Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-demographic correlates of age at marriage in Nepal: an empirical analysis

Age at marriage of girls is gradually increasing in Nepal, but still there is a lower age at marriage in the Terai. This paper aims to investigate the reasons for early marriage of girls among some families in Nepal with particular focus on the Terai and seeks answer to the research question ‘What are the prominent sociodemographic and cultural factors that influence marriage timing of women in Nepal? ’ Findings from empirical data analysis reveal that determination of marriage timing is a complex phenomenon. There are several factors that influence marriage timing of women in Nepal. Although bivariate analysis shows a further elaborative list of factors, multivariate analysis confirms the effect of each variable while controlling the effect of other variables. The prominent factors influencing marriage timing of women are age, place of birth, age at menarche, education of women and their mothers, and caste or ethnicity, and religion. The significant differences in the risk of marrying early among caste and religion groups, and the significantly higher risk among caste/ethnic groups of Terai origin and Muslims who reside mainly in the Terai, are supported by the distinct sociocultural differences with more strict marriage norms and practices prevalent among these groups. The low educational level of these groups in general and women in particular further increases their risk of marrying at an early age. An education level of some secondary and above seems to be a protective factor against early marriage, but many of the caste and ethnic groups (except Terai highcastes) and Muslims of Terai have substantially low education, particularly among women. Lower age at menarche of girls of Terai origin may also be associated with early marriage as age at menarche and age at marriage of girls were positively associated. The lower age at menarche of girls of Terai caste groups in particular seems to be an important factor creating pressure on parents to arrange marriage of their daughters at an early age.
Lichen response to enviromental changes in managed boreal forest systems

This thesis discusses epiphytic lichen response, in different stages of the life cycle, to environmental changes caused by forestry. Colonization of lichens under different environmental conditions in managed Picea abies forest ecosystems are given special attention. Moreover, factors important for explaining the limited distribution of old-forest lichens are stressed. The more specific aims of the thesis have been:1.To investigate success of establishment and rate of development, from vegetative diaspores to juvenile thalli, of epiphytic lichens in their natural habitat (Paper I and II). 2. To analyse whether old-forest species can establish and develop to juvenile thalli in young stands, or whether colonization is precluded e.g. by sensitivity to environmental factors (Paper II). 3. To investigate whether the rate of growth of old-forest species is affected by the age and structure of the spruce stand, and moreover, to search for any evidence of morphological adjustment to the young forest climate in transparent thalli (Paper III). 4. To test how epiphytic lichens are influenced by edge effects in a Picea abies forest (Paper IV).
An assessment of the applicability of data based mechanistic modelling to flood forecasting in the UK

The data-based mechanistic (DBM) modelling methodology has previously been proposed for developing real-time flood forecasting models. However, only limited research has been published comparing the performance of DBM models with commonly used conceptual rainfall runoff (CRR) models and investigating the predictive performance of DBM models when transferred in time to conditions outside the range of their calibration data. This thesis reports a case study performance comparison of DBM and CRR rainfall runoffmodels, including temporal transfer, across a range of forecasting performance measures. The DBM models were based upon the range of model structures and parameter estimation approaches used in other published studies, and did not attempt to exhaustively explore the potential of the DBM methodology. The principal findings are that the employed DBM models could not improve upon the CRR models and that neither model type performed well when transferred in time to conditions outside the range of their calibration data. The performance comparison was followed-up with a synthetic catchment study to investigate the role of model (as opposed to data) errors on the predictive performance of DBM models when transferred in time to conditions outside the range of their calibration data. This work found that the DBM modelling approach as applied here cannot be relied upon to estimate models that will transfer satisfactorily in time, even with error-free data, indicating that shortcomings in temporal transferability are intrinsic to the modelling process. The work further found that calibration performance was not a reliable predictor of temporal transferability amongst a set of identified candidate models. The flexibility of DBM methodology does, however, make it suitable for incorporating future developments, aimed at mitigating the identified shortcomings. Potential areas of investigation include the use of alternative model structures and optimisation schemes, as well as the use of hybrid DBM–CRR models.
Use of Microsatellite DNA as Genetic Tags for the Assessment of a Stock Enhancement Program of Red Sea Bream

