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Income is one of the yardsticks for measuring standard of living, and the inequality in its distribution makes smallholder crop farmers more trapped in abject poverty. In this paper, we examined the influence of household income sources on the overall income inequality and the contributions of households' socioeconomic characteristics to income inequality. We sourced our data from the 2nd wave of LSMS-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture General Household Survey Panel 2012/2013 conducted by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the World Bank (WB). The survey used a two-stage sampling technique; the first stage involves the selection of Enumeration Areas (EAs), which represent the primary sampling unit, using probability proportional to size (PPS) of the EAs in each state and the FCT. A total number of 1888 smallholder crop farmers with complete information were considered for this study. The methods adopted in analyzing the data were: Gini-coefficient decomposition by income sources and regression-based factor decomposition of inequality. To better reflect households' welfare, we used per adult equivalent household income as an alternative to total income. The result showed that the total income was ₦249,874,122.90 ($1,588,418.6) with an average income per adult equivalent of ₦132,348.60 ($841.30). The Gini decomposition revealed that the overall Gini index is 0.713, which indicates high-income inequality among farming households. Among all the income sources considered, crop income, non-farm income, and transfer income decreased income inequality while livestock income increased income inequality. The regression-based decomposition shows that majority of the variables selected to represent the socioeconomic factors have an increasing effect on income inequality. In contrast, variables such as age, gender, marital status, farm size, education, and dependency ratio have a significant impact on the adult equivalent household income. This study recommends that a land redistribution policy that will increase the farm size of farmers to boost small-scale crop production is necessary to bridge the gap of income inequality, promotion of improved technologies that will enhance farm household productivity. Lastly, policymakers should lay more emphasis on the mobility of transfer income from within and outside the country to fight inequality, given its decreasing effects on the overall inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out at citrus production nursay of the Ministry of Agriculture- General directorate of Horticulture and Forestry in the province of Karbala holy, Alhundia town between 1/03/ 2016 and 1/12/2016 on 6 months Pomelo seedlings grafted on two rootstocks of citrus including Fulcamaryana and Bitter orange to study the effect of rootstocks, organic fertilizer (Rice straw residues) and bio-fertilization by different genius of bacteria including Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter chroococcus , Bacillus subtilis and their interactions on some traits of vegetative growth. The experiment was carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors. This study included 32 treatments with 3 replicates for each treatment and each replicated with three seedlings where mean comparisons were performed using LSD test at 5% level of significance. The results showed that biofertilizer treatment of Azospirillium and Bacillius with organic fertilization was significantly increased the height of seedling (54.20 cm). In addition, Azospirillium, Azotobacter and Bacillius with organic fertilization was increased the bud diameter, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area and shoot fresh and dry weights which were 0.735 cm, 8.23 branch/seedling, 80.68 leaf/seedling, 1598.4 cm/seedling, 89.70 g/seedling, 42.60 g/seedling respectively, compared with control treatment which gave the lowest values, while the results indicated that Fulcamaryana was superior in the height of seedling, increasing of bud diameter, increasing the number of branches, increasing the number of leaves and leaf area which were 39.47 cm, 0.562 cm, 4.74 branch/seedling, 60.45 leaf/seedling, 1328.4 cm/seedling respectively. However, bitter orange was superior in shoot fresh and dry weights with 76.63 g and 32.23 g respectively. The study was showed the superior of interaction treatment for grafting seedlings on Fulcamaryana treated with Azospirillium, Azotobacter and Bacillius with organic fertilization in increasing the bud diameter, the number of branches, the number of leaves and leaf area, whereas fresh and dry weights for total of vegetative were superior in interaction treatment of Pomelo seedlings that grafted with bitter orange and treated with Azospirillium, Azotobacter , Bacillius and organic fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to highlight the perceived threats of World Trade Organization's certain agreements to the livelihood of the tribes residing erstwhile FATA and adjacent five-border provinces/wilayatona of Afghanistan. There are seventeen agreements of WTO that deals with issues related to trade and commerce. The Agreement on Agriculture offers obligations for member states in the area of market access, tariff regulations, export competition, domestic