Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacognostic studies of the leaves and stem of Diodia scandens Sw in Nigeria.

Pharmacognostic studies of Diodia scandens Sw (Rubiaceae) were carried out. Diodia scandens Sw is a straggling herb with a taproot, slender stem and compound leaves used for treatment of various diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, asthma, convulsion, epilepsy, oedema, gout, swelling and it is said to be anti-abortifacient, antidotes, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory in Nigeria and other countries. The phytochemical screening of the leaf extract revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and absence of flavonoids, phlobatannins, alkaloids and anthraquinones. Anatomical examination has revealed the occurrence of paracytic, anisocytic, diacytic and brachyparacytic on the abaxial surface ad only few paracytic on the adaxial surface. The stem showed druses of crystals. There are four different types of abnormal stomata which are vertical contiguous stomata, two stomata sharing one subsidiary cell, a stoma with unopened stomatal pore and a stomata with one guard cell. The surface of the epidermal anticlinical cell walls, guard cell area, stomata index, presence or absence of trichomes and venation characters can be used as a great diagnostic tool with a view of preparing a monograph.
Node age estimations and the origin of angel sharks, Squatiniformes (Neoselachii, Squalomorphii)

The fossil record of angel sharks is reviewed with special focus on skeletal remains. A new family †Pseudorhinidae is established for two species based on complete specimens from the Late Jurassic and a possible third species based on isolated teeth. This clade is a member of the stem lineage of Squatiniformes. Squatinidae represents the crown with a reliable fossil record extending back into the Aptian based on a partial skeleton displaying characteristic morphological traits of Squatina. We also present revised morphological descriptions of the skeletal remains of †Squatina baumbergensis (Campanian of Germany) and †Squatina sp. (Miocene of Japan). In this study, we used reliable skeletal remains and a modified approach to establish the origin and divergence of the Squatiniformes and the Squatinidae. Isolated teeth are considered to be unreliable because of the poor knowledge of squatiniform dental character traits and their evolution. We estimate a ‘hard' minimum age constraint of 156.2 Ma and a ‘soft' maximum age constraint of 181.74 Ma for the origin of the Squatiniformes. For the crown represented by the Squatinidae, we estimate a ‘hard' minimum age constraint of 114 Ma and a ‘soft' maximum age constraint of 157.59 Ma. These age constraints most likely designate the timing of the origin of identifiable squatiniform and squatinid characters as currently understood rather than the origin of the Squatiniformes or the divergence between the †Pseudorhinidae and the Squatinidae. The lack of pre-Late Jurassic pseudorhinids and pre-Cretaceous squatinids probably represents an artefact because characteristic squatiniform tooth morphologies, which generally provide only a restricted set of diagnosable features, might not have yet been fully developed. Consequently, skeletal remains of neoselachians from the Early and Middle Jurassic are crucial for establishing reliable characters of stem-lineage representatives and to avoid misinterpretations resulting from transferring morphological traits of the crown to fossil groups with unresolved interrelationships, as well as sister-group relations. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5A5FA554-C834-48E3-AE44-6F92DE9CB5F1
Soil and land potential

is a subject often ignored in the study of soil physics, runoff from soils and soil solute movement. The issue is squarely faced in an important paper by Philip (1980) on ’Field heterogeneity: some basic issues’. A number of points are raised which run through so much of what soil physics and soil solute studies try to achieve. Firstly, it is stated that laboratory and simple field measurements can be carried out from which quantitative predictions can be made. Secondly, difficulties arise in applying the results of such work in a wider field context. Field hetero-
Relation between Cytokines and Brucella Arthritis, Spondylitis, and Sacroiliitis