Stock enhancement is being used as a tool to help the replenishment of depleted fish populations in several parts of the world.1) The success of stock enhancement pro grams depends upon several ecological and environmental factors acting where the release of juveniles is carried out. It also depends on the fitness of the hatchery-reared organ isms while living in the wild.2) In order to evaluate the success of these programs, and the impacts of the release on wild stocks and thus on the fisheries based on them, it is necessary to assess the contri bution of cultured juveniles to wild stocks.2) Several tag ging methods are used for this purpose,3) and Munro and Belle) had recently suggested the use of genetic tags in addi tion to the current methods. In this sense, it has been shown that sperm whales and humpback whales, respec tively, can be individually identified by means of their microsatellite profiles, which constitute a genetic "tag" since they are permanent and exist in all individuals.4,5) Similarly, Perez-Enriquez et al.6) showed that the pedigree of hatchery-reared fish used for release can successfully be traced comparing the microsatellite profile of each individ ual with the profile of the broodstock. In the present study the same approach was applied to assess the feasibility of microsatellite DNA as genetic tag to estimate the proportion of released fish living in the wild. The stock enhancement program of red sea bream carried out in the Kochi Prefecture Aquaculture Center was used as a case study. Materials and Methods
POSTPARTUM UTERINE INVOLUTION IN PRIMIPAROUS AND PLURIPAROUS POLISH LONGWOOL SHEEP MONITORED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

The study was carried out on 29 primiparous and 22 pluriparous winter–lambing, suckling Polish Longwool sheep variety Kamieniecka. The completion of uterine involution was determined by means of transrectal ultrasonography. Parameters for the evaluation of uterine involution were the transversal diameter and the presence of uterine lumen. The results show that uterine involution was completed in the majority of ewes till day 35 postpartum. Furthermore, the results indicate that parity affected uterine involution. It was completed earlier in primiparous than in pluriparous ewes.
The light-dependent behaviour of planula larvae of Eunicella singularis and Corallium rubrum and its implication for octocorallian ecology

The behaviour of Mediterranean octocoral planulae was studied in light-dark situations and in a light gradient. Larvae of Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1794) reacted photopositively but it is uncertain which mechanism (klinotaxis or klinokinesis) determines this property. The blind larvae probably possess a dermal light sense, but it cannot be excluded that the yolk contains photosensitive carotenoids while the symbiotic zooxanthellae may also play a role. The photopositive behaviour of planulae of this species explains some aspects of the distributional ecology of adult colonies. It was also found that for the induction of settlement and metamorphosis the chemical properties of a given substratum seem to be far more important than its roughness. Larvae of Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) are geonegative and indifferent to light. This latter fact is surprising, since in nature the colonies are exclusively found in dark places. It is supposed, therefore, that tolerance of the colonies rather than larval choice determines light-dependent zonation of this species in nature.
Catalogue of gene symbols for wheat

The University of Sydney, Plant Breeding Institute Cobbitty, PMB 11, Camden, N.S. W. , Australia, 2570. bobm@camden.usyd. edu.au National Institute of Genetics, 111 Yata Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540 Japan. yyamazak@lab.nig. ac.jp Formerly, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, Norfolk, England, NR4 7UH, UK. kdevos@bilbo.bio. purdue.edu Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A. jdubcovsky@ucdavis.edu Catedra de Genetica y Fitotecnia, Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Av. Rep. Italia 780, CC47 73 Azul, Provincie de Buenos Aires, Argentina. rogers@faa.unicen. edu.au Molecular Plant Breeding Research Centre, Biological Sciences, Murdoch University and Department of Agriculture, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre W.A. 6983, Australia. rappels@agric.wa. gov.au
A comparative analysis between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions amongst agricultural economics and animal production students at the University of Limpopo

The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions amongst Agricultural Economics and Animal Production students at the University of Limpopo. The study used primary cross-sectional data which was obtained by means of a structured questionnaire from 25 final year students randomly selected from each class which made the sample size of the study 50. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behaviour, descriptive statistics was used to process the data obtained from the entrepreneurial intention measurement instrument adopted from (Linan and Chen, 2009). Descriptive statistics revealed that the entrepreneurial intentions of Agricultural students at the University of Limpopo are high; the mean for the entrepreneurial intention scale of the BSc Agric (Agricultural Economics) students was 6.02 and BSc Agric (Animal Production) students was 6.42. The results reveal that agricultural students at the University of Limpopo have high entrepreneurial intentions regardless of the study program they are enrolled in. It is recommended that agricultural students need support in terms of business mentorship, funding and incubation to facilitate the materialization of the business ideas they intend to start.
Studies on structural and biochemical mechanism of resistance in groundnut to Puccinia arachidis

