Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Foot Care in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Foot ulcers and other foot problems are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in people with diabetes. In the presence of neuropathy and/or ischemia, the sequence of minor trauma leading to cutaneous ulceration and wound-healing failure is a frequent cause of lower-extremity amputations in diabetic patients (1). Once the amputation of one limb has occurred, the prognosis for the contralateral limb is poor (2). Techniques to prevent amputation range from the simple, but often neglected, foot inspection to complicated vascular surgery. Appropriate management can prevent and heal diabetic foot ulcers, thereby greatly reducing the amputation rate (3-6). The guidelines herein outline the essentials of foot care for people with diabetes. Additional information is available in Diabetic Foot Care (7). Patients are at high risk to develop foot ulcers or infection if they have any of the following conditions: neuropathy, vascular disease, structural deformities, abnormal gait, skin or nail deformities, or a history of previous ulcers or infections. All such patients should be seen by a physician at regular frequent intervals. Patients are at low risk for foot lesions if they have none of the above abnormalities. They should receive instruction on basic preventive foot care and have routine foot inspections.
INTERCROP RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIDER MITE DISPERSAL IN A CORN/PEANUT AGRO‐ECOSYSTEM

Crawling was determined to be an important dispersal mechanism for spider mites leaving border vegetation and entering corn fields early in the season. This dispersal did not appear important in peanut fields. Large populations of spider mites in field corn were found responsible for subsequent infestations in peanuts. As corn plants senesced, mites began crawling to the periphery of the corn plant and grouping in masses on leaf tips, tassels and silks. During this period of mite movement, large numbers of mites were dispersed from the corn on wind currents and carried to nearby host plants. Aerial trapping verified this dispersal of mites and their subsequent colonization of previously uninfested peanut fields. Mites labelled in corn with a fluorescent powder were later found on peanut plants confirming the interhost movement.
The Role of Mammals in Creating and Modifying Seedshadows in Tropical Forests and Some Possible Consequences of Their Elimination

Mammal populations are increasingly hunted, yet the consequences of their disappearance from tropical forests have only recently been explored. Here, we summarize current research on the role of mammals in seed dispersal and postdispersal processes, such as seed predation and secondary dispersal, in different tropical regions. We evaluate how mammal features influence seedshadows and ultimately forest regeneration. Finally, we discuss the potential effect of changes in seedshadows caused by the elimination of many medium‐ and large‐sized mammals. The complex role that mammals play in creating and modifying seedshadows in tropical forests cannot be easily quantified, and in this review we emphasize the variation that exists both within and among mammal taxa and across continents. To bridge this gap in information, we suggest that more studies should evaluate the relative importance of the disappearance of both seed dispersers and seed predators for particular plant species so that we may begin to understand the balance between these two influences. We also suggest that future studies identify ecological redundancy in nonhunted vertebrates within any particular community to evaluate compensatory behavior that may help ameliorate some of the negative effects of hunting of large and medium mammals.
Effect of Different Raising Techniques on In vivo Performance and Carcass and Meat Traits of Ischia Grey Rabbit

: One-hundred and twenty Ischia grey rabbits, traditionally raised in pits, were equally divided after weaning (32 days) into three groups: group C, housed in cages (4 rabbits/cage) and fed a commercial concentrate; group GF, housed as C group and fed grasses collected on the island and crushed faba beans supplemented with an appropriate mineral vitamin mix; group P, housed in pits (8 rabbits/pit) and fed as GF group. Feed intake was recorded daily and live weight monthly up to slaughter (92 days). At slaughter, 10 rabbits per group were used to measure carcass and meat traits. The carcasses were weighed and measured according to the standard procedures and meat samples from the Longissimus dorsi and left hind leg were analysed for water holding capacity and chemical composition, respectively. During the entire trial, group C consumed significantly (p<0.01) a higher quantity of feed than the other groups (126.1 vs. 63.4 and 66.5 g/d, resp. for groups C, GF and P) and at slaughter showed a significantly (p<0.01) higher body weight (2,529.7 vs. 1,324.4 and 1,375.4 g, resp. for groups C, GF and P). Significant differences (p<0.01) were found also for dressing out percentage (68.6 vs. 66.6 and 66.9%, resp. for groups C, GF and P) and for meat chemical composition, in particular lipid percentage (4.13 vs. 1.84 and 1.93%, resp., for groups C, GF and P, p<0.01) and moisture (73.7 vs. 76.4 and 76.3%, resp. for groups C, GF and P, p<0.01). The results suggest the opportunity to obtain heavier animals raised in the pits if their diets were integrated with commercial feed.
Yield potential of non-irrigated sugarcane germplasm accessions in a savanna ecology of Nigeria

