Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strip-Tillage Production Systems for Tobacco

Strip-tillage production of dark fire-cured tobacco has shown potential as an alternative production system. Cool, wet soils commonly associated with conservation tillage may result in slow, non-uniform transplant growth, affecting the plants development throughout the season. Starter fertilizer may lessen the effects of the non-uniform growth. The objective of this research was to evaluate rates and method of starter fertilizer application on early-season transplant growth and cured leaf yield, quality, and total alkaloid and reducing sugar concentration. Cover crops were killed in strip 30 cm wide with a 1.4 kg active ingredient (a.i.) ha rate of paraquat dichloride (1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridinium dichloride) utilizing a hooded sprayer and subsequently broadcast killed with the same rate of paraquat dichloride. Strip-tillage treatments received three rates (11, 22, and 45 kg ha) of 9-45-15 (N:P2O5:K2O) injected with the striptillage implement and a transplant water treatment of 11 kg ha in 1999. These treatments were compared to conventionally cultivated treatments receiving no starter fertilizer. Two additional treatments (strip-tillage control and conventional tillage with 11 kg ha starter fertilizer applied in the transplant water) were included in 2000. The dark fire-cured cultivar ‘VA 359’ was transplanted into a two-year old crimson clover cover crop in 1999, with treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design. Cultivar ‘Brownleaf JH’ was transplanted into wheat and red clover cover crop treatments arranged in a split-plot design with fertilizer treatments arranged within the cover crop treatments as a randomized complete block design in 2000. No differences were observed in 2000 for early season transplant growth when starter fertilizer
Chromosomal evolution of the house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, in the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily, Italy)

We describe the chromosomal evolution of the metacentric populations of the house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, which constitute the Robertsonian System of Aeolian Islands (Sicily, Italy). Eighty-nine specimens from all the seven islands that form the Archipelago were cytogenetically examined. The analysis shows the presence of 4 Rb races with a large number of shared metacentric chromosomes: 2n = 36 on Panarea, 2n = 34 on Alicudi, 2n = 26 on Lipari and Stromboli, and a different 2n = 26 race on Vulcano. On Salina and Filicudi, the standard karyotype was found. Polymorphism was only found in a population on Panarea Island and this population shares no metacentrics with the other races. The distribution of metacentrics among the races and the comparison between the Aeolian metacentrics and those found in the 97 previously documented metacentric populations allows us to formulate a hypothesis of chromosomal evolution for the Aeolian Robertsonian system. Six of the twelve metacentric chromosomes found in the Aeolian Islands come from localities outside the archipelago. The evolutionary model highlights how the chromosomal races originated inside the Archipelago and involve several factors, such as formation in situ of metacentrics, zonal raciation and, whole arm reciprocal translocation. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 194–202.
Heredity in Parkinson's disease. From rare mutations to common genetic risk factors.