support, export subsidies, food security, and environmental protection. If agreements such as Agreement on Agriculture, General Agreement on Trade and Services, Trade Policy Review Mechanism and Social Clause are extended without adjustment to the needs of poor nations and sub-nations living on the peripheries, then it may prove detrimental to their survival. To substantiate my argument, I have briefly discussed the adverse affects and recorded protests against such agreements by the poor indigenous people living across the world's different peripheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the Kars Province, located in the north-east of Turkey, is located on a plateau covered with volcanic materials with an average altitude of about 2000 meters. Due to the general morphological and geological features of the area, the winter is quite cold, snowy, the summers are cool and rainy and there is a hard continental climate. Therefore, more animal husbandry activities are being done instead of plant agriculture activities. Sugar beet production is mostly made in the rural settlements in the districts of Akyaka and Arpaçay in the northern part of the province. Sugar beet shows instability due to current agriculture, general sugar policies and changes in underlying natural factors, 24,700 tons of production has been made by 2015-2016 campaign year, and 381 families are continuing directly from sugar beet farming. Sugar beet produced by the company is evaluated in Kars Sugar Factory. 3506 tons of crystal sugar, 1176 tons of molasses and 10,394 tons of wet pulp were produced at the plant where about 400 employees were employed for 19 days in 2015-2016 production campaign period. In the province, sugar beet cultivation, transportation and sugar production provides a livelihood to 5000 people from economic as 800 families in total. Due to the instability that has occurred in sugar beet production for many years due to the difficult geographical conditions present, the sustainability of the production of sugar on the ground seems weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming as an approach to sustainable agriculture tries to decrease environmental problems and possible health hazards caused by the residues from pesticides. Since the agricultural professionals are responsible to inform the farmers and the public by education and extension efforts, it is necessary to understand their attitudes. The main purpose of this research was to investigate factors influencing agricultural professionals' attitudes towards organic farming. We used a survey research by questionnaire in Fars province (a southern province in Iran) to collect data from 138 agricultural professionals in autumn 2007. Major independent variables in the study were knowledge of organic farming, general attitude towards the environment, social norm about organic farming, moral norm about organic farming, nutrient attitude, health attitude, perceived transitional difficulty and negative attitude towards conventional agriculture. The findings showed that negative attitude towards conventional agriculture, general attitude towards the environment, perceived transitional difficulty and moral norm had significant and direct effects on attitude towards organic farming. Negative attitude towards conventional agriculture had the most direct effect. As it was expected, the perceived transitional difficulty had a negative effect on attitude towards organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text combines two basically different views on pest control namely the scientific researcher's view on pest control and the pesticide regulator's views on pesticide control aiming at a common and pragmatic ecological approach. A set of practicable 'tools' are discussed that can be used to monitor and reduce environmental impact on agro-ecosystems where the ultimate goal is to move towards a more environmentally sustainable agriculture. General principles governing farming systems and pest control strategies are illustrated with pesticide use and pesticide risk reduction measures in coffee and rice cultivations. Adaptive pest control based on Integrated Pest Management with a rational use of pesticides as a last resort is suggested to be the most viable way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the United States-Mexico bilateral agreement in agriculture. General provision of the agreement; Rules of the trilateral agreement covering the domestic agricultural policies and export subsidies; Purpose of the rules; Proposed duties and safeguards under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Information on circulating levels of insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) in female domesticated animals is limited, as their concentrations are significantly lower than in males. The objectives of the present study were to 1) develop a sandwich time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) with higher detectability to measure blood INSL3 concentrations in female cattle, 2) determine INSL3 concentrations in female cattle among age groups and reproductive conditions, and 3) explore associations between INSL3 levels and ultrasonographic ovarian measurements. Blood was collected repeatedly from Japanese Black beef female calves (n = 12; 0－8 mo), heifers (n = 10; 10－26 mo), and cows (n = 20; 