Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testcross performance of doubled haploid maize lines derived from tropical adapted backcross populations

Doubled haploid (DH) lines produced by in vivo induction of maternal haploids are routinely used in maize breed¬ing. The present study was carried out to assess the performance of 75 doubled haploid maize testcrosses and six checks tested across four locations in Kenya for grain yield, agronomic traits and reaction to major leaf diseases. The 75 DH lines were derived from the backcross (BC1) plants of two CIMMYT bi-parental crosses. Significant location, genotype and genotype x location effects were observed for grain yield and anthesis-silking interval (ASI). Genotypes were significantly different for reaction to leaf blight and gray leaf spot. Location explained 69% of the total phenotypic variance while both genotype and genotype by environment interaction effects contributed 4% each. Fifteen DH testcross hybrids yielded better than the best commercial check, WH505 (5.1 t ha-1). The best DH testcross hybrid (CKDHH0223) averaged over the four locations yielded 29.5% higher than WH505. These results indicate that maize testcrosses developed from DH lines produced as high a grain yield and as acceptable agro¬nomic traits as the commercial hybrids developed through conventional pedigree methods. The DH lines identified in the study may be useful for improving yield and disease resistance in maize breeding programs in eastern and southern Africa.
Late-Pleistocene Phylogeography and Demographic History of Two Evolutionary Lineages of Artibeus jamaicensis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Mexico

The Artibeus jamaicensis complex is an important component of the mammal biological diversity of the New World. Although there are numerous studies on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the complex, group relationships are still debated. Previous studies hypothesised that this species originated in South America and later colonised the Antilles Islands either through a northward migration or an eastward migration via Middle America. However, these studies do not include populations from Middle America west of the Yucatan Peninsula, making it difficult to obtain a clear description of the role of these populations in the evolutionary history of the species. In this study, we describe the phylogeography and demographic history of A. jamaicensis populations from Middle America west of the Yucatan Peninsula using cytochrome-b (612 bp) and D-loop (391 bp) mtDNA markers. Our phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) did not recover clades corresponding to the previously recognised Middle American subspecies (A. j. triomylus and A. j. yucatanicus); rather, two haplogroups were observed, which showed extensive genetic diversity and strong genetic structure akin to that expected for a Middle American origin for the island populations. Bayesian skyline plots and mismatch distributions revealed that such haplogroups experienced a recent population expansion, which most likely took place in the late Pleistocene (100,000–216,000 BP). These estimates agree with earlier hypotheses that suggested a recent evolutionary history for A. jamaicensis, with hypotheses that suggested the existence of two different lineages migrating northwest from South America to Middle America, and with the possible colonisation of the Antilles Islands derived from both Yucatan Peninsula and northern South America.
Croonian Lecture: Researches on the Structure, Organization, and Classification of the Fossil Reptilia. II. On Pareiasaurus bombidesn (Owen), and the Significance of Its Affinities to Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals

The genus Pareiasaurus was instituted by Sir Richard Owen in 1876 for a large number of Reptilian remains from the Karroo Series of strata of South Africa. It was classed with the Dinosauria in a new family named Serratidentia, and regarded as represented by two species, which were named P. serridens and P. bombidens . Its place among the Dinosauria was held to be established by the teeth, which were compared to those of Iguanodon in their mode of implantation, and to those of Scelidosaurus in their close arrangement and nearly uniform wear, while the margins of the crown are similarly notched or serrate. The cranial characters are stated to concur with the dental characters in supporting the formation of a family in the Dinosaurian order for these fossils. Unfortunately the type-skull of Pareiasaurus serridens is now only known from a plaster cast, and by some small fragments cut from the lower jaw. The immense development of the so-called malar processes, which overlap the lower jaw and suggested the generic name, was regarded as showing a resemblance to the genus Anthodon from South Africa, and in a less degree to Scelidosaurus from the Lias of Charmouth. Regarding the fossil as a vegetable feeder, Sir R. Owen remarked that the homologous descending malar process among Mammals is found only in those types which come nearest to Reptiles in brain structure, such as Kangaroos, Sloths, and Megatheroids. In the cervical vertebrae sub-vertebral wedge-bones are found, which are likened to those which are said to occur in the fore part of the neck of Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs. A notochordal canal penetrates to the centre of the centrum without piercing it, sometimes in a way almost Ichthyosaurian, but sometimes as a slender conical tube extending from the flattened articular face of the centrum. Sir R. Owen remarks, it is a trace of a lower grade of vertebral structure, and 'recalls the more widely perforated, still less ossified, centrums of the vertebrae of Ganocephalous Reptiles of the Carboniferous Series represented by Parabatrachus , Hylonomus , Dendrerpeton , c but no further suggestions are made as to the organic relations of the type.
Molecular and morphological characterization of Indian rice hybrids

