Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adiponectin and Testosterone Levels and Their Correlations with Fertility in Anglo- Nubian x Etawah Grade Crossbred Bucks

The purpose of the current study was to determine the concentrations of adiponectin and testosterone in various ages of bucks as well as the correlations of adiponectin and testosterone with semen quality as an indicator of fertility. Nineteen Anglo Nubian (AN) x Etawah Grade (PE) (Anpera) crossbred bucks belonged to the Research Institute for Animal Production were classified into four different age groups: 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, and more than 48 months. The concentrations of adiponectin and testosterone in the samples of blood plasma were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The semen characteristics were evaluated both macroscopically and microscopically. The results of the study showed that plasma concentrations of adiponectin in Anpera bucks at the ages of 24, 30, 36, and more than 48 months were 14.10±1.73 mg/L, 18.36±8.25 mg/L, 20.38±8.67 mg/L, and 15.41±7.31 mg/L, respectively. There was no significant difference in adiponectin concentrations among the age groups (p>0.05). However, there were correlations of adiponectin concentrations with semen volume, sperm morphology, and sperm concentration. Plasma concentrations of testosterone at the ages of 24, 30, 36, and more than 48 months were 9.76±2.46 ng/ mL, 9.81±1.56 ng/mL, 10.05±0.94 ng/mL, and 9.93±2.71 ng/mL, respectively. Plasma concentrations of testosterone in Anpera bucks also did not demonstrate a significant difference among the age groups (p>0.05). However, plasma testosterone concentrations had significant correlations with semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm concentration. In conclusion, the plasma concentrations of adiponectin and testosterone hormones had correlations with the semen quality parameters, which are related to fertility.
Optimization of Fermentation Parameters for Beer Production from Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) Grains

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a psudocereal that belongs to family Poligonaceae and genus Fagopyrum. Primary gene of buckwheat is originated from wider area of Central Asia. The name buckwheat is derived from two words fagus and pyros. The area of cultivation in the world is doubled in a last decade, from one million to over two million hectares. This cultivated species of plant is notable due to its exceptional nutritive qualities such as rutin, which is an antioxidant (Popovic et al., 2014).
Post‐hibernation ovary development in queens of the Japanese giant hornet Vespa mandarinia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Ovary contents and insemination status were examined in overwintered queens of Vespa mandarinia that were collected using bait traps in Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Japan. Catches in the traps occurred from late April to early July in 1999, though they were few or rather sporadic in and after June. Fertilization rates were 100% in 1999, and 93% in 1998 when a preliminary sampling was made. While the ovary index (number of eggs with size equal to or larger than adjacent nurse cells) of queens caught on the first few collection dates was small, it rapidly increased up to late May. Generalized linear model analyses showed that the ovary index depended both on collection date and the size (head width) of the queens. Mature eggs were almost absent in their ovaries before early May, whereas more than 70% of the queens had one or more mature eggs on and after May 10, suggesting the onset of nesting in early May.
The Stability of the Bali’s Rabies Virus Molecular Marker for the Development of Diagnostic Method

The objectives of this study were to prove that the molecular marker of Bali’s rabies virus is still conserveand to develop a diagnostic method based on molecular marker. Thirty brain samples of dog that had beeninfected by a rabies virus from 2014 and 2015 were used for this research. The sequences of nucleotidewhich were obtained and the sequences of nucleotide accessed in GenBank were analyzed using MEGA5.2 software. The result provided that the specific amino acid (isoleusin) at position 308 (open readingframe) as a molecular marker of Bali’s rabies virus was still conserve. Fragment of N gene amplified byReverse RT-PCR method with a specifically designed primers showed that every isolate of rabies virus hadit’s own typical band, and could distinguish Bali isolate from the others in Indonesia.
The Ichthyofauna of the Shoreline Zone in the Longitudinal Profile of the Danube River, Bulgaria

