Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of reproductive organs and egg quality characteristics in hyline and domestic layer breeds.

Received: Revised: Accepted: October 14, 2014 November 19, 2014 February 21, 2015 For comparison of the reproductive organs and the egg quality in hens, a case study was undertaken on traditional Chinese Zhenning and commercial Hyline hen. A total of 15 hens from each breed were selected to study lipogenesis, serum lipids, and organ body weight ratios of liver, ovary and oviduct to compare their lipid synthesis and transportation mechanism. Moreover we also examined the histomorphological comparison of the egg forming organs and egg quality parameters between two breeds. Results showed significantly higher values of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR γ), estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ER β) mRNA expressions in the liver of Zhenning than Hyline hen. Same difference was also observed in the vitellogenin (Vtg) protein levels. Triglyceride levels were higher in the Hyline hens. Besides this, liver, ovary and oviduct body weight ratio were significantly higher in Hyline hen than Zhenning hen. Moreover, Hyline hen had significantly higher oviduct weights. Ovary weight and hierarchy was also bigger in the Hyline hen. Finally, egg quality parameter comparison showed significantly lower values in the Zhenning eggs than the White Hyline eggs. These findings suggest that Hyline and Zhenning hen differ significantly due to selection in terms of lipogenesis, increase in body weight ratio of liver, ovary and oviduct morphology, while Hyline hens have also superior egg quality than Zhenning hen eggs. ©2015 PVJ. All rights reserved
Pluralizing global urbanism

We are in the midst of an exciting and turbulent time for global urban enquiry, with the ground shifting rapidly. This response reflects on van Meeteren et al.’s provocation as a stimulating paper with prospects for advancing an important dialogue among scholars engaged in research on global urbanization, from various approaches. My paper makes a number of interrelated arguments. First, that the apparent disenfranchisement experienced by global city researchers in the face of postcolonial critiques and other challenges may be more a function and reflection of the rapidly changing contours of empirical–epistemological developments than the authors may allow. Second, an overlooking of relevant global cities research arguments in postcolonial critiques may have as much to do with the practical and perennial problem of long publishing lead times as it does with straw man arguments and indiscriminate truisms. Third, in considering the authors proposal for a more engaged rather than polemical pluralism, my reflection briefly discusses the value of adding a more feminine mode of engagement that sees the strategic deployment of what I call ‘Goddess Tactics’ (contra ‘God-Trick’) in service of a more plural and genuinely global urban epistemology.
Tumor Vaccination after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Cell Reconstitution of the Nonmyeloablatively Conditioned Tumor-Bearing Murine Host1

Allogeneic bone marrow cell reconstitution of the nonmyeloablatively conditioned host is supposed to provide an optimized platform for tumor vaccination. We recently showed that an allogeneic T cell-depleted graft was well accepted if the tumor-bearing host was NK depleted. Based on this finding, a vaccination protocol in tumor-bearing, nonmyeloablatively conditioned, allogeneically reconstituted mice was elaborated. Allogeneically reconstituted mice, bearing a renal cell carcinoma, received tumor-primed donor lymph node cells (LNC), which had or had not matured in the allogeneic host. Primed LNC were supported by tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells, which were donor or host derived. Optimal responses against the tumor were observed with host-tolerant, tumor-primed LNC in combination with host-derived dendritic cells. High frequencies of tumor-specific proliferating and CTLs were recorded; the survival time of tumor-bearing mice was significantly prolonged, and in >50% of mice the tumor was completely rejected. Notably, severe graft-vs-host disease was observed in reconstituted mice that received tumor-primed LNC, which had not matured in the allogeneic host. However, graft-vs-host was not aggravated after vaccination with tumor-primed, host-tolerant LNC. Thus, the LNC were tolerant toward the host, but not toward the tumor. The finding convincingly demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of tumor vaccination after allogeneic reconstitution of the nonmyeloablatively conditioned host.
Use of a long-chain polyphosphate mixture for shelf-life extension of processed cheese spreads