Commercial exploitation of hybrid vigour is a viable and practicable option to enhance productivity levels in rice. The success of hybrid rice in China has stimulated hybrid rice research in India and some promising rice hybrids were developed. The present study is assessments of the genetic diversity present in twenty eight F1 hybrids released in India with almost all are based on WA cytoplasmic source. At phenotypic level, variation for important agro-morphological traits, grain quality was studied while at molecular level, the variation at nuclear level was examined using rice genomic SSRs and markers associated with fertility restoration (Rf3, Rf4) and ribosomal DNA sequences (ITS 1, ITS 2 regions) and the variation at the organelle genome was analysed with markers associated with the ORF100 region of the chloroplasts. The results suggest that the hybrids fall into a narrow range for both duration and plant stature and majority of the hybrids have long kernels. Though earlier reports suggest the presence of both Rf3 and Rf4 genes to restore fertility, the positive allele of Rf3 was present in only 43 % of the hybrids while a different allele of Rf4 restores fertility in Pusa RH10. The ITS1 region was more diverse compared to ITS2 region, none of the hybrids possess japonica type of organelle genome and the genetic base of the hybrids have not widened enough over years (31.7% since 1995). Though diversification of cytoplasmic male sterile source remains to be the high priority issue, the results suggest that widening of genetic base is crucial to enhance hybrid vigour and productivity in the next generation hybrids.
An Evaluation of the Relative Influence of Habitat Complexity and Habitat Stability on Fish Assemblage Structure in Unregulated and Regulated Reaches of a Large Southeastern Warmwater Stream

Abstract River regulation and development are the foremost problems threatening lotic fishes and other aquatic biota in the United States. The operation of hydroelectric facilities can influence both habitat availability and environmental stability in downstream reaches. We evaluated the relative influence of habitat complexity and environmental stability on fish assemblage structure at unregulated and hydropower-regulated reaches of the Flint River in southwestern Georgia. The availability of different habitat types was highly variable at the regulated reach owing to large, daily fluctuations in discharge. Habitat-specific fish assemblages also differed between reaches, as a greater number of species occupied identical habitat types at the unregulated reach, most notably in shallow, slow-flowing habitats. Differences in fish assemblage structure between study reaches in comparable habitat types were explained equally well by patterns of habitat structure and variability. Within-reach patterns of fish ass.
Cytotaxonomic observations on North American Festuca (Poaceae)

