Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The implications of bite wounding for disease status in badgers Meles meles

Aggressive interactions between individuals can pose a significant risk for disease transmission. Positive associations between bite wounding and disease status in the Eurasian badger Meles meles have led to the suggestion of bite wounding as an alternative route of Mycobacterium bovis (bovine TB) infection to aerosol infection of the respiratory system. Understanding the social behaviours behind transmission routes is important for the effective management of infection. This study investigated the incidence of bite wounding in a naturally infected badger population with regard to (1) the evidence for bite wounding as a route of bovine TB transmission between badgers, and (2) the social behaviour of infected and uninfected animals. The results were consistent with bite wounding being a true route of transmission: M. bovis infected bite wounds were randomly distributed across all body locations, independently of those locations normally associated with respiratory infection, and positively associated with the incident event of bovine TB infection in badgers, with no association to positive respiratory-related cultures. Badgers with established disease (as detected by microbiological culture) were more likely to have bite wounds than those that were culture negative, which may be a reflection of abnormal increased ranging behaviour of infected badgers. Both bite wound infected individuals and infected individuals with bites may be important for bovine TB transmission to cattle and should be taken into consideration when planning a bovine TB management programme.
Context-dependent life-history variation in a pond snail (Lymnaea elodes) exposed to desiccation and a sterilizing parasite1

Abstract: In this study we used a combination of field monitoring and laboratory experimentation to investigate the effects of desiccation and Echinostoma revolutum infection on life-history traits of the pond snail, Lymnaea elodes. Field-collected snails demonstrated a sharp decline in survivorship within 8 weeks of pond drying. Results from a corresponding laboratory experiment, where snails were exposed to parasites prior to aestivation, demonstrated that desiccation played a more important role in snail survival than E. revolutum infection. However, infection influenced host growth patterns as aestivated-infected snails were significantly larger at the end of the experiment relative to aestivated controls. In a second laboratory experiment, exposure after a period of aestivation resulted in higher levels of infection compared to snails that were continuously hydrated. Moreover, exposed-uninfected snails demonstrated higher mortality than either control or infected snails regardless of aestivation treatment. Results from this work 1) demonstrate the importance of incorporating multiple variables into life-history studies and 2) provide insight into the factors underlying host-parasite dynamics in the field.
Crude protein levels in diets for laying hens

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary crude protein (CP) levels for laying hens. 180 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens, with ages ranging from 27 to 43 weeks old, were distributed according to a randomized block design into three treatments with 10 replicates of six birds per cage. The dietary nutritional levels were adequate, except for CP. The treatments were 152, 172, and 182 g/kg. The following parameters were evaluated: feed intake (FI, g/day), egg production (EP, g/kg), egg weight (EW, g), egg mass (EM, g/day), feed conversion ratio (FCR, kg/kg and kg/dozen), yolk (g/kg of EW), eggshell (g/kg of EW), and albumen (g/kg of EW). Feed intake was not influenced by dietary CP levels (p>0.05). Egg weight, EM, FCR (kg/kg), and albumen were not influenced (p>0.05) by the treatments. Birds fed on diets with 172 g/kg CP showed an improvement (p<0.05) in EP of 2.35 % compared with the level of 152 g/kg CP. Increasing dietary CP levels showed better (p<0.05) FCR (kg/dozen) compared to the lowest CP level. Yolk and eggshell weight were influenced (p<0.05) by increasing dietary CP levels. The dietary CP levels of 172 and 182 g/kg increased yolk weight by 6.33 % and 10.1 % compared to the lowest CP level respectively. The eggshell weight showed an average improvement of 6.31 %, increasing the dietary CP levels. The CP level of 172 g/kg is recommended in diets for white-eggs laying hens from 27 to 43 weeks of age.
The compromising foraging of a clonal submerged plant in variable environments of substrate type and light condition: a simulation study

