Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Caragana korshinskii Revealed by AFLP

Caragana korshinskii Kom. is a perennial sandy grassland and desert deciduous shrub species, indigenous to and distributed in the northwest of China and Mongolia, and important in vegetation rehabilitation of widely degraded and degrading semiarid and arid regions because of its high ecological and economic values. To assess the genetic diversity and population structure of C. korshinskii, 10 natural populations from the Loess plateau and Inner Mongolia plateau in China were analyzed for amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Four primer combinations produced 358 bands across a total of 98 individuals. A high percentage of polymorphic loci was observed at species level (p = 93.9%). Multivariate analyses separated accessions into two regional groups corresponding to the Loess and Inner Mongolia plateaus. Based on analysis of molecular variance, 77.8% of the genetic variation of C. korshinskii was within population, 7% difference between regions, and 15.2% among collection sites within regions. An indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (N m = 1.7) indicated that gene flow was high among populations of the species. A significant correlation (r = 0.58) between genetic and geographic distance was detected. Results of this study suggested that C. korshinskii has a high genetic variability and potential as a source of variation for breeding programs.
Zur Schätzung der Menge an nutzbarem Rohprotein am Duodenum von Milchkühen

Zusammenfassung Masgeblich fur die Proteinversorgung von Wiederkauern ist die Menge an nutzbarem Rohprotein (nXP) am Duodenum. Um diese aus Rationsparametern abschatzen zu konnen, wurden anhand von 532 Einzeltiermessungen aus Braunschweig-Volkenrode und Dummerstorf-Rostock an fistulierten Milchkuhen Regressionsgleichungen zur Bestimmung des nutzbaren Rohproteins am Duodenum abgeleitet. Als wichtigste Einflusfaktoren auf den Flus an nutzbarem Rohprotein bestatigte sich die Aufnahme an umsetzbarer Energie (ME) oder verdaulicher organischer Substanz (DOS) und an nativem Futterrohprotein. Eine gewisse Verbesserung der Schatzgenauigkeit ergab sich durch Einbeziehung der in 335 Messungen bestimmten Menge an ruminal nicht abgebautem Futterrohprotein (UDP). Noch etwas geringer wurde der Schatzfehler bei Berucksichtigung der Wechselbeziehung zwischen mikrobieller Proteinsynthese und Abbaubarkeit des Futterrohproteins (XP) im Pansen. Die Schatzgleichungen mit dem hochsten Bestimmtheitsmas (r2 = 0,91) und dem geringsten Variationskoeffizienten (cv = 8,9) lauteten: g nXP = [11,93 - (6,82 (UDP/XP))]ME + 1,03 UDP, und g nXP = [187,7 - (115,4 (UDP/XP))]DOS + 1,03 UDP
Rapid Detection of the Fibrinogen Aα16Arg→His Mutation

We have now identified mutations in 17 families with dysfibrinogenemias. Over half of these families have the Aα16Arg→His mutation. This mutation is the most commonly reported cause of dysfibrinogenemia and, like other dysfibrinogenemias, is readily detected because of the associated prolonged thrombin and reptilase times (1)(2)(3). The mutation alters the thrombin cleavage site such that release of fibrinopeptide A is delayed. However, fibrinopeptide release assays are difficult and do not directly confirm the molecular basis of the impaired fibrinopeptide release. We have therefore designed a rapid and technically simple PCR-based method for detection of the Aα16Arg→His mutation. This allows reliable identification of a common dysfibrinogenemia that, in its heterozygous form, is usually asymptomatic and does not pose any substantial threat to the health of the patient. Application of this method will allow clinical laboratories to determine the molecular defect in many of the cases that they detect during coagulation studies. We examined nine families with the Aα16Arg→His mutation. These had been referred for further investigation when routine coagulation studies were consistent with dysfibrinogenemia. All procedures were carried out in accordance with the guidelines of our local ethics committee. Blood samples were collected into Na+ citrate Vacutainer Tubes (Becton Dickinson), and coagulation studies were performed by routine clinical tests for thrombin and reptilase times. …
Intra-annual Secondary Growth Rate-Climate Relations of Fagus orientalis Lipsky in the Center of Hyrcanian Forests

Weekly rate of Beech tree ring increment were related to the changes of climatic factors in weekly intervals. In order to do so, small samples were extracted from 5 Oriental beech trees located in Nowshahr educational forest in the central part of the Hyrcanian forests of Iran during 2008 growing season. Microscopic sections were prepared and average increases in tree ring width were measured, standardized and modeled using Gompertz equation. The results showed that the minimum air temperature and water evaporation had the strongest and positive effect on the secondary growth rate while the role of precipitation was minor and negative. Air temperature and evaporation variations during growing season were assumed to remain in their optimum level; increasing xylem formation by accelerating carbohydrate production and carbon uptake of trees, respectively. Since the studied site had warm and humid climate receiving sufficient amount of rainfall before and during growing season, water availability was not a limiting factor of radial growth and its minor negative relation was interpreted according to its small hampering effect on the air temperature and sunlight absorption of trees. It was concluded that meteorological factors affecting secondary growth rate of trees should be interpreted as a package rather than analyzed disconnectedly.
Farmers’ willingness to contribute to tsetse and trypanosomosis control in West Africa: the case of northern Côte d’Ivoire

