Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) bycatch in the California swordfish and thresher shark drift gillnet fishery

Summary Bycatch of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the California swordfish drift gillnet fishery (‘the fishery’) has rarely been documented since the inception of the observer program in 1990. The fishery was observed every year since 1990 and through 2012, a total of 8,365 drift gillnet sets have been observed. Ten sperm whales have been observed entangled during six different observed sets, yielding a bycatch rate of approximately 1.1 sperm whales per 1,000 observed sets. All of the entanglements occurred during October through December in waters deeper than 1,500 meters (547 fathoms), in proximity to steep continental shelf bath ymetry. Recent bycatch of sperm whales in the fishery has exceeded allowable potential biolog ical removal (PBR) levels set under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (Carretta et al. 2012). Given the rarity of sperm whale entanglements, the effectiveness of current NMFS Take Reduction Plan measures (including the use of acoustic pingers) designed to reduce bycatch of this species is unknown. This summary reviews information regarding the bycatch of sperm whales in the fishery, current distribution of fishing effort, and the known distribution of sperm whales in the region. The review may provide insights for reducing the future risk of sperm whale entanglements.
Root rot of irrigated lentils in Iran

In some areas of Iran, root rot of irrigated lentils (Lens culinaris) was a serious problem resulting in high plant mortality and decreased yields. Pythium ultimum was the predominant soil-borne pathogen isolated from discolored, necrotic roots of diseased plants in furrow-irrigated fields at Karaj, and appeared to be the primary incitant of root rot of irrigated lentils at several other locations in the country. Pythium aphanidermatum was the primary pathogen isolated from roots of diseased lentils at two irrigated sites in southern Iran. Isolates of P. ultimum and P. aphanidermatum were highly pathogenic on roots of lentil in greenhouse inoculation studies. Other fungi isolated from diseased lentil roots less frequently were Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora sp. , Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, F. roseum, and F. solani. Cultures of R. solani, Phytophthora sp. , and M. phaseolina were less pathogenic on lentil roots than either Pythium sp. , whereas the three Fusarium spp. were nonpathogens. In.
Chromosome studies in four species of Saxifraga L. (Saxifragaceae) collected in Tuva and adjacent regions, Russia

Four species of Saxifraga such as S. aestivalis, S. hieracifolia, S. foliolosa and S. hirculus were collected in Russia and observed their somatic chromosome numbers. Saxifraga aestivalis showed the somatic chromosome number of 2n=28, S. hieracifolia showed that of 2n=114, S. foliolosa showed that of 2n=60, and S. hirculus showed that of 2n=16. These chromosome numbers verifi ed with the previous reports, expect for S. foliolosa. The chromosome numbers of 2n=60 for S. foliolosa was reported here for the fi rst time. Chromosome sizes of four species varied in mean lengths with each others; S. aestivalis and S. foliolosa had small-sized mean chromosomes 1.31 μm and 1.47 μm long respectively, S. hieracifolia had medium sized, mean chromosome 2.75 μm long, and S. hirculus had large sized, mean chromosome 4.4 μm long. Saxifraga aestivalis had a bi-modality and decrease in chromosome size from the largest to the smallest chromosomes, while the other three species had mono-modal or gradual decrease in chromosome size from the largest to the smallest chromosomes.
Causes and Consequences of Cooperative Construction in the Mice Mus spicilegus and Peromyscus polionotus

The cooperative construction of shared dwellings is a phylogenetically-widespread evolutionary puzzle. Shared shelters are common goods – all individuals in the shelter benefit, at the expense of those individuals that contribute to the construction. The evolution of cooperation requires existing variation for selection to act upon and genetic benefits to cooperators, through inclusive fitness or direct rewards. This study focuses on two genera of mice, Mus and Peromyscus, to examine shared construction and social monogamy as potential transitions to more sophisticated forms of sociality, such as cooperative breeding. The mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) is named for the large mounds that groups of mice build and beneath which they overwinter. Variation in mtDNA and 14 microsatellites show limited genetic structure across the geographic range of M. spicilegus. Mice from the same mound are more genetically related than mice from different mounds, and males and females associated with a mound are equally likely to be relatives. However in spring, when breeding begins, male kin are more likely to share a territory than are female kin. One possible interpretation is that males associate with kin to minimize the costs of being cuckolded, as this study finds evidence of multiple paternity in every litter genotyped. By increasing the chances of the cuckold being a brother, a male still gains
The Distribution of Quercus rubra in the Maumee Lake Plain of Southeastern Michigan