The influence of a food-grade long-chain polyphosphate mixture on the growth and survival of spoilage micro-organisms during storage in an experimental processed cheese spread formulation was evaluated. The emulsifying salt was added to the cheese blend at a concentration of 0.5% or 1.0%. A control product was also manufactured, which contained monophosphate instead of polyphosphate as emulsifying salt, with all other ingredients being identical to those in the experimental processed cheese spread. Half of the finished products were subjected to accelerated shelf-life testing at 37 °C for 10 days, whereas the other half of them was stored refrigerated at 4 °C for 120 days. Microbiological analyses (enumeration of viable cell counts, mesophilic sulphite-reducing clostridia, coliforms, yeasts and moulds) and sensory tests were performed at regular intervals. The results showed that polyphosphates had a beneficial effect on the shelf-life of the processed cheese spread tested in that they significantly reduced (P<0.05) the growth or survival rates of spoilage bacteria, especially of mesophilic sulphite-reducing clostridia. Polyphosphates also beneficially influenced the sensory, including textural properties of the experimental processed cheese spread. All the samples containing less than 1% polyphosphate showed signs of butyric blowing significantly earlier (P<0.05), during both accelerated shelf-life tests and regular refrigerated storage, than did the products fortified with 1% polyphosphate. In conclusion, the suitability of the long-chain polyphosphate formulation tested for shelf life extension of processed cheese spreads was demonstrated.
Masturbation in captive Hylobates (gibbons)

Masturbation was observed in 9 of 52 captive adult Hylobates (gibbons) over a period of 17 years at the International Center for Gibbon Studies (ICGS). Four females and 5 males masturbated with varying degrees of regularity. The behavior may be related to a disruption in early rearing experiences of Hylobates. This is the first report on masturbation in these animals and documents that this behavior occurs infrequently in captive Hylobates. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relationship Between Mental Skills and Penalty Kicks Performance in the Elite Penalty Shooters in Iran’s Professional Football Teams

The goal of this research was to predict the elite penalty shooters performance in Iran’s professional football teams, depending on the level of their mental skills. Because of this, 20 penalty shooters of professional teams including the Iran’s national team and Persepolis team were chosen by patterning way as available. The mental skills that were studied in the research were evaluated by the Ottawa mental skill assessment tool questionnaire (OMSAT). For determining the operation of penalty shooters in the current research, the whole penalty shoots during the nine leagues from the side of the participating players have been considered in the study. Pearson’s test of correlation index were used to analyze the data. Results showed that among the basic mental skills, psychosomatic and cognitive skills have a meaningful correlation with success in penalty operation and success in the operation of penalty shooters of professional football teams can be predicted by the mental skills. Therefore, football coaches should pay attention to the improvement of players’ and specially penalty shooters’ mental skills and use the practicing programs of mental skill to improve the mental preparation of players and specially penalty shooters.
Seasonal Reproduction of the Greenhouse Frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) in Havana, Cuba

Abstract. The gonadal and fat body cycles and their relationship to environmental factors are described for the Antillean frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris during a seasonal cycle in Havana, Cuba. Reproduction was discontinuous in both sexes. Bimodal vitellogenesis was observed from April—October. The first vitellogenic wave occurred April—June. In August an ovarian weight downgrade was observed due to oviposition. The second wave was September—October. Spermatogenesis started in March, with a high spermatogenic activity during June and July, and ended in November. In both sexes, fat bodies varied seasonally and showed an inverse relationship to the gonadal cycle, which supports its possible role as an energetic reserve for reproduction. Temperature was the environmental factor that significantly influenced the vitellogenic activity. Photoperiod was inversely related to fat bodies of both sexes.
Simulating Peace Negotiations