This study investigated genetic causes of Parkinson's disease (PD) and parkinsonism in southern Sweden. The extensive Lister Family with parkinsonism caused by duplications and triplications of the gene for alpha-synuclein (SNCA) was studied. Clinical, genetic and genealogical data were compiled and evaluated. Thirty-five family members with parkinsonism were identified. They share a characteristic clinical subtype of parkinsonism with marked dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, behavioral changes and cognitive decline. The clinical phenotype, heredity and genetic background of 132 probands from Southern Sweden with PD or parkinsonism was examined. The SNCA, LRRK2, EIF4G1, VPS35, PINK1, ATXN2 and ATXN3 genes were analyzed in all probands; the PARKIN, PINK1 and DJ1 genes were tested in a subgroup of 23 patients with young onset or marked heredity. DNA from the brain tissue of 7 patients with parkinsonism was also analyzed. Common genetic risk factors in DNA samples collected within this study were analyzed in collaboration with other research groups. Gene screening identified two rare causative mutations, SNCA A53T and LRRK2 N1437H. An additional patient was compound heterozygous for PARKIN R275W and R275Q mutations. Detailed information on their clinical picture is presented. We present the first neuropathological description of a patient with PD and LRRK2 N1437H mutation, showing pronounced ubiquitin and moderate alpha-synuclein pathology. A heterozygous PINK1 G411S mutation was present in two PD patients but showed no clear co-segregation with the disease in their families. Screening of 1,107 patients and controls as well as meta-analysis of published reports from 7,800 individuals revealed that the PINK1 G411S mutation is a rare risk variant with a relatively large effect size (odds ratios 4.06-8.42). One multicenter study confirmed that common variants in the SNCA and MAPT genes modify PD risk, and was large enough to refute gene-gene interaction between the MAPT and SNCA variants. These results suggest that specific mutations in PD-genes cause characteristic disease subtypes. Despite extensive screening and a high proportion of familial cases, known pathogenic mutations could only explain a small proportion of parkinsonism in this cohort. This may indicate that mutations causing parkinsonism in the Scandinavian population remain to be discovered. Alternatively, familial clustering and sporadic occurrence of PD may be explained by combinations of rare variants with relatively large effect size, such as PINK1 G411S. (Less)
A quarter‐century demographic analysis of the Caribbean coral, Orbicella annularis, and projections of population size over the next century

In this study, size‐based matrix models for the reef‐building coral Orbicella annularis at 14‐m depth on the Tektite reef in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, were used to: (1) explore the demography of changing coral cover over 25 yr, (2) test for spatial homogeneity in demographic properties through a contrast with a previous study (at Yawzi Point, Edmunds and Elahi 2007), and (3) evaluate the potential for future population stability. During three, five year intervals from 1988 to 2002, St. John was affected by hurricanes and bleaching, yet coral cover at Tektite increased from 33% to 49%; from 2002 to 2007, it declined to 27%; and from 2010 to 2013, it stabilized at ∼ 28%. Over a quarter‐century, colonies > 50 cm2 became rare, the abundance of colonies ≤ 50 cm2 increased from 58% (1988) to 92% (2013), and population density doubled to 67 colonies m‐2 by 2013. Population growth (λ) was greater at Tektite (1.152 ≥ λ ≥ 1.018) than Yawzi Point (0.679 ≥ λ ≥ 0.586), and while population size at Tektite declined due to bleaching and disease in 2005 (λ = 0.753 over 2003–2008), it recovered between 2008 and 2013 (λ = 0.966); the population at Yawzi Point declined from 1988 to 2003 without signs of recovery. Projections suggest a continuation of recent conditions could allow O. annularis at Tektite to retain ∼ 9% cover after 100 yr, but with a return to the rates of growth and survival of 1993–1998, it could attain coverage similar to that of 1988 (33%) in ∼ 15 yr.
Polarization of Vα24+ Vβ11+ Natural Killer T Cells of Healthy Volunteers and Cancer Patients Using α-Galactosylceramide-loaded and Environmentally Instructed Dendritic Cells

CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells play important regulatory roles in various immune responses. NKT cell-derived T helper (Th) 1 cytokines are important in the induction of antitumor immune responses in mice. Because the CD1d-restricted Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cell population in cancer patients is decreased both in size and in its capacity to secrete IFN-gamma, therapeutic strategies based on reconstitution of type 1 polarized Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cells merit additional investigation. Here, we report the simultaneous strong expansion and type 1 polarization of human invariant Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cells using alpha-galactosylceramide-loaded type 1 dendritic cells and interleukin 15. Type 1 polarized Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cells produced high levels of IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and induced strong cytotoxicity in Jurkat cells in an alpha-galactosylceramide-dependent manner. Importantly, the cytokine profile of Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cells that were initially expanded under Th2 polarizing conditions could be reversed to a Th1 cytokine profile, indicating the plasticity of the cytokine profile of the human adult Valpha24(+) Vbeta11(+) NKT cell population.
RIBOSOMAL LARGE SUBUNIT AS A UNIVERSAL MOLECULAR MARKER FOR CANDIDA GALIS

