Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of Red Blood Cell Size Factor (RSf) in Screening Genetic Variants of Alpha Thalassaemia Thalassaemia Trait Regardless of Iron Status

Introduction: Screening for alpha (α) thalassaemia trait (TT) is challenging especially in the presence of iron deficiency (ID). Red blood cell size factor (RSf) is a parameter introduced by Beckman Coulter capable of detecting acute and chronic changes to cellular haemoglobin status and iron supply. The research aimed to investigate the clinical usefulness of RSf as screening parameter for α TT and the effect of concomitant ID to RSf mean values (m.v) among respondents with α TT. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective laboratory analysis involved 55 respondents’ data selected from January 2014 to December 2015 in Pathology Department, Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The significant difference at p <0.05 in the RSf m.v. among respondents with α TT, α TT, and ID groups and the effect concomitant ID to RSf m.v. were determined using statistical test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Significant differences were detected in RSf m.v. i) between α TT, α TT and ID, F (2, 52) = 18.99, p=0.001. ii) between α TT without ID, α TT with ID and ID cohorts for both a) α TT [F (2, 33) = 23.77, p=0.001) and b) α TT [F (2, 28) = 5.37, p=0.011]. iii) between α TT and ID group regardless of the presence of ID for both a) α TT and b) α TT. Conclusion: RSf is a potential screening parameter in evaluating patients with hypochromic microcytosis in identifying possible cases of alpha TT regardless of iron status.
Surviving a sea-change: survival of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) translocated to a site of fast growth

Green, B. S. , and Gardner, C. 2009. Surviving a sea-change: survival of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) translocated to a site of fast growth. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 656-664.In an experiment aimed at increasing the yield and value of the fishery for southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii), 1998 pale and slow-growing lobsters were translocated to sites where lobsters grow faster naturally and develop higher value market traits. Survival of lobsters in their new habitat was critical to the viability of this experiment. To estimate survival, the release site was surveyed every 1-3 months for 2 years. Apparent survival of translocated lobsters was compared with survival of resident lobsters tagged in a similar period using Cormack-Jolly-Seber modelling on mark-recapture data. Lobster survival was not influenced by size, gender, or origin (translocated or resident) alone. The four most parsimonious models suggested slightly lower apparent survival in translocated lobsters immediately after release compared with all other lobsters, but support for these models was weak (∑QAIC c weights 62%). The differences in apparent survival were not likely to be significant because of large variance when averaged over all the models. Apparent survival of newly released translocated lobsters was 92% (72-98, 95% CI) compared with 97% (95-98, 95% CI) for all other lobsters. Potential sources of differences in survival are movement from the release site or greater predation on pale lobsters. Losses of lobster through release mortality were low and unlikely to influence the feasibility of translocation as a tool to enhance the value of the fishery, although it would be prudent to include 5% mortality of translocated lobsters in future models of translocation feasibility.
REPRODUCTIVE ENERGY ALLOCATION AND LONG‐TERM ENERGY STORES IN A VIVIPAROUS LIZARD (EULAMPRUS TYMPANUM)

When animals reproduce, does energy for the brood come from stored re- serves (from food eaten months or years before), or from food eaten during the current reproductive season? Variation in the duration of energy storage prior to reproduction is an important, but little-studied, axis of life history variation. We experimentally manipulated the availability of resources to females of a long-lived viviparous lizard (Eulamprus tym- panum. Scincidae) in the first year of a two-year study to assess the relative importance of current food intake vs. stored reserves as sources of energy for breeding. Females given greater access to high temperatures (and hence, to resources) in the laboratory amassed larger caudal energy stores than did females with lesser opportunities. Energy intake during gestation slightly influenced offspring size, but the magnitude of energy stores prior to ovulation had a more dramatic effect: females with larger caudal energy stores produced much larger litters in the following year. Growth rates of females were unaffected by basking treatments or by reproduction in either year, but females that reproduced in the second year showed a large concomitant decrease in caudal energy stores compared to females that did not reproduce, indicating a large energetic cost of reproduction. Hence, reproductive output within this species can be influenced by resource availability over 12 months prior to reproduction, and simple comparisons of reproductive output with current resource avail- ability may fail to detect the ways in which phenotypically plastic life history traits are influenced by environmental features. In addition to an appropriate temporal framework, models of resource allocation should also incorporate the possible roles of physiological and morphological constraints (e.g., maternal inability, in some species, to modify post- ovulation reproductive expenditure) and trade-offs with other life history currencies (e.g., decrements in maternal survival due to high relative clutch masses). The time lag between resource acquisition and expenditure may have significant consequences for a population's demographic response to shifts in resource availability or predation pressure (via tail au- totomy). Finally, this study illustrates the way in which thermal aspects of the environment can influence life history phenotypes in ectothermic vertebrates with long-term energy stores.
Relation between gonadal hormones and sexual maturity of female Kutum Rutilus frisii kutum during spawning season