Mechanism of resistance on the basis of structural and biochemical changes in resistant (GPBD4 and DH- 2), moderately resistant (K-134 and R-8808) and susceptible (KRG-1 and TMV-2) genotypes of groundnut were studied. Resistant and moderately resistant genotypes were characterized by higher cuticular and epidermal cell thickness with lesser epidermal cells, size (length, breadth) and number of stomata and more wax content at later stages of crop growth. Resistant and moderately resistant genotypes recorded more sugars, phenol, ortho-dihydroxy phenol and protein contents than susceptible ones.
Genetic improvement of sow longevity and its economic impact on commercial pork production

Sow longevity (sow productive lifetime) plays an important role in economically efficient piglet production. Direct selection for sow longevity is not commonly practiced in any pig-breeding program. In recent years, an increased number of peer reviewed articles addressing the economic impact, genetic parameter estimates, and genomic information (including markers and single nucleotide polymorphisms for sow longevity) have been published in the scientific literature. The studies in the literature indicate that sow longevity is a complex trait having economic value and is an animal well-being concern for commercial pork producers. Studies have concluded that sufficient genetic variation exists so that selection to improve sow longevity should be effective. Unlike the dairy industry, the primary parent animal used in the swine industry is a crossbred female, typically F1 (Landrace X Large White or Yorkshire). Sow longevity has shown to be genetically related with prolificacy and leg conformation traits. Sow longevity seems to be the ideal trait to utilize genomic selection when attempting to improve the trait. The genetic correlation between purebred and crossbred sow longevity is low. Since the crossbred sow is the breeding objective, phenotypic data from the crossbred females should ideally be used when estimating the breeding values for sow longevity that are used in the indexes to evaluate nucleus animals. Genomic selection is best suited for sex-limited traits, traits expressed later in life, and many animals do not reach some defined end-point parity, sow longevity seems ideally suited to be evaluated using the latest genome enabled selection technology. Keywords: heritability, leg conformation, selection, sow productive lifetime
Proteomics related to the biocontrol of Pythium damping off in maize with Trichoderma harzianum

Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 controls various diseases of maize and other crops, including seedling and root rots caused by Pythium ultimum. Seedlings of inbred line Mo17 were grown from T22-treated or untreated seeds in field soil or in field soil intested with the pathogen. Five days after planting, seedlings of Mo17 (5-days-old) were smaller in the presence of P. ultimum and larger in the presence of T22 relative to the control. The combination of T22 with P. ultimum (T22 + P.ultimum ) resulted in plants as large as T22 alone. Methods for protein extraction and 2-D gel electrophoresis were developed. Proteins in seedlings roots from the various treatments were separated on 2-D gels and analyzed using PDQuestTM 2-D software. With seedlings produced from T22-treated seeds, there were 104 unmatched proteins and 164 matched proteins relative to the control, and 97 and 150 from the treatment with T22 + P. ultimum, respectively, however, with P. ultimum alone the numbers were much lower than above two treatments. Comparatively, there was very lower similarity of proteome patterns of seedling roots with T22 or P. ultimum or both to control seedlings,the correlative coefficient values were 0.72, 0.51 and 0.49 for the comparisons among control with T22, P. ultimum and T22 + P. ultimum, respectively. Moreover, correlative coefficient of proteome patterns between T22 with P. ultimum was only 0.65, and T22 fungal proteome were also not same as any one of seedling roots with various treatments. Taken together, the components in seedling root proteome seemed to be mostly coming from Mo17 plants themselves and affected strongly by either microbes, but the effects appeared to be stronger by P. ultimum than by T22. 41 spots were selected for protein mass fingerprinting identification, and most detected-spots were intensified in abundance by T22 or T22 + P. ultimum treatments such as pathogenesis-related protein and endochitnase etc. SOD (Mn) was found to be involved in the defensive reaction of host against P.ultimum becau
Progreso y patrón espacial del huanglongbing en limón Persa en Nayarit, México