Analyse contingente de la contribution des eleveurs a la lutte contre la trypanosomose animale en Afrique de l’Ouest : le cas de la Cote d’Ivoire. Une etude portant sur 224 eleveurs a ete mise en place en 1997 dans quatre sites representatifs de la diversite des systemes d’elevage de la region nord de la Cote d’Ivoire en vue d’evaluer la velleite des eleveurs a contribuer a la lutte par piegeage contre la trypanosomose. Les resultats de l’analyse contingente montrent que 94 % des eleveurs acceptent le principe de la participation financiere, 86 % sont disposes a contribuer en main-d’œuvre et 81 % proposent une contribution multiforme. La moyenne proposee est de 236 FCFA (0,47 USD) par tete de bovin par an et de huit journees de travail par exploitation par mois, avec des variations significatives liees au systeme de production et a la composition raciale du troupeau. Les resultats de l’analyse econometrique indiquent que la connaissance du vecteur de la trypanosomose, la localisation de l’elevage, l’experience de l’eleveur en tant que chef de parc et la pratique de la transhumance affectent significativement la velleite des eleveurs a contribuer en main-d’œuvre. Tres peu de facteurs ont un effet significatif sur le niveau de participation financiere. Une approche par modulation est suggeree pour l’organisation d’un systeme de contributions en vue de perenniser les acquis de la lutte et la durabilite des benefices.
Mate location and antennal morphology in the praying mantid Hierodula majuscula

Many sensory modes can be exploited to determine the location of potential mates. In insects, long-distance location primarily involves chemical or acoustic cues, whereas short-distance communication mainly utilises visual or tactile cues. The structural complexity of the environment may influence the transmission of information, and therefore, it is common to see multiple sensory modes employed to increase the likelihood of accurate mate location. Praying mantids are known to use airborne chemicals for long-distance location and visual cues in close proximity. This study examined which types of cues are used for mate location in an unstudied species, Hierodula majuscula, from Queensland, Australia. The timing of female pheromone emission during ‘calling’ periods reached a peak at 3:00 h, with the majority of females assuming a calling posture at this time. Scanning electron microscopy was used to confirm the presence of basiconic sensilla (used for chemical reception) on male antennae, and males successfully responded to female chemical cues and subsequently located potential mates. Males were not as successful at finding females when restricted to using visual cues.
ECOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF BIOECONOMICS IN THREE INTERTIDAL CHITONS (ACANTHOPLEURA SPP.)

SUMMARY (1) The organization of foraging in time and space was assessed in three species of chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora)-Acanthopleura gemmata, Indian and Pacific Ocean; A. brevispinosa, Western Indian Ocean; A. granulata, Caribbean Sea-which experience different intertidal conditions. (2) Sampling the individual positions twice a day through a semi-lunar period gave bulk information on the variation of the resting-feeding strategy in time, while continuous tracking of individual paths permitted the detailed analysis of the spatial strategy adopted by chitons inside each activity phase. (3) The three species exhibit a different bioeconomical organization: central place foraging based on homing and zonal shuttling (A. gemmata), alternance of homing and dispersive movements (A. brevispinosa), and prevalence of ranging pattern (A. granulata). (4) The discriminant analysis of foraging-path parameters has shown that both spatial variables (mainly related to the amplitude of tidal oscillations and exposure to waves) and temporal ones (related to diel and tidal environmental oscillations) account for the observed interspecific differences in movement patterns. (5) The utmost importance of spatial parameters-and related modification in shelter availability and exposure to predators-in shaping the specific foraging behaviour has been revealed by a principal component analysis.
Genome-Wide Association Analyses on Blood Pressure Using Three Different Phenotype Definitions