Abstract Relation between sexual maturity and levels of two main steroid hormones in gonads, 17- estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were studied by using histological and radioimmunoassay in female kutum Rutilus frisii kutum during spawning season of the southern Caspian Sea. The study was carried out from February to May 2008 using 105 migrated fish specimens catched from the River sefid-rood by various tools of catching including (Gillnet, Cast net, Seine net and Sheyl or Kulham). The results revealed that changes in plasma levels of gonadal steroids, (E2) and (T) were closely correlated with ovarian development and increased in Gonadosomatic index (GSI) (P<0.05). GSI was increased in March and reached the highest value (29.47±4.2) in April. It was then decreased sharply in early May. The highest peak of plasma level of (T) and (E2) was during spawning season and it was associated with the GSI. The results showed that levels of (E2) and (T) in female kutum at the stage IV of sexual maturity was significantly higher than immature gonads (ovary in stages II and III) (P<0.01). Plasma (E2) and (T) levels increased in February, the highest levels were observed in March and the early of April (105.6±75.3 and 29.2±96.6 ng/ml), respectively. It was decreased in the late of April and in the early of May during the spawning season (P<0.05).
Resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi in Soybean PI 587905 Maps to the Rpp1 Locus and Exhibits Variable Dominance Associated with Plant Ontogeny

Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, results in significant soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) yield losses worldwide. The purpose of this research was to confirm the inheritance, gene action, and genomic location of resistance to P. pachyrhizi in soybean accession PI 587905. Two independent populations (F2-derived F3 lines and F2 plants) were inoculated with P. pachyrhizi in a greenhouse and assayed in a field, respectively, in southeastern Paraguay. Both the field F2 and the greenhouse F2-inferred segregation ratios fit the 1:2:1 ratio expected for segregation of a single gene (P > 0.05). Unlike previous studies, gene action differed according to ontogeny. Among seedlings in the greenhouse, gene action was dominant, but in the field assay among adult plants, the gene exhibited incomplete dominance. Molecular markers were used to map the resistance gene in PI 587905 to the Rpp1 locus. This information should be useful to plant breeders for developing and selecting resistant cultivars.
Performance of broilers experimentally inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium and fed diets with addition of lactulosis

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the influence of lactulose on performance as well as its ability to prevent colonization by Salmonella Typhimurium in broilers orally inoculated with this pathogen. The design adopted was completely randomized, with 630 one-day-old male chicks distributed into six treatments, with seven replications and 15 birds per experimental unit. The treatments comprised the following procedures: T1 (control group) - no S. Typhimurium inoculation or supply of lactulosis; T2 - only inoculation of S. Typhimurium; T3 - only lactulosis supply; T4 supply of lactulosis and S. Typhimurium inoculation on the first day of life; T5 - supply of lactulosis 48 hours before S. Typhimurium inoculation; and T6 - supply of lactulosis 48 hours after inoculation of S. Typhimurium. Performance variables were evaluated on the seventh, 14th, 21st and 28th days of age; fragments of the duodenum and jejunum were collected and sent to histomorphometric assessment at 14 days of age, and S. Typhimurium excretion was verified in cloacal swabs on the 10th, 24th and 35th days of age. Performance data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%) and fecal excretion data were assessed by non-parametric chi-square test. Better weight gain and feed conversion were observed in groups fed lactulosis with or without challenge of S. Typhimurium up to 21 days of age. Reduced duodenum villous height was verified on the 14th day in groups challenged with the pathogen. Reduction of S. Typhimurium fecal excretion was verified in broilers fed lactulosis from the first day of life on and 48 hours before receiving S. Typhimurium directly into the crop. Lactulosis increases broiler performance up to one week after its inoculation, influences duodenum villous height and reduces the fecal excretion of Salmonella Typhimurium.
Growth and carcass characteristics of selected and control lines of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Growth rate from day-old to 6 weeks of age and carcass and organ weight characteristics of two growth selected and one control line of Japanese quail were evaluated. The lines selected for 4-week body weignt for 19 generations were heavierthan the unselected control line by 10.3 to 45.3% at different ages. Sexual dimorphism for body weight became distinct at 3-weeks of age. Selection for 4-week body led to modification of growth pattern which was associated with higher growth rate during the first 2-weeks of age. Sexual dimorphism and sex-line interaction for RGR were absent. Live body-weight and absolute weight of carcass, liver, heart, gizzard, viscera, intestine increased from 68 weeks but their weight expressed as per cent of eviscerated weight did not show a consistent trend. Selection for 4week body weight was associated with increase in dressing, evisceration and giblets percentages but was associated a decrease in per cent visceral weight.
Kinetics of Peroxidase Production by Streptomyces viridosporus and Recombinant Streptomyces lividans