The presence of B chromosomes is reported in Festuca altaica Trin. , where a plant with relatively wide and often flat leaves had a chromosome number of 2n = 4x = 28; an adjacent plant, with conspicuously narrow and tightly rolled leaves, had 2n = 4x = 28 + 2B chromosomes. A first chromosome count of 2n = 42 is reported for Festuca rubra L. ssp. densiuscula (Hackel) Piper, along with observations on the nomenclature and morphology of this west coast subspecies. A first chromosome count for a North American plant of Festuca brevissima Jurtzev is 2n = 14. Collections made in northern Yukon were compared with the type borrowed from Leningrad and with the distribution of this species relative to the other North American diploid Festuca, Festuca aggr. auriculata Drob. A collection of Festuca brachyphylla Schultes from northern Yukon had a chromosome number of 2n = 42, and unusual morphology and phenology were interpreted as the result of a snow patch habitat. A second record for Festuca dasyclada Hackel ex. Bea.
Effect of Enzymes Supplementation (Rovabio and Kemin) on some Blood Biochemical Parameters, Performance and Carcass Characterizes in Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of exogenous enzymes supplementation (ES) on performance, carcass traits and some blood parameters of broilers chickens. One hundred and eighty day old chicks with 40 ± 2 g initial body weight in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 4 replications were fed experimental diets included, 1) basal diet no enzymes (control), 2) basal diet + Rovabio® multi enzymes and 3) basal diet + Kemin® multi enzyme. The diets of all groups were formulated in an isonitrogeous and isoenergetic diet based on corn and soybean. Data on feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characters, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholest erol and triglyceride levels were collected for 3 periods starter (1-21 d), grower (22-42 d), finisher (43-49 d) and total (1-49 d). Results showed significant differences (P 0.05) between groups were observed. Adding enzyme significantly increased the concentration of blood HDL and decreased triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL at 21, 42 and 49 d of age (P<0.05). Results from this experiment suggest that multi enzyme supplementation can improve broiler performance.
Water relations of citrus exocortis viroid-infected grapefruit trees in the field

Citrus viroids (CVds) were used to limit citrus tree size ('dwarfing'). It is hypothesized that changes also occur in the hydraulic properties of the conducting system, thereby affecting water relations. Grapefruit trees (var. Star Ruby on Troyer Citrange rootstock) in northern Israel were infected with citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd). The orchard was drip irrigated. The infected (I) and apparently healthy (H) control plots were subdivided into wet (W) and dry (D) irrigation treatments receiving 100% and 70% of the recommended irrigation quantity for the region. Soil water content, soil temperature, water uptake, leaf and stem water potential, and leaf conductance were measured in addition to climatic variables. Water uptake response to increasing springtime soil temperatures was greater in healthy than in infected trees. Leaf conductance in the infected trees was lower than the non-infected trees only in the sixth year after inoculation. Stem water potential was significantly lower in the CEVd-infected trees than in the control trees. Water uptake was lower and hydraulic resistance higher in infected than in healthy trees. It was concluded that CEVd causes a reduction in the water uptake ability of the root and canopy system. Possible mechanisms for this are discussed.
Improved Upper Bounds and Structural Results on the Capacity of the Discrete-Time Poisson Channel

New capacity upper bounds are presented for the discrete-time Poisson channel with no dark current and an average-power constraint. These bounds are a consequence of techniques developed for the seemingly unrelated problem of upper bounding the capacity of binary deletion and repetition channels. Previously, the best known capacity upper bound in the regime where the average-power constraint does not approach zero was due to Martinez (JOSA B, 2007), which is re-derived as a special case of the framework developed in this paper. Furthermore, this framework is carefully instantiated in order to obtain a closed-form bound that improves the result of Martinez everywhere. Finally, capacity-achieving distributions for the discrete-time Poisson channel are studied under an average-power constraint and/or a peak-power constraint and arbitrary dark current. In particular, it is shown that the support of the capacity-achieving distribution under an average-power constraint must only be countably infinite. This settles a conjecture of Shamai (IEE Proceedings I, 1990) in the affirmative. Previously, it was only known that the support must be an unbounded set.
Interaction of Moniliophthora perniciosa biotypes with Micro‐Tom tomato: a model system to investigate the witches' broom disease of Theobroma cacao