The fish community in the shoreline zone of the Bulgarian section of the Danube River (r. km 376-840) was studied in different seasons of 2005-2006. Totally 38 sites were sampled using two methods-beach seining and electrofishing. In total, 44 fish species belonging to 12 families were recorded. Of them, 39 species are indigenous to the ichthyofauna of the Danube basin. First records of Gasterosteus aculeatus and nonindigenous Gambusia holbrooki are reported from the main channel of the Bulgarian Danube. In October 2005, Neogobius fluviatilis (91.18%) occurred most frequently followed by Alburnus alburnus and N. kessleri (88.24% each). Regarding the beach seine samples, N. fluviatilis, followed by A. alburnus and N. melanostomus, reached the highest abundance. Regarding the electrofishing, A. alburnus was most abundant followed by N. kessleri and Leuciscus idus. Nineteen of the species recorded are of high conservation concem in Bulgaria.
The allometry of oysters: spatial and temporal variation in the length–biomass relationships for Crassostrea virginica

We examine the relationship of biomass B and length L in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica by focusing on the scaling exponent b in the allometric equation B = aLb using four datasets: Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Galveston Bay and a regionally extensive compilation from the NOAA Mussel Watch Program. The average value of the scaling exponent in Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay is about 2. For Galveston Bay, the value is distinctly higher, near 2.6. Over all Mussel Watch sites, the value is again near 2. Within Delaware Bay, the salinity gradient exerts an important effect. Shells are longer for their meat weight at lower salinities. The range of scaling exponents revealed by Mussel Watch data is exceedingly large (b < 1 to >3). Scaling exponents below 2.5 are unusual in bivalves. Among bivalves, only other oyster taxa have comparably low scaling exponents averaging near 2. We propose that oyster biomass routinely scales nearer the square of the length rather than the cube and that this is a constraint imposed by the exigency of carbonate production for reef maintenance and accretion in the face of high rates of taphonomic degradation. The adaptation as a reef builder requires the formation of carbonate that rapidly breaks down, thus requiring that carbonate produced be maximized. A biomass-to-length scaling exponent of 2 provides a mechanism to maximize shell production relative to biomass, while at the same time providing maximum surface area for the all-important settling of oyster spat to maintain the population.
Evaluation of maize hybrids containing different proportion of NC298 tropical germplasm line in their male parents

Two main questions in programs introgressing exotic maize germplasm into temperate materials are the choice of available exotic sources to work with, and the proportion of exotic germplasm that should be incorporated into adapted germplasm. The objectives of this study were to compare effects of the different proportions of tropical maize germplasm (via inbred NC298) in hybrids male parent, on grain yield, grain moisture content, cultivars stability performance and genotype-by- environment interaction. Using direct crosses and backcrosses (between NC298, Mo17 and NS796 male lines) five male groups were formed containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of tropical germplasm, respectively (or one half in their corresponding hybrids). Each male parent group was tested with three female inbred-testers that belong to the Reid yellow dent heterotic group. The level of significance between mean values of hybrids containing the different proportion of NC298 line in male parent was estimated by F value using Repeated- Measure Design (RMD). Individual genotype stability over environments for grain yield was determined by regression coefficient (b(i)) and R-2 regression value. Genotype-by-environment interaction for grain yield and grain moisture content was estimated by AMMI (Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) method. Individual genotypic stability did not restrict the choice of desirable genotypes between and/or within groups containing different proportion of tropical germplasm, and no association between genotype stability and the proportion of tropical germplasm could be defined. The NC298 tropical germplasm inbred line of maize, could be incorporated into temperate breeding material comprising 25% of the foundation population proportion, for both grain yield and grain moisture content.
Essays on Regional, Resource and Public Economics