The emergence of the sugarcane out-growers scheme intended to service the sugar industries in the savanna agro-ecologies of Nigeria necessitates the availability of low-moisture tolerant varieties for cultivation under strict upland condition. Data obtained from a replicated field trial involving 30 exotic and 18 local sugarcane germplasm collections at the University of Ilorin Sugar Research Institute (USRI), were used to assess their yielding potential under non- irrigated condition. The objective was to determine their suitability as parents for evolving superior but low-moisture tolerant sugarcane genotypes for cultivation in the drought-prone ecologies of the sugarcane growing area of Nigeria. Significant differences were observed for harvest stage (HS), genotype (G) and G x HS interaction for all characters measured except for number of internodes/stalk. Ranges in the means were large for almost all the characters except stalk diameter with a difference of 34.0t/ha between the highest and lowest yielding genotypes. In consonance with genetic variance (δ2g) estimates, broadsense heritability (H2B) estimates were high for kg-brix and millable cane population (0.66 & 0.61), moderate for cane yield and internode length (0.54 & 0.51) but low for sucrose in the juice and stalks/stool (0.25 & 0.12). Eight of the top ten productive genotypes with respect to cane yield, brix and kg-brix are the flowering type indicating their usefulness as parents in hybridization programme intended for developing productive varieties for low soil moisture situation. One of the check varieties (var. CO957) demonstrated yield superiority and adaptation to low soil moisture situation. The implications of these results in breeding and selection for low-moisture tolerant sugarcane varieties are discussed. Keywords : Saccharum officinarum; Cane yield; moisture stress; Brix; Kg-yield Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7 (1&2) 2006 pp. 69-75
Colourful migratory birds: evidence for a mechanism other than parasite resistance for the maintenance of ‘good genes’ sexual selection

The evolution of adaptive mate choice and sexual selection for traits indicating the genetic quality of prospective mates depends upon processes maintaining heritable variation for these traits. A new mechanism for the maintenance of ‘good genes’ is proposed: in migratory birds, variation in the genes influencing migration is maintained in the population by fluctuating directional selection caused by the effects of climatic trends on the suitability of overwintering environments. The suitability of a surviving migrant’s overwintering area affects its spring condition and is reflected in its breeding plumage; environmentally influenced phenotypic condition is thereby associated with migratory genes and condition-dependent traits available for sexual selection. This hypothesis predicts that migratory birds should be more colourful than residents, whereas, because in migrants the correlation and hence coevolution between parasitism and coloration is lower than in residents, the Hamilton—Zuk hypothesis of parasite resistance ‘good genes’ predicts the opposite. Comparison of 37 phylogenetically independent intrageneric pairs of species showed migrants to have significantly more contrasting and colourful plumage and bare parts than residents: the ‘good migrations’ mechanism rather than the Hamilton—Zuk hypothesis is thus supported for migrant bird coloration.
Mammalian Frugivores With Different Foraging Behavior Can Show Similar Seed Dispersal Effectiveness

Frugivores with disparate foraging behavior are considered to vary in their seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE). Measured SDEs for gibbons and macaques for a ‘primate‐fruit’ were comparable despite the different foraging and movement behavior of the primates. This could help facilitate fruit trait convergence in diverse fruit–frugivore networks.
Long‐term pattern of alternative stable states in two shallow eutrophic lakes

