Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic, Cytological and Molecular (AFLP) Analyses of the Cotton Synthetic Allohexaploid Hybrid (G. hirsutum × G. longicalyx)²

The wild cotton diploid species (2n = 2x = 26) are important sources of useful traits such as high fiber quality, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses etc., which can be introgressed into the cultivated tetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum L (2n = 4x = 52), for its genetic improvement. The African wild diploid species G. longicalyx Hutchinson and Lee could be used as donor of the desirable traits of fiber fineness and resistance to reniform nematode. However, hybridization of wild diploid species and cultivated tetraploid cotton encounters a sterility problem of the triploid (2n = 3x = 59), mainly due to ploidy. The restoration of the fertility can be done by creating an allohexaploid (2n = 6x = 78) through the doubling with colchicine of the sterile triploid chromosomes. With this method, a synthetic allohexaploid hybrid (G. hirsutum × G. longicalyx)2 has been obtained. This genotype was studied using phenotypic, cytological and molecular (AFLP) analyses in order to confirm its hybridity and its caryotype, and also to verify the expression of the desirable traits coming from G. longicalyx. The studied genotype showed a quite good level of pollen fertility (83%), and apart from larger seeds and some minor seedling anomalies, most of its morphological characteristics were intermediate between the two parental species. It had 78 chromosomes, proving its hexaploid status. Molecular analysis revealed 136 AFLP loci in this hexaploid, all from G. hirsutum and G. longicalyx, demonstrating its hybrid status. In addition, the hexaploid exhibited the useful traits of G. longicalyx with regard to its remarkable fiber fineness and its high resistance to the reniform nematode. This allohexaploid hybrid constitutes an interesting agronomic material, which can be used as a bridge for the transfer of useful agronomic traits from wild species to varieties of G. hirsutum.
Shape and focal properties of the cephalopod ocular lens

The shape and focal properties (spherical aberration) of lenses from the eyes of three cephalopod species, the cuttlefish Rosia pacifica, the squid Loligo opalescens, and the octopus Octopus dofleini, were measured and compared with descriptions of teleost lenses. The method used involved photographing the refractive effect of lenses in solution on an array of fine parallel helium–neon laser beams. Though the cephalopod lenses approach the sphericity characteristic of teleost lenses, the equatorial lens diameter is somewhat greater (2.3–10.5% in Loligo) than the axial diameter. Spherical aberration of the lens is largely neutralized, indicating the existence of a gradient refractive index. However, the lenses show some non-monotonic variation in focal length with distance from the centre of the lens. The ability of the cephalopods to control pupil size may minimize the need to control spherical aberration.
Uptake of a Recombinant Human α- L -Iduronidase (laronidase) by Cultured Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts

To examine the uptake of a recombinant human α-L-iduronidase (laronidase) by cultured fibroblasts from a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) and its effect on the cleavage of accumulated substrates, we performed enzymological, Western blotting, immunocytochemical and morphological studies. Laronidase was incorporated into the MPS I cells dose-dependently mainly via mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) receptors. Then the incorporated enzyme was transported to lysosomes and processed to the mature form, the pathological changes of the cells being improved. Furthermore, we compared the uptake of laronidase by cultured mouse osteoblasts with that by cultured mouse fibroblasts. The enzyme was incorporated into the cultured mouse osteoblasts mainly via M6P receptors, although mannose (Man) receptors were partially involved in the uptake of the enzyme, as in the cultured fibroblasts. But the uptake by the former was apparently lower than that by the latter. The administration of a high dose of the enzyme or development of a recombinant α-L-iduronidase containing many M6P residues is required for further improvement of enzyme replacement therapy for skeletal disorders caused by MPS I.
New digital safety net or just more ‘friendfunding’? Institutional analysis of medical crowdfunding in the United States

