Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Importance of toothfish in the diet of generalist subantarctic killer whales: implications for fisheries interactions

© 2019 Inter-Research. All Rights Reserved. Fisheries may generate new feeding opportunities for marine predators, which switch foraging behaviour to depredation when they feed on fish directly from fishing gear. However, the role of diet in the propensity of individuals to depredate and whether the depredated resource is artificial or part of the natural diet of individuals is often unclear. Using stable isotopes, this study investigated the importance of the commercially exploited Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in the diet of generalist subantarctic killer whales Orcinus orca depredating this fish at Crozet (45°S, 50°E). The isotopic niche of these killer whales was large and overlapped with that of sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus from the same region, which feed on toothfish both naturally and through depredation. There was no isotopic difference between killer whales that depredated toothfish and those that did not. Isotopic mixing models indicated that prey groups including large/medium sized toothfish and elephant seal Mirounga leonina pups represented ~60% of the diet relative to prey groups including penguins, baleen whales and coastal fish. These results indicate that toothfish are an important natural prey item of Crozet killer whales and that switching to depredation primarily occurs when fisheries facilitate access to that resource. This study suggests that toothfish, as a commercial species, may also have a key role as prey for top predators in subantarctic ecosystems. Therefore, assessing the extent to which predators use that resource naturally or from fisheries is now needed to improve both fish stock management and species conservation strategies.
Evaluation of effect of probiotics mixture supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal bacterial enumeration, and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs

Abstract A total of 180 twenty-eight-day-old weaning pigs [Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace)] with an average body weight of 7.62 ± 1.25 kg were used in a 42-day trial to evaluate the effect of probiotics mixture supplementation on weaning pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: (1) CON, basal diet, (2) T1, CON + 0.1% probiotics mixture, (3) T2, CON + 0.2% probiotics mixture, and (4) T4, CON + 0.3% probiotics mixture. Increasing dietary inclusion of probiotics mixture levels linearly increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during day 0–7 as well as ADG and gain to feed ratio (G:F) during day 8–21 (p < .05). There was a quadratic effect in improving ADFI during day 0–7, day 22–42, and ADG during day 8–21 (p < .05). In addition, increasing inclusion of probiotics mixture levels in the diets linearly increased (p < .05) dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy digestibility, and faecal Lactobacillus counts and decreased Escherichia coli counts and ammonia (NH3) emission. However, no significant differences were observed in ADG, ADFI, G:F during day 22–42, and day 0–42 except for a quadratic increase of ADFI for day 22-42 (p < .05). Feeding the pigs with the diets containing different probiotics mixture levels did not affect the faecal hydrogen sulfide emission (p>.05). In conclusion, increasing inclusion of probiotics mixture up to 0.3% linearly improved growth performance during day 0–7 and day 8–21. Pigs fed the diets with probiotics mixture suplementation improved the nutrient digestibility, faecal bacterial enumeration, and decreased NH3 emission. Highlights Probiotics mixture supplementation increased growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs. Increased fecal Lactobacillus and reduced E. coli counts. Reduced fecal ammonia emission that can contribute in reducing environmental pollution.
ASSESSMENT OF CULTIVARS X ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS FOR YIELD AND SOME OF ITS COMPONENTS IN SOME COTTON VARETIES

The eight cultivars included in this study were two long stable cultivars; Giza 86 and Giza 94 and six extra–long staple; Giza45, Giza 87, Giza 88, Giza 92, Giza 93 and Giza 96. These cultivars were grown at seven locations over the two seasons of 2014 and 2015. These locations were: Kafr El-Sheikh, El-Gharbia, Domietta, El-Sharkeia, ElBeheira, El-Dakahlia and El-Menufia governorates. Analysis of variance for randomized complete block design was done for each location. Then combined analyses of variance were calculated for 8 cultivars, seven locations over two seasons. Differences between means were compared by using the least significant differences (L.S.D.) was done. The mean squares of seasons were insignificant for all yield components traits, except for lint percentage and seed index. Mean squares of locations and cultivars, had highly significant effects on all yield and its components, except for lint index. Seasons × locations and cultivars × locations interaction mean squares had highly significant effects on yield and its components, except for lint index. Meanwhile, Cultivars × seasons interaction and the second order interaction cultivar × season × location interaction mean squares had significant effects on seed cotton and lint cotton yields, lint percentage and seed index. The obtained results pointed out that, Giza 86 cultivar had the highest values for seed cotton and lint cotton yields, boll weight and seed and lint index, followed by Giza 87 cultivar. While, Giza 45 cultivar gave the lowest values for yield and all studied of yield components. The performance of traits studied significantly varied according to cultivars, seasons, locations and their interactions.
Ultrastructural study of sciatic nerve in Ts1Cje mouse model for Down syndrome: an implication of peripheral nerve defects in hypotonia

