Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum enzymes and thyroid hormone in sub-clinical ketosis in goat and sheep reared under organized farming system

Goats (514: Barbari, Jamunapari breed) and sheep (74: Muzaffanlagri breed) reared under organized fam1ing systenl were screened for pregnancy toxemia/lactational ketosis. In healthy goats and sheep, AST values decreased in pregnancy but increased during lactation, whereas ALT values increased both in pregnancy and lactation stages. Both AST and ALT values decreased in all animals affected \vith sub-clinical ketosis, but a significant decrease in ALT level was observed in Barbari goats during pregnancy. Serun1 thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) level marginally decreased in dry, pregnancy and lactation periods in Jamunapari, Barbari goats and Muzaffarnagri sheep, however, T4 level was significantly decreased in Barbari goats during pregnancy. Whereas in lactational ketosis, the values for T4 in Barbari goats were higher as compared to nonnaI healthy lactating goats. Serum cortisol values decreased in pregnancy and lactation in Barbari goats, whereas in Jamunapari goats values were slightly increased in pregnancy and decreased in lactation as compared to dry period. In sheep the values decreased, in dry, pregnancy and lactation period respectively. Cortisol level in Barbari goats was decreased (15.29%) but increased in sheep in lactational ketosis (23.11%).
Dietary impact of NDF from different sources on the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids.

Nowadays the use of fiber rich by-products is increasing in pig feeding. However, dietary fiber has significant impact on the nutritive value of the feed; therefore knowledge on the effect of inclusion of different fibrous components on digestibility of nutrients, particularly amino acids is crucial. The aim of the present trial was to study how the apparent ileal digestibility of selected amino acids (lysine, methionine, cystine, threonine, isoleucine, arginine, tryptophan, valine) is changed as a response of increasing dietary NDF from different source such as wheat bran and soyhulls. For that purpose a total of 40 cannulated growing pigs (35 kg BW) were used in two replicates. Ten experimental treatments were achieved by including 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g wheat bran (WB) or soyhulls (SH) per kg of a corn, soybean based diet. The 5 days adaptation period was followed by a 3×12 hours of ileal digesta collection. The effect of different WB and SH levels on the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids were analyzed separately by ANOVA. Our results show that dietary NDF has negative impact on the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and, however, the magnitude of this reducing effect is depending on the NDF source. Due to the fact that 25 g/kg of wheat bran and soyhulls level depress the apparent ileal digestibility of the most amino acids but higher rate of inclusion has no further negative effect, the amino acid supplementation should not be increased if more than 25 g/kg of wheat bran or soyhulls are used in diet formulation. (
Expression of α-amylase in human lung cancers

Thirty-three human lung tumors were studied for the expression of alpha-amylase by immunohistochemical and Northern blot analyses. Twenty of them were adenocarcinomas, among which 17 proved to be adequate for mRNA analyses and were, except for two, amylase mRNA producers. Seven were squamous cell carcinomas, none of which produced amylase. The remaining six consisted of two undifferentiated small cell carcinomas, and one each of undifferentiated large cell carcinoma, carcinoid tumor, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and metastatic lung cancer; the mucoepidermoid carcinoma proved to be an amylase producer. These observations strongly suggest that among lung cancers, the production of alpha-amylase is a property commonly associated with adenocarcinomas and can be used for distinguishing cell types. Histogenesis and carcinogenesis in lung cells are discussed in connection with the cells that produce amylase.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN POLYMORPHISMS OF THE CYP11A1 GENE AND POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME IN EGYPTIAN FEMALE