Background. This article reflects on the use of a simulation of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians in an upper-level undergraduate course at a liberal arts university in the United States. The university was commissioned to test an externally developed proposal and implementation plan for peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinians (the “IMPLEMENTATION PLAN”). Aim. (1) To contribute to student’s academic learning and understanding of the conflict; (2) to find strengths and weaknesses of the model. Method. Analysis of data collected using a convergent parallel mixed method approach involving surveys, exit interviews, and guided reflection papers. Results. Student Learning Outcomes. The data supports a deeper understanding of the nature of the conflict as well as the complexity of peace negotiations. Students reported a higher level of engagement with the subject matter as a result of the simulation. The model encouraged innovative thinking and new solutions, which might be of interest in real life application. Challenges to student learning were mainly related to (1) student identification with their roles and (2) a need to compromise and finding quick answers. Model. The simulation demonstrated the strengths of the IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, namely to the focused, structured negotiation process with narrowly defined “tracks. ” Challenges include the structure of the simulation, the question of applicability of the model to a real life situation, as well as the long-term implementation strategy of negotiation outcomes. Conclusion. The simulation of the IMPLEMENTATION PLAN greatly benefited student learning and led to thought-provoking outcomes concerning negotiations. However, the findings suggest the need for flexibility and modification of the model.
Identifying animal illusions requires neuronal and cognitive approaches: comment on Kelley and Kelley

Endler JA, Endler LC, Doerr NR. 2010. Great bowerbirds create theaters with forced perspective when seen by their audience. Curr Biol. 20:1679–1684. Gregory RL. 1998. Eye and brain: the psychology of seeing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. How MJ, Zanker JM. 2013. Motion camouflage induced by zebra stripes. Zoology. doi: 10.1016/j.zool. 2013.10. 004. Kelley LA, Kelley JL. 2014. Animal visual illusion and confusion: the importance of a perceptual perspective. Behav Ecol. 25:450–463. Pearn SM, Bennett ATD, Cuthill IC. 2001. Ultraviolet vision, fluorescence and mate choice in a parrot, the budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus. Proc R Soc B. 268:2273–2279. Stevens M, Merilaita S. 2009. Introduction. Animal camouflage: current issues and new perspectives. Phil Trans R Soc B. 364:423–427. Stevens M, Ruxton GD. Forthcoming 2014. Do animal eyespots really mimic eyes? Curr Zool. Available from: http://www.actazool. org/site_ media/onlinefirst/downloadable_file/2013/11/22/Martin_Stevens. pdf Stevens M, Yule DH, Ruxton GD. 2008. Dazzle coloration and prey movement. Proc R Soc B. 275:2639–2643.
The Evolution of Aphid Life Cycles

The life cycles of aphids are among the most remarkable of any animal group. They include parthenogenetic and sexual generations, elaborate polyphen­ isms, and obligate shifting between unrelated host-plant taxa. These and other unusual life-cycle traits occur in a variety of combinations among the approx­ imately 4000 extant species within the Aphidoidea (46). Although the complexity and the diversity found in aphid life cycles are often daunting, the study of these insects repeatedly draws both entomologists and evolutionary biologists, for several reasons. First, a few aphid species are agricultural pests, and studies of life cycles can be essential to effective control measures (e.g. 71). Second, aphids, especially their life cycles, are intrinsically fascinating. Finally, aphids are good study organisms for addressing outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. For example, the partially clonal reproductive mode of aphids is useful for testing hypotheses for advantages of sexuality (18, 21, 36, 115, 124, 186) and also facilitates estimation of the genotypic component of fitness traits (e.g. 54, 102, 124, 129, 131, 148, 166, 167, 176-179). The occurrence of several other unusual phenomena, including extensive polyphenism (129), complex life cycles with seasonal alternation between two disjunct sets of hosts (29, 82, 89, 90, 109, 126, 128), soldier castes (3-5, 86), and sex-ratio control (130, 190) have
Graveside Deaths