Trisomy 21 is chromosomal abnormality that occurs as a result of triplication of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), a condition also known as Down syndrome (DS). Beside the intellectual disability and systems anomalies, motor dysfunction due to hypotonia has also been characterised in individuals with DS and yet, its aetiology remains unclear. Ts1Cje, a mouse model for DS, has a partial trisomy (Mmu16) homology to Hsa21, is widely used for DS research. This study investigated the morphological changes and degree of myelination in sciatic nerves of the Ts1Cje mice using both light and transmission electron microscopes processed images. The result showed no morphological difference in the sciatic nerve between the Ts1Cje and WT mice. The g ratio of the Ts1Cje mice was significantly (P<0.0001) higher compared to that of the WT mice. Two factors are known to determine the g ratio, the axonal diameter and the myeline thickness. There was no significant (P=0.2146) difference in the axonal diameter between the two genotypes. Interestingly, the myeline thickness was significantly (P<0.0001) thinner in nerve fibres of the Ts1Cje mice as compared to that of the WT mice. It is therefore concluded that, the hypomyelination in Ts1Cje mice may affect the conduction velocity which in turn affect their motor activity.
Novel blade design strategy to control the erosion aggressiveness of cavitation

With the reduction in size of turbomachinery systems, cavitation aggressiveness is intensified. Erosion, caused by the repeated collapse of gaseous bubbles in proximity to solid surfaces, occurs at rates that dramatically downgrade the life expectancy of rotating parts. As a result, the compacting strategy, meant to reduce cost and improve efficiency, fails for liquid flows. The research undertaken here proposes a novel design method aimed at controlling the erosion aggressiveness of cavitation. The underlying idea is that the cavity closure shock is a determining factor in the intensity of bubble collapse mechanisms: sharp and high amplitude shocks give rise to strong erosion, while low gradient and low amplitude recoveries reduce the erosive intensity. The working hypothesis is tested here, first, by developing a novel inverse design algorithm capable of handling cavitating flow. The code solves the inviscid Euler equations and models blade cavitation using the Tohoku-Ebara barotropic equation of state. Bespoke preconditioning and multigrid procedures are constructed to handle the large amplitudes in flow regime (from hypersonic in the cavity to very low Mach number in the liquid phase). The inverse solver is then used to produce a set of 2D cascade hydrofoil geometries with smoothed shock profiles at cavity closure. The blades are assessed numerically using both steady state and time-resolved approaches. Both hydrodynamic performance, given in terms of swirl, lift and drag, and cavitation dynamics are evaluated. Recently developed erosion prediction methodologies are implemented and demonstrate compelling correlations between the erosion patterns and shock profile. Finally, experimental testing is carried out using a purposefully developed observation platform. The erosive performance of two of the geometries is measured using the paint removal technique. Results reveal a significant improvement in erosive response for the shock smoothed design, thus confirming the numerical findings as well as the validity of the design hypothesis.
Osmotin: A PR Gene Imparts Tolerance to Excess Salt in indica Rice

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation (strain: GV2260 harbouring osmotin gene in a binary vector pGV2260 under the transcription control of CaMV 35S promoter and Nos terminator) was restored to develop productive salt tolerant transgenic rice varieties in a well adaptive high yielding indica rice background of var. Ananda. Out of 705 calli transformed, 426 survived (60.44%) on kanamycin (50 mg/l) supplemented MS medium, which could regenerate 78 plantlets of which 56 survived from 29 independent transformation events. Molecular analyses showed 23 PCR positive, 9 Southern positive and 6 plants positive to both PCR and Southern hybridization. Southern hybridization with radio-labeled osmotin probe showed transgene integration in 2-6 loci in 6 representative transgenic plants. Seed germination test involving seeds at T1 generation on MS medium containing 50mg/l kanamycin showed 3:1 ratio for majority of the lines albeit with a few exception, might be due to small sample size or epistatic interactions. Tolerance test to excess salt was conducted invivoon artificially stimulated NaCl stress under hydroponics involving Hoagland solution showed progenies of T46-1 were most tolerant to excess NaCl followed by the progenies of T2-6, which were planted on soil in cement pots in the Transgenic Rearing Facility (Category II, DBT approved) till maturity and harvested seeds were kept plant wise for subsequent generation advancement of most productive lines with desirable salt tolerance for cultivation enmasseunder saline soil for enhanced productivity under constrained soil at sustainable-scale in Andaman Islands and elsewhere.
Health and Genetic Structure of the American Eel in Florida