El Huanglongbing (HLB), ocacionado por Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) causa perdidas severas a los productores de citricos ( Citrus spp. ) en Mexico. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el progreso temporal y espacial de la enfermedad en cuatro huertos comerciales de limon Persa con presencia de HLB en Xalisco, Nayarit. La evaluacion de la incidencia de la enfermedad se realizo mediante inspeccion visual de todos los arboles durante seis meses. Las epidemias fueron ajustadas con el modelo flexible de Weibull y=1-e[-(t/b)c], co respecto a la incidencia inicial (y0), incidencia final (yf), tasa de progreso de la enfermedad (b-1), y area bajo la curva del progreso de la enfermedad (ABCPE). El patron espacial de la enfermedad fue analizado mediante mapas geoestadisticos, ordinary runs , y a traves del ajuste de la distribucion beta-binomial. El analisis de las curvas de progreso mostro que la epidemia fue mas rapida en la parcela ED-2 ubicada junto a una carretera. La incidencia de la enfermedad aumento en todas las parcelas oscilando entre 1.9 a 32.4% durante el periodo de evaluacion. El comportamiento de la epidemia fue en forma de agregados. Este estudio constituye la primera evidencia cuantitativa de dispersion espacio-temporal de HLB enn limon Persa en Mexico.
Primary Sources of Salmonella Species in Poultry Production Settings in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

The poultry production settings have been frequently revealed as a major reservoir for Salmonella species. Salmonellosis is endemic in many countries, including Nigeria, where the poultry production industry is rapidly increasing. This study was designed to determine the gateways of entry of Salmonella into the poultry production setting so as to suggest measures to curb the introduction and maintenance of these organisms into the poultry production systems.
Comparison of time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting: a scoping review.

Background Research on the health benefits of fasting is growing; this includes time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting. Aims This article aims to review and highlight the similarities and differences between time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting during Ramadan. Methods A scoping review was undertaken to identify relevant articles that answered the research question: what are the similarities and differences in characteristics of time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting? MEDLINE/PubMed was searched using the terms: time-restricted feeding, and weight. Inclusion criteria were: original research and review articles; written in English; and published between the years 2000 and 2017. Results A total of 25 articles that answered the research question were included in the review: 15 original research papers and 10 reviews. The findings suggest that Ramadan fasting is a form of time-restricted feeding in the contemporary context because of the period when eating is not allowed. The fasting duration reported in time-restricted feeding ranged from 4 to 24 hours, which is longer than that of Islamic fasting which is between 8 and 20 hours. Both time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting have been found to have positive health effects, including weight reduction. Conclusion Time-restricted feeding and Islamic fasting have many similar characteristics and reported positive health effects.
Concurrent metastatic hepatoid gland carcinoma and eosophagogastric leiomyosarcoma in a dog.

17 yasli erkek bir kopekte perianal ve sakral bolge arasinda lokalize olan primer bir kitle ile akcigerdeki metastatik odaklar degerlendirildi. Rastlantisal olarak distal ozefagus ve midenin kardiyasi arasinda yer alan diger bir kitleyle birlikte bobrekte benzer odaklara rastlandi. Histopatolojik incelemede ozefagogastrik yerlesimli ve bobrekte bulunan kitlelerin leiomyosarkom olarak tanilandirilmasina karsin, perianal bolgedeki kitle ile akcigerdeki metastatik odaklar hepatoid bez karsinomu olarak tanilandirildi. Immunohistokimyasal incelemede, vimentin ve α-smooth actin tumor rezerv hucrelerinde pozitif bulunmasina ragmen, Ki67 anaplastik hepatoid bez hucrelerinde pozitif reaksiyon verdi. Fakat leiomyosarkom sadece α-smooth actin ile pozitifti. Ayni kopekte iki farkli tumore rastlanmasi acisindan sonuclarin paylasilmasinin yararli oldugu dusunuldu
Multiple origins of parthenogenesis, and a revised species phylogeny for the Southeast Asian butterfly lizards, Leiolepis

Hybridization often occurs in areas of secondary contact between closely related species. In some cases these hybridization events can create hybrid offspring that are reproductively viable as new parthenogenetic species. The genus Leiolepis contains nine species that collectively range throughout continental Southeast Asia. Of these, four are unisexual (some diploid and some triploid). We analyzed a multi-locus dataset within a multi-lineage coalescent framework to infer the origins of these parthenogenetic hybrid species. Our results provide evidence that repeated hybridization events between L. reevesii and L. guttata have led to the formation of all four distinct parthenogenetic species. Our data further suggest there have been low levels of mitochondrial introgression between L. belliana and L. reevesii at their contact zone in southern Cambodia. This work addresses contentious species boundaries and provides the first taxon-complete hypothesis of relationships for the butterfly lizards. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 1080–1093.