Abstract Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) has been described as an opportunistic, pioneer species adapted to mesic sites, though its presence and site-specific occurrence in extreme soil-water conditions is not well understood. Fifty woodlots were investigated for the presence of Q. rubra on the Maumee lake plain of southeastern Michigan. Although it was found widespread geographically, Quercus rubra was observed only in dry-mesic to mesic ecosystems where adequate moisture remains throughout the growing season on sand, sand/clay, and clay lake plain landforms. Quercus rubra was absent in sand lake plain ecosystems of nutrient-poor, deep sand (>200 cm to clay), and from high sand ridges that were not adjacent to swampy depressions. Within the sand lake plain it was observed only on relatively mesic, well- to somewhat poorly-drained ecosystems. In all landforms, Q. rubra was absent in seasonally inundated depressions. Successful overstory recruitment of Q. rubra was very rare, with the exception of a single site on the sand lake plain. Lacking major disturbances in the overstory, Q. rubra will likely be replaced by basswood (Tilia americana L.) and elm (Ulmus spp.) on the clay lake plain, sugar (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and black maple (Acer nigrum Michx. f.) on the sand/clay lake plain, and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and sugar maple on the sand lake plain. Further studies with a particular focus on water-table relations are necessary to predict future migrations of Q. rubra under a warming climate.
Developmental patterns of FASN and LIPE mRNA expression in adipose tissue of growing Jinhua and Landrace gilts.

The present study was aimed to investigate the developmental patterns of FASN (fatty acid synthase) and LIPE (lipase, hormone-sensitive) mRNA in adipose tissue in pigs of different breeds and the relation with carcass fat content. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was sampled and total RNA was extracted to determine FASN and LIPE mRNA levels by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the FASN mRNA level increased with age ( P < 0.05) and Jinhua gilts expressed higher FASN mRNA compared with Landrace gilts at 80 and 125 days of age ( P < 0.05). In addition, Jinhua gilts expressed lower LIPE mRNA compared with Landrace gilts at 80 days of age ( P < 0.01). Furthermore, the ratio of FASN/LIPE mRNA had a similar model in the two breeds, and was higher in Jinhua gilts than that in Landrace gilts at 80 and 125 days of age ( P < 0.05). The FASN mRNA level was positively related to carcass fat content in Jinhua and Landrace gilts (r = 0.802, P = 0.01; r = 0.734, P = 0.02; respectively), and the ratio of FASN/LIPE expression exhibited significantly positively related carcass fat content ( r = 0.804, P = 0.01; r = 0.749, P = 0.02; respectively).
Novel thermostable clostridial strains through protoplast fusion for enhanced biobutanol production at higher temperature—preliminary study

The objective of this study is to improve the thermal stability of clostridium strains for enhanced biobutanol production. Thermostable clostridia species were developed through protoplast fusion between mesophilic clostridial species (i.e., Clostridium beijerinckii and Clostridium acetobutylicum ) and thermophilic clostridial species (i.e., Clostridium thermocellum ). Production of biobutanol was examined in the present preliminary study using the clostridium strains and their protoplast fusants using sugar mixture with composition identical to that of wheat straw acid hydrolysate. Maximum biobutanol production of 9.4 g/L was achieved by a fused strain at 45 °C with total sugar consumption of 66% compared to that at 35 °C (i.e., 8.4 g/L production and 64% total sugar consumption). Glucose and xylose uptake rates were generally higher compared to all other individual sugars in the feedstock. In general, average cell concentrations were in close proximity for all parenting and fused strains at 35 °C; i.e., in the range of 5.12 × 10 7 to 5.49 × 10 7 cells/mL. Average cell concentration of fusants between the mesophilic clostridial species and the thermophilic clostridial species slightly increased to ~ 5.62 × 10 7 cells/mL at a higher temperature of 45 °C. These results, in addition to the ones obtained for the butanol production, demonstrate enhanced thermal stability of both fusants at a higher temperature (45 °C).
Fattening heifers on continuous pasture in mountainous regions - implications for productivity and meat quality.