Several studies have reported the association of the SNP rs4077582 in the CYP11 gene with hyperandrogenism, which is one of the clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). These studies suggest that SNP rs4077582 may be involved in the etiopathogenisis of PCOS. To investigate whether the CYP11 gene SNP rs4077582 polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to PCOS, we designed a case-controlled association study including 104 individuals. A case-controlled association study including 106 individuals (53 PCOS patients and 53 controls) was performed to assess the association of SNP rs4077582 with PCOS. Genotyping of SNP rs4077582 was conducted by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method that was performed on genomic DNA isolated from blood leucocytes. Results were analyzed in respect to clinical test results. The genotypic distributions of rs4077582 (CC, CT, TT) in the CYP11 gene in women with PCOS (CC, 29 (55.8%); CT, 20 (33.5%); and TT, 3 (5.8%). respectively) were significantly different from that in controls (CC, 44 (84.6%); CT, 6 (11.6%); and TT, 2 (3.8%) respectively) (P = 0.001). The allele frequencies in the PCOs women were: C, 78 (75%); and T, 26 (25%). This also was significantly different from the distribution in non-PCOs women: C, 94 (90.4%); and T, 10 (9.6%) (Table 2). In addition, rs4077582 C > T showed a association with PCOs by logistic regression analysis controlling for confounding factors. Our data suggest that SNP rs4077582 in the CYP11 gene is associated with susceptibility to PCOS.
Heterosis, Combining Ability and Components of Genetic Variance in Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

The present investigation was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University to evaluate seven faba bean varieties (four local and three introduced) in the diallele cross set. Twenty one crosses were constituted in the winter season of 2006/2007, whereas parents and crosses were evaluated in a yield trial, in winter season of 2007/2008, in a randomized complete block design of three replications. Results revealed highly significant variations within parents and F1 genotypes indicating a wide genetic variability for the studied characters and the possibility of genetic improvement using such genetic pools of faba bean. Several crosses recorded significant positive heterosis percentages relative to mid parent and better parent for seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight ranging from 17.46-84.95%, 22.47- 68.49%, 8.53-23.26% and 10.43-18.64% relative to MP and BP for each character, respectively. Both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities were significant for all studied characters revealing the important role of both additive and dominant components in the inheritance of the studied characters. Giza Blanca proved to be a good combiner for all studied characters except number of pods per plant and maturity time. Several crosses exhibited significantly positive SCA effects for studied characters especially Giza 716 × ILB 450 and ILB 450 × Giza Blanca which exhibited highly significant and positive SCA effects for seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight. Heritability in narrow sense was high for 100- seed weight (0.54) and short plant height (-0.51) while it was low for seed yield per plant.
The Effects of Exchange Rate Volatility on Economic Growth of West African English-Speaking Countries

This paper aims to examine the effects of exchange rate volatility on economic growth of West African English speaking countries. Macroeconomic data used for this study were obtained from World Bank Data Stream between 1980 until 2017 and analyzed using Stata 14 panel data regression analysis. The results obtained showed that the independent variable (real exchange rate) is statistically significant and negatively related to the dependent variable (GDP) in West African English speaking countries excluding time-invariant variables. This current study contributes empirically regarding the relationships between exchange rate volatility and economic growth of West African English speaking countries. From 1980-2017. The findings of this study will help the countries under review and other nations in general to improve on monetary policy; it could be used by the central bank of West African English speaking countries as a guide for effective monetary policy.
The Effects of Environmental Performance and Environmental Information Disclosure on Financial Performance in Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of environmental performance and environmental information disclosure on financial performance in companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The population in this study amounted to 20 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, issued an Annual Report and Sustainability Report and included in the Sustainability Disclosure Database of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The data used in the form of secondary data obtained from annual reports and sustainability reports of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2016. The numbers of observations in this study were 80. The analysis technique used was Partial Least Square (PLS). The novelty in this study is to measure environmental performance based on outcomes, namely environmental costs incurred by the company rather than compliance with regulations. The cost of a well-managed environment will improve environmental performance because there are efficient use of resources. The results of this study indicate that eenvironmental performance has no significant effect on financial performance, environmental information disclosure has a significant effect on financial performance. Disclosure of environmental information has a negative effect on financial performance, it shows that if the disclosure of environmental information is more equipped and in accordance with the disclosure guidelines, the cost is not small so that it will reduce financial performance. Research limitation that environmental costs is difficult to obtain so that the population is limited to companies listed on the IDX that have a Sustainability Report and are included in the Sustainability Disclosure Database of the Global Reporting Initiative. Disclosure of environmental information which is the result of the implementation environmental management accounting has not been done by all companies, because it is still voluntary is not mandatory. The suggestion of the research, the Indonesian Accountants Association is expected to form separate standards for measuring and reporting environmental cost information and standardized. For other researchers who are interested in researching environmental accounting can develop other variables for a longer time and the number of companies that publish more Sustainability Reporting.
Differential Effects of the Integrins α9β1, αvβ3, and αvβ6 on Cell Proliferative Responses to Tenascin