My dissertation consists of three essays that combine theories and empirical analysis from natural resource economics, regional economics, spatial economics, development economics, and public economics. In the first essay of my dissertation, I examine the impact of mineral resource extraction (MRE) on the U.S. local labor market, and local economic development using county level data between 1970 and 2012. I use difference-in-difference methodology and spatial modeling to incorporate spatial heterogeneity and dependence among U.S. local areas that are in close geographical proximity. The results show that MRE industry employment grew faster during boom periods and slower during the bust period in MRE dependent counties. MRE earnings and earnings per worker grew slower during boom periods and faster during the bust period. The findings provide evidence of negative spatial indirect spillover effects between neighboring counties’ MRE sector labor markets. In my second essay, I analyze the price elasticity of mineral resource products in each of the mineral resource extractive industries’ labor markets in Canada’s provinces. I estimate the impact of shocks on employment in the mineral resource extraction industry in Canada’s natural resource rich provinces using monthly employment observations for the period January 1990 to December 2012. Estimates show the responsiveness of Canada’s provincial MRE employment to gold price, WTI or Alaska crude oil price fluctuations. Results from a difference-in-difference regression model show a positive growth of employment in Canada’s natural resource rich provinces during boom and bust periods. The results show a significant MRE employment growth in each of Canada’s provinces with more growth in magnitude in MRE dependent provinces. The results for
Factors Influencing Distribution of Introduced Asia n Tapeworm and Effects on Selected Southwestern Fishes (Yaqui Topminnow and Yaqui Chub)

Asian tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, a parasite known to be pathogenic to cyprinid fishes, is established in San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Arizona, USA. The San Bernardino refuge is home to endangered Yaqui chub Gila purpurea, and Yaqui topminnow Poeciliopsis occidentalis sonoreinsis, and our experiment measured the effects of Asian tapeworm on the growth and mortality of these species. Our experiment employed forty 75.8-L aquaria, with 10 different treatments, each having 4 replicates. We stocked fish at 2 single species densities and 1 mixed species density to see if competition has an impact on infection effects. We found a significant difference between growth rates of Yaqui chub that were exposed to Asian tapeworm and those that were not. We did not find a difference between the growth rates of Yaqui topminnow, nor did we find a difference in the mortalities of between exposed and unexposed tanks. INTRODUCTION Effects of Asian tapeworm vary from up to 90 % mortality in grass carp in newly infected ponds (Bauer, Musselius & Strelkov 1973) to reductions in growth in roundtail chub in the Little Colorado River (Brouder 1999). B. acheilognathi causes severe intestinal blockage, and is know to burrow through the intestine and damage somatic and gonadal tissue, sometimes killing the fish (Heckman 2000). In the current study we researched the effects of Asian tapeworm on two endangered species of the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, in Southeastern Arizona, where Asian tapeworm was first identified in 1995 (King 1995). Knowing the effects of Asian tapeworm on Yaqui chub Gila purpurea and Yaqui topminnow Poeciliopsis occidentalis
High levels of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence diversity are present within the Anthus similis complex in sub-Saharan Africa

The taxonomy of pipits (genus Anthus) in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly understood. We applied mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequencing to specimens of the African Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis, using Palearctic A. s. captus for comparison. There was virtually no divergence among Kenyan A. similis specimens, and these differed by only c. 1.9% from Israeli A. s. captus. By contrast, the previously published African A. similis cyt b sequence, from a South African pipit, was very distinct from other A. similis, diverging by c. 6.2% and 7.2% from East African and Palearctic birds, respectively. A Tanzanian specimen clustered with the South African A. similis and also the recently described A. pseudosimilis, but exhibited 5.4% and 3.4% divergence, respectively, from these individuals. Our data confirmed that the African Woodland Pipit A. nyassae is genetically distinct from A. similis. Both Bayesian, maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses support these conclusions. Our study demonstrates a major divergence in the mitochondrial haplotypes of southern and eastern African populations of A. similis, consistent with the former representing a separate species and the latter being closely related to Palearctic birds. The data highlights the requirement for a comprehensive study to clarify the taxonomy of the A. similis complex in Africa.
Sample Sizes Needed to Describe Length-Frequency of Small-Bodied Fishes: An Example Using Larval Pacific Lamprey

