Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of RAPD-PCR conditions for the study of genetic diversity in Nepal’s Swertia chirayita (Roxb. Ex Fleming) H. Karst

Of the 30 species (including five varieties) of the genus Swertia in Nepal, nine have been reported to possess medicinal properties. Among these, S. chirayita is the most valuable species, with high demand in domestic and international markets. Nepal’s S. chirayita and related species are being recklessly exploited for commercial purposes. Two problems that have emerged with this lucrative market are (a) adulteration and fraudulent labeling of S. chirayita , and (b) depletion of S. chirayita and allied species from their natural habitats. To address the problem of adulteration and conservation, we studied molecular genetic diversity in S. chirayita populations and developed a molecular diagnostic tool for the purposes of authentication. We studied intra-specific genetic diversity in S. chirayita using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. As a preliminary step, we identified optimal RAPD-PCR reaction and cycling conditions by varying PCR reaction parameters such as concentration of template DNA, MgCl 2 , dNTPs, primer, Taq DNA polymerase and RAPD-PCR programs. The optimized PCR reaction and cycling conditions were then used in subsequent RAPD profiling experiments for the study of genetic diversity within S. chirayita populations from various geographical locations. Genetic diversity characterization of S. chirayita populations at the molecular level would furnish information with significant applications in the conservation and sustainable utilization of S. chirayita and its allied species in Nepal. Key words: Polymerase Chain Reaction, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA, DNA fingerprinting, genetic diversity DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/hjs.v6i8. 2699 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.6 Issue 8 2010 pp.35-40
Variation in the onset of incubation in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca): fitness consequences and constraints

Reproductive correlates and fitness consequences (survival, recruitment) of variation in the incubation onset of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) were studied across 4 years in a southern European population, where between 36 and 89% of the females started to incubate with the penultimate egg or earlier. Females started to incubate up to 3 days before completing their clutches, this being accompanied by hatching spread. Females who advanced incubation before completing the clutch tended to be in better condition and to lay larger clutches than those that postponed incubation until the clutch was complete. Although laying date had no effect on onset of incubation, the effect of clutch size was much more marked when the influence of laying date on clutch size was controlled. Females who started to incubate earlier fledged more young than females delaying incubation but their higher fledgling success was unrelated to recruitment. Females starting to incubate with the last egg had fewer fledglings but of larger size, higher mass, and in better condition than females who advanced the incubation. Female survival to the next breeding season did not differ between those that started incubation before clutch completion and those that did not do so, but an advanced onset of incubation by females was related to higher mortality of their pair mates. Females that increased the size of the clutch with respect to the previous year tended to incubate their eggs earlier, while those whose clutch size did not change or was lower started incubation at about the same stage they did the year before. This trend was apparently influenced by improvements in body condition. Clutch size may constrain onset of incubation through environmental or genetic correlations, which are likely to be mediated by hormones. It is proposed that, in this population, an early onset of incubation in pied flycatchers does not affect reproductive fitness in most circumstances.
Population dynamics of Monochamus carolinensis (Col., Cerambycidae) under laboratory conditions

The study of life history dynamics of the pine sawyer beetle Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier) is of interest because the beetles are vectors for the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle, the causal agent of pine wilt in susceptible pine trees. Previous observation of a laboratory colony of M. carolinensis suggested numbers of adult beetles reared from logs varied little in relation to oviposition densities among individual logs. Logs in laboratory colonies are routinely subjected to artificially high oviposition rates. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between initial oviposition rate, holding time (time between log cut and oviposition), log volume and area and adult survivorship in laboratory colony. This study examined the number of eggs, larvae, adults and generation survivorship in logs over a 2‐year period. The number of adults emerged per log was not related to the number of eggs laid. Late larval and adult numbers were significantly correlated with log size. Only 12% of the initial cohort completed development and emerged as adults. We attribute the high within‐log mortality of beetles to intraspecific competition and cannibalism.
Training Autoencoder using Three Different Reversed Color Models for Anomaly Detection

Autoencoders (AEs) have been applied in several applications such as anomaly detectors and object recognition systems. However, although the recent neural networks have relatively high accuracy but sometimes false detection may occur. This paper introduces AE as an anomaly detector. The proposed AE is trained using both normal and anomalous data based on convolutional neural network with three different color models Hue Saturation Value (HSV), Red Green Blue (RGB), and our own model (TUV). As a result, the trained AE reconstruct the normal images without change, whereas the anomalous image would be reconstructed reversely. The training and testing of the AE in case of RGB, HSV, and TUV color models were demonstrated and Cifar-10 dataset had been used for the evaluation process. It can be noticed that HSV color model has been more effective and achievable as an anomaly detector rather than other color models based on Z - and F -test analyses.
Relationships between Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Waterfowl along an Agricultural Gradient in the Boreal Transition Zone of Western Canada