ABSTRACT Crowdfunding is becoming a popular way of financing healthcare. Some commentators suggest that crowdfunding could serve as a new institution that fills gaps in conventional safety nets. Others suggest that crowdfunding is simply another way of obtaining help from family, friends, and local associations, and has little transformative potential. We provide one of the first quantitative analyses of medical crowdfunding, and the first to model the broader societal context in which campaigns are situated. We scraped data on US medical campaigns from the leading platform and combined them with county-level socioeconomic data, to model predictors of campaign frequency and success. Our findings suggest that many seek help from crowdfunding when both formal and informal conventional safety nets fail them. Significantly more campaigns are initiated in US counties with poorer private insurance coverage, lower social security provision, fewer social associations, and weaker cultures of giving. However, few campaigns reach their goals where most needed. More successful campaigns are found in counties that are wealthier and healthier and have more social associations. Crowdfunding is not merely ‘friendfunding’: fundraisers can increase their chances of success by having their appeals widely shared on social media. However, the returns to sharing are greater for campaigns initiated in wealthier areas. Overall, our findings suggest that medical crowdfunding is an entrepreneurial safety net: one where protection is not afforded universally or on the basis of need, but on the basis of one’s ability to appeal to the audience and out-compete rivalling needfuls.
Ratoon Cropping of Sorghum. III. Effect of Nitrogen and Cutting Height on Ratoon Performance1

The perennial habit of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, in a tropical climate permits the production of successive harvest of seed crops from an initial planting. Cultural treatments involving tillage and fertilization to favor such practice are termed ratooning. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the various N rates and cutting heights on ratoon crops of sorghum at different seasons in relation to tillering behavior, yields, and other agronomic characteristics. Recognizing these effects would facilitate the timely application of the right amount of N fertilizer and proper cutting height to be done on ratoon crops.The performance of ratoon crops of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, ‘Pride 550 Br’, was studied as affected by four N rates (0, 100, 200, and 250 kg N/ha as urea) and three cutting heights (3, 8, and 13 cm) in the field in Hawaii. Performance characteristics studied were tillering behavior, yield and yield components, plant height, days to heading and maturity, and total plant N content. One half of the N was applied when the seedlings were about 3 weeks old; the other half side-dressed at early booting stage. Generally, in the plant crop and ratoon crops, more tillers, larger leaf area, larger stalks, larger heads with more and heavier grains, and taller plants, and therefore, increased grain and stover yields were produced with higher N treatments up to 250 kg N/ha. Application of 100 kg N/ha increased the total plant N (percent) and further application of N (200 and 250 kg N/ha) increased the N concentrations in the plant from the first to the third ratoons. In the fourth ratoon and in Kilauea planting, total plant N did not increase despite N applications. Although yields increased as the amount of N increased, a leveling off or decline in yields at high N rates, occurred, indicating that optimum N rates were reached in this study. During winter, highest yields were produced with 200 or 250 kg N/ha and when plants were at the 13cm cutting height. In summer, higher yields were produced with the same N rates but lower cutting heights (3 and 8 cm). Based on this study, it is recommended that to obtain high grain and stover yields during winter and summer, 200 to 250 kg N/ha be applied to ratoon crops harvested at 13-cm and 3- and 8-cm cutting height, respectively.
Milk-fed calves: 5. The effect of a change in milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

Summary The effect of the amount of milk consumed upon the herbage intake and performance of calves at pasture, following a standard rearing period, was investigated using 50 Hereford × Friesian calves purchased at 10–12 days ofage. All calves were offered 6 kg reconstituted milk substitute for a 58 day period indoors and for a subsequent 31 days at pasture. Ten calves were then allocated to each of five milk treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, 10 kg/day) and grazed for a further 63 days. The calves were offered a daily herbage allowance of 60 g dry matter/kg live weight. Daily weight gain was increased by 59 g for each additional kilogramme of reconstituted milk consumed, and herbage intake per unit live weight decreased by 1–24 g/g milk organic matter consumed, equivalent to a reduction in metabolizable energy intake of 9 kJ. Clear effects of both age and diet upon the consumption of herbage were demonstrated. An explanation of the mechanisms governing intake of herbage in milk–fed calves is offered.
Southern African sea levels: corrections, influences and trends