Aims Foraging behavior was concerned less in plants especially for clonal aquatic species. The goal of this study was to test the foraging behavior and the function of phenotypic plasticity of a clonal submerged plant, Potamogeton maackianus A. Benn in variable manipulative environments. Methods To explore the foraging behavior of a clonal submerged plant, clones of P. maackianus were cultivated in variable environments of different substrate types and light conditions. We measured biomass, specific root area (SRA), specific root length (SRL), branching angle of the ramet, chlorophyll content of apical leaves (CCAL), Fv/Fm (chlorophyll fluorescence parameter that indicates maximal photosystem II (PS II) efficiency) and biomass distribution in soil and light contrast treatments after harvest. Important Findings We found that the atypical non-clonal-like foraging behavior homogenized the performance of the stoloniferous clonal species, P. maackianus, in the measurement of biomass in our study. Substrate type had significant effects on most traits of P. maackianus, except on total biomass, shoot biomass distribution and CCAL. Patchy substrate mediated more root distribution into sand patch rather than into clay patch. Increase of SRA, SRL and Fv/Fm might be adaptive to substrate heterogeneity. Moreover, substrate heterogeneity induced ‘sidewalk’ stolon lineage on the edge of sand patch along the patch border. Light condition only had significant effects on branching angle, shoot biomass distribution and Fv/Fm. Shade led to more shoot assignment in light-rich zone than in light-poor zone. Potamogeton maackianus adjusted the branching angle of ramet rather than clonal exploitation in heterogeneous substrates with patchy shade. Moreover, shade led to higher Fv/Fm. A compromising foraging strategy promoted P. maackianus to escape unfavorable environments. Phenotypic plasticity, which maximized the performance of P. maackianus in the measurement of biomass in variable environments, may explain its domination in some shallow lakes of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River.
Transferability and scalability of species distribution models: A test with sedentary marine invertebrates

We found the predictive accuracy of species distribution models (SDMs) for sedentary marine invertebrates to be dependent on the methodology of their application. We explored three applications of SDMs: first a model tested at a scale smaller than at which it was trained (downscaled), second a model tested at scale larger than its training scale (upscaled), and third a model tested at the same scale but outside the extent for which it was trained (transferred). The accuracies of these models were compared with the “reference” models that were trained and tested at the same scale and extent. We found that downscaled SDMs had higher predictive accuracy than reference SDMs. Transferred and upscaled models had lower predictive accuracy than their reference counterparts but still performed better than random, making them potentially acceptable alternatives where information is lacking for imminent decisions or in cost-restricted scenarios. Our results provide insights into the techniques available for research.
An Efficient Anti-Collusion Data Sharing Mechanism for Data Confidentiality for Dynamic Groups

: In this framework users can achieve an effective and economical approach for information sharing among gathering individuals in the cloud with characters of low maintenance and little management cost. Because of the consistent change of the membership sharing information while giving security ensuring is as yet difficult, especially for a untruth cloud because of the collusion attack. In existing framework the secure key distribution depends on the secure communication channel, however to have such a channel is strong assumption and is difficult for practice. In this framework ,a protected information sharing plan for dynamic members. In proposed framework first propose is secure route for key distribution without utilizing any safe communication channels, and user can safely acquire their private keys from gathering managers. The framework can finishes fine grained get to control any customer in the social event can use the source in the cloud and refused customers can’t get to the cloud again after they are denied. Additionally the framework can secure the framework shape conspiracy attack, which implies that clients can’t get unique information records regardless of the possibility that they plan with depended cloud. In this propose system, the file is fragmented into fragments and then uploaded to the cloud where the authentic users can download the file using its private key.If a user leaves the group, the private keys of other members is changed.If a user wants to change the group from one group to other group it can change it.
IDENTIFICATION OF SMALL ENDOGENOUS VIRAL ELEMENTS WITHIN HOST GENOMES

A parallel string matching software architecture has been developed (incorporating several algorithms) to identify small genetic sequences in large genomes. Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are sequences originating in the genomes of viruses that have become integrated into the chromosomes of sperm or egg cells of infected hosts, and passed to subsequent generations. EVEs have been identified in all seven classes of viruses and in the species of all kingdoms of life. Viruses from groups V and VI are considered in this thesis, including HIV and Ebola, within host genomes ranging from bacteria to humans. This database of small endogenous viral elements (SEVEs) contains homology between the viruses and every chromosome of the ten multicellular organisms in this study, including human, chimpanzee, gorilla, mouse, fruitbat, nematode, and thale cress.
Genetic Evaluation for Resistance to Metabolic Diseases in Canadian Dairy Breeds