Abstract We examined 14 wetlands in the Boreal Transition Zone (BTZ) of western Canada to investigate the effects of agricultural encroachment on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities and the response of waterfowl communities to these changes. The amount of agriculture within a 1.6-km buffer around wetlands was quantified primarily by remote imagery, and a sample of relatively similar wetlands was selected along an encroachment gradient from 0 to 90% agriculture. Species dominance showed temporal shifts during spring and summer. In May, 3 primary macroinvertebrate-dominated community types were present: 1) Amphipoda, 2) Diptera, and 3) Sigara. In August, 3 community types were present: 1) Amphipoda, 2) Notonecta, and 3) Chaoborus–Sigara. Environmental conditions were not distinct in every community type; however Sigara-dominated communities occurred in significantly shallower wetlands with greater concentrations of total inorganic nitrogen, total dissolved solids, and salinity than did Diptera dominated communities. Agricultural intensity was positively associated with phosphorus concentration. Phosphorus was likely an important factor in determining macroinvertebrate community composition with Sigara and Chaoborus–Sigara communities occurring in wetlands with very high concentrations of phosphorus (average >800 µg/L), and Diptera and Notonecta communities occurring in wetlands with lower phosphorus (average <160 µg/L). Amphipoda-dominated communities tended to occur in larger and deeper basins than Sigara-dominated communities. Waterfowl abundance was significantly and positively associated with macroinvertebrate abundance; however, occurrence of most waterfowl species did not correspond well with specific macroinvertebrate community types.
Taqman-Based Duplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for the Detection and Quantification of Donkey and Pork Adulterations in Raw and Heat-Processed Meats

In this study, a rapid and highly specific TaqMan-based duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction method, based on the simultaneous amplification of fragments of the mitochondrial ND2 and ND5 genes, was developed and optimized for the identification and quantification of pork and donkey meats in raw and cooked binary donkey/beef and pork/beef mixtures. Accumulation of polymerase chain reaction products was monitored by measuring the fluorescent signals from FAM and HEX labeled probes specific for pork and donkey, respectively. As a consequence, target meat species could be detected at a level of 0.001% in raw and oven-cooked meat mixtures, and at a level of 0.01% in autoclaved meat mixtures. The result in this study indicated that the TaqMan-based duplex polymerase chain reaction assay could be successfully used in the identification and quantification of donkey and pork in adulteration studies with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity.
Monoclonal Antibody Recognizing the Quinoprotein Subunit of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Complex from Gluconobacter Species

enzyme in vinegar production, is located on the cytoplasmic membraneof acetic acid bacteria and linked to the respiratory chain. We purified ADHfrom the membranes of two representative acetic acid bacteria, Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 125281'2) and Acetobacter aceti IFO 3284.3) The purified ADHs from G. suboxydans and A. aceti have three and four subunits, respectively. It is important to study the role of each subunit and the relationship between ADHactivity and each peptide. In this report, to investigate the participation of the dehydrogenase peptide in ADHactivity, we prepared a monoclonal antibody against the dehydrogenase peptide which is one of the three subunits of ADHfrom G. suboxydans, dehydrogenase (mol. wt. 85 kDa), cytochrome c (49kDa) and an unknown peptide (14.4kDa). Gluconobacter spp, listed in Table I, were cultivated as described in our previous report.1} The protein and ADH activity were measured4* and immunoblotting was done5) under the same conditions as reported previously. ADH was purified from the membrane of G. suboxydans to homogeneous state as was also described previously.6* The preparation of monoclonal antibodies were done under essentially the same conditions as described by Galfre and Milstein.7) Male BALB/c mice (6 weeks old) were immunized intraperitoneally with 50/ig of the purified ADHemulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant and after 2 weeks, the mice were further immunized with 100//g of the purified ADH emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. After 1 week more, the mice were boosted with 100//g of the antigen and fusion was done after 3 days. NS-1 myeloma cells were cultured in RPMI1640 (Nissui) supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum (FCS) and antibiotics (50IU/ml of penicillin G and 50/^g/ml of streptomycin). Spleen cells from the immunized mice were fused at a 5: 1 ratio with myelomacells using 50% polyethylene glycol 4000 in RPMI-1640. The cells were plated into 96-well tissue culture plates at a density of5 x 105 spleen cells per well (100//I) and selected by adding selective medium containing RPMI-1640, 15% FCS, and HAT (100/^m hypoxanthine, 0.4/im aminopterin, and 16fiu thymidine). After 10 days, the culture
The current status of the Hainan black-crested gibbon Nomascus sp. cf. nasutus hainanus in Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China