The tidal records of existing South African and Namibian tide gauges are examined and corrected. Regional sea level trends vary, with the West Coast rising by +1.87 mm y−1 (1959-2006), the southern coast by +1.48 mm y−1 (1957-2006) and the East Coast by +2.74 mm y−1 (1967-2006). The effects of barometric pressure and vertical crustal movement changes on these trends are examined. The derived relationship between sea levels and barometric pressure changes varied between 5.71 and 7.67 mm hPa−1, significantly less than the theoretical inverse barometric correction. Barometric pressure has been dropping along the west coast at 1.63 hPa per decade (1987-2006), has remained fairly static along the southern coast and is rising at 0.30 hPa per decade (1970-2007) along the east coast of southern Africa. The West Coast barometrically corrected sea level trends show that most of the change can be attributed to falling barometric pressure, whereas along the East Coast, the barometric pressure increase is suppressing sea level by 0.2 mm y−1. Vertical crust movements vary, with the largest recorded movements of +1.11 ± 0.25 mm y−1 found along the East Coast. Movement rate reduces southwards. Eustatic sea level trends vary from +3.55 mm y−1 along the East Coast and +1.57 mm y−1 along the southern coast to +0.42 mm y−1 along the West Coast.
Rice nematode problems in Nigeria: their occurrence, distribution and pathogenesis.

Abstract In a survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with or affecting rice throughout Nigeria, some important nematode pests, especially the white tip disease nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi and the rice root nematodes Hirschmanniella spinicaudata and H. oryzae were identified from seed, soil and root samples from swamp rice fields respectively. The sugarcane cyst nematode, Heterodera sacchari occurred in swamp rice fields only around the major sugarcane estates in Nigeria. The root‐knot Meloidogyne incognita and the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus were also encountered in upland (rainfed) rice fields. The white tip disease nematode, A. besseyi occurred at low levels in soils and rice seeds throughout the country. High population levels of H. spinicaudata and H. oryzae were encountered especially in areas where monoculture of rice is practised. General chlorosis, poor tillering and significantly reduced yield have been observed due to H. spinicaudata. Rice plants attacked by H. sac.
ASSESSING THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CRUCIFER SEEDLINGS TO FLEA BEETLE (Phyllotreta spp.) DAMAGE

A 5-yr field study to develop a method for assessing the susceptibility of crucifer seedlings to damage by the flea beetles Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta striolata (F.) is described. The recommended method consisted of five replicate 5-m rows per cultivar in a randomized complete-block design. Each test was sown three times at weekly intervals, to assure that at least one test received an appropriate level of flea beetle damage. Each test was assessed 4–5 wk after seeding by counting the number of surviving seedlings in each row and by weighing the dried aboveground portion of 10 randomly selected seedlings, although the latter discriminated fewer lines. The damage caused by flea beetles varied spatially, but this source of variation was minor and did not compromise the tests. This method proved adequate for discriminating among crucifer species and agronomically similar cultivars, some of which showed consistent, significant differences in their responses to flea beettle damage.Key words.
COMPARISON OF NIGHT SKY BRIGHTNESS ABOVE ZAGREB AND A NEARBY RURAL LOCATION 2014-2017

The results of monitoring light pollution near the center of Zagreb at the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering (RGN) for the period 2012 - 2017 were presented in a recent article (Andreic, 2018). The question that re- mained unanswered is how the night sky brightness behaves in the suburbs of Zagreb and in the nearby rural area. This article attempts to give some answers to this question by analyzing data gathered at the rural site of Merenje, located north of Zagreb. The main conclusion drawn is that the night sky brightness at both sites follows very similar patterns for clear sky conditions and is often similar for cloudy conditions, too. For both sites, no significant increase in zenithal night sky brightness was found in the observed period of 2014 - 2017. Thus, at least for the areas north of Zagreb that are in the shadow of Medvednica Mountain, the contribution of the light pollution from Zagreb and its growing outskirts remains unaltered. The main difference is in the level of the night sky brightness, the average for the RGN site being 16.9 mag/ arcsec2 and 18.9 mag/arcsec2 for the Merenje site. Additionally, the cloudy conditions enhance the light pollution of Za- greb a lot more, the difference being about 3.2 mag/arcsec2 for RGN, in contrast to 1.9 mag/arcsec2 for the Merenje site. No measurements exist for areas to the south, so no conclusions can be made for the situation there. Last, but not least, it was found that in cloudy conditions, the stronger light pollution of Zagreb is proportionally more enhanced by the clouds/fog than the smaller levels of light pollution at the Merenje site.
Activity area during the breeding season of Varanus gouldii (Reptilia: Varanidae) in an urban environment