Cemeteries are designed to provide mourners with a semiprivate place to express their grief. The cemetery is symbolic of the reunification of the living with the dead. Deaths, particularly suicides, occurring in cemeteries are a rare phenomena. Graveside suicides represent an exaggerated form of pathological mourning and grief reaction. Graveside suicides are analogous to a death pact between two persons in which the second death occurs as a reaction to the first, in the cemetery where the first is buried, and without the knowledge of the first. Case histories of graveside suicides are presented, as well as a brief discussion of other types of injuries and deaths occurring in cemeteries. A profile of the graveside suicide victim, the psychodynamics of grief reactions, and the medicolegal implications related to a cemetery security are also presented.
INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

▪ Abstract Inbreeding depression is of major concern in the management and conservation of endangered species. Inbreeding appears universally to reduce fitness, but its magnitude and specific effects are highly variable because they depend on the genetic constitution of the species or populations and on how these genotypes interact with the environment. Recent natural experiments are consistent with greater inbreeding depression in more stressful environments. In small populations of randomly mating individuals, such as are characteristic of many endangered species, all individuals may suffer from inbreeding depression because of the cumulative effects of genetic drift that decrease the fitness of all individuals in the population. In three recent cases, introductions into populations with low fitness appeared to restore fitness to levels similar to those before the effects of genetic drift. Inbreeding depression may potentially be reduced, or purged, by breeding related individuals. However, the Speke's .
Mental health and psychosocial consequences of armed conflict and natural disasters

Catastrophic events including armed conflict and natural disasters affect large numbers of children and adolescents around the world (Morris et al., 2007). During recent decades, it is estimated that two million children were killed in war, six million were injured in war zones, twelve million were made homeless, twenty million displaced to refugee camps and over one million orphaned (Southall and Abbassi, 1998; Williams, 2006). Thousands of adolescents are affected directly by natural disasters including recent cyclones, earthquakes and the Asian tsunami (Saylor and De Roma, 2002; Belfer, 2006). People living in resourceconstrained countries are more likely to experience natural disasters and armed conflict than are those living in highincome settings (Morris et al., 2007). The mental health of people who experience armed conflict and natural disasters is inevitably adversely affected in the immediate aftermath and there can be long-term adverse effects on psychological and social functioning (InterAgency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines, 2007). Compared to children who tend to be more sheltered by family members, adolescents are more often directly exposed to the traumatic events. Almost all research into the prevalence and determinants of mental health problems in adolescents due to armed conflict and natural disasters have been conducted in developed countries. Twenty-eight studies were identified for this review which had investigated the mental health consequences of armed conflict or natural disasters in either community, clinical or refugee cohorts, either limited to or including adolescents aged 10–19 years in resourceconstrained settings. Most of this research has been conducted in the countries of the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East, and some in Southeast Asian, Latin American and African countries. Nineteen of the studies pertained to armed conflict, eight to natural disasters and a single study investigated the mental health of child soldiers (see Tables 1 and 2).
Inmunobiología de la infección por Brucella spp: Fundamentos para una estrategia vacunal