: Novel yeast species was isolated from the fruit surfaces and leaves of strawberry in Nile Delta, Egypt. The yeast was identified based on the standard morphological and physiological criteria in addition to sequencing of the large ribosomal subunit's conservative domain, amino acid composition and the 3D-structure of the protein domain. Comparing the obtained molecular data with the available sequence on the international data bases for ascomycete yeasts enabled their categorizing systematically as Candida galis and described to be close to genus Metschinkowia . This report is the first one worldwide which records the isolation of this novel yeast from the surface of leaves and fruit trees.
Preliminary results of the analysis of the population structure of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus linnaeus, 1758) of Lake Victoria using microsatellite markers

Preliminary results are provided of a study instituted to analyze the genetic population structure of the Nile perch in Lake Victoria since 2002. 293 individuals from six geographically distinct locations within the lake were analyzed using two polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. Tests for differentiation with an overall FST = 0.03 (P closet population pairs Nyaburu-Rubafu and Mirunda-Maboko as the most differentiated populations. There was an extensive gene flow between the populations (Nm = 20.77). The overall gene diversity (0.17) was low. All the results point to the fact that Nile perch was only recently introduced species in the lake based on a small founder population, which though slow in establishing later exploded to become the most dominant species in the lake. On the whole the two loci indicate some level of differentiation between locations; however, the levels of genetic differentiation shown by the two loci were not enough to define the structure of Nile perch stocks, and assess the level of exchange between locations. Further work is underway using bigger number of microsatellite markers.
Is inaccurate mimicry ancestral to accurate in myrmecomorphic spiders (Araneae)

Batesian mimicry, in which a palatable organism resembles an unpalatable model, is widespread among taxa. Batesian mimics can be classified based on their level of accuracy (inaccurate or accurate). Using data on defensive strategies in more than 1000 species of spiders I investigated whether inaccurate myrmecomorphy is ancestral to accurate myrmecomorphy. I classified 233 myrmecomorphic species into four accuracy levels based on morphology, from poor inaccurate mimics to very accurate ones. I found that myrmecomorphy has evolved independently in 16 families and 85 genera. On the family-level phylogeny, the occurrence of myrmecomorphy is confined mainly to families branching later on the tree, from the RTA clade. On the generic-level phylogenies in Corinnidae and Salticidae, myrmecomorphy is not only of derived origin. Estimated ancestral state was non-mimetic in Salticidae and poor inaccurate myrmecomorphy in Corinnidae. Thus, inaccurate myrmecomorphic spider mimics seem rather ancestral to accurate but additional analysis on species-level phylogenies is needed to support this conclusion. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 97–111.
The potential of symptomless potted plants for carrying invasive soilborne plant pathogens

The most common pathway for the movement of plant pests across borders is the horticultural trade in live plants, especially potted ornamentals. Soilborne pathogens, possibly alien and potentially invasive, have a higher possibility of surviving transportation and becoming established at their destination if they are carried in potted plants. The European Union (EU) has an open‐door phytosanitary system, under which any plant that is not specifically regulated can be imported. Inspections are focussed on a small number of economically important plant pests and even then limited to visual examinations of the aerial parts of the plant. Inspections fail to detect regulated pests or others internal to the tissues, or in the soil, if plants appear asymptomatic, or if incipient symptoms are limited to the roots. Phytophthora, a soilborne pathogen universally infamous for its ruinous outbreaks, but poorly regulated in Europe, was chosen to illustrate the risk inherent in the nursery pathway. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the level of infestation by Phytophthora in ornamental plants largely traded to, from and within Europe.
A review of the systematics and taxonomy of Pythonidae: an ancient serpent lineage