Hypertension is the most prevalent disease worldwide and is itself a risk factor for cerebral, cardiac, and renal diseases. The inconsistency of candidate genes suggested by previous genomewide association studies (GWASs) may be due to not only differences in study design and genetic or environmental background but also the difference in the power of analysis between continuous traits and discrete traits. We analyzed 352,228 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8842 unrelated Koreans obtained from Ansan and Ansung cohorts. We performed a series of GWA analyses using three different phenotype models; young hypertensive cases (278 subjects) versus elderly normotensive controls (680 subjects); the upper 25% (2211 hypertensive cases) versus the lower 25% of the SBP distribution (2211 hypotensive controls); and finally SBP and DBP as continuous traits (8842 subjects). The numbers of young hypertensive cases and elderly normotensive controls were not large enough to achieve genomewide significance. The model comparing the upper 25% subjects to the lower 25% of subjects showed a power that was approximate to that of QTL analysis. Two neighboring SNPs of the ATP2B1 gene, rs17249754 (SBP, p=; DBP, p=) and rs7136259 (SBP, p=; DBP, p=), were associated with both SBP and DBP. Interestingly, a SNP of the RPL6 gene, rs11066280, revealed a significant genomewide association with SBP in men only (p=), and four SNPs located near the MAN2A1 gene showed a strong association with DBP only in elderly men aged 60-70 years (e.g., rs6421827, p=). However, we did not observe any gene variant attaining genomewide significance consistently in the three phenotype models except for the ATP2B1 gene variants. In general, the association signal with blood pressure was stronger in women than in men. Genes identified in GWASs are expected to open the way for prevention, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment of hypertension.
Nutritional evaluation of complementary food developed from plant and animal protein sources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to nutritionally evaluate the potency of complementary food produced by mixing different sources of vegetable and animal protein together.Design/methodology/approach – Maize (carbohydrate), peanut (groundnut) and crayfish (Euastacus spp) were the sole energy and protein sources, respectively. Diet 1 (Basal); diet 2 (groundnut‐fermented‐maize (ogi) 1:9); diet 3 (crayfish‐ground‐nut‐ogi, 1:1:9); diet 4 (crayfish‐ogi, 1:9); diet 5 control (Nutrend). The formulated complementary diets were fed to 30 albino rats. A commercial product (Nutrend) manufactured by nestle plc was obtained at a local supermarket, Ile‐Ife, Nigeria and was used as standard diet.Findings – The result showed the growth rate (non‐protein diet) decreased from 37.962‐36.910; and the growth rate (protein diet) increased from 37.270‐54.544, 37.770‐82.662, 37.900‐78.570, and 37.636‐80.521 for diets 1 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Protein efficiency ratio (PER), for diets 1 2, 3, 4 and 5 were nil, 1.45, 3.3.
An empirical demonstration of the ideal free distribution: Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis breeding in intensive agricultural landscapes

The ideal free distribution (IFD) model predicts that a density-dependent mechanism operates to regulate habitat selection and reproductive performance. We studied a Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis population, which breeds on irrigation ponds in the Vega Baja Valley (southeastern Spain) to test the premises of the IFD model. These ponds are highly dynamic because they are managed according to agricultural requirements, and are subject to different levels of disturbance, which can change the quality of individual ponds across the landscape. Surveys were carried out during the breeding season from 2002 to 2006, with reproduction performance estimated during two consecutive breeding seasons, 2003 and 2004. Occupation frequency differed from random, indicating preference for some ponds over others. Habitat features such as pond construction and design, the presence of submerged vegetation, vegetation along the shore and reed beds, and pond area correlated with occupation frequency and might be considered to be indicators of pond quality. Ponds were occupied sequentially from best to worst. Thus, when the population size increased, the number of low-quality ponds occupied also increased. High-quality ponds held more breeding pairs than low-quality ones, resulting in the mean reproductive success per breeding pair being independent of pond quality. Little Grebes therefore occupy ponds in a manner consistent with the expectations of the IFD model.
Study of β-defensin polymorphisms in Valle del Belice dairy sheep

Abstract The aim of this work was to sequence the exons of β-defensin 1 and 2 genes (SBD1 and SBD2) in Valle del Belice dairy sheep in order to identify polymorphisms. The study was conducted on 60 samples from three flocks. Six SNPs were identified: two in SBD1 and four in SBD2. Both genes consist of two exons and one intron. In SBD1 gene, SNPs were found only in the exon 2, whereas in SBD2, SNPs were detected in both exons. In both genes, SNPs were located in the coding regions and in the 3’-UTR. The SNP in SBD2 located at position 1659 determined a change in the protein sequence. Further studies will be necessary to investigate if the amino acid change modifies the biological function of the protein and the association with SCC, in order to use this information in a breeding program for mastitis resistance in Valle del Belice sheep.
Promoting First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Youth Wellbeing through Culturally-Relevant Programming: The Role of Cultural Connectedness and Identity