27－200 mo). Blood was taken from the cows (n = 13) at follicular, post-ovulatory, and luteal phases, and from cows with follicular cysts (n = 12). Ultrasonography of ovaries was conducted in the calves (n = 12) and the cows without ovarian diseases (n = 9). The ovarian area, as well as the number and diameters of antral follicles ≥ 2 mm, were determined in each ovary. The proposed method detected a difference in plasma INSL3 between calves (0.01 ng/mL) and heifers (0.18 ng/mL). However, the conventional assay showed similar levels for calves and heifers (1.82 vs 2.07 ng/mL). Plasma INSL3 and testosterone concentrations increased from calves to heifers (P < 0.0001), but only INSL3 rose from heifers to cows (P < 0.0001). INSL3 and testosterone concentrations did not change across the estrus cycle in cows, and the levels of both hormones in follicular cystic cows did not differ from those in the follicular phase. Ovarian area, maximal and average follicular diameters, and total volume of all follicles per animal were higher in cows than calves (P < 0.001). Plasma INSL3 concentrations correlated positively with the total volumes of all follicles in calves (P < 0.05) and cows (P < 0.05), whereas testosterone concentrations did not correlate with ovarian follicular measurements. In conclusion, plasma INSL3 concentrations measured by the proposed sandwich TRFIA showed a clear increase from female calves to cows in beef cattle. These results suggest that circulating levels of INSL3, but not of testosterone, are associated with the total volume of all antral follicles in both ovaries per animal in female cattle. • Sandwich bovine INSL3 immunoassay was developed with higher sensitivity in plasma. • INSL3 concentrations increased from calves to heifers and from heifers to cows. • INSL3 concentrations correlated with total volume of all follicles in each animal. • Blood INSL3 levels can be a biomarker of ovarian follicular total volume in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purwoceng (Pimpinella pruatjan) is an Indonesian native plant but difficult to cultivate. Hydroponics can be used as a solution for purwoceng cultivation. Hydroponic types and nutrient concentrations can affect purwoceng's productivity. This study aimed to determine total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), changes in steroid, and antioxidant capacity due to two hydroponic types (nonrecirculating and recirculating drip) and three nutrient concentrations (1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppm). Purwoceng was determined for its moisture content, ash content, and dry weight, and extracted with ethyl acetate for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and with ethanol for TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity. The data were analyzed statistically and grouped using principal component analysis (PCA) and heat map analysis (HMA). Nonrecirculating drip with high nutrient concentration at the aerial part was the best treatment to produce high TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity. There were no significant changes in steroid content. PCA showed that purwoceng extracts could be grouped in to two groups, i.e. aerial and root groups. HMA showed that purwoceng extracts could be distinguished from the abundance of palmitic acid and stigmasterol. The antioxidant capacity of purwoceng was directly proportional to the TPC value and also related to the presence of phytol, stigmasterol, and palmitic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluating the prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who may be at risk of poor outcomes using grading systems is one way to make a better decision on treatment for these patients. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the modified World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) Grading Scales in predicting the outcomes of patients with aSAH. Methods: From August 2019 to June 2021, we conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study on adult patients with aSAH in three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. The primary outcome was the 90-day poor outcome, measured by a score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death) on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We calculated the areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUROCs) to determine how well the grading scales could predict patient prognosis upon admission. We also used ROC curve analysis to find the best cut-off value for each scale. We compared AUROCs using Z-statistics and compared 90-day mean mRS scores among intergrades using the pairwise multiple-comparison test. Finally, we used logistic regression to identify factors associated with the 90-day poor outcome. Results: Of 415 patients, 32% had a 90-day poor outcome. The modified WFNS (AUROC: 0.839 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.795–0.883]; cut-off value≥2.50; PAUROC<0.001), WFNS (AUROC: 0.837 [95% CI: 0.793–0.881]; cut-off value≥3.5; PAUROC<0.001), and H&H scales (AUROC: 0.836 [95% CI: 0.791–0.881]; cut-off value≥3.5; PAUROC<0.001) were all good at predicting patient prognosis on day 90th after ictus. However, there were no significant differences between the AUROCs of these scales. Only grades IV and V of the modified WFNS (3.75 [standard deviation, SD: 