Las especies de Brucella causan enfermedades en animales domesticos y salvajes incluyendo bovinos, ovinos, caprinos, suinos, caninos. Esta bacteria representa una serio problema economico para la ganaderia mundial; en Colombia por ejemplo, se calculan perdidas anuales por 28 mil millones de pesos representados en la incapacidad de incursionar en los mercados internacionales, los trastornos reproductivos y los abortos que sufren los animales infectados. Ademas, esta bacteria representa un gran peligro para la salud publica ya que produce una enfermedad zoonotica. Aunque varios modelos para el control han sido llevados a cabo, como los sacrificios de los animales infectados y los tratamientos con antimicrobianos, varios paises en el mundo como Colombia han mantenido un programa de vacunacion como estrategia de control. La cepa 19 de B. abortus, viva atenuada, es la vacuna mas utilizada actualmente e induce una amplia proteccion en varios modelos animales. Sin embargo, su similitud antigenica con cepas de campo impide la discriminacion entre animales vacunados e infectados naturalmente. Para obviar estos inconvenientes se han disenado varias vacunas utilizando diferentes estrategias, entre ellas la deleccion de genes que codifican proteinas inmunodominates de la B. abortus, que no afectan la respuesta inmune protectora como, vacunas de polisacaridos, vacunas de acidos nucleicos y la expresion de proteinas foraneas en las cepas vacunales. La cepa rugosa RB51, carente de LPS, hasta el momento una de las cepas utilizadas con mas exito ya que no induce respuesta humoral, por lo que no interfiere con el diagnostico de la infeccion por las cepas de campo. Ademas, esta cepa ofrece gran seguridad en los animales vacunados e induce una inmunidad esencialmente celular, donde las citoquinas producidas por los linfocitos, han mostrado ser de gran importancia en la resistencia a la infeccion por esta bacteria. Palabras Clave: Brucelosis, respuesta Inmune, vacunas.
Variation in methane production by sheep fed every two hours

SUMMARY Four sheep were maintained on a pelleted diet based on barley straw, sunflower-seed meal and barley which was offered at 2 h intervals by mechanical feeders. In each of two periods approximately 3 weeks apart, methane production was measured continuously for 6 h in each animal. Despite the frequent feeding regime, methane output varied markedly with time increasing after feeding and then declining. Serial correlation analysis indicated a rhythmical variation of period 2 h which was confirmed by Fourier series analysis for all but one data set. The observations suggest that even with frequent feeding, there is considerable deviation from steady state in the rate of carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen.
Biogeographic Patterns of Antillean Lythraceae

Abstract The Lythraceae contribute eight genera and 41 species to the flora of the Antilles. Two genera, Ginoria and Haitia, and twenty-two species are endemic to the region. A summary of the distribution of each genus among the islands of the Greater Antilles is presented, together with an estimate of center of origin and mode and direction of introduction. Cuphea (15 species) and Ginoria (13 species) are best represented. Results of phylogenetic analyses for Rotala, Cuphea, and Ginoria aid in understanding the nearest relationships and geographic sources of the Antillean members of these genera. They suggest that Rotala was introduced twice from different directions and Cuphea was introduced from eastern South America a minimum of five to eight times into the Greater Antilles and at least three times into the Lesser Antilles. A paraphyletic Ginoria and Haitia, which is nested within the most derived species of Ginoria, are the result of adaptive radiation in situ in Cuba and Hispaniola from an undetermined ancestor. The biogeographic patterns of the Lythraceae in the Caribbean primarily have been established following chance, multiple, long-distance dispersal events from multiple directions. Highly vagile seeds and self-compatibility most likely enhanced their successful dispersion and establishment. Vicariance is not required to explain the distribution of Lythraceae in the Antilles.
Impact of Hands-on Science through School Gardening in Louisiana Public Elementary Schools

The first four chapters of a hands-on gardening curriculum (Junior Master Gardener Handbook Level One) were introduced into three East Baton Rouge Parish (Louisiana) elementary schools in the fall semester of 2002 as an informal education program conducted by East Baton Rouge Parish Master Gardener volunteers and Louisiana State University students. The curriculum took place once per week for 2 hours during regular school hours. Science achievement tests, developed at Texas A&M University specifi cally for the Junior Master Gardener program, were given before and after the students participated in the gardening activities to determine whether or not the activities helped improve achievement scores. Science achievement was signifi cantly different (P ≤ 0.0167) between the experimental classes’ pretest and posttest scores, while no signifi cant difference was found between the pretest and posttest scores of the control classes. No signifi cant difference was found between the experimental and control classes due to treatment. Several variables may have affected the outcome of the study, but the results show once weekly use of gardening activities and hands-on classroom activities help improve science achievement test scores.