The production of peroxidases by Streptomyces viridosporus T7A and recombinant Streptomyces lividans TK64.1 was characterized in stirred tank fermentors. The rate of peroxidase production was strongly growth associated with plasmid‐coded S. lividans, in contrast to chromosome‐coded S. viridosporus, where peroxidase production was proportional to cell mass rather than cell growth rate. A modified form of the logistic equation gave a good fit to the experimenal data for cell growth and peroxidase formation.
The causal structure of lenition: A case for the causal precedence of durational shortening

Abstract:Studies of variable lenition patterns converge on two phonetic properties as characteristic of lenition: reduced duration and increased intensity. However, the causal precedence of the two factors remains unclear. We focus on the causal structure of variable lenition. Study 1 examines the relationship between three correlates of lenition—speech rate, stress, and low information content—and their effect on reduced duration and increased intensity. We find that though increased intensity is more prototypically viewed as the core aspect of lenition, the effect of the three correlates on intensity is mediated by duration. Study 2 shows that all frequent lenition processes in the Buckeye corpus involve durational reduction. The contribution of this article is a proposal with a fairly simple principle, with few auxiliary assumptions: reduced duration precedes increased intensity in variable lenition.
Sensitivity of Potted Foliage Plant Genotypes to Ethylene and 1-Methylcyclopropene

Exposure to 0.1, 1.0, or 10 μL·L -1 ethylene for 4 days at 21 °C reduced the display life of 17 commonly traded potted foliage plant genotypes (Aglaonema 'Mary Ann', Anthurium scherzerianum 'Red Hot' and 'White Gemini', Aphelandra squarrosa 'Dania', Chlorophytum comosum 'Hawaiian', Codiaeum variegatum pictum 'Petra', Dieffenbachia maculata 'Carina', Dracaena marginata 'Bicolor' and 'Magenta', Euphorbia milii 'Gaia', Euphorbia splendens 'Short and Sweet', Ficus benjamina, Polyscias fruticosa 'Castor', Radermachera sinica 'China Doll', Schefflera elegantissima 'Gemini', Schefflera arboricola 'Gold Capella', Spathiphyllum 'Ty's Pride'). Ethylene treatment hastened leaf and bract abscission or senescence. The responsiveness of plants to ethylene varied considerably; six genotypes were sensitive to 0.1 μL·L -1 ethylene, whereas three genotypes required exposure to 10 μL·L -1 ethylene to trigger visible injury. Four genotypes (Asplenium nidus, Chamaedorea elegans 'Neathe Bella', Hedera helix 'Chicago', Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly') included in our study were insensitive to ethylene. Treating Aglaonema 'Mary Ann', Polyscias fruticosa 'Castor', and Schefflera arboricola 'Gold Capella' plants with 0.9 μL·L -1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, provided as EthylBloc™), a gaseous ethylene-binding inhibitor, for 4 to 5 h at 21 °C reduced the deleterious effects of ethylene. The release of 1-MCP from two sachets containing EthylBloc™ into a single shipping box also protected Aphelandra squarrosa 'Dania', Euphorbia milii 'Gaia', Polyscias fruticosa 'Elegans', and Schefflera arboricola 'Gold Capella' plants from ethylene injury after simulated transport. Our data reveal the genetic variation in ethylene sensitivity among potted foliage plants and highlight genotypes that benefit from 1-MCP treatment.
Whiteness, Displacement, and the Postimperial Imaginary in Christine Brooke-Rose’s Out

Abstract:This essay considers how Christine Brooke-Rose’s Out (1964) reproduces the highly racialized (re)constructions of national and cultural identity taking place in Britain at mid-century. Resituating a novel most commonly discussed in terms of its stylistic Frenchness to its postimperial British context, I argue that Out’s formulations of displacement are tied to emergent myths of white victimhood and narratives of cultural decline following postwar migration to Britain from Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Reading the novel’s narrative strategies through a paradigm of whiteness, I suggest that Out’s experimental form constitutes a distinctively postimperial aesthetic.
The evolution of social systems in human and non-human primates