2.46] vs 5.24 [SD: 1.68], p = 0.026, respectively), WFNS (3.75 [SD: 2.46] vs 5.24 [SD: 1.68], p = 0.026, respectively), and H&H scales (2.96 [SD: 2.60] vs 4.97 [SD: 1.87], p<0.001, respectively) showed a significant difference in the 90-day mean mRS scores. In multivariable models, with the same set of confounding variables, the modified WFNS grade of III to V (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 9.090; 95% CI: 3.494–23.648; P<0.001) was more strongly associated with the increased risk of the 90-day poor outcome compared to the WFNS grade of IV to V (AOR: 6.383; 95% CI: 2.661–15.310; P<0.001) or the H&H grade of IV to V (AOR: 6.146; 95% CI: 2.584–14.620; P<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, the modified WFNS, WFNS, and H&H scales all had good discriminatory abilities for the prognosis of patients with aSAH. Because of the better effect size in predicting poor outcomes, the modified WFNS scale seems preferable to the WFNS and H&H scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted in 2020-2021 sought to determine the impact of NPK fertilizer with three levels (F0: 0, F1: 900 g, F2: 1300 g) and three levels of pruning at the ratio of P1: 5, P2: 7, and P3: 9 leaves/bunch, to improve the fruit and quality of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. "Khastawi," held at the Al-Zahfaraniah Palm Station, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. Executing the study as a factorial experiment (3 × 3) within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had three replications. Every two date palms as an experimental unit setup came from 54 trees aged 16 years and, as much as possible, homogeneous in growth characteristics. The experimental results showed that NPK fertilization at the F2 level was superior in all studied traits, including fruit set, weight, width, length, volume, seed and bunch weights, and total yield. The pruning treatment (P3) was significantly superior by giving the highest fruit set, width, and length values, whereas F0 and P2 treatments gave the lowest average for these traits. Furthermore, the interaction of F2P3 provided the highest rates in fruit weight, length, volume, seed, and bunch weights, and total yield, while the F0P1 treatment gave the lowest values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overwintering is important for the survival of northern mammals, and northern ungulates deposit body fat. Researchers have interpreted fat deposition as an adaptation to food shortages during winter. However, it is likely that reproductive activities also affect fat deposition. We compared kidney fat indices (KFIs) of sika deer (Cervus nippon) between the northern and southern populations in Japan. In the northern population, the KFIs of adult males and females peaked during summer and autumn, respectively. In adult males, the KFIs abruptly declined during the rut (October), while in yearling males and fawns, they were low in summer. In the southern population, KFIs of adult males were high in summer but decreased in October. KFIs of adult females were low and increased in December–January. KFIs of fawns were low. These results suggest that most classes of the southern population did not deposit much fat during the summer except for adult males. The result that southern adult males displayed as much fat deposition as the northern males suggests that body fat was deposited not only for overwintering but also for reproductive activity of adult males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multicentre prospective cohort study aimed to compare the accuracy of the PAASH, WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) scales in predicting the outcomes of adult patients with aneurysmal SAH presented to three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 2019 to June 2021. Of 415 eligible patients, 32.0% had a 90-day poor outcome, defined as an mRS score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death). The PAASH, WFNS and H&H scales all have good discriminatory abilities for predicting the 90-day poor outcome. There were significant differences in the 90-day mean mRS scores between grades I and II (p = 0.001) and grades II and III (p = 0.001) of the PAASH scale, between grades IV and V (p = 0.026) of the WFNS scale, and between grades IV and V (p < 0.001) of the H&H scale. In contrast to a WFNS grade of IV–V and an H&H grade of IV–V, a PAASH grade of III–V was an independent predictor of the 90-day poor outcome. Because of the more clearly significant difference between the outcomes of the adjacent grades and the more strong effect size for predicting poor outcomes, the PAASH scale was preferable to the WFNS and H&H scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purwoceng (Pimpinella pruatjan Molkenb) is a medicinal plant native to Indonesia known as Indonesian Viagra from Java. The decline and scarcity of Purwoceng is an important obstacle in meeting the demands of harvesting from the original habitat without conservation and the extreme climatic conditions in the Dieng plateau. Therefore, it is necessary to apply controlled cultivation technology, namely hydroponic technology with drip irrigation in the greenhouse, to increase the yield and quality of Purwoceng. This study aimed to obtain the effect of hydroponic methods and hydroponic