Abstract We collected biological, health, and parasite-infection (e.g., Anguillicoloides crassus [a swim-bladder nematode]) data for 609 Anguilla rostrata (American Eel), and population-genetics data from a subset of 299 individuals captured throughout Florida from 2014 through 2016. We did not find evidence of genetic differentiation between groups and concluded that a single American Eel stock extends through the Atlantic-coast drainages into the Gulf of Mexico. We found spatial and seasonal differences in swim-bladder condition and in prevalence and incidence of A. crassus infection in Florida's American Eels. Average values for the ratio of swim-bladder to length and health indices were similar between regions, among seasons, and between uninfected and infected American Eels. Information gathered by this study will be important in future conservation and management efforts.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Cyclemys fusca (Chelonia: Geoemydidae)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Cyclemys fusca was obtained and characterized in this study. The circular molecule is 16,491 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one non-coding region (control region). Its gene arrangement type is identical to the type of most vertebrate. All protein-coding genes initiate with ATG as start codon, except for COI started with GTG. Interestingly, COI and ND6 end up with AGG. The complete mitogenome of C. fusca provides the basic data to research molecular systematics of Geoemydidea.
Simultaneous Speciation Analysis of Inorganic Arsenic and Antimony by On-Line Microwave-Assisted Oxidation and Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

Fast simultaneous speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic and antimony was achieved by using on-line microwave-assisted oxidation and hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). Without microwave irradiation, As(III) and Sb(III) can be selectively determined in acetic acid/sodium acetate (HAc/NaAc) buffer solution at pH 4.3 with 2% potassium tetrahydroborate (KBH 4 ) as the reductant. Under microwave irradiation, the on-line oxidation of As(III) and Sb(III) to As(V) and Sb(V), respectively, can be accomplished within 5 s in the presence of 0.1 mol L -1 potassium peroxydisulfate (K 2 S 2 O 8 ). Then, total As or Sb concentration was determined in 6% HCl and 4% KBH 4 solution. Consequently, the As(V) and Sb(V) concentrations can be calculated by subtracting As(III) and Sb(III) concentrations from the total As and Sb concentrations, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) for As(III), Sb(III), total As and total Sb were found to be 0.02 μg L -1 , 0.02 μg L -1 , 0.07 μg L -1 , and 0.08 μg L -1 , respectively.
Systematic errors in connectivity inferred from activity in strongly coupled recurrent circuits

Understanding the mechanisms of neural computation and learning will require knowledge of the underlying circuitry. Because it is slow, expensive, or often infeasible to directly measure the wiring diagrams of neural microcircuits, there has long been an interest in estimating them from neural recordings. We show that even sophisticated inference algorithms, applied to large volumes of data from every node in the circuit, are biased toward inferring connections between unconnected but strongly correlated neurons, a situation that is common in strongly recurrent circuits. This e ect, representing a failure to fully “explain away” non-existent connections when correlations are strong, occurs when there is a mismatch between the true network dynamics and the generative model assumed for inference, an inevitable situation when we model the real world. Thus, effective connectivity estimates should be treated with especial caution in strongly connected networks when attempting to infer the mechanistic basis of circuit activity. Finally, we show that activity states of networks injected with strong noise or grossly perturbed away from equilibrium may be a promising way to alleviate the problems of bias error.
High sensitivity of freshwater zooplankton to low chloride concentrations is unaltered by nutrient level

ii Co-Authorship. iii Acknowledgements . iv List of Figures . vii List of Tables . viii List of Abbreviations . ix Chapter 1 General Introduction . 1 Potential impacts of multiple stressors . 1 Trends in freshwater salinization . 2 Response of freshwater organisms to chloride . 5 Current guidelines concerning chloride levels in Canada . 7 Variation in zooplankton response to chloride and potential modifying factors . 8 Effects of nutrients on phytoplankton and zooplankton . 10 Effects of chloride on phytoplankton . 11 Community-level effects of chloride . 13 Thesis objectives . 14 Chapter 2 High sensitivity of freshwater zooplankton to low chloride concentrations is unaltered by nutrient level . 16 Introduction . 16 Methods . 19 Experimental design . 19 Sampling protocol . 21 Statistical analyses . 22 Results . 25 Seston carbon concentrations . 25 Initial abundance (week 0) . 26 Final abundance (week 6) . 26 Discussion . 30 Summary . 38 References . 52 Appendix A Biomass Formulae . 61 Appendix B Seston Carbon and Chloride Concentrations . 63 Appendix C Week 0 Abundance of Cladocerans, Scapholeberis mucronata and Bosmina freyi/liederi . 64 Appendix D Abbreviations for the Distance Based Redundancy Analysis . 65 Appendix E Week 0 Model Selection Parameters . 66 Appendix F Week 6 Total, Biomass and Richness Model Selection Parameters . 69 Appendix G Week 6 Copepod Model Selection Parameters . 70 Appendix H Week 6 Cladoceran Model Selection Parameters . 72 Appendix I Week 6 Rotifer Model Selection Parameters . 75 Appendix J Week 6 Chlorophyll a Model Selection Parameters . 77 Appendix K Week 6 Raw Data . 78
Worldwide phylogeography and history of wheat genetic diversity