Members of the integrin family manifest considerable overlap in ligand specificity, and many cells have the capacity to express multiple integrin receptors for the same ligand. For example, at least 5 different integrins recognize tenascin as a ligand, and 4 of these bind to the same region of the protein, the third fibronectin type III repeat (TNfn3). We utilized colon carcinoma cells (SW480) that do not normally attach to TNfn3 to examine the possibility that ligation of different integrin receptors for this ligand would induce different effects on cell behavior and intracellular signaling. Heterologous expression of the tenascin receptors αvβ3 and α9β1 produced comparable effects on cell adhesion and spreading on TNfn3, but αvβ3-transfectants proliferated considerably better on each concentration examined. αvβ6-transfectants attached (although less avidly), but completely failed to spread or proliferate. Expression of a chimeric β subunit composed of the β3 extracellular domain fused to the β6 transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains resulted in adhesion and spreading similar to that seen with β3-transfectants, but considerably less proliferation. When the same cell lines were plated on fibronectin, αvβ6-transfectants spread and proliferated as well as cells transfected with the chimeric β3/β6 subunit, but, again, neither cell line proliferated as well as cells expressing αvβ3. Cell proliferation was always associated with spreading and with phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, and the mitogen-activated kinase, Erk2, but cell attachment in the absence of spreading or proliferation was not associated with phosphorylation of any of these proteins. These data suggest that different integrin receptors for a single ligand can produce markedly different effects on cell proliferation, and that both the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of integrin β subunits contribute to these differences.
Long-Tailed Wasps (Hymenoptera: Megalyridae) from Cretaceous and Paleogene European Amber

Abstract. Fifty-two fossils of megalyrid wasps from various collections of European amber were examined. A male neotype for Prodinapsis succinalis Brues and a female neotype for P. minor Brues are designated. The two species are redescribed and illustrated from Eocene and Oligocene amber, and males are tentatively distinguished by the length of their forewing. Three new species are described: P. pumilio Perrichot & Perkovsky n. sp. , from a single female preserved in upper Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine); P. janzeni Perrichot n. sp. , from three males in Eocene Baltic and Rovno amber; and P. oesiensis Perrichot n. sp. , from a single male preserved in lower Eocene French amber. A key for the identification of the five species of Prodinapsis is provided. Megazar elegans Perrichot n. gen. and n. sp. , and Megalava truncata Perrichot n. gen. and n. sp. , are described from Albian French and Spanish amber, respectively, and are placed in a new tribe Megazarini Perrichot n. tribe, which is characterized by the mesothoracic spiracle not being surrounded by pronotal cuticle posteriorly, the inner margin of the metathoracic trochanter, femur, tibia, and first two tarsomeres having comblike spines or stiff setae, the forewing with M+Cu being tubular, the basal segment of Rs being very long, and a narrow medial cell [1M]. The following new fossil genera and species are also described and illustrated: Ukrainosa prolata Perrichot & Perkovsky n. gen. and n. sp. , from Eocene Rovno amber; Rubes bruesi Perrichot n. gen. and n. sp. from Eocene Baltic amber; Megallica parva Perrichot n. gen. and n. sp. , from upper Albian amber of France; and Valaa delclosi Perrichot n. gen. and n. sp. , from lower Albian amber of Spain. A second specimen of Megalyra baltica Poinar & Shaw is illustrated from Baltic amber and discussed. A key for the identification of all known fossil and extant genera is provided. The new fossils extend significantly our knowledge of the evolutionary history of Megalyridae sensu stricto (i.e., excluding Cleistogastridae) that hitherto comprised eight modern and two extinct genera. They also emphasize the relictual distribution of the family that is now mainly restricted in tropical and austral regions, while it obviously occurred widely in ancient forests of the northern hemisphere during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic era.
Morphology captures function in phytoplankton: a large-scale analysis of phytoplankton communities in relation to their environment.