nutrition (EC) on the yield and quality of Purwoceng. The study was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 at a greenhouse of ± 1500 m above sea level. The experiment used a randomized block design with three replications. Each replication consisted of 15 plants. Hydroponic type, which was recirculating drip, non-circulating drip, and nutrient concentration which were 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm, and 2000 ppm. The harvest weight (aerial part and root), moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, water extractive, and ethanol extractive content, and the contaminant (microbial and heavy metal) content, were analyzed. In conclusion, to produce high-quality Purwoceng, a hydroponic system could be used using recirculating drip and 1000 ppm nutrient dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The awareness and conception of the genetic diversity in faba bean (Vicia faba) accessions are important for the enforcement of degree addressed to their usages and conservations. The aim of this work was to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure in Iraqi faba bean using SSR markers for utilization in crossing and variety development. To assess genetic variation and population structure among faba bean accessions, 25 microsatellite loci were exerted. The analysis of diversity indices in the set of faba bean accessions examined here showed that the microsatellites were informative for genotype characterization. In total, 72 polymorphic alleles were exposed to an average of 2.88 per locus and three unique alleles were detected. The average of PIC, gene diversity, marker index, resolving power and Shannon diversity was 0.513, 0.569, 1.671, 2.173 and 0.830, respectively. The patterns detected in the dendrogram and PCA divided 19 accessions into five distinct clusters with different levels of sub-grouping within the cluster. High-level genetic differentiation within a population or group (83%) was significantly greater than that among groups or populations (17%), as planned by Analysis Of Molecular Variance (AMOVA). The model of clustering, based on the analysis of STRUCTURE software, identified four groups genetically dispersed. These findings have additional importance in faba bean breeding as well as maintenance programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In November 2017, a 15‐day‐old calf located in France (Haute‐Savoie department) was found positive for bluetongue virus (BTV) RNA by RT‐PCR. Laboratory investigations allowed the isolation and identification of the serotype: BTV‐4. The analysis of the full viral genome showed that all the 10 genome segments were closely related to BTV‐4 strains involved in a large BT outbreak in the Balkan Peninsula, in Italy since 2014 and in Corsica since the end of October 2016. These results together with epidemiological data suggest that BTV‐4 has been introduced to mainland France from Corsica or Italy where BTV‐4 outbreaks have been reported in summer and autumn 2016. This is the first report of the introduction of BTV‐4 in mainland France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity and population structure of twenty-two genotypes of peas (Pisum sativum L.) grown in Iraq were estimated using microsatellite [simple sequence repeats (SSRs)]. Nineteen SSR primers generated sixty-eight polymorphic bands with an average of 3.789 polymorphic bands per primer. The highest number of polymorphic bands stated for the locus AA5 (eight alleles). Means of gene diversity, PIC, marker index, resolving power and Shannon index were 0.562, 0.513, 2.090, 2.703 and 0.833, respectively. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis clustered the pea genotypes into three major clades. Genotypes G1 (ORP-2), G5 (ORP-11) and G6 (ORP-12) and G7 (ORP-13) were genetically the most distant from the other genotypes. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that differences among the populations accounted for 14 % of the total variation, whereas difference within the population was 86 %. The population structure assay conceded that the genotypes were grouped into two evident subpopulations. Only three genotypes: G4 (ORP-10), G11 (Ns minima) and G17 (Karina) were considered to be admixture. The multi-locus FST analysis revealed strong differentiation within the populations and significant isolation by distance.0T The results of this study revealed that 0Tdifferent origins of genotypes had played a remarkable role in shaping the current patterns of genetic variation among these populations, many of which serve as good candidates for conservation and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland biomes cover two-fifths of Earth’s land surface, but their forest area is poorly known. Here, we report an estimate of global forest extent in dryland biomes, based on analyzing more than 210,000 0.5-hectare sample plots through a photo-interpretation approach using large databases of satellite imagery at (i) very high spatial resolution and (ii) very high temporal resolution, which are available through the Google Earth platform. We show that in 2015, 1327 million hectares of drylands had more than 10% tree-cover, and 1079 million hectares comprised forest. Our estimate is 40 to 47% higher than previous estimates, corresponding to 467 million hectares of forest that