The activity area of ten Varanus gouldii in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia, was measured by daily locations obtained by telemetry, during the breeding season (October-December) in 1992. The mean size of activity area was 8.91 ha; activity area was positively correlated with body size. There were significant overlaps in activity areas and no evidence of territoriality for male or female V. gouldii. The animals often foraged in areas of dense leaf litter near the periphery of their activity area and retreated to burrows that were more centrally located.
HUBUNGAN DUKUNGAN KELUARGA TERHADAP KONSUMSI TABLET TAMBAH DARAH (TTD) DENGAN KEJADIAN ANEMIA PADA REMAJA PUTRI

Pemberian tablet tambah darah (TTD) pada remaja putri untuk pencegahan anemia adalah program pemerintah. Hal ini sering dihambat oleh kepatuhan remaja putri dalam mengkonsumsi TTD. dukungan keluarga salah satu pengaruh dalam diri untuk mengkonsumsi TTD. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui Hubungan dukungan keluargai Terhadap Konsumsi TTD Dengan Kejadian Anemia Pada Remaja Putri. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode cross sectional dilakukan di SMK N 6 Samarinda dengan sampel 30 remaja putri secara total sampling. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan kuisioner. Analisis data dilakukan dengan uji chi square. Hasil penelitian menunjukan 77% remaja putri memiliki Dukungan keluarga tinggi dan 83% remaja putri tidak anemia. Penelitian ini dihitung menggunakan software SPSS didapatkan nilai p value 0,001, sehingga dapat disimpulkan terdapat Hubungan Dukungan Keluarga Terhadap Konsumsi Tablet Tambah Darah (TTD) Dengan Kejadian Anemia Pada Remaja. Dukungan keluarga merupakan faktor remaja putri untuk mengkonsumsi tablet tambah darah (TTD) semakin tinggi dukungan keluarga remaja putri maka semakin sedikit kejadian anemia
EFFECT OF DIETARY CURCUMIN AND CURCUMIN NANOPARTICLES SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, IMMUNE RESPONSE AND ANTIOXIDANT OF BROILERS CHICKENS

The current study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of curcumin (Cur) or curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs) on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant status and humoral immunity of broiler chicks. In a completely randomized block design, a total of 504 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to seven experimental groups with eight replications of nine birds each. The first (control) group received the basal diets without supplements while the 2, 3 and 4 groups were fed diets supplemented with 25, 50 and 100 mg.kg of Cur and the 5, 6 and 7 groups were fed the same levels but from CurNPs, respectively. Results showed that the addition of 50 and 100 mg.kg of Cur, irrespective of the form used, improved body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and reduced feed consumption. The same doses increased relative weights of liver, thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Hypocholestrolimic impact of Cur and CurNPs was remarkably observed in treated birds. Regardless Cur form, lipid peroxidation was reduced while glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were enhanced in groups treated with 50 and 100 mg.kg. Both Cur forms exhibited immunomodulatory effect as total serum antibody titer against SRBCs, IgG and IgM were elevated at 21 and 35 day of age. In conclusion, supplementation of Cur and CurNPs to broiler diets, particularly at levels of 50 and 100 mg.kg, improved growth performance, reduced blood cholesterol, and enhanced redox status and humoral immune response of broiler chickens.
Use of the Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) in a Fish Identification and Monitoring System for Fish Behavioral Studies