Background and Objectives: Cytokines are produced and secreted from various cells, including T cells. Cytokines play an effective role in the responses elicited by the immune system. As brucella infection cause is an intracellular aerobic rod, cellular immunity has a considerable effect on this disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between cytokines and brucellosis arthritis, spondylitis, and sacroiliitis.Materials and Methods: This descriptive case-control study was carried in two tertiary hospitals in Mashhad, Iran in 2010. The study population consisted of a case group, including the patients with the diagnosis of brucella arthritis with lower back pain and a control group, including normal healthy participants. The brucellosis was investigated regarding the history, physical examinations, and serologic examinations. The interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were measured in the serum samples of both groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The IL-10 had a significant difference in the brucella and control groups (P=0.02). However, IL-2, IL-4, and the TNFα were comparable between brucella and control groups (P=0.1). There was a significant difference between the IFNγ and brucella in the control group (P=0.05). Conclusion: The IFNγ and IL-10 levels were higher in brucella group than those in control group.
Low allozyme heterozygosity in North Pacific and Bering Sea populations of red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus): adaptive specialization, population bottleneck, or metapopulation structure?

Grant, W. S. , Merkouris, S. E. , Kruse, G. H. , and Seeb, L. W. 2011. Low allozyme heterozygosity in North Pacific and Bering Sea populations of red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus): adaptive specialization, population bottleneck, or metapopulation structure? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: . Populations of red king crab in the North Pacific and Bering Sea have declined in response to ocean-climate shifts and to harvesting. An understanding of how populations are geographically structured is important to the management of these depressed resources. Here, the Mendelian variability at 38 enzyme-encoding loci was surveyed in 27 samples (n = 2427) from 18 general locations. Sample heterozygosities were low, averaging H E = 0.015 among samples. Weak genetic structure was detected among three groups of populations, the Bering Sea, central Gulf of Alaska, and Southeast Alaska, but without significant isolation by distance among populations. A sample from Adak Island in the western Aleutians was genetically different from the remaining samples. The lack of differentiation among populations within regions may, in part, be due to post-glacial expansions and a lack of migration-drift equilibrium and to limited statistical power imposed by low levels of polymorphism. Departures from neutrality may reflect the effects of both selective and historical factors. The low allozyme diversity in red king crab may, in part, be attributable to adaptive specialization, background selection, ice-age population bottlenecks, or metapopulation dynamics in a climatically unstable North Pacific.
Broccoli growth in response to increasing rates of pre-plant nitrogen. II. Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation

An understanding of plant nitrogen accumulation and soil nitrogen dynamics is needed to develop management practices that balance nitrogen requirements of vegetable crops with environmental protection. Field trials were conducted in 2001 and 2002 to determine the interaction of increasing rates of pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer with broccoli tissue nitrogen accumulation and soil nitrogen dynamics. Broccoli cultivars Decathlon and Captain were grown with seven rates of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400 kg N ha-1) applied pre-plant as ammonium nitrate. Rate of nitrogen accumulation by the above-ground tissue biomass varied over time and among nitrogen treatments, ranging from 1 to 16 kg N ha-1 d-1. At harvest, tissue nitrogen was high, but nitrogen use efficiency was low when high rates of nitrogen were applied. Soil NO3--N content decreased from planting to harvest. At harvest, soil NO3--N increased with increasing rates of nitrogen, with the majority of NO3--N found in the top 0 to 30 cm of the soil.
The Life Table and Parasitism Rate of Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Reared on Larvae of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), with Special Reference to the Variable Sex Ratio of the Offspring and Comparison of Jackknife and Bootstrap Techniques