Economical and ecological issues as well as consumer demand for sustainably produced agricul - tural food rise the trends to fatten beef cattle on pasture during the grazing season. However, particularly for mountainous regions, implications of turning beef cattle on pasture remain unclear concerning animal perfor - mance and product quality. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare short grass grazing with a semi-intensive indoor fattening system in the Alps. Charolais × Simmental h eifers of about 300 kg live weight were either fattened on continuous pasture (3-5 cm sward height) and finished in barn (Pasture group) or solely raised in barn on a grass silage-based diet with 2 kg concentrates (Indoor group). Animals were slaughtered at 550 kg live weight. Results showed that continuous pasture with a finishing period in barn allowed as good growth and carcass performance as fattening in barn. Over the whole experiment, average daily gain was 993 g/day in the Pasture group and 1026 g/day in the Indoor group. During the growing period, daily gain was numerically lower in the Pasture group than in the Indoor group (767 g and 936 g, respectively). Carcass fat - ness of pasture fed animals was lower but within the desirable threshold. Water holding capacity, meat colour, and shear force, an indicator for beef tenderness, were unaffected by feeding practices, but fat colour was more yellow in the Pasture group. Furthermore, meat from animals fattened on pasture had lower intramuscular fat contents and enhanced proportions of nutritionally valuable omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids.
Structural requirements for thymosin β4 in its contact with actin

We examined the conformational preferences of mutants of thymosin beta4, an actin monomer sequestering protein by NMR spectroscopy in 60% (v/v) trifluoroethanol. Under these conditions, the wild-type thymosin beta4 conformation consists of an alpha-helix (helix I) extending from residues 5-16 with a more stable fragment from lysine 11 to lysine 16 and a second alpha-helix (helix II) encompassing residues 31-39. The point mutations studied here are located in helix I or in the LKKTET segment (residues 17-22) that form the two main entities of interaction with the actin molecule. The alpha-1H conformational shifts allow us to investigate the helicity of the polypeptides at the residue level and to correlate these structures with their biological activity. We determine that an extension of helix I at its C-terminal end over the LKK-segment results in loss of activity. The correct termination of this helix is connected to a specific orientation of the polypeptide essential for a cooperative action of the thymosin beta4 binding entities required for full activity.
Component Fatty Acids of Some Indian Seed Oils

The seed oil Chrysalidocarpus (Areca) lutescens, Terminalia paniculata, Roth, Combretum ovalifolium, Roxb. , Dioscorea oppositifolia, Linn, Dioscorea anguina, Roxb. , Stachytarpheta indica, Vahl, Aristolochia indica, Sanseveria cylindrica, Sanseveria zeylanica and Basella alba have been examined for their component fatty acids. Fettsaure-Zusammensetzung einiger indischer Saatole Die Saatole von Chrysalidocarpus (Areca) lutescens, Terminalia paniculata, Roth, Combretum ovalifolium, Roxb. , Dioscorea oppositifolia, Linn, Dioscorea anguina, Roxb. , Stachytarpheta indica, Vahl. Aristolochia indica, Sanseveria cylindrica, Sanseveria zeylanica und Basell a alba wurden auf ihre Fettsaure-Zusammensetzung untersucht.
The impact of glucocorticoid on proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by regulating DKK1