A phylogeographical study reveals the reshuffling of wheat genetic diversity through time, in relation to human history. Since its domestication in the Fertile Crescent ~8000 to 10,000 years ago, wheat has undergone a complex history of spread, adaptation, and selection. To get better insights into the wheat phylogeography and genetic diversity, we describe allele distribution through time using a set of 4506 landraces and cultivars originating from 105 different countries genotyped with a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism array. Although the genetic structure of landraces is collinear to ancient human migration roads, we observe a reshuffling through time, related to breeding programs, with the appearance of new alleles enriched with structural variations that may be the signature of introgressions from wild relatives after 1960.
Sexual dimorphism in immune function: The role of sex steroid hormones

There is evidence of the relation of sex steroid hormones and sexual dimorphism in immune system response to infectious diseases. The aim of this review was to identify the role of sex hormones in immune function and sexual dimorphism of immune reactions. Gonadal hormones together with the immune system play an important role in process of immune responses to the disease [1]. Estrogens, progesterone and testosterone have different impacts on immune cells and different gonadal hormones are of high importance for responses of innate and adaptive immunity [1, 2]. Estrogens mainly enhance immune function while testosterone has a suppressive role. Higher progesterone during pregnancy leads to autoimmune disease remission and an elevated susceptibility toward certain infectious diseases [2, 3, 4]. The intensity and prevalence of viral infections are typically higher in males, whereas disease outcome could be worse for females [5]. Sexual dimorphism of immune function is based on different concentrations of sex hormones in males and females and on a specific mediating role of these hormones in immune function and response along with differences in innate and adaptive immunity.
Social relationships, social isolation, and the human gut microbiota

Social relationships shape human health and mortality via behavioral, psychosocial, and physiological mechanisms, including inflammatory and immune responses. Though not tested in human studies, recent primate studies indicate that the gut microbiome may also be a biological mechanism linking relationships to health. Integrating microbiota data into the 60-year-old Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we found that socialness with family and friends is associated with differences in the human fecal microbiota. Analysis of spouse (N = 94) and sibling pairs (N = 83) further revealed that spouses have more similar microbiota and more bacterial taxa in common than siblings, with no observed differences between sibling and unrelated pairs. These differences held even after accounting for dietary factors. The differences between unrelated individuals and married couples was driven entirely by couples who reported close relationships; there were no differences in similarity between couples reporting somewhat close relationships and unrelated individuals. Moreover, the microbiota of married individuals, compared to those living alone, has greater diversity and richness, with the greatest diversity among couples reporting close relationships, which is notable given decades of research documenting the health benefits of marriage. These results suggest that human interactions, especially sustained, close marital relationships, influence the gut microbiota.
Modelling shadow banking system and housing market in China

Given the lessons learned from the financial crisis and housing crash in Japan and the US, as well as the strong connection between the shadow banking sector and property market in the second-largest economy, China, it is essential to understand the mechanism of a model that contains both shadow banking activities and the housing market. Therefore, the first objective of this thesis is to model the Chinese banking and housing sector and understand the underlying mechanism. The second objective is related to a methodological issue. In recent years, many researchers, especially in mainland China, have been exploring the Chinese shadow banking system. Most researchers either only calibrate or use Bayesian estimation to estimate their model. However, none of the approaches test the model against real data. Different models can tell different stories and potentially provide different policy implications. However, if the model is rejected by the actual data, all the results and policy suggestions might become insignificant. Therefore, in my research, I adopt two different estimation approaches, Bayesian estimation and Indirect Inference approach, to first provide some understanding about Chinese shadow banking system, and second, to discover whether my model can or cannot be rejected by the actual data.