From a Darwinian perspective, both history and environment are causal factors for change in animal social behaviour. Because behaviour leaves no fossil evidence researchers have focused on how social systems help animals and humans adapt to their current environments and have only been able to make tentative suggestions about how such systems may have evolved. However, a new theoretical framework, based on Darwin’s insights, allows phylogenetic relatedness to be incorporated into comparative analyses to discover the ancestral states of social behaviour and the ultimate drivers of change in human and primate societies. This thesis uses these new methods to investigate the history and drivers of change in human and primate sociality and proposes a new model of primate social evolution. Analyses of mating systems suggest that social monogamy in humans and other primates is the result of infanticide risk brought about by life history changes. These methods were also able to reveal how changes in inheritance rules to matriliny among Bantu-speaking societies, contributed to a switch to matrilocal residence, which in turn contributed to a change from polygynous marriage to monogamy. Cultural history effects change in both descent and residence patterns, while geographical proximity also affects descent, but residence and environmental factors drive changes in marriage. This approach may provide a way for the various schools for the study of human and primate social behaviour to collaborate more closely and provide ultimate answers to the drivers of change in human society.
ASSESSMENT OF EARLINESS IN Gossypium hirsutum L.

Fifty one lines/varieties of G. hirsutum showed highly significant genotypic differences for node for 1 fruiting branch, days taken to 1 boll opening, earliness index and seed cotton yield. The results exhibited that early and late maturing varieties may be distinguished on the basis of data on these four characters but it is obvious from the results that no single criterion seems to be adequate for measuring earliness of these varieties. On the basis of metroglyph analysis of the available material four varieties/lines i.e. FH-901, CIM-448, NIAB-999 and LRA-5166 with highest index score were rated as early maturing and three i.e. CP-15/2, Pilose-3 and MNH-93 with lowest index score i.e., late maturing, were chosen out of fifty one for hybridization.
The mating behaviour of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar mates repeatedly in its lifetime. No elaborate courtship behavior was seen before mating in the laboratory. However, ‘sniffing’ (an activity by which male weevils used their antennae to contact the abdominal tip of the female, as if to perceive some stimulus), often preceded mating. This observation may be an indication of a chemical pheromone involved in the mating behaviour of this insect. Male banana weevils generally displayed aggressive mating behaviour. Matings occurred under both light and dark conditions, but significantly more in the dark. A direct and positive linear correlation was observed between mating and sniffing under both light and dark conditions. Similar trends or correlations were observed between mating and mating duration; mating and sniffing durations respectively.
Nucleotide Sequence ofthe1-Lactamase Genefrom Enterococcus faecalis HH22andItsSimilarity toStaphylococcal 1-Lactamase Genes

The nucleotide sequence of the constitutively produced jI-lactamase (Bla) gene from Enterococcus faecalis HH22 was shown to be identical to the published sequences of three of four staphylococcal type A P-lactamase genes; more differences were seen with the genes for staphylococcal type C and D enzymes. One hundred forty nucleotides upstream of the ,I-lactamase start codon were determined for an inducible staphylococcal P-lactamase and were identical to those of the constitutively expressed enterococcal gene, indicating that the changes resulting in constitutive expression are not due to changes in the promoter or operator region. Moreover, complementation studies indicated that production of the enterococcal enzyme could be repressed. The genes for the enterococcal Bla and an inducible staphylococcal Bla were each cloned into a shuttle vector and transformed into enterococcal and staphylococcal recipients. The major difference between the backgrounds of the two hosts was that more enzyme was produced by the staphylococcal host, regardless of the source of the gene. The location of the enzyme was found to be host dependent, since each cloned gene generated extracellular (free) enzyme in the staphylococcus and cell-bound enzyme in the enterococcus. On the basis of the identities of the enterococcal Bla and several staphylococcal Bla sequences, these data suggest the recent spread of ,-lactamase to enterococci and also suggest the loss of a functional repressor.
Dependency locality as an explanatory principle for word order

Abstract:This work focuses on explaining both grammatical universals of word order and quantitative word-order preferences in usage by means of a simple efficiency principle: dependency locality. In its simplest form, dependency locality holds that words linked in a syntactic dependency (any head–dependent relationship) should be close in linear order. We give large-scale corpus evidence that dependency locality predicts word order in both grammar and usage, beyond what would be expected from independently motivated principles, and demonstrate a means for dissociating grammar and usage in corpus studies. Finally, we discuss previously undocumented variation in dependency length and how it correlates with other linguistic features such as head direction, providing a rich set of explananda for future linguistic theories.
Sexual Risk and Social Desirability among Black and White Men Who Have Sex with Men

abstract :Objectives: This study tested the relationship between race, social desirability, and determinants of sexual risk. Design: Hierarchical regressions examined race, social desirability, and race Xsocial desirability interaction as predictors of determinants of sexual risk (positive and negative consequences of risky sex, risk exposure, condom negotiation skills, likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse) among 92 men who have sex with men (White n = 67). Results: Significant interactions for two outcomes indicated that higher social desirability was associated with lower sexual risk only among Black MSM. Conclusion: Research should consider social desirability bias when assessing risky sexual behavior among Black MSM.