Objective To observe the influence of different concentrations of glucocorticoid on the expression of DKK1 gene and the effect of DKK1 on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods The experiment consisted three groups, namely, control group (no Dex), Dex8 group (10－8mol/L Dex), and Dex6 group (10－6mol/L Dex). Culture fluids with different concentrations of Dex, including 0, 10－8, and 10－6mol/L, were used to stimulate BMSCs. Realtime PCR was used to detect the expression of the DKK1 gene, and clone formation experiment was used to detect the influence on the proliferation of BMSCs. Osteogenic- and adipogenic-induced media were used which contained 0, 10－8, and 10－6mol/L Dex, respectively, to stimulate BMSCs, and to extract RNA after 3d. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of DKK1 genes, osteogenic genes (Runx2 and OCN), and adipogenic genes (C/EBP and PPARγ). After three weeks, Alizarin red staining and Oil red O staining were adopted to detect the influence on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations. Results The expression of DKK1 was the highest, whereas the corresponding cloning formation ability was the lowest, after the stimulation of glucocorticoid with high concentration. The expressions of Runx2 and OCN under osteogenic induction in Dex8 group were the highest, whereas the expression of DKK1 was the lowest. Based on Alizarin red staining, calcified cortical tubers were only found in Dex8 group. The expressions of C/EBP and PPARγ under adipogenic induction in Dex6 group were the highest, so was the expression of DKK1. With Oil red O staining, there were abundant lipid drops in Dex6 group. Conclusion The expression of DKK1 was upregulated under high concentration of glucocorticoid, but it inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs. DKK1 inhibited osteogenic differentiation but promoted adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Osteoporosis after glucocorticoid administration may be ascribed to the fact that glucocorticoid regulates the expression of DKK1 and affects the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs.
Effect of Different Levels of Probiotic Primalac on Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Persian Sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)

The effect of the probiotic Primalac (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium and Bifidobacterium bifidium) was investigated on growth performance and survival rate in Persian sturgeon juvenile. Three practical diets containing 0 (control), 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15% Probiotic Primalac were used to feed fish. 120 Persian sturgeon juvenile (14.676±0.813 g) were randomly distributed between 12 fiberglass tanks of 500 L capacity. During 105 days of feeding trial, the fish receiving Probiotic Primalac feeds showed significantly higher growth performance in terms of weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), final weight (FW), body weight gain (BWG) and body weight increase (BWI) compared with those fed the control diet (P 0.05). The results indicated that Probiotic Primalac could affect growth parameters in Persian Sturgeon juvenile (P<0.05). The differences in parameters were tested for significance by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 20.
NUTRITIONAL REGULATION OF SERUM INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I CONCENTRATION IN CATTLE

The overall objective of this dissertation research was to understand the mechanisms by which serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is regulated by nutritional intake in cattle. Two studies were conducted to achieve this objective. In the first study, effects of feeding levels on basal and growth hormone (GH)-stimulated serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and acid-labile subunit (ALS), and their mRNA expression in the liver were determined in beef cows. It was found that increased nutritional intake did not alter basal concentrations of serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 or ALS, or their mRNA expression in the liver. However, under increased nutritional intake, GH administration stimulated a greater increase in serum IGF-I concentration, and this greater increase was not due to reduced degradation of IGF-I in serum. Increased nutritional intake did not enhance GH-stimulated IGF-I mRNA expression in the liver, but it increased the amount of IGF-I mRNA associated with polysomes, suggesting that liver translation of IGF-I mRNA is enhanced under increased nutritional intake. Under increased nutritional intake, GH also stimulated greater increases in serum IGFBP-3 and ALS concentrations, but these greater increases were not due to greater expression or translation of their mRNAs in the liver. Taken together, these results suggest that translation of GH-stimulated IGF-I mRNA in the liver is enhanced under increased nutritional intake and this enhancement may be partially responsible for the greater GH-stimulated increase in serum IGF-I concentration. These results also suggest that the greater GH-stimulated increases in serum IGFBP-3 and ALS may be secondary to the greater increase in serum IGF-I because increased IGF-I may increase
Influence of manufacturing conditions on the bioavailability of magnesium in calcined magnesites measured in vivo and in vitro