SUMMARY 1 Lake Takern and Lake Krankesjon, two moderately eutrophic, shallow lakes in southern Sweden, have during the past few decades shifted several times between a clear-water state with abundant submerged vegetation and a turbid state with high phytoplankton densities. 2 Between 1985 and 1991, Lake Takern was in a clear state, whereas Lake Krankesjon shifted from a turbid to a clear state. During this shift, the area covered by submerged macrophytes expanded, followed by an increase in water transparency, plant-associated macroinvertebrates, and piscivorous fish. Nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton biomass and abundance of planktonic cladocerans decreased. 3 In both lakes, water level fluctuations were the most common factor causing shifts, affecting submerged macrophytes either through changes in light availability or through catastrophic events such as dry-out or mechanical damage by ice movement. 4 Our data give further support for the existence of two alternative stable states in shallow lakes maintained by self-stabilizing feedback mechanisms.
INCREASED WILLOW HEIGHTS ALONG NORTHERN YELLOWSTONE's BLACKTAIL DEER CREEK FOLLOWING WOLF REINTRODUCTION

Abstract Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995–1996. In August 2004 we measured plant architecture of Geyer willow (Salix geyeriana) stems along three 100-m reaches of Blacktail Deer Creek in Yellowstone's northern elk (Cervus elaphus) winter range to evaluate changes in patterns of browsing and height growth following wolf reintroduction. Average browsing intensities (n = 3 stream reaches) of 100% in 1997 decreased to 0%–55% by 2003, whereas average stem heights of 25–74 cm in 1997 increased to 149–268 cm by 2003, indicating that willow height growth was inversely related to browsing intensity. In addition, average willow canopy cover over the streams increased from <5% in 1997 to 14%–73% in 2004. These findings were consistent with a hypothesis that increased willow heights following the 1995–1996 wolf reintroduction represent a trophic cascade involving wolves, elk, and deciduous woody vegetation.
The Combining Ability of Inbred Lines of Golden Bantam Sweet Corn 1

WHEN only a few inbred lines of corn are available the usual method of determining how they can be used most advantageously is to make all possible combinations between them and select for commercial production the single, three-way, or double crosses that prove the most satisfactory. When many inbred lines are available it has proved desirable to test their combining ability and discard those that give low-yielding crosses on the average. The first method of determining combining ability consisted of a series of crosses of each inbred with io or i2 inbred lines used as testers. In i932, Jenkins and Brunson~ pre~ented data to show that an openpollinated variety could be used as a tester to determine the relative combining ability of inbred lines. Significant and fairly high correlations were obtained between the mean yields of inbred lines in several single crosses and the average combining ability of these same lines in top crosses. This has led to the use of top crosses as a means of selecting inbred lines with satisfactory combining ability. The present study was made to determine the reliability of top crosses as a means of determining the combining ability of inbred lines of sweet corn. A study was made also of the relation between characters of inbred lines and their Pl top crosses.
Revision of the Neotropical weevil genus Phymatophosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The genus Phymatophosus includes seventeen species of Neotropical Cryptorhynchinae, with hosts in the plant family Cucurbitaceae; P. scapularis Champion and P. atropos (Boheman) are seed predators of species of Cayaponia and Fevillea, respectively; P. squameus Faust is a stem borer of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz (chuchú or chayote). The species are keyed, described, and illustrated, their distributions mapped; they are arranged in five species‐groups: leucomelas‐group, albocaudatus Hustache, camelus (Fiedler) comb.n. , dysmorphus sp.n. , leucomelas (Boheman) comb.n. , scops (Pascoe) comb.n. , semialbus (Fiedler) comb.n. ; egregius‐group, akestra sp.n. , egregius sp.n. , enodis sp.n. ; scapularis‐group, balloui sp.n. , bufo sp.n. , scapularis Champion (= multicristatus Champion syn.n., = variegatus Fiedler syn.n.); squameus‐group, squameus Faust, verrucula sp.n. , verutus sp.n. ; atropos‐group, atropos (Boheman), lachesis (Fiedler) comb.n. The apparent sister‐group of Phymatophosus is the latisquamis group of the Neotropical tylodine genus Pseudomopsis Champion.
Mountain gorilla reproduction and sexual behavior