The Hainan black-crested gibbon Nomascus sp. cf. nasutus hainanus is on the verge of extinction. Following studies in the late 1980s and early 1990s only limited observations were made of the remaining population in the Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, China, and the most optimistic estimation of the population size was 23 individuals. To determine the present status of this gibbon, we surveyed the western part of the Reserve, from where the gibbons were previously known, using transects (November–December 2001), listening post (February–April 2002) and interviews with reserve staff (November–December 2001 and February–April 2002). Three groups of gibbons were sighted comprising at least 10–12 individuals including juveniles and infants. A fourth group, possibly comprising 2–7 individuals, was heard but not seen. Compared to an unpublished survey by reserve staff in 2000, the population appears to have decreased. Surveying of this gibbon population will continue, in particular to determine the composition of the one group that was heard but not seen and to carry out a survey of the eastern part of the Reserve to determine whether or not any gibbons survive there. The Forestry Bureau of Hainan is applying to the Central Government for an enlargement of the area of the reserve and more staff to help prevent illegal poaching and logging.
Global warming and eutrophication: effects on water chemistry and autotrophic communities in experimental hypertrophic shallow lake mesocosms

1. Shallow lakes are important components of the biosphere, but they are also highly vulnerable to damage from human activities in their catchments, such as nutrient pollution. They may also be particularly vulnerable to current warming trends. 2. Forty-eight tanks were used to create 3-m3 mesocosms of shallow lake communities, in which the effects of warming by 4 °C and regular nutrient loading at two levels relevant to current degrees of eutrophication were studied in the presence and absence of fish. 3. Warming changed concentrations of soluble phosphate, total nitrogen and conductivity, increased total plant biomass and decreased the amount of phytoplankton through shading by floating plants. Nutrient additions decreased total plant biomass but increased floating plant biomass. Nitrogen increase and warming increased floating plant biomass and decreased plant species richness. The plant community remained intact and did not switch to the turbid-water, phytoplankton-dominated community often predicted to be a consequence of global warming and eutrophication. 4. Synthesis and applications. Likely future temperature increase will exacerbate some, but not all symptoms of eutrophication in shallow lakes. Alone it will not cause a switch from plant-dominated to algal-dominated systems, but may result in nuisance growths of floating lemnids. Currently underplayed, nitrogen loading should be taken more seriously in the management of European freshwaters.
Assessing the Suitability of Landscapes for Northern Bobwhite

Widespread declines of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations may reflect habitat alteration at both site and landscape level. To investigate the latter, we quantified landscape composition and pattern throughout Illinois (>145,900 km 2 ) using classified satellite imagery and FRAGSTATS software. We then compared landscape structure with indexes of northern bobwhite abundance using county-level harvest and North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data. Analyses at both scales suggested bobwhite were primarily associated with diverse, patchy landscapes that contained moderate amounts of grassland and row crops and abundant woody edge. These findings were used to develop a PATREC model to identify and map Illinois landscapes potentially suitable for bobwhite. Whether or not such areas actually support good bobwhite populations depends upon site conditions generally not discernable by remote sensing. Nevertheless, knowledge of the extent and distribution of potentially suitable landscapes can enhance and focus management efforts.
Seasonal Changes in Photochemical Eficiency and Leaf Area of Nitrogen and Non-Nitrogen-Fixing Tree Species Grown in Degraded Land

Seasonal variations in the photosynthetic capacity and leaf area of one year old seedlines of nitrogen- and non-nitrogen-fixing tree species grown in degraded land were recorded non-destructively over a period of one year. In general, significant reduction in the photosynthetic capacity and leaf area of all the species was recorded during the summer and winter months. There was no significant difference in photosynthetic capacity between nitrogen- and non-nitrogen-fixing plants. Nitrogen-fixing tree species maintained significantly higher leaf area as compared to non-nitrogen-fixing species. Plant height and diameter at root collar were significantly greater for nitrogen-fixing plants as compared to non-nitrogen-fixing plants. The data indicate that marked differences in growth parameters between nitrogen- and non-nitrogen-fixing plants growing in the same habitat is because of the differences in leaf area.
Modified honey bees mating optimization algorithm for multi-objective uncertain integrated process planning and scheduling problem