Genetic evaluation was developed for resistance to metabolic disease traits in Canadian Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey breeds, with the first official release scheduled for December 2016. The model is a 9-trait animal linear model including producer-recorded data on clinical ketosis ( CK ) and displaced abomasum ( DA ), sub-clinical ketosis ( SCK ) defined as a level of milk β-hydroxybutyrate, and 2 indictor traits: fat to protein ratio ( F:P ) and first lactation body condition score ( BCS ) from the conformation classification. First and later (up to the 5 th ) lactations are considered as different (but correlated) traits. Genetic parameters were estimated using a subset (records on 35,575 cows) of the Holstein data. Heritabilities for CK and DA ranged from 0.02 to 0.06. Higher heritabilities were estimated for SCK and indicator traits, from 0.08 (SCK in later lactations) to 0.30 (BCS). Genetic correlations of clinical disease traits between first and later lactations were strong (0.70 for CK and 0.79 for DA), correlations for SCK and F:P were 0.50 and 0.70, respectively. First lactation CK was strongly correlated with DA (0.77) and SCK (0.68); lower correlations were estimated with BCS (-0.56) and F:P (0.42). Genetic links between DA in first and lactations and indicator traits were weaker. EBVs for CK, DA and SCK are published as relative breeding values, with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 5, where higher values are desirable. The overall Metabolic Disease Resistance ( MDR ) index includes SCK, CK and DA, with weights of 50%, 25% and 25%, respectively, and the component EBVs are the averages of first and later lactation EBV for each trait. The MDR index is standardized in the same way as EBVs for individual metabolic disease traits.
Uso de infografías como material de estudio en docencia universitaria

En la presente comunicacion proponemos la elaboracion de infografias para ser empleadas en la formacion de futuros profesionales de la educacion. Una infografia es una combinacion organizada de imagenes, textos, graficas y otro tipo de recursos visuales que ofrecen informacion sobre un ambito determinado con el objetivo de destacar mas sus elementos y ofrecer informacion clara y ordenada que ayude a comprender y analizar correctamente la globalidad del tema de una manera accesible y razonablemente intuitiva para el destinatario. Se trata de un recurso que se emplea habitualmente en el ambito de la prensa escrita o incluso en el ambito de la publicidad, pero que tambien puede ser empleado de diferentes maneras al ambito de la educacion (Gebre y Polman, 2016; Lamb, Polman, Newman y Smith, 2014), puesto que su caracter visual y su intento por hacer accesible y comprensibles temas complejos, lo convierten en un buen recurso didactico. Ainsworth (2006), propuso un modelo a partir del cual podemos entender los mecanismos mediante los que las infografias (y otros materiales educativos basados a representaciones multiples de informacion), pueden llegar a ayudar a los estudiantes universitarios a comprender mejor los conceptos que les resultan poco familiares o complicados. Se trata del modelo DeFT (diseno, funciones y tareas), que sugiere la existencia de numerosas dimensiones que influyen al grado de comprension de un material con representaciones multiples (como las infografias). Estas dimensiones son los parametros de diseno de la infografia, las funciones pedagogicas que puede jugar el material y las tareas o demandas cognitivas que tiene que poner en juego el estudiante para procesar el contenido del material. Una vez planificado el contenido de la infografia, su realizacion es sencilla gracias a programas gratuitos, como Piktochart o Canva. El uso de las infografias en este contexto de formacion del profesorado puede presentar, entre otras, las siguientes ventajas: a) ayuda a la comprension de contenidos complejos, b) es un buen ejemplo de integracion de las TIC en la docencia, c) permite al futuro profesorado familiarizarse con un codigo de informacion poco frecuente en el aula, pero con gran potencial comunicador.
Research progress on the importance of incubation temperature for duck egg hatching and poultry production