Here we review research over the past quarter century regarding the systematics and taxonomy of an ancient, popular and economically valuable group of snakes referred to as pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae). All recent phylogenetic studies recognize the pythons as monophyletic; however, the phylogenetic relationships at supraspecific levels are conflicting, and many of the relationships recovered are paraphyletic. We identify several taxonomic changes as necessary to clarify supraspecific relationships and which resolve the issue of paraphyly recovered in several studies. Overall, our review of the phylogenetic systematics of pythons points to considerable incongruence among recovered relationships. Instances of paraphyly emerge, low node support is detected, and terminal taxa are unstable across phylogenetic hypotheses. We thus recognize that pythonid gene trees have been unable, for various reasons, to reveal the true species tree. This occurrence is not unexpected and can arise from incomplete taxon sampling, long-branch attraction and repulsion, homoplasy, ancestral polymorphism, and, more notably, the anomaly zone. These phenomena ultimately yield incomplete lineage sorting, or the failure of lineages to coalesce over evolutionary time. We discuss future directions to resolve these troubling issues. Without resolution, adaptive hypotheses about pythons will be limited, including hypotheses of geographic origin. Analyses that recover the clade Python as sister to the Indo-Australian clade are interpreted to support a Laurasian origin of Pythonidae. In contrast, a Gondwanan origin is supported when the Indo-Australian clade is recovered as basal to the Python clade. We describe the morphology of two recently proposed genera. Finally, we designate and describe the neotype for Morelia azurea and offer a list of the currently accepted python species and their taxonomy. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London
CHEMICAL QUALITY, SENSORY ATTRIBUTES AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES OF GAMMA‐IRRADIATED CAMEL MEAT

This study was set out to determine the chemical quality, sensory attributes and ultrastructural changes of irradiated camel meat. Aerobically-packaged fresh camel meat samples (Biceps femoris muscles) were subjected to gamma irradiation at doses of 0 (control), 1.5 and 3.0 kGy and stored at 4 ± 1C for 15 days. Irradiation had no significant effects (P > 0.05) on proximate composition, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and cooking loss but significantly (P 0.05) on the sensory attributes of raw and cooked camel meat. The irradiated samples were more acceptable during storage. At ultrastructural observation, transmission electron micrographs showed structural changes of myofibrils in irradiated samples when compared with non-irradiated ones. Moreover, the mean size of sarcomere length of irradiated samples was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter than that of non-irradiated camel meat. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Meat is a rich nutrient matrix that provides suitable media for growth and proliferation of common spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The shelf-life of fresh meat under chilled states is limited to a few days. The freezing techniques have the advantage of providing prolonged shelf-life but are expensive and inadequate and also have adverse effects on the texture of the product, which reduce the consumer acceptability. Thus, the need is evident for new and more efficient preservation technologies for prolongation of shelf-life with minimum adverse effects on the general acceptability of the product. As a practical and efficient method, irradiation technique can extend the shelf-life and improve the safety of meat. In this research, detailed effects of gamma irradiation on the chemical, structural and sensory characteristics of fresh camel meat is investigated in order to enhance its storage life with high consumer acceptability in commercial scales.
Do price premiums for wool characteristics vary for different end products, processing routes and fibre diameter categories?

No Australian wool price hedonic studies have separated auction data into different end product-processing groups (PPR) on the basis of all fibre attributes that affect the suitability of wool sale lots for PPR. This study was conducted to assess: (1) whether including information about PPR groupings is more useful in understanding price than clustering by broad fibre diameter (FD) categories, and (2) if the ‘noise’ of macroeconomic effects on price can be reduced by using a clean price relative to the market indicator (RelPrice) formula or a log RelPrice formula compared with log price or clean price. Hedonic models using data derived from 369 918 Australian auction sale lots in 2010–2011 were estimated for these four dependent price variables. Linear FD models predicted less of price’s variance than quadratic or exponential models. Segmenting wool sale lots into 10 PPR before wool price analyses was found to increase the proportion of price variance explained and thus be worthwhile. The change in price with a change in FD, staple length and staple strength differs significantly between PPR. Calculating RelPrice or log RelPrice appears a better price parameter than clean price or log price. Comparing the RelPrice and clean price models, the mean absolute percentage errors were 6.3% and 16.2%, respectively. The differences in price sensitivity to FD, staple length and staple strength across PPR implies a complex set of price-setting mechanisms for wool as different users place different values on these wool properties. These price-setting mechanisms need to be incorporated in hedonic models for agricultural products that possess this characteristic. The wool price premiums can be used to estimate relative economic values when constructing sheep breeding selection indexes and can help determine the most profitable wool clip preparation strategies.
Surveys for Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminths in Luangwa, Kalabo and Serenje Districts of Zambia