Abstract Use of the passive integrated transponder (PIT) as a fish identification and monitoring system for behavioral study of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus was evaluated. The system was developed in order to track individual differences, mainly in rheotactic behavior. In a preliminary experimental setup, Arctic char (N = 20, 9–140 g each) were PIT-tagged and their movements were recorded at regular intervals in a circular stream channel. Two PIT tag loop detectors, placed on a narrow part of the channel, automatically recorded identity and swimming direction of tagged fish. We demonstrate some of the applications in behavioral research, such as individual, general, and diel locomotor activity patterns, rheotactic behavior, and sociograms showing activity relationships among individuals within a group.
Changes in swimming depth and direction of silver eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) from the continental shelf to the deep sea

Sixteen silver eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) were tagged with pressure-sensing ultrasonic transmitters and tracked for 1 to 152 hours, 12 in the western Mediterranean and 4, treated with pituitary extracts, in the Sargasso Sea. When released on the shelf of the Mediterranean near Gibraltar the eels preferred a course which led them continuously to deeper water. Four specimens released on the Morrocan shelf, reached depths of 350 m, continued to swim north or changed their earlier easterly course towards the north. Three eels in the Sargasso Sea showed progress in a southwesterly direction. No influence of tidal stream on the swimming course and speed is obvious except for one eel, released in the Straits of Gibraltar. In the Mediterranean, the eels exhibited conspicuous daily vertical migration downward during dusk and upward during dawn with a mean swimming depth of 196 m during darkness, 344 m during daylight. Depth preference during night probably varied with the phase of the moon. Maximum swimming depth near Gibraltar as well as in the Sargasso Sea was nearly 700 m. The eels in the Mediterranean swam at a mean speed of 0.3 m.s−1 and were slower than most eels tracked in northern waters. Differences in the speed and in the directed swimming in the course of the lunar or the solar day are visible.
Efeito do genótipo halotano e de diferentes sistemas de produção na qualidade da carne suína

The effect of halothane genotypes (heterozygous and dominant homozygous) and intensive rearing systems (indoor, wood shavings bedding and outdoor) on pork quality were determinated. Ninety six castrated male pigs were used for the trial. Identification of the halothane genotype was determined in blood samples using the DNA-test, based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the critical region of the ryanodine receptor and subsequent restricion of the amplifield fragment by the restriction fragment lengh polymorfism (RFLP) technique. The pH at 45 minutes and 24 hours after slaughter was measured on the Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus muscles. At the laboratory, the Longissimus dorsi muscle was used for the evaluation of the color, marbling, drip loss, defrosting loss and cooking loss and shear force. The muscle of heterozygous pigs for the halothane gene had lower pH and higher drip loss and the incidence of the PSE condition in this genotype was three times higher. The rearing system did not affect the initial and ultimate pH or water holding capacity. Indoor reared pigs had greater frequency of PSE carcass. The interaction between halothane genotypes and rearing systems had no significant effect on any trait studied.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Vegetation Cover in Kurdistan Region-Iraq using MODIS Image Data

The rapidly and wide use of remote sensing and accurately obtain information on the spatiotemporal distribution of large-scale vegetation is of great significance for improving and managing the Environment. To assess and analyze the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation status in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRGI), we used time series NDVI-based vegetation that are extracted from MOD13Q1 MODIS product over 20 years (2000 - 2019). The results showed that vegetation was mainly distributed in the north-east to south-east of the KRGI, while west region has less distributed and almost no vegetation. This is clearly remarkable in the south-west part of the region (Garmian administration). While, the most dominated vegetation province was Duhok province in KRGI during study period. There is a noticeable temporal variation in vegetation over a period of 20-year in the KRGI. The lower vegetated cover area is observed in the years 2000, 2008, and 2009. The increase/decrease of vegetated cover area is not only effected by climate conditions. The anthropogenic resource is also one of the main resources that has a major influence on the increase/decrease of vegetation.