have never been reported before. This increases current estimates of global forest cover by at least 9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical properties of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) make them widespread for use in a number of industrial and commercial products to confer water and oil-repellency characteristics and to reduce surface tension e.g. in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). Some PFASs, especially perfluoroctane sulfonate, and several perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, are known to cause significant human and environmental negative impact. Our knowledge on the content of PFASs in products remains scarce due to limited information available, thus impeding any precise assessment of human exposure and environmental release upon use. This study aimed at analyzing a wide variety of liquid products (n = 194) likely to contain PFASs, including impregnating agents, lubricants, cleansers, polishes, AFFFs and other industrial products. By means of LC- and GC-MS/MS analytical techniques, 24 PFASs (from 41 targeted PFASs) were detected and quantified in 55% of samples. PFAS quantification and profiling was found to be consumer product specific. PFASs were mostly detected in AFFF (90%) and impregnating agents (60%) with mainly ionic and neutral species, respectively. In particular, the fluorotelomer alcohols 6:2, 8:2 and 10:2 FTOHs were detected in 40–50% of impregnating agents. Further investigation by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB-MS) on a set of AFFF samples allowed the characterization of 8 different PFAS classes as major components in these formulations. Results demonstrated that numerous and diversified PFAS are currently used in specific commercial products, implying significant human exposure and environmental release that necessitate further research concerning their toxicological impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared maternal plasma testosterone and insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) concentrations between dams carrying a male versus female fetus from early to late gestation and examined the application of maternal hormonal concentrations to fetal gender prediction in dairy and beef cattle. Blood samples were collected from Holstein cows or heifers (N = 31) and Japanese Black beef cows (N = 33) at 1-month intervals at 2 to 8 months of gestation. Fetal gender was confirmed by visual observation of external genitalia of calves just after birth. Plasma testosterone and INSL3 concentrations were determined by enzyme-immunoassay. Fetal genders were judged based on cutoff values of maternal testosterone and INSL3 concentrations (male, if it was ≥ cutoff value; female, if < cutoff value), which we set for each hormone at each gestational month using receiver operating characteristic curves. Plasma testosterone concentrations were higher for dams with a male fetus than those with a female at 4, 5, 7, and 8 months for the dairy cattle (P < 0.05) and at 4, 5, 6, and 8 months for the beef cows (P < 0.05). Plasma INSL3 concentrations were higher for dams with a male fetus than those with a female at 2 and 6 months for the dairy cattle (P < 0.05) and at 4 to 8 months for the beef cows (P < 0.05). The predictive values and detection rates for fetal gender prediction based on maternal testosterone concentrations were 75.8% to 79.3% for dairy cattle at 5 and 7 months and for beef cows at 5 and 6 months, whereas those values by maternal INSL3 concentrations were 71.0% to 72.4% for the dairy cattle at 6 months and beef cows at 4 and 8 months. When multiple time points of testosterone and INSL3 concentrations at several midgestation and late gestation months were considered for fetal gender prediction, predictive values were 89.3% (5–7 months) and 85.7% to 88.0% (4–6, 8 months) for the dairy and beef breeds, respectively. Maternal testosterone and INSL3 concentrations in dams carrying a male fetus were higher than those carrying a female at midgestation and/or late gestation in Holstein and Japanese Black beef cattle. Nearly, 80% accuracy was obtained for fetal gender prediction by a single time point of maternal plasma testosterone concentrations at midgestation. Nearly 90% accuracy for the prediction was obtained when multiple time points of testosterone and INSL3 concentrations from midgestation to late gestation were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leaf rust (LR), caused by Puccinia triticina and is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The most sustainable method for controlling rust diseases is deployment of cultivars incorporating adult plant resistance (APR). However, phenotyping breeding populations or germplasm collections for resistance in the field is dependent on weather conditions and limited to once a year. In this study, we explored the ability to phenotype APR to LR under accelerated growth conditions (AGC; i.e. constant light and controlled temperature) using a method that integrates assessment at both seedling and adult growth stages. A panel of 21 spring wheat genotypes, including disease standards carrying known APR genes (i.e. Lr34 and Lr46) were characterised under AGC and in the field. Results: Disease response displayed by adult wheat plants grown under AGC (i.e. flag-2 leaf ) was