ABSTRACT The life table and parasitism rate of Diadegma insulare (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a larval parasitoid of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), were studied at 25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 10% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h. The data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Because the sex ratio of offspring varies with the age of the female parent, we used only female offspring to calculate the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (&lgr;), net reproductive rate (R0), and mean generation time (T) by using the jackknife technique, the values of which were 0.18407 d-1, 1.2021 d-1, 17.94 offspring, and 15.69 d, respectively. We also calculated these parameters by using bootstrap technique. They were not significantly different from those estimated by using the jackknife technique. We included both male and female offspring in the calculation of the parasitism rate. The net parasitism rate (C0) was 42.63 aphids. Moreover, population projection showed differences between simulated population based on total offspring and female offspring. Because both the offspring sex ratio and the parasitism rate depend on female age, it is necessary to use the age-stage, two-sex life table for a correct analysis. Frequency of the net reproductive rate estimated by using bootstrap technique fit normal distribution well, whereas frequency data estimated by using jackknife technique failed the normality test. We suggest that the jackknife technique should not be used for the estimation of population parameters.
Effect of fruiting traits on the field resistance of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) clones to Phytophthora megakarya

The effects of some traits of field resistance (precocity and duration of the fruiting cycle, age of diseased fruit and vertical pod distribution on the tree) to Phytophthora megakarya of four known cocoa clones were studied in an on-station clonal plot planted in 1982 in the south-west of Cameroon. Weekly observations of fruit set and development, black pod and rainfall were carried out during three growing seasons (1999, 2000 and 2001). The study confirmed the previous field and laboratory assessments of resistance of these clones based on the mean percentages of rotten pods obtained annually. The present study has permitted the identification of fruit aged 2-3 months as the highly susceptible stage of development in the most susceptible clone. In addition, precocity and pod cycle duration varied significantly among the clones. The earlier the pod cycle began, the more susceptible was the clone: the most resistant clone started flowering 1 month after the most susceptible clone and therefore escaped the peak of disease severity. Rainfall intensity greatly modified the incidence of the disease in 2001, with high yield losses occurring in all four clones (70-93%), but their ranking remained stable over the 3 years. The spatial distribution of pods on the trees showed that pods on the trunk were more likely to become diseased than those on the branches, but its effect as a clone resistance component is variable among the four clones; the resistant clone producing more pods on the trunk and the susceptible clone more in the canopy. (Resume d'auteur)
Salinity tolerance and osmoregulatory ability of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns) (Pisces, Salmoniformes, Galaxiidae)

Summary The salinity tolerance and osmoregulatory ability of Galaxias maculatus were investigated. In the field this species has been recorded from salinities of less than 1‰ to 49‰. In the laboratory, upper L.D. 50 salinity values of 62‰ after gradual acclimation and 45‰ after direct transfer were established. Within the salinity range of its field occurrence the species is a powerful osmoregulator, being able both to hypo- and hyper-osmoregulate.
A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 30 Most-cited Articles in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Literature (1946-2019)

Objective The aim of this bibliometric analysis is to evaluate the importance and impact of the articles that have been published with the title gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the specialty of obstetrics & gynecology and endocrinology during the period 1946-2019. It also reveals that the area of GDM has received increased attention and interest by researchers, research funding institutions, and practitioners. Material and methods A thorough database search of Scopus and Web of Science was performed and the articles pertaining to gestational diabetes mellitus that were published between 1946 and 2019 were reviewed by two reviewers, Iftikhar PM and Ali F, with respect to their year of publication, authors, country of origin, journal of publication, and the affiliated institutions of the authors as well as journals. Institutional review board approval was not required for this study, as the data being analyzed were already available electronically, and otherwise, in libraries and databases. Results The 30 most-cited articles on gestational diabetes mellitus were thoroughly analyzed. The top article was cited 5028 times while the least number of citations for any article was 328. Among these 30 articles, five were published in the year 2005, which is the highest number of publications in any given year of the timeline being considered in this study. Most of the articles (n = 18) were from the United States of America, followed by Australia (n = 3); other countries contributed to two or fewer articles. Diabetes Care made most (n = 8) of the list. We found one author who had three publications and the rest contributed two or less articles. The top article in our study was cited almost 5028 times; meanwhile, there are 13 journals from different specialties that have referenced the most cited articles pertaining to gestational diabetes. Conclusion Our bibliometric analysis provides a picture of scientific research, which will help in evidence-based descriptions, comparisons, and visualizations of research output in GDM, and it can be used to explicate and describe the patterns of performance and impact of GDM research.
Breeding biology of the reverse‐dichromatic, co‐operative parrot Eclectus roratus