The miniature tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) has become an important platform to investigate plant–pathogen interactions. In the case of the witches’ broom disease of Theobroma cacao (cacao), the existence of Moniliophthora perniciosa isolates pathogenic to Solanaceae (S-biotype) may enable the use of MT to circumvent limitations of the cacao host, whereas the availability of a non-infective cacao C-biotype allows the evaluation of contrasting responses of MT. Infection of MT by the S-biotype led to stem swelling and axillary shoot growth to form broom-like symptoms similar to the biotrophic phase in cacao, but the infected tissues did not progress to necrosis. Conversely, inoculation with the C-biotype did not cause typical symptoms, but reduced plant height, appearing as a non-host interaction. Histopathological characterization of the S-biotype infection of MT by light and electron microscopy indicated limited germ tube penetration, preferentially through wounds at the base of trichomes or actively through the epidermis. No intracellular mycelium was observed, corroborating the lack of the necrotrophic stage of the pathogen. The analysis of gene expression during the interaction between the S- or C-biotype with MT indicated that expression of plant defence-associated genes differs for kinetics and intensity between a compatible or incompatible M. perniciosa–MT interaction. The pattern of spore germination and low rate of mycelia penetration suggests that the S-biotype is not a fully adapted tomato pathogen, but possibly a case of broken non-host resistance, and evidence suggests the occurrence of a non-host MT response against the C-biotype.
A study of feeding in Scrobicularia plana

Deposit-feeding by Scrobicularia planaScrobiculariaplana (Da Costa) along the mud surface occurs throughout the period of low tide if the water table remains at the surface. The rate of deposit-feeding is unaffected by the time after emersion at low tide except where excessive drainage prevents feeding along the mud surface, in which case it is possible that animals feed from the sides of their burrows at or below the level of the water table.
Two Pedagogical Models of Video Integration in Multiparticipant Courses

To respond to needs arising from the field and institutional constrictions, various video-integrated teaching methods were offered to students in multiparticipant courses. Two hundred ninety-five students studying in two Sociology of Education courses agreed to participate in the research. One hundred sixtytwo students participated in Course 1, in which all the lectures were recorded and three studio recordings were included in the course. One hundred twenty-three students participated in Course 2, in which only two lectures were recorded and four studio recordings were included in the course. The study aimed to identify the students’ learning preferences, their attitudes regarding the use of video recording, and the extent to which recorded lectures influenced attendance. Students’ video use patterns and attitudes were elicited from an online questionnaire, including 17 closed-ended questions and two open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed with SPSS software and responses to open-ended questions underwent content analysis. The findings indicated that the students saw video-assisted learning as a positive experience that helped them to understand the learning materials. The recordings of the lectures that were uploaded to the course site responded to various student needs. These conclusions are significant given the intention to use video technology to improve teaching, provide improved teaching-learning experiences, and inform construction of video-assisted pedagogical models in teaching.
Study of genital tuberculosis and its impact on fertility in a tertiary care centre

Objective: To assess ovarian reserve in infertile women with genital tuberculosis and compare with women with proven fertility by hormonal and ultrasound markers of ovarian reserve. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an outpatient S S Hospital BHU, Varanasi, India with 50 women with Gestational Tuberculosis (GTB) and 50 healthy controls. Ovarian reserve tests were done by estimating serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), on day 3 of a natural menstrual cycle and antiMullerian hormone (AMH) in any day of cycle. On D3 Antral Follicles Count (AFC) were also estimated on Ultrasound. Result: The median FSH was 8.91 (5.60-11.07) mIU/ml, LH 6 (4.65-8.55) mIU/ml and the mean E2 61.3015.23 pg/ml which were significantly higher than controls (FSH-5.50, LH-3.80, and E2-41.53). The median AMH levels 1.23 ng/ml was significantly lower in GTB than controls (AMH-2.50). And, the median AFC 6.0(4.0-8.0) was significantly lower in GTB than control 11.0 (8.25-12.0). Conclusion: The median FSH, LH and the mean E2 on day-3 of cycle and AMH on any day of cycle along with AFC are good predictors of Ovarian reserve and found to be low in GTB.
COLD HARDENING AND DEHARDENING RESPONSES IN WINTER WHEAT AND WINTER BARLEY

