a completely randomized factorial design, with four species ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus pellita and Eucalyptus robusta ) and five saline levels (1.41; 2.50; 4.50; 6.45 and 8.33 dS m -1 ), with five replicates. Up to the maximum applied saline level, seedlings of Eucalyptus camaldulensis , Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus robusta showed positive responses regarding SPAD values and quantum potential efficiency of the photosystem II, dry leaf biomass and leaf area. These evaluations suggest tolerance of these species to saline conditions. Seedlings of Eucalyptus pellita showed sensitivity to saline stress. The reductions of dry leaf biomass and leaf area may be related to seedling resistance to saline conditions.
A preliminary survey of selected species of endemic plants to determine commercial cropping potential for essential oils

This work was embarked upon as a preliminary survey of the Tasmanian endemic essential-oil-bearing plants, with a view to locating species which may be suitable for commercial production of oil. Initially, twenty plant species were selected as having been observed to contain an essential oil. The species were : Bedfordia salicina, Beyeria viscosa, Callitris tasmanica, Cassinia aculeata, Drimys lanceolata (also known as Tasmannia lanceolata), Eriostemon virgatus, Kunzea ambigua, Leptospermum glaucescens, Leptospermum lanigerum, Leptospermum scoparium, Melaleuca squamea, Melaleuca squarrosa, Olearia argophylla, Olearia phlogopappa, Phebalium squameum, Prostanthera lasianthos, Senecia linearifolius and Zieria arborescens. Material from these species was taken for steam distillation and solvent extraction, and the oil samples, thus obtained, were analysed by GC-MS. In addition, data on yields of oil were compiled, in order that comparisons between species could be made. The number of species under investigation was reduced to ten, by excluding those that did not possess a persistent or powerfully pleasant odour. The other major criterion used in determining which species may be of commercial value was oil yield, which was not to be less than 0.1%. The species that were retained were as follows: B. viscosa, C. tasmanica, D. lanceolata, E. virgatus, E. amygdalina, K. ambigua, L. glaucescens, L. lanigerum, 0. phlogopappa and P. squameum. Comparisons between the estimated yield of these species, on a per hectare basis, with that of commercial essential oil crops, showed that they have the potential to produce similar quantities of oil. Scanning electron microscope studies of the oil glands of the ten selected species were undertaken. These showed definite similarities in structure, both among themselves and with glands described in the literature. Small-scale propagation trials were run with the species listed above. Many were found to grow readily form cuttings, whilst others were easily raised from seed, and all of the ten species were propagated by one or other of these means. However, tissue culture techniques would vastly improve the efficiency of any large scale propagation project. The GC-MS results showed the preesence of many commercially important compounds, as well as one which had not been cited previously in the literature, namely epi-Y-eudesmol in Olearia spp. Compounds which were identified by this method were quantified by determining the area under the relevant peak. In addition, the oils from these species were examined using a gas chromatograph which had been equipped with a splitter, so that the various components could be described as they were vented from the column.
Development and application of a ratio estimator to estimate wolf kill rates and variance in a multiple-prey system

Estimating number of prey killed by carnivores such as wolves (Canis lupus) per unit time, or kill rate, is important for the conservation and management of carnivores and their prey. We reviewed published methods to estimate wolf kill rates and found them inconsistent and lacking a basis in statistical sampling theory. We developed a general statistical estimator for kill rate and variance using ratio-variable sampling theory. We illustrate our ratio estimator by estimating wolf kill rates in a multiple-prey system in Banff National Park, Alberta, for winters from 1986 to 2000. We used snow tracking and radiotelemetry to locate 429 kills during 195 sampling intervals covering 1,294 days. Mean kill rate by wolf packs (expressed as the number of kills/day/pack, k/d/p) was 0.33 k/d/p, most of which, 0.23 k/d/p, were elk (Cervus elaphus), the most abundant ungulate. Kill-rate estimates were variable despite intensive sampling effort. The mean kill rate of 0.33 k/d/p had a pooled 95% confidence interval of 0.29 to 0.37. An intensive sampling effort of >6-8 individual sampling intervals covering approximately 25% of the winter was required to minimize sampling variation. We compared our method to 3 other published methods for estimating kill rates and examined the bias and precision of kill-rate methods using simulations. Our ratio estimator approach was the least biased and most precise when compared to other approaches. Ratio estimators provide a standardized method to estimate kill rates in other predator-prey systems and will facilitate comparison across studies and examination of patterns of kill-rate variation.
EFFECTS OF FEEDING DISTILLERS GRAINS THROUGHOUT A YEARLING HEIFER BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEM ON MEAT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES AND EFFECTS OF OMNIGEN – AF WITH RACTOPAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE ON ANIMAL PERFORMANCE AND BEEF CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FEEDLOT STEERS

Heifers (n = 229; 225 kg ± 2) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial to determine the effects of longterm exposure to corn distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) on meat quality characteristics. Factors included supplementing 0.91 kg (LW) or 2.3 kg (HW) modified DGS (MDGS) while grazing corn stalks; 0.6% BW dry DGS (SS) daily or none (NS) during summer grazing; and finishing diet containing 40% wet corn gluten feed (CGF) or 40% MDGS (DGF) on a DM basis. An interaction was observed within CGF for discoloration, with SS increasing discoloration 30%; but no differences between SS or NS from DGF cattle. Discoloration scores for DGF increased compared to CGF d 6 7 and d 4 6 for steaks aged 7 and 21 d, respectively. Supplementing with DGS did not further reduce the color stability of retail beef of DGF finished cattle; however, DGS supplementation prior to finishing can affect beef quality when DGS are not included in the finishing diet. In the second study, crossbred steers (n = 336) were utilized in a 2 x 3 factorial evaluating duration of OmniGen – AF supplementation (0, 28, or 56 d) at 4 g / 45.5 kg BW and supplementation of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) at 300 mg/ steer daily for the last 28 days of finishing or no supplementation. No Omnigen – AF by RAC interaction or OmniGen –AF effects were observed for any feedlot performance or carcass characteristics measured. Supplementing RAC increased ADG 0.5 kg, increased FBW 10.0 kg, and increased LM area 0.9 cm 2 compared to NORAC.