Data on mountain gorilla reproductive behavior, demography, and sexual behavior are reviewed and compared with earlier reviews of reproduction by wild gorillas and with data on captive gorillas. Topics covered include maturation, female transfer patterns and reproductive histories, reproductive intervals, influences on fertility, infant mortality, sex ratios at birth, birth seasonality, copulatory behavior, and estrus cyclicity. Most of the results of the updated analyses presented here corroborate those from previous studies of the same population. Newer information shows that responsibility for the initiation of copulations varies in association with female fertility and sexual state; that infant mortality in the first year is higher than reported earlier; that the sex ratio at birth is 1:1; and that, on a population level, interbirth intervals following the birth of males are the same length as those after female births. Data on reproductive intervals, sexual cyclicity, and copulatory behavior are generally similar to data from many captive situations. Two findings are particularly relevant to the problem of cessation of reproduction by captive females. First, fertility does not obviously decline with age in the wild. Second, a high proportion of females have reproduced in their natal groups and some have had multiple births there.
The Metabolic Profile of NIDDM Is Fully Established in Glucose-Tolerant Offspring of Two Mexican-American NIDDM Parents

NIDDM patients with overt fasting hyperglycemia are characterized by multiple defects involving both Insulin secretion and insulin action. At this point of the natural history of NIDDM, however, it is difficult to establish which defects are primary and which are acquired secondary to insulinopenia and chronic hyperglycemia. To address this question, we have studied the glucose-tolerant offspring (probands) of two Mexican-American NIDDM parents. Such individuals are at high risk for developing NIDDM later in life. The probands are characterized by hyperinsulinemia in the fasting state and in response to both oral and Intravenous glucose. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal (insulin clamp technique), measured at two physiological levels of hyperinsulinemia (∼240 and 450 pM [∼40 and 75 μU/ml]), was reduced by 43 and 33%, respectively. During both the low- and high-dose insulin clamp steps, impaired nonoxidative glucose disposal, which primarily represents glycogen synthesis, was the major defect responsible for the Insulin resistance. During the lower dose insulin clamp step only, a small decrease in glucose oxidation was observed. No defect in suppression of HGP by insulin was demonstrable. The ability of insulin to inhibit lipid oxidation (measured by indirect calorimetry) and plasma FFA concentration was impaired at both levels of hyperinsulinemia. These results indicate that the glucose-tolerant offspring of two NIDDM parents are characterized by hyperinsulinemia and manifest all of the metabolic abnormalities that characterize the fully established diabetic state, including insulin resistance, a major impairment in nonoxidative glucose disposal, a quantitatively less important defect in glucose oxidation, and a diminished insulin-mediated suppression of lipid oxidation and plasma FFA concentration.
Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) algae supplementation increases microbial protein production and feed intake and decreases retention time of digesta in the rumen of cattle

Cattle consuming pastures low in protein have low liveweight gain due to low rumen degradable protein (RDP) supply and thus low microbial crude protein (MCP) production and efficiency of MCP production [EMCP, g MCP/kg digestible organic matter (DOM)]. Nitrogen supplements can increase MCP production and EMCP of cattle grazing low protein pastures. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of supplementation with a non-protein-N source (NPN), in this case urea and ammonium sulfate (US), with a single-cell algal protein source (Spirulina platensis), on intake, microbial protein supply and digestibility in cattle. Nine cannulated Bos indicus steers [initial liveweight 250.1 ± 10.86 (s.d.) kg] were fed Mitchell grass hay (Astrebla spp; 6.1 g N, 746 g NDF/kg DM) ad libitum and were supplied with increasing amounts of US (0, 6, 13, 19 and 33 g US DM/kg hay DM) or Spirulina 0, 0.5, 1.4, 2.5 and 6.1 g Spirulina DM/kg W.day in an incomplete Latin square design. The response of MCP production and EMCP to increasing amounts of the two supplements was different, with a greater response to Spirulina evident. The MCP production was predicted to peak at 140 and 568 g MCP/day (0.64 and 2.02 g MCP/kg W.day) for the US and Spirulina supplements, respectively. The highest measured EMCP were 92 and 166 g MCP/kg DOM for the US and Spirulina treatments at 170 and 290 g RDP/kg DOM, respectively, or a Spirulina intake of 5.7 g DM/kg W.day. Increasing RDP intake from US and Spirulina resulted in an increase in Mitchell grass hay intake and rumen NH3-N concentration and reduced the retention time of liquid and particulate markers and digesta DM, NDF and lignin in the rumen with greater changes due to Spirulina. Total DM intake peaked at a Spirulina supplement level of 4.6 g Spirulina DM/kg W.day with a 2.3-fold higher DOM intake than Control steers. Rumen NH3-N concentrations reached 128 and 264 mg NH3-N/L for the US and Spirulina treatments with a significant increase in the concentration of branched-chain fatty acids for the Spirulina treatment. The minimum retention time of liquid (Cr-EDTA; 23 and 13 h) and particulate (Yb; 34 and 22 h) markers in the rumen were significantly lower for Spirulina compared with US and lower than unsupplemented animals at 24 and 34 h for Cr-EDTA and Yb, respectively. Spirulina could be provided safely at much higher N intakes than NPN supplements. The results suggest that, at an equivalent RDP supply, Spirulina provided greater increases than US in MCP production, EMCP and feed intake of Bos indicus cattle consuming low protein forage and could also be fed safely at higher levels of N intake.
Nitrogen Cycling as Affected by Interactions of Components in a Georgia Piedmont Agroecosystem