Abstract The ability to describe the length distribution of a fish population requires sampling an adequate number of individuals, but collecting more fish than needed is inefficient. While fisheries managers have assessed sample size requirements for many sport fishes, these requirements are not routinely described for small-bodied fishes (i.e., maximum length ≤200 mm), particularly larval lampreys. To improve the efficiency of data collection for these fishes, we used resampling analyses to asses sample size requirements for accurately describing length distributions of larval (freshwater-dwelling) Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus, an anadromous fish native to western North America (total length 60–156 mm). We found that the highest increases in accuracy occurred with sample sizes <50, and that we needed sample sizes of 40 to 130 to describe length frequency with 95% confidence, depending on length interval used for performing length-frequency analyses. From these results, we recommend collecting.
Geo-mapping the Brazilian Research Groups in Information Science

Introduction Due to advances in technology, nowadays the scientometric studies have seen an increase in new tools to reinforce the analysis of the various characteristics from scientific production, with highlight to those developed by the Social Network Analysis (Freeman, 2006, Wasserman & Faust, 1994). Several computer programs easy-to-use for constructing and viewing maps are available today, allowing the graphic representation in maps of many phenomena, using data from specific sources (Leydesdorff & Raffols, 2009), enhancing the capabilities of researchers in their analytical tasks. This work shows the use of NetDraw, a non-profit and free available social network analysis software (Borgatti, 2010) in mapping the Brazilian research groups in Information Science, combined with the Google Maps to projecting their characteristics in the national territory.
Le statut immun de la cellule de Schwann : quels rôles pour le récepteur P2X7? : Cerveau et immunité

Le systeme nerveux peripherique (SNP) presente des barrieres structurales et une absence de drainage lymphatique qui limitent fortement l'acces des molecules et des cellules immunitaires du systeme immunitaire. De plus, le SNP possede la capacite d'etablir un environnement immuno-suppresseur qui tend a limiter le developpement de la reaction inflammatoire associee a la penetration d'un agent pathogene, ou a une pathologie autoimmune inflammatoire comme le syndrome de Guillain-Barre. Parmi les cellules residentes du SNP presentant des competences immunitaires, la cellule de Schwann est de premiere importance. De nombreuses etudes in vitro ont demontre la capacite de la cellule de Schwann a etre une cellule presentatrice d'antigene, a produire des cytokines pro et anti-inflammatoires, des chemokines et des facteurs neurotrophiques. Ces resultats in vitro ont ete confirmes par des etudes in vivo qui demontrent bien les capacites immunitaires de la cellule de Schwann. Le but de cette revue est de presenter par quels mecanismes la cellule de Schwann participe a l'initiation, au developpement et a la terminaison de la reaction immunitaire, et de discuter quels roles peut exercer le recepteur purinergique P2X 7 dans les capacites immunes de la cellule de Schwann.
Exploring female reproductive tactics: trade-offs between clutch size, egg mass and newborn size in lacertid lizards

The persistence of populations is based on the optimization of reproductive processes as a means of compensating for the loss of individuals through mortality. One way of reaching this equilibrium is the coadaptation of reproductive traits defining different strategies. I explored these tactics in lacertid lizards by analysing the covariation between, on the one hand, clutch size and frequency, and on the other, egg mass, using independent contrast data from 42 species. In addition, I examined the influence of female and newborn size on these variables. All the traits investigated, with the exception of clutch frequency, are influenced by female body size, reflecting physical constraints on reproductive output. The negative trade-off between clutch size and newborn size on one hand and egg mass on the other is congruent with the partitioning of energetic resources to produce a few large or numerous small descendents. Clutch frequency is unrelated to the other female reproductive traits.
Biochemical genetic polymorphism in the Indian mackerelRastrelliger kanagurta from Mangalore region