highly correlated with field-based measures (R2 = 0.77). The integrated method is more efficient-requiring less time, space, and labour compared to traditional approaches that perform seedling and adult plant assays separately. Further, this method enables up to seven consecutive adult plant LR assays compared to one in the field. Conclusion: The integrated seedling and adult plant phenotyping method reported in this study provides a great tool for identifying APR to LR. Assessing plants at early growth stages can enable selection for desirable gene combinations and crossing of the selected plants in the same plant generation. The method has the potential to be scaledup for screening large numbers of fixed lines and segregating populations. This strategy would reduce the time required for moving APR genes into adapted germplasm or combining traits in top crosses in breeding programs. This method could accelerate selection for resistance factors effective across diverse climates by conducting successive cycles of screening performed at different temperature regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2010 to 2012, 35 ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) events involving 87 individuals who consumed locally-caught fish were reported in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). For 12 of these events, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was indicated in meal remnants and in uncooked fish by the mouse bioassay (MBA). Caribbean ciguatoxins (C-CTXs) were confirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. Using a cell-based assay (CBA), and the only available standard Pacific ciguatoxin-1 (P-CTX-1), the lowest toxins level detected in fish samples causing CFP was 0.022 µg P-CTX-1 equivalent (eq.)·kg −1 fish. Epidemiological and consumption data were compiled for most of the individuals afflicted, and complete data for establishing the lowest observable adverse effects level (LOAEL) were obtained from 8 CFP events involving 21 individuals. Based on toxin intakes, the LOAEL was estimated at 4.2 ng P-CTX-1 eq./individual corresponding to 48.4 pg P-CTX-1 eq. kg −1 body weight (bw). Although based on limited data, these results are consistent with the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion which indicates that a level of 0.01 µg P-CTX-1 eq. kg −1 fish, regardless of source, should not exert effects in sensitive individuals when consuming a single meal. The calculated LOAEL is also consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance levels for CTXs (0.1 µg C-CTX-1 eq. kg −1 and 0.01 µg P-CTX-1 eq. kg −1 fish). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing quantitative management guidelines is essential for an effective conservation of forest-dependent animal communities. Traditional forest practices at the stand scale simultaneously alter both physical and floristic features with a negative effect on ecosystem processes. Thus, we tested and proposed a method to define forestry prescriptions taking into account the combined effect of woodland structure and tree species composition on the presence of four bird indicator species (Marsh Tit Poecile palustris , European Nuthatch Sitta europaea , Short-toed Tree-creeper Certhya brachydactyla and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus ). The study was carried out in Lombardy (Northern Italy), from 2002 to 2005. By using a stratified cluster sampling design, we recorded Basal Area, one hundred tree trunk diameters at breast height (DBH) and tree species in 160 sampling plots, grouped in 23 sampling areas. In each plot we also performed a bird survey using the point count method. We analyzed data using Multimodel Inference and Model Averaging on Generalized Linear Mixed Models, with species presence/absence as the response variable, sampling area as a random factor and forest covariates as fixed factors. In order to test our method, we compared it with other two traditional approaches, which consider structural and tree floristic variables separately. Model comparison showed that our method performed better than traditional ones, in both the evaluation and validation processes. Based on our main results, in deciduous mixed forest where the exploitation demand is limited, we recommend maintaining at least 65 trees/ha with DBH > 45 cm. In particular, we advise keeping 70 trees/ha with DBH > 50 cm in chestnut forests and 300 trees/ha with DBH 20–30 cm in oak forests. Conversely, in more exploited oak forests, we advise maintaining at least 670 trees/ha with DBH 15–30 cm in chestnut forests and 100 trees/ha with DBH 10–15 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2000, French Corsica Island has been exposed to the emergence of three different BT virus ( BTV) serotypes: serotype 2 in 2000 and 2001, serotype 4 in 2003 and serotype 16 in 2004. Between 2005 and August 2013, no outbreaks have been reported in the French Island. At the beginning of September 2013, sheep located in the south of the island showed clinical signs suggestive of BTV infection. Laboratory analyses identified the virus as BTV serotype 1. Phylogenetic studies showed that the sequences of this strain are closely related to the BTV-1 strain that was circulating in the Mediterranean basin and in Sardinia in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]