The ultimate goal of poultry hatching is to increase the hatching rate and to produce healthy hatched birds. In the incubation process, temperature is the most important factor for the egg hatching rate, the growth performance and offspring phenotype. This not only affects the early development of the offspring, but also has a continued influence on the physical characteristics of the birds, such as final body weight and meat quality. This article reviews the importance of incubation temperature on offspring phenotype, sex differentiation, organism immunity and the development of muscle fibre in poultry.
Preliminary Study on Rice Brown Spot Mimic Lesion Virulence on Bt Gene Transformed Rice Kemingdao

A diseased spot had been observed on leaves of Bt gene transformed rice Kemingdao in paddy field. The lesion was similar to the rice brown spot, however, the fungus had not been identified as Cochiliobolus miyabeanus according to the characteristics of spores produced on PDA media. Three indices, i.e. severity, maximum injure degree and injure degree were used to evaluate the virulence of rice brown spot mimic lesion on Bt gene transformed rice Kemingdao 1 (KMD 1), Kemingdao 2 (KMD 2), as well as their original parent Xiushui 11. The results indicated that KMD was much more susceptible than Xiushu 11. Comparison with the virulence among top leaf to the 5th leaf, a significant difference indicated that the lesion occurred sequentially from the bottom to the top, and damaged KMD more seriously than their parent Xiushui 11.
Self-organized criticality and clumpy sandpiles

In this term paper, I discuss a type of dynamical critical phenomena known as self-organized criticality, which in contrast to the critical phases presented in class does not require any external tuning parameters. I give an introduction to the simplest model exhibiting self-organized criticality, the abelian sandpile model, and discuss some of the associated phenomenology. Examples are given of self-organized criticality in nature, and key ingredients for self-organized criticality are identified. Lastly, a brief review of the literature concerning the effect of defects on self-organized criticality is provided, as well as first-pass numerical simulations on a model of my own construction which I call the “clumpy sandpile” model, in which defects are inherent to the particles of the model rather than static features of the environment.
DIET OF SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL CHICKS IN ANTARCTICA: A DESCRIPTION OF NATURAL PREYS

This study aims to describe the food resource of Southern Giant Petrel during the chick-rearing period in Antarctica. The study was conducted in Stinker Point, Elephant Island in the Austral Summer of 2012/2013. Samples were collected randomly from chicks by flushing methods. In the laboratory all the items were identified and the frequency of occurrence was calculated. We identified twelve different items in the diet of SGP chicks. The most frequent item was the remains of seabird species, followed by crustaceous and cephalopods. This study presents new ecological data on the species, since studies on Antarctic populations are scarce.
Study on Ion Distribution in Cotton under Salinity Condition

The absorption and distribution of Na+,K+ and Ca2+ within the plant parts of upland cotton were studied systematacially in this paper,using two salt-tolerant and one salt-sensitive cultivars as materials, under salinity stress.The results showed,K+ content in ‘ZMS 41’ and ‘ZMS 07’,which were susceptive to salinity stress,was decreased significantly in the root, but increased remarkably for ‘ZMS 35’, and the Na+ contents were higher in the root and leaves but lower in the flowers greatly under salinity stress than that of ck.Salinity stress could inhibit significantly the absorption of Ca2+.
Evaluation of Water Variables in No-Take Zone of Ustica Marine Protected Area (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

In this research, the seasonal fluctuations of the main water variables in the no-take area (A zone) of the Ustica MPA were investigated. This study aims to monitor the water quality of the Ustica MPA, to analyze all the hydrological parameters useful to the physical-chemical characterization of water and to use TRIX index to characterize the trophic level of the coastal marine area. The final results shown that Ustica is an area of relevant environmental and ecological value and is a good example of a Marine Protected Area, which is not excessively affected by the human presence even during the touristic season. This study represents the first records based on well-organized protocol in order to assess water column characteristics of the studied area. This paper could be used as a reference document for future studies regarding the same or similar areas.
RESPONSE OF LAYING HENS TO DIETARY VITAMINS A, E AND SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION DURING SUMMER MONTHS