The new technology of intelligent manufacturing makes the data of process planning and shop scheduling easier to interconnect, and the integration optimization of different manufacturing processes is an important technology to ensure the implementation of intelligent manufacturing. Integrated process planning and scheduling is a significant research focus in recent years, which could improve the performance of manufacturing system. At present, the research on integrated process planning and scheduling is insufficient to consider the multi-objective and uncertain characteristics widely existing in real manufacturing environment. Therefore, multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling problem with uncertain processing time and due date is addressed in this article. The mathematical model of multi-objective uncertain integrated process planning and scheduling problem with uncertain processing time and fuzzy due date is established based on fuzzy set, in which the calculation method of uncertainty measurement objective is designed. An effective modified honey bees mating optimization algorithm has been designed to solve the proposed model. Queens set is constructed to maintain the non-dominated solutions found in the optimization process. The calculation method of mating probability between drone and queen bee based on Euclidean distance is designed. Fuzzy operators were utilized to evaluate fitness, judge the non-dominated relationship, and decode the scheduling solution. Different instances were designed and carried out to test the performance of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method is very effective for solving multi-objective uncertain integrated process planning and scheduling.
Vicarious Experience and Delinquent Behaviour Modification: Evidence Among Students in Secondary Schools in Kenya

The study investigated the relationship between Vicarious Experience and Delinquent Behaviour Modification among secondary school students. The study employed concurrent triangulation design. The sample size comprised of 374 students, 8 deputy principals and 7 teacher counselors. Vicarious Experience Scale and Behavior Modification Questionnaire for Students were used to collect quantitative data. The interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used to obtain qualitative data. The reliability co-efficient reported was a high of 0.759 (vicarious experience questionnaire). Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyze data. There is statistically significant positive correlation between vicarious experience and behaviour modification among secondary school students (n=344; r = .207; p<.05). Teacher counsellors should expose students to environments that would enhance batter vicarious experiences.
Efficacy of Multi-Talker Phonetic Training in Mandarin Tone Perception for Native Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users

Previous studies have documented remarkable benefits of cochlear implants (CIs) in speech and language outcomes for pediatric recipients. However, pitch perception poses a unique challenge for CI users, especially for the native tonal language listeners. The present study evaluated the efficacy of multi-talker phonetic training in improving lexical tone perception for Mandarin-speaking preschoolers with CIs. Eight unilaterally implanted children with bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss were recruited to participate in the training protocol which involved a five-phase tonal identification training. Another eight CI peers with comparable demographic characteristics served as a control group. Both trainees and controls completed identical pre- and post-training tone recognition and categorical perception (CP) tests. The results indicated significant improvement in lexical tone recognition for the trainees after the training terminated, and the training effect transferred to their tonal CP performances. Such training-induced outcomes were not observed in the control group. To conclude, the multi-talker phonetic training regimen was validated effective and feasible to enhance CI children’s tonal categorization.
Studies of viscosity as the probable factor involved in the improvement of certain barleys for chickens by enzyme supplementation

Synopsis The hypothesis that the sticky droppings and the poor performance of chicks fed on low‐enzyme barleys are due to hemicelluloses and related substances in barley, which in solution in the alimentary tract give rise to a highly viscous state, was tested. It is demonstrated that pectin significantly reduced chick performance and the droppings produced were very sticky. A pectin‐degrading enzyme quickly reduced the viscosity of a solution of pectin and significantly improved the performance of chicks. The effect of feeding a bacterial enzyme preparation on the viscosity of water extracts of the contents of the small intestines of chickens that were fed on a low‐enzyme barley, was studied. It is shown that the viscosities were reduced by the “enzyme”. The viscosities of extracts from chickens that were fed on barley alone were lowered by enzyme preparations that were effective in increasing the performance of chickens. Aqueous extracts of Australian barleys, steamed Irish barley and processed Irish ba.
Gut microbiota variations in a rescued spotted seal Phoca largha pup

Rescuing seal pups is an important conservation action for spotted seals Phoca largha. Gut microbiota are directly associated with host health and diet metabolism. Therefore, knowledge gained from gut microbiota variations of spotted seal pups held in captivity after rescue can help formulate comprehensive rescue plans for the future. In this study, we collected feces from a rescued spotted seal pup every 3 d during the rescue process. Fecal bacterial communities were measured by high-throughput sequencing based on 16S rRNA amplification. Firmicutes were the most dominant bacteria, comprising >70% of the total gut microbiota. Moreover, differences in fecal bacterial communities of the rescued spotted seal pup between rescue and release were compared. At release, the abundances of 2 potential bacteria related to gut health, Blautia producta and Cetobacterium somerae, were remarkably lower, while Clostridium perfringens, a key mammalian pathogen, was significantly higher in the feces of the released pup. Moreover, the pup experienced a bout of diarrhea during its time in captivity, which resulted in a momentary change in its gut microbiota. Fusobacterium was recognized as a potential causative pathogen for the diarrhea. This study contributes to our understanding of gut microbiota variations in spotted seal pups during the rescue period.