Increasing the duration of freezing of Kharkov winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) demonstrated that severe injury does not occur to plants at a freezing temperature (−6 C) well above the lethal temperature for at least 5 days, but progressively more damage occurs as the temperature approaches the killing point (−20 C). High levels of cold hardiness can be induced rapidly in Kharkov winter wheat if seedlings are grown for 4–6 days at 15 C day/10 C night, prior to being exposed to hardening conditions including diurnal freezing to −2 C. The cold hardiness of Kharkov and Rideau winter wheat seedlings grown from 1-yr-old seed was greater than that from 5-yr-old seed. Cold-acclimated Kharkov winter wheat and Dover winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) demonstrated the capacity to reharden after varying periods under dehardening conditions. The time required to reharden and the maximum level of hardiness attained by the plants was dependent on the amount of dehardening. Considerable rehardening was observed even .
Methionine Content and Availability in Varieties and Breeding Lines of Peas for Chicks

Abstract The methionine content of 44 breeding lines of green, yellow (Pisum sativum L.), and Austrian winter peas (Pisum sativum arvense L.) was determined chemically and each sample of peas was fed to chicks with and without supplemental methionine. The crude protein (N × 6.25) of peas varied from 19.6 to 25.5%. Three lines of peas had a much higher level of methionine as determined chemically than other lines, but those lines did not support chick growth any better than the lines with lower methionine content. Supplementation with . 2% DL-methionine significantly improved growth and protein efficiency ratio (PER) in all the pea lines tested. With supplemental methionine, a small number of pea lines had a PER that was not significantly different from soybean meal. This would suggest that protein availability among the pea lines tested differs or that some lines contain factors that depress chick growth. None of the peas were autoclaved before feeding.
Differences in muscle characteristics of piglets related to the sow parity

da Silva, A. , Dalto, D. , Lozano, A. , de Oliveira, E. , Gavioli, D. , de Oliveira, J., Jamile, Romero, N. and da Silva, C. 2013. Differences in muscle characteristics of piglets related to the sow parity. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 471-475. Two hundred forty-three piglets were obtained from 81, 1st through 7th parity sows to determine the influence of sow's parity on piglets′ myogenesis. Those piglets weighing close to or equal to the average weight of their litter were sacrificed, and their semitendinosus muscles were collected to determine the secondary muscle fiber number, area and weight. The number of secondary muscle fibers was correlated with muscle weight (P<0.05; 0.39) and muscle area (P<0.001; 0.63), and muscle area and weight were also correlated (P<0.001; 0.64). Weights of piglets at birth had a correlation with number of muscle fibers (P<0.05; 0.39), muscle area (P<0.001; 0.54) and muscle weight (P<0.001; 0.73). The piglets′ birthweights and muscle weight, muscle area and muscle secondary fiber numbers increased quadratically as parity increased (R 2=0.56, 0.36, 0.44, 0.64 and 0.54; P<0.05, respectively). The results of this study indicate that parity influences the pre-natal development of piglets and that the best muscle characteristics of piglets born from 3rd and 4th parity sows were responsible for their higher weight at birth.
SEASONAL AND INTERANNUAL VARIATION IN THE ALLOMETRY OF ENERGY ALLOCATION IN JUVENILE STRIPED BASS

Survival rates during the first winter of life are strongly size dependent and variable in many temperate fish populations. Starvation is often implicated as the cause of size-dependent first-winter mortality, and interannual variation in energy accumulation and the allocation between growth and storage is a likely source of variability. We examined these processes in young-of-the-year Hudson River striped bass Morone saxatilis, which are known to experience size-selective winter mortality and a winter energy deficit. Neutral- lipid and lean-tissue masses were determined for fish of five consecutive year classes collected through the first year of life. Differences in scaling relationships between body length and neutral-lipid and lean-tissue mass were used to infer patterns of resource al- location. Lipid reserves scaled isometrically with body length in summer but increased at a greater rate than did body length in autumn and winter. Lean-tissue allometries were less variable but followed a similar seasonal cycle. Allometric slopes were homogeneous across years, but significant interannual variation in length-specific lipid content and lean-tissue mass in the later half of the growing season indicated variable allocation patterns. During winter, up to 21% of total energy content and 50% of neutral-lipid stores were depleted. The results indicate that energy allocation patterns result from interactions among season, ontogenetic stage, and body size. The variation in growth, allocation, and severity of the winter energy deficit likely interact to determine first-winter survival.