The breeding biology and social system of the eclectus parrot Eclectus roratus, a species with a unique form of sexual dichromatism (red and blue females, green males) was examined. Our 4-year study at Iron Range National Park on Cape York Peninsula, Australia, showed that females guarded their nest hollows in emergent rainforest trees for up to 9 months each year, often starting well before they laid their first clutches early in the dry season. During this time they rarely left the nest and relied on males for food, both for themselves and their nestlings. Intrasexual competition for scarce hollows and the threat of egg destruction by other eclectus parrots may explain this extreme guarding behaviour. Reproductive success was low. The combined effects of egg and chick loss to conspecifics and predators, brood reduction and flooding of hollows from heavy rain meant that only 18% of eggs and 27% of clutches produced a fledgling. Over 4 years, reproductive success amongst females was strongly skewed: 39% of females were never successful, and only 29% produced more than one fledgling per year. Eclectus parrots were found to breed co-operatively with as many as five males feeding a single female at the nest. Multiple mating, involving one female and four males, was observed once. Despite an even sex ratio at fledging, the adult sex ratio was strongly male-biased, suggesting higher mortality of females. Our data shows that reproductive variance for females is high, and suggests that a shortage of tree hollows and eligible females may enforce co-operative breeding amongst males.
THE CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITY OF FAILED FERTILIZED HUMAN OOCYTES IN AN IN VITRO FERTILIZATION PROGRAM

Background: The high fertilization failure after IVF treatment cycles could be related to chromosomal abnormalities. This study was carried out to assess the frequency of chromosomal abnormality on human oocytes lacking signs of fertilization 18-20 h after insemination . Materials and Methods: On day one, 18-20 h after insemination (IVF), fertilization was confirmed when two pronuclei (normal IVF) or more pronuclei (poly pronucleus FR) were present. Chromosomal analysis of unfertilized oocytes was carried out within 20-24 h of collection. All oocyte did not sign of pronuclei were collected from total fertilization failure, TFF (FR=0) or partial fertilization failure, PFF (FR=10-90%). Chromosomal preparation was carried out as described by Tarkowski’s techniques. The average of finding between two groups was compared by X 2 test. Results: Chromosome spreading permitted adequate analyzing in 348 unfertilized oocytes. In 33.6% chromosomal aneulpoidy was observed with the following frequencies; hypo-hyploidy, 22/348 (6.4%), hyper-hyploidy, 42/348 (12.2%) and diploidy, 52/348 (15%). The frequency of aneuoplidy was significantly higher in TFF group 33/80 (41%) than PFF group 83/268 (31%), p<0.01, X 2 . The most frequent numerical aberration was observed in chromosome group, G of the human karyotyped. Conclusion: Since cytogentic analysis of failed fertilized oocytes and sperm function tests are very helpful for direct information on low success rate of fertilization, further studies analyzing on both gametes function in TFF cycles will be needed.
The role of extension in changing the dairy industry in Pakistan: a review.

Pakistan is primarily an agricultural based country, and livestock plays a pivotal role in its economy by providing essential items of the human diet in the form of milk, meat and eggs. The population of the country is nearly1 80 million, and 36 million in the rural areas depend directly on the livestock and dairy sectors. Pakistan has recently been ranked as the worlds third largest milk producer, with the recent growth in per capita milk production being driven by an increase in the number of dairy animals rather than by milk yield improvement. The current growth in population and increasing demand for food has created the need to produce more milk. Pakistani dairy farmers need to be aware of the key drivers of future change s o that they can plan for increasing demand. This review is focused on the key factors influencing the change in the dairy industry and the role of extension in the change process. The important factors influencing the dairy sector from extension profession als point of view is capacity development through participatory principles . From dairy farmers � perspectives, shift from traditional practices towards improved sustainability and food security. Government and NGOs need to invest in the sector and avoid dup lication and infiltration of dairy programs across the country. The
Repairable Systems Reliability