Objectives: Although culturally relevant programming has been identified as a promising practice for promoting resiliency among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) youth, the specific ways in which these programs contribute to wellbeing are unclear. The Fourth R: Uniting Our Nations programs include an array of strengths-based culturally relevant programs for FNMI youth that have been found to increase wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to explore how culturally relevant programming provides a forum for intrapersonal and interpersonal growth. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 adult FNMI community and education stakeholders who have had extensive involvement with the programs. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed with an inductive approach through the use of open-coding. Results: Two themes emerged to clarify the relationships between culturally relevant programming and youth wellbeing. The two interconnected themes were the importance of identity and belonging, and the role of cultural connectedness in promoting wellbeing among FNMI youth. Conclusion: Culturally relevant programming provides a powerful opportunity for youth to develop their personal sense of positive cultural identity and feelings of belonging. In addition, the sense of connection to culture was seen to have a direct positive impact on youth, partly through combatting shame.
Clonal variation in life‐history traits and feeding rates in the gastropod, Potamopyrgus antipodarum: performance across a salinity gradient

1. Parthenogenetic species are often geographically more widely distributed than their sexual relatives. This success in colonizing can be explained either by dispersal of one or a few clones of wide physiological tolerance or by the distribution of many locally adapted clones. 2. Here we compare the influence of salinity on reproductive output, feeding rate, growth rate and size at birth between two genotypes of Potamopyrgus antipodarum to address the questions (i) Do these traits vary in response to changing salinity? (ii) Does the response to a salinity gradient differ between genotypes? (iii) Can the patterns of variation, in relation to salinity, contribute to explaining the geographical distribution of P. antipodarum in Europe? 3. Our results demonstrate that genetic variation among populations of P. antipodarum is reflected in differences in life-history traits and feeding rates in response to a salinity gradient. The phenotypic differences between the genotypes are consistent with the geographical distribution of P. antipodarum clones in Europe. 4. The overall response to salinity of both genotypes of P. antipodarum suggests an optimum at ≈ 5‰ S; however, both genotypes showed a broad salinity tolerance and were able to feed, grow and reproduce over the entire salinity range tested (0–15‰ S). The broad environmental tolerance of both genotypes together with their widespread geographical distribution across Europe provide evidence consistent with the general-purpose genotype hypothesis.
Effect of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles on cellular oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in mouse liver

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO2), a common ingredient of cosmetics has a huge variety of applications. Previous studies reported oxidative stress mediated toxicity of ZnO2 nanoparticles on various mammalian cell lines. Although zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral at higher concentrations this metal is toxic. The present study focused on size determination by monitoring changes in activities of antioxidant defense mechanism in response to oxidative stress induced by ZnO2 nanoparticles using mouse liver tissue homogenates. The study also investigated effects of oxidative stress induced DNA damage by determining formation of 8-OHdG in mouse liver homogenate. A cytotoxicity assay was also carried out in L929 cells to determine cell viability. The results of the study indicated that 50μg/ml of ZnO2 nanoparticles induced 50% cell death. Alterations in antioxidant parameters and 8-OHdG were also noted. Data showed that there was a concentration-dependent fall in cell viability, decrease antioxidant enzyme levels and increase formation of DNA adduct (8-OHdG) when mouse liver tissue homogenate were exposed to ZnO2 nanoparticles.
Fine‐scale group structure and demography of African savanna elephants recolonizing lands outside protected areas

Aim Dispersal is a critical component of animal ecology that is poorly understood for most species. In particular, savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) have been studied for decades in national parks across Africa, but little is known about their dispersal into new or unused habitats or their population dynamics in human‐dominated landscapes. We capitalized on a natural dispersal event of savanna elephants recolonizing communal land in southern Kenya to document their demographic characteristics and genetic relationships.
Forest Return on an Abandoned Field - Secondary Succession Under Monitored Conditions

Forest Return on an Abandoned Field - Secondary Succession Under Monitored Conditions The secondary succession pattern observed on an arable field abandoned since 1974 in Tilio-Carpinetum habitat is described and disscussed. Results obtained during 36 years of study confirm that succession on an abandoned field leads from a typical segetal community to the formation of a juvenile treestand composed of pioneer species. Our study supports the view that succession is a process which is largely dependent on the initial conditions and surrounding vegetation. The results indicate that some species can modify the course of this process, accelerating or slowing it down. Limitations of the method and prognosis of future vegetation development are also discussed.
Functional Analysis of a type-2C Protein Phosphatase (AtPP2C52) in Arabidopsis thaliana

AtPP2C52 is a plasma membrane type-2C protein phosphatase. In this study, AtPP2C52 promoter-GUS analysis revealed that AtPP2C52 gene was found in a broad expression spectrum with a higher level in the vascular and meristem. AtPP2C52 can interact with multiple proteins, including a proteasome maturation factor, UMP1, and a cysteine proteinase, RD21a, as well as the heterotrimeric G proteins β subunit, AGB1. By mutational analysis of AtPP2C52, it was identified that some residues were essential for AtPP2C52 to bind AGB1, UMP1 and RD21a, suggesting that these proteins should be potential substrates of AtPP2C52.