Het modelleren van de dynamiek van fytoplanktongemeenschappen is een geweldige uitdagende taak want het betreft zo enorm veel verschillende soorten en een heel scala aan combinaties van potentieel conditionerende omgevingsfactoren. Daarnaast lijkt het geven van gedetailleerde voorspellingen fundamenteel onmogelijk, zelfs met volledige kennis van alle aspecten van de biologie van de soorten. Voor het in kaart brengen van de effecten van veranderingen in de omgevingsfactoren op het fytoplankton kan daarom kan niet volstaan worden met alleen biomassa, maar zullen kenmerken van de samenstelling van de gemeenschap betrokken moeten worden. Dit proefschrift richt zich op de vraag of fytoplanktonsoorten geclusterd kunnen worden in homogene, functionele groepen die beter voorspelbaar zijn uit omgevingsfactoren dan individuele soorten.Predicting phytoplankton community dynamics in detail seems an overwhelming task as there are so many species, and a myriad of combinations of potential conditioning factors. Furthermore, even with full knowledge of all aspects of species biology intrinsic chaos in communities may make detailed prediction fundamentally impossible. Aggregated estimators of phytoplankton communities may work to predict overall community responses to varying environmental conditions. However, phytoplankton species differ strongly in their effect on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. Therefore, it is important to consider community composition rather than just biomass. This thesis focuses on the question whether species might be clustered in groups that are reasonably homogeneous in a functional sense, and might be better predictable from environmental conditions than individual species. To answer this question we first explored the factors that affect richness and biomass at the species level and then evaluated how well trait-based groups of species capture function and may be predicted from environmental conditions. We used a large data base including more than 700 species from 200 lakes in different climate zones and continents.
Biochemical factors for TLCV tolerance in tomato genotypes.

An experiment was conducted during 2000 – 05 to evaluate 25 tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes for resistance to tomato leaf curl virus. The percent disease incidence and coefficient of infection in the genotypes was highest in early autumn (planting in last week of August) followed by spring-summer (planting in first week of February) and autumn-winter (planting in second week of October) seasons suggesting significant influence of environment on symptom expression apart from white fly population. The three moderately resistant lines emerged from the study viz., ‘H-24’, ‘Agata’ and ‘EC-321425’ showing very low coefficient of infection (2-6), were crossed with 5 highly susceptible testers with very high coefficient of infection ( above 21), namely ‘Punjab Chhuhara’, ‘Pusa Ruby’, ‘Ratan’, ‘Hisar Arun’ and ‘Patharkutchi’ in line x tester mating design. The hybrids recorded a range of intermediate disease reaction and it varied widely in 2 seasons suggesting polygenic nature of disease resistance. Higher total phenol content in the leaves estimated at 80 days growth stage appeared to have determined the resistance actively in the host. Exploitable level of disease resistance could be achieved in very few hybrids involving moderately resistant x susceptible cross.
Detecting green shoots of recovery: the importance of long‐term individual‐based monitoring of marine turtles