Electrophoresis is the modern and most popular technique used for studying the genetic variability within and among the populations of plants and animals. Genetically controlled tissue enzymes are the most suitable parameters for genetic variability studies. In the present study Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis was used to study the genetic variability in Indian mackerel.
Cannibalism During Early Larval Development of Hadena ectypa Morrison (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract. We document cannibalism in young larvae of Hadena ectypa Morisson, a rare noctuid moth that oviposits in flowers of its host plant Silene stellata L. In 2012 and 2013, we observed high Hadena ectypa adult activity in early flowering season of Silene stellata, when flower density was low. As a result, co-occurrence of related as well as unrelated eggs within the same flower was prevalent. A Hadena ectypa larva feeds upon ovules and develops through the first three instars within the initial flower before becoming mobile between flowers. Therefore, the clustering of eggs could potentially inflict resource limitation on the young, co-occurring larvae, which could in turn favor cannibalism. We performed feeding trials that imitated this crowded condition in laboratory environment and recorded high overall frequency of cannibalism in young larvae (71.43 percent, n=70). Furthermore, cannibalism occurred at equal frequencies between siblings and between nonsiblings (X2=0.023, P>0.90, df = 1). In addition, head capsule widths of the cannibalistic larvae were significantly greater than those of the non-cannibalistic larvae (t = -12.187, df = 55.503, P<0.0001). The slow development of noncannibals was most likely caused by the limitation of food. Cannibalism provides a potential mechanism of regulating larval density and can be important in stabilizing the interaction of Hadena ectypa with its host plant.
Differences in Household size, Employment Status and Ability to pay for the service, are Associated with Distance Travelled for Inpatient Care in Kenya

Methods: Data on four hundred and eighty-one participants of all ages from forty-seven counties in Kenya who sought inpatient care in Kenya in 2018 were analyzed. Distance to a health facility was captured as a continuous variable, and was self-reported by the respondent. The response exhibited a discrete mass at zero and continuous characteristic, therefore a Tweedie distribution was adopted for modelling. Due to the correlation nature of clustered data, we embraced the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) approach with an exchangeable correlation. Since no standard software was available to analyze this problem, we developed a R functions. We assessed best model fit using the Quasi Information Criteria (QICu) and R criteria, in which the lowest value for the former and the highest for the later are preferred.
Dietary selection by goats and the implications for range management in the Chihuahuan Desert: a review

Field studies characterising the forage resources of mixed-breed goats on Chihuahuan Desert rangelands were reviewed and the principal sources of variation in their diet choices discussed. Goats eat a varied diet comprising at least 126 plant species in this landscape. Goats are highly selective feeders, changing their diet from predominantly forbs (8–64%) to browse (35–88%). Graminoids make up only ~5% of the diet, but grasses could be important dietary components on rangelands in good condition. Feed intakes range between 0.8% and 3.4% of bodyweight, depending on the season. DM digestibility of forage selected by goats ranges between 44% and 65%. Annual crude protein (CP) in forages selected by goats varies from 80 to 160 g CP kg–1 DM. Overall, pregnant and lactating goats manage to ingest food that contains higher amounts of CP and lower amounts of cell wall than non-pregnant, non-lactating goats. Goats not adapted to severe shortage of forage select a diet that does not match their nutritional requirements and fetal losses occur. Goat kids select higher quality diets than do mature goats (94.5 vs 88.5 g CP kg–1 DM). Granadina goats eat ~20% more shrubs, including 3-fold more Larrea tridentata (DC) Cav. , than Nubian goats. Goats with severely eroded incisors avoid grasses, focusing on tender-leaved shrubs. During the rainy season, bucks select mainly shrubs (78% of the diet) and avoid grasses (1.7% of the diet), whereas does rely heavily on forbs (about one-third of their diet). Alternating use of grazing grounds increases shrub ingestion by 25%. No evidence exists indicating that food choice by goats in this arid environment is biased towards forages with lower secondary compounds. It is concluded that the flexible, broad-scale and opportunistic feeding behaviour of goats make them an effective animal to sustainably exploit the forage resources of the Chihuahuan Desert.
How benthic are sepiolids

Adult specimens of Sepiola intermedia, S. robusta, Sepietta obscura and S. neglecta were collected in mid-water, at night, by purse seine for blue fishes. A light was used to attract the fishes. Many reportedly benthic sepiolids appear to be capable of swimming several tens of meters off the bottom.