SUMMARY Dietary calcined magnesite supplements of different particle sizes and temperatures of calcination were examined at Glasgow University Veterinary School in 1981. Balance experiments with wether sheep revealed that particle sizes < 75, 75–150, 150–250 and 500–1000 μm diameter of a feed-grade calcined magnesite all increased urinary output of magnesium to a similar extent but the apparent magnesium availability coefficient for the 500–1000 μm diameter fraction (0·03) was significantly less than for fractions of smaller diameter (0·17–0·23) (P < 0·01). A 1000–2000 μm fraction of fertilizer-grade material had an apparent availability of 0·18 but had the least effect on urinary magnesium output. Calcination temperatures of 800, 900 and 1100 °C significantly increased apparent availability (c. 0·46)compared with that for temperatures of 500 and 650 °C (c. 0·12) (P < 0·01), and significantly increased urinary output of magnesium. Losses of magnesium from these supplements incubated in the rumen of cows at grass in 24 μm mesh nylon bags showed some correlations with their apparent availability and urinary magnesium output. Solubility in molar ammonium nitrate showed some good correlations with urinary magnesium output but not with magnesium availability. Supplementation of a low magnesium diet given to lactating ewes with fine particle (< 75μm) calcined magnesite resulted in significantly greater increases in plasma magnesium concentration than when coarse particle material (500–1000 μm) was given (P < 0·05), but magnesites calcined at 650 and 800 °C induced similar changes in plasma magnesium.
Localization-Preserved Binaural Source Separation Using Channel-Wise Target Prior Estimation and Equi-Binaural Spectral Gain

This paper addresses a new statistical model of binaural signals and its application to e ﬃ cient binaural source separation. Binaural source separation is always required to retain a spatial cue of the separated sound, such as a head-related transfer function (HRTF). However, the direct use of an HRTF is not realistic because this information is normally not known in advance. To cope with this problem, ﬁrst, we focus on the di ﬀ erence between signal probability density functions at both ears, which can be blindly estimated by us-ing our previous work on higher-order statistics. Next, we derive a sound-localization-preserved generalized minimum mean-square error short-time spectral amplitude estimator. Objective and subjective experiments show the e ﬃ cacy of the proposed method in terms of spatial quality.
Genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genes and lung cancer susceptibility in the Bangladeshi population

ABSTRACT Objective To verify possible associations between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase Mu (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase θ (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) genes and susceptibility to lung cancer. Methods A total of 106 lung cancer patients and 116 controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 were analyzed using PCR while GSTP1 was analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Risk of lung cancer was estimated as odds ratio at 95% confidence interval using unconditional logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and tobacco use. Results GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes did not show a significant risk for developing lung cancer. A significantly elevated lung cancer risk was associated with GSTP1 heterozygous, mutant and combined heterozygous+mutant variants of rs1695. When classified by tobacco consumption status, no association with risk of lung cancer was found in case of tobacco smokers and nonsmokers carrying null and present genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1. There is a three-fold (approximately) increase in the risk of lung cancer in case of both heterozygous (AG) and heterozygous+mutant homozygous (AG+GG) genotypes whereas there is an eight-fold increase in risk of lung cancer in cases of GG with respect to AA genotype in smokers. Conclusions Carrying the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype is not a risk factor for lung cancer and GSTP1Ile105Val is associated with elevated risk of lung cancer.
Plasma Mitochondrial DNA Concentrations after

wasreadily detected in the DNA isolated by the G/R methodbut was detected less frequently in DNA isolated by theQiagen method from the specimen from the same patient,although more DNA was recovered by the Qiagenmethod. Another possible contributor to this discrepancyin assay results is the nature of the RE-PCR assay. This isa PCR-based assay, and with more wild-type genomicDNA in the assay, the sensitivity of detection of themutated DNA is reduced because of interference with thePCR.This study clearly demonstrates that the method chosenfor isolation of DNA can contribute significantly to theoutcome of mutation detection (in this case, k-