Background : Earlier publications have indicated that human infections with schistosomes and soil transmitted helminths (STH) are widespread in Zambia. Despite being classified as a moderate endemic country for these infections, and a recent modelling study suggesting an average schistosomiasis prevalence of 26% among school aged children, there is a lack of published data on the present occurrence and distribution of these infections. Design : Cross sectional surveys for schistosomiasis and STH were carried out among individuals aged 4-20 years at three sites in Luangwa, Kalabo and Serenje districts, as an added component to comprehensive studies on lymphatic filariasis. Urine samples were examined for hematuria and Schistosoma haematobium ova using the Nuclepore filtration technique. Stool samples were examined for S. mansoni and STH ova using the Kato- Katz technique. Results : The prevalence of S. haematobium was generally low, with the Serenje site recording the highest of 3.0%. S. mansoni was only seen at the Kalabo site, which had a moderate prevalence of 37.5%. Hookworm infections were relatively common at all three sites, with prevalences ranging from 12.1 to 35.0%. Other more rare STH infections noted were Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana and Enterobius vermicularis. Conclusions : The study confirmed that schistosomiasis and STH infections were endemic at the study sites, but also suggested that the prevalences had declined compared to earlier reports. There is need for more surveys to be carried out to assess the current distribution and prevalence of these infections to provide guidance for implementation of mass drug administration for their control.
Advanced pond system for dairy‐farm effluent treatment

Abstract Two‐stage oxidation ponds have traditionally been used for the treatment of dairy‐farm wastewater in New Zealand, but are now considered unsuitable to discharge to waterways. The first full‐scale dairy‐farm advanced pond system (APS), a low‐cost and effective upgrade option for traditional ponds was evaluated over a 2‐year period. The system consisted of an anaerobic pond (AP) (the first pond of traditional oxidation pond systems), a high rate pond (HRP), a pair of algae settling ponds (ASP) and a maturation pond (MP) (which all replace the second pond of traditional systems). APS effluent quality was considerably higher than that of traditional ponds, with respective median effluent concentrations of biological oxygen demand: 43 versus 98 g m−3, total suspended solids: 87 versus 198 g m−3, ammoniacal nitrogen: 39 versus 106 gm−3, total phosphorus: 19 versus 27 g m−3, and Escherichia coli of 918 versus 70 000 MPN/100 ml. APS show great promise for upgrading traditional dairy‐farm oxidation ponds in New Zealand, particularly in areas where land irrigation is unsuitable.
A preliminary study of the juvenile fishes of the coastal waters off Madras city

IT has generally been observed that in the commercial catches along the Madras coast very young stages of fish occur in enormous numbers during certain months. The present paper deals with the periodicity in the postlarval and juvenile bony fishes obtained from March 1954 to July 1955 collected from the fishing centres at Triphcane North and South, Ayodhyakuppam, Nochikuppam, Santhome, Kanniappanagar and Royapuram. The majority of the species being of great commercial importance, it is hoped that a record of their very young stages, apparently not older than a few months, as judged by their very small size of about few cm. in length, will help in fixing the approximate period of their breeding and in facilitating interpretation of the different size classes, usually obtained in the commercial catches. Further, it is well known that information on the fluctuations in the abundance of post-larvae of any commercial fish is of value in determining the magnitude of the forthcoming fisheries.