SUMMARY The current study aimed to investigate the effects of extra dietary supplementations of vitamins A, E and Selenium and their interactions on the performance of laying hens during summer months. A total of 243 Bovans laying hens 42 weeks old were randomly distributed into a factorial design experiment (3×3×3); including 3 levels of vitamin A (0, 8000, 16.000 IU/kg diet), 3 levels of vitamin E (0, 250, 500 mg/kg diet) and 3 levels of inorganic-selenium, (0, 0.25, 0.50 mg/kg diet). Results obtained showed that most values of live body weight and change in live body weight did not significantly differ due to A, E and Se supplementations and their interactions at all ages studied. Increasing the level of supplementations was associated with the decrease in feed intake and improving feed conversion. The effects of supplementations and their interactions were highly significant (P≤0.01) on feed intake and feed conversion. Increasing the level of vitamin A up to 16000 IU/kg diet had the highest (P≤0.05) monthly egg number and egg mass. Vitamin A increased (P≤0.05 and 0.01) each of egg length at 46 and 50 weeks of age and haugh units at 54 weeks of age. The higher level of supplemented dietary vitamin E led to a significant (P≤0.05) decrease in shell thickness and haugh units. Most of the egg quality traits fluctuated significantly (P≤0.05 and 0.01) with the high level of Se. The interactions among supplementations did not significantly affect egg quality traits. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that it may be suggested use each of vitamins A and E (together) at extra levels up to 16000 IU/kg diet of vitamin A and 500 mg/kg diet of vitamin E. Se levels need more investigations to detect its suitable level alone or with vitamin E in laying diets to reduce the negative effects of summer months.
IMPACT DES PEPTIDES GASTRO-INTESTINAUX DANS LA PATHOGÉNÈSE DE L'OBÉSITÉ

While central effects of gastrointestinal peptides (GP) on the regulation of food intake have been described, their peripheral effects, specifically on fat tissue are not well known. The aim of the five studies presented in this thesis was to investigate the impact of seven GP on the modulation of adipose tissue. In the first study, I showed that desacyl ghrelin, obestatin and acyl ghrelin variably affect 3T3-L1 cells. Only desacyl ghrelin (DAG) stimulates proliferation, adipogenesis and lipogenesis. I demonstrated that the DAG-signalling pathway implicates GHSR-1/PLC/PI3K. In a second study, I showed that motilin stimulated triglyceride synthesis, stimulated fatty acid uptake and up-regulated mRNA of PPARγ2, C/EBPα, CD36, FABP4 and DGAT1 in adipocytes. The inhibition of the motilin receptor significantly impaired motilin-stimulated fatty acid uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In a third study, I identified for the first time the presence of the secretin receptor in fat cells and showed that secretin stimulated both lipogenesis and lipolysis in mature adipocytes, enhancing substrate cycling. In a fourth study, I determined that substance P reduced fatty acid uptake, down regulated mRNA expression of IRS-1, GLU4, PPARγ2, C/EBPα, FABP4 and DGAT1, and stimulated pro-inflammatory adipocytokine secretion. Finally, in a fifth study I showed that, in addition to stimulating preadipocyte proliferation and adipogenesis, amylin has an additive effect to insulin on fatty acid uptake. Together, these studies show an important contribution of GP in the pathogenesis of obesity and highlight the direct effects of gastrointestinal peptide on modulation of adipose tissue.
Calcium signaling in glial cells

Glialcellsrespondto avarietyofexternalstimulisuchasneurotransmitters,hormonesor evenmechanicalstressbygeneratingcomplexchangesinthecytoplasmicCa2+concentration.ThisCa2+signalis controlled by an interplayof different mechanismsincludingplasmalemmalandintracellularCa2+channels,Ca2+transportersandcytoplasmicCa2+buffers.Inastrocytes,theCa2+signalcantravelaswaveswithinthesyncytiumspreadingviagapjunctionswhichmightberegardedasapossiblemeansforinterglialcommunication.Ca2+signalingisalsoanimportantmediumforneurone-gliainteraction:neuronalactivitycantriggerCa2+signalsinglialcellsand,inturn,thereisevidencethatglialCa2+signalscanelicitresponsesinneurones.While glialcellsarenotequippedwiththeproperchannelstogenerateactionpotentials,Ca2+signalingcouldbetheinstrumentbywhichthesecellsintegrateandpropagatesignalsintheCNS.