Nonrepairable systems fail just once, so models for nonrepairable systems must account for random lifetimes. It is often reasonable to assume that different units have random lifetimes that are independent and follow the same distribution, leading to the usual i.i. d. (independent and identically distributed) assumption. By contrast, models for repairable systems must account for successive failures in time. For a given system, these times between failure are often not independent and not identically distributed. Various assumptions about the failure process lead to different models for repairable systems. In this article, we present the nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP), the renewal process, the piecewise exponential model, and the modulated power law process (a compromise between renewal process and NHPP). Inference for a single system as well as for multiple copies of a system is discussed. We also discuss briefly the use of covariates or concomitant variables. Keywords: Poisson process; power law process; renewal process; piecewise exponential; multiple systems
Shearing ewes at mid-pregnancy is associated with changes in fetal growth and development

This study investigated the effect of mid-pregnancy shearing (at Day 70 of pregnancy, P70) on herbage intake of grazing single- and twin-bearing ewes, lamb birth weight, and cold resistance of new-born lambs. At pregnancy diagnosis on P50, 30 single-bearing and 30 twin-bearing ewes were allocated either to be shorn at P70 (n = 15 for each pregnancy rank) or to remain unshorn to serve as controls (n = 15 for each pregnancy rank). All ewes were mated over a 3-day period with synchronisation of their oestrus. Herbage intake was measured indirectly from in vitro pasture digestibility and faecal output of grazing ewes, with the use of intra-ruminal chromium slow-release capsules, over six 5-day periods from P64 to P105. The weights of placental and fetal tissues were assessed in a subgroup of 16 ewes at P140 and P141. In the remaining sheep, lamb liveweight at birth and during lactation until weaning at 103 days of age was measured, and cold-resistance of new-born lambs was assessed by measuring summit metabolic rate (SMR) by indirect calorimetry. Ewe liveweight (corrected for fleece weight), condition score, and herbage intake during pregnancy were not affected by shearing treatment. Mid-pregnancy shearing did not affect placental weight, but increased the relative weights (i.e. g/kg liveweight) of fetal thyroid gland and lungs and reduced the relative weight of adrenal glands and heart. The ratio of secondary to primary wool follicles in near-term fetal skin was about 10% higher in offspring of shorn than of unshorn ewes. The metabolic rate of fetal hepatic tissue was increased by mid-pregnancy shearing, particularly in twin fetuses, possibly indicative of an increase in placental transport of nutrients to the fetuses. This conclusion is supported by the greater birth weight (average response 0.5 kg) of lambs born to ewes shorn at mid-pregnancy. Mid-pregnancy shearing also increased the SMR of new-born twin lambs by 16%, but decreased the SMR of singleton lambs by 26%. These results indicate that mid-pregnancy shearing can increase lamb birth weight without increasing ewe herbage intake or placental weight. An increase in the efficiency of nutrient uptake by the placenta is implied, and possible effects on the activity of thermogenic tissues are discussed.
Production of Kefir from Soymilk With or Without Added Glucose, Lactose, or Sucrose

: The effects of added glucose, lactose, and sucrose on microbial growth, acid, and ethanol production, and galactosidase activity in soymilk fermented with kefir grains were studied. Immediately after the addition of kefir grains to soymilk, the lactic-acid bacterial counts were higher, but the yeast counts were lower than in milk kefir. After fermentation for 32 h, the concentrations of yeast, lactic acid, and ethanol in soymilk were significantly lower than those in milk kefir. Addition of 1% glucose to soymilk stimulated growth of lactic-acid bacteria and yeast, the production of lactic acid and ethanol, and the β-galactosidase activity. Nevertheless α- galactosidase activity was suppressed by 1% glucose.