Patterns of nitrogen cycling were studied in N-fertilized (N: 95 kg/ha, P: 45 kg/ha, K: 135 kg/ha) and "unfertilized" (no N, but the same levels of P and K) agroecosystems with heavy weed infestations. To calculate monthly standing crop nitrogen levels, nutrient concentrations were mul- tiplied by biomass values for each month. Soils were also sampled monthly at three depths; precip? itation was sampled weekly and analyzed for N inputs. Nitrification and denitrification enzyme ac? tivities were measured, as well as rates of denitrification from unaltered soil cores. Nitrate leaching was measured with porous cup lysimeters. Weeds competed more vigorously with the crop in fertilized treatments than in unfertilized treatments, resulting in greater crop growth in unfertilized treatments. Nitrification, denitrification, and leaching losses of N were greater in fertilized treatments than in unfertilized treatments, especially after residue input following harvest of the summer crop. Soil organic nitrogen tended to be lower in unfertilized treatments than in fertilized treatments after summer cropping, whereas soil organic carbon showed an opposite trend. As a result the carbon : nitrogen ratio of soil organic matter was significantly higher in unfertilized treatments than in fertilized treatments. Fertilized treatments showed a positive N balance (47 kg/ha) while unfertilized treatments showed a net loss of N (57 kg/ha). Nitrogen use efficiency by plants was higher in unfertilized treatments than in fertilized treatments, but was low relative to many unmanaged ecosystems.
GRAZING PREFERENCES OF IMPALA: A QUANTITATIVE FAECAL ANALYTICAL AND ANATOMICAL EVALUATION

Summary Quantitative microscopic analysis of impala (Aepyceros m. melampus) faeces showed that epidermi of grass leaves persist undigested in fairly large fragments, and that interspecific anatomical variation provides diagnostic criteria for identification of these grasses. Relative abundance of these species growing in the impala habitat was determined and a comparison between relative abundance and relative amount eaten showed significant selection for or against different species. Selection was attributed to palatability. In those species where selection was not significant, it is suggested that the relative amounts eaten were probably determined by their abundance.
Time-Budgets of Camargue Horses Iii. Environmental Influences

1. Time-budgets of female, male and yearling horses were calculated for 34 weeks over two years. There was little variation in the time spent in different activities during autumn and winter (Aug.-Mar.). 2. The horses spent more time lying (sleeping) in spring, when on a high protein diet. In summer they spent more time standing alert and walking, less feeding, probably because of the attacks by biting Diptera. 3. Within autumn and winter standing alert decreased when mosquitoes were abundant and standing resting, usually in shelter, increased on days with low maximum temperatures and during rain. Feeding time was unaffected by these variables. 4. The breeding mares increased their feeding times during periods of nutritional stress (end of winter, peak lactation) but only by 6-8%. 5. The time-budgets of these horses showed less variation than has been found in some ruminants. It is argued that for most of the year their feeding time is close to the maximum value allowed by the need to perform other activities, principally resting and moving.