Population monitoring is an essential part of evaluating the effectiveness of management interventions for conservation. Coastal breeding aggregations of marine vertebrate species that come ashore to pup or nest provide an opportunistic window of observation into otherwise widely dispersed populations. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting on the north and west coasts of northern Cyprus has been monitored consistently and exhaustively since 1993, with an intensive saturation tagging programme running at one key site for the same duration. This historically depleted nesting population is showing signs of recovery, possibly in response to nest protection approaching two decades, with increasing nest numbers and rising levels of recruitment. Strong correlation between year‐to‐year magnitude of nesting and the proportion of new breeders in the nesting cohort implies that recruitment of new individuals to the breeding population is an important driver of this recovery trend. Recent changes in fishing activities may be impacting the local juvenile neritic stage, however, which may hinder this potential recovery. Individuals returning to breed after two years laid fewer clutches than those returning after three or four years, demonstrating a trade‐off between remigration interval and breeding output. Average clutch frequencies have remained stable around a median of three clutches a year per female despite the demographic shift towards new nesters, which typically lay fewer clutches in their first season. We show that where local fecundity has been adequately assessed, the use of average clutch frequencies can be a reliable method for deriving nester abundance from nest counts. Index sites where individual‐based monitoring is possible will be important in monitoring long‐term climate driven changes in reproductive rates.
Calcium phosphate substrate-directed osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

ii 2 Declaration . iii 3 List of figures and tables . vii 4 Abbreviations . xi 5 Acknowledgments . xiii 6 Publications . xv 7 CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 8 1.1 Regenerative medicine . 1 9 1.2 Normal tissue homeostasis . 2 10 1.2.1 Bone homeostasis . 2 11 1.3 Bone . 5 12 1.3. 1 Bone development . 5 13 1.3. 2 Bone structure . 6 14 1.3. 3 Periosteum and Blood supply. 9 15 1.3. 4 Bone composition . 9 16 1.4 Bone tissue engineering . 14 17 1.5 Bone grafting . 15 18 1.5. 1 Autografts . 16 19 1.5. 2 Allografts . 18 20 1.5. 3 Demineralised bone matrix . 18 21 1.5. 4 Cell based strategies . 19 22 1.5. 5 Bone graft substitutes . 25 23 1.5. 6 Protien adsorption . 32 24 1.6 Integrins . 33 25 1.6. 1 Integrin signalling . 34 26 1.7 Aims and Objectives . 38 27 CHAPTER TWO: MATERIALS AND METHODS . 39 28 2.1 General solutions . 39 29 2.2 Cell Culture . 40 30 2.2.1 Human Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Isolation And 31 Culture . 40 32 2.2.2 Human Embryonic Derived Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells . 41 33 2.2.3 Human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell isolation and culture 34 42 35 2.2.4 Differentiation conditions . 43 36 2.3 Flow cytometry . 43 37 2.4 Molecular techniques . 45 38 2.4. 1 RNA extraction . 45 39 2.4. 2 cDNA synthesis . 45 40 2.4. 3 Polymerase chain reaction . 46 41 2.4. 4 Agarose gel electrophoresis. 47 42 2.5 Histology . 49 43
The Tungara Frog: A Study in Sexual Selection and Communication

In a Panamanian pond, male tungara frogs ("Physalaemus pustulosus") gather in choruses, giving their "advertisement" call to the females that move among them. If a female chooses to make physical contact with a male, he will clasp her and eventually fertilize her eggs. But in vying for the females, the males whose calls are most attractive may also attract the interest of another creature: the fringe-lipped bat, a frog eater. In the "Tungara Frog," the most detailed and informative single study available of frogs and their reproductive behavior, Michael J. Ryan demonstrates the interplay of sexual and natural selection. Using techniques from ethology, behavioral ecology, sensory physiology, physiological ecology, and theoretical population genetics in his research, Ryan shows that large males with low-frequency calls mate most successfully. He examines in detail a number of explanations for the females' preferences, and he considers possible evolutionary forces leading to the males' success. Though certain vocalizations allow males to obtain mates and thus should be favored by sexual selection, this study highlights two important costs of such sexual displays: the frogs expand considerable energy in their mating calls, and they advertise their whereabouts to predators. Ryan considers in detail how predators, especially the frige-lipped bat ("Trachops cirrhosus"), affect the evolution of the tungara frog's calls. "