1,116 research outputs found
Application of probiotics and prebiotics for promoting growth of Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon): an approach to eco-friendly shrimp aquaculture
The current study has been conducted to evaluate the growth performance of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) by applying eco-friendly culture mechanism like prebiotics and probiotics. The experiment was carried out for 95 days in different shrimp farms at coastal district of Bagerhat, Bangladesh. Three different treatments viz., probiotic treated as T1, prebiotics treated as T2 and both probiotics and prebiotics as T3 with a control group were designed to conduct the experiment. The size of the experimental ponds was five acre and the stocking density was 4/m2 in each treatment. CP NASA shrimp feed (32% protein) was given thrice in a day during the study period. After 95 days of culture period, the maximum weight gain was observed at T3 (33.78±0.18 g) whereas the minimum weight gain was observed at control group (25.69±0.10 g). The survival rate was the highest in T3 (89.01%) followed by T2 (75.51%) and T1 (53.44%) and the lowest rate was observed in control group (50.88%). Overall production was higher in T3 (833.78 kg ha-1) compared to T2 (553.40 kg ha-1), T1 (447.84 kg ha-1) and Control group (310.57 kg ha-1). pH value was found to maximum in T3 (7.71±0.08) and it was minimum in T1 (7.41±0.10). In addition, the maximum TAN value was found to be 2.22±0.19 mg L-1 in C pond and it was minimum in T3 (0.32±0.06 mg L-1). Therefore, it could be concluded that combine application of probiotics and prebiotics might be the reliable media to enhance production of shrimp by maintaining eco-friendly environment in aquaculture.
Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 15-20, December 202
Intra- and inter-individual genetic differences in gene expression
Genetic variation is known to influence the amount of mRNA produced by a gene. Given that the molecular machines control mRNA levels of multiple genes, we expect genetic variation in the components of these machines would influence multiple genes in a similar fashion. In this study we show that this assumption is correct by using correlation of mRNA levels measured independently in the brain, kidney or liver of multiple, genetically typed, mice strains to detect shared genetic influences. These correlating groups of genes (CGG) have collective properties that account for 40-90% of the variability of their constituent genes and in some cases, but not all, contain genes encoding functionally related proteins. Critically, we show that the genetic influences are essentially tissue specific and consequently the same genetic variations in the one animal may up-regulate a CGG in one tissue but down-regulate the same CGG in a second tissue. We further show similarly paradoxical behaviour of CGGs within the same tissues of different individuals. The implication of this study is that this class of genetic variation can result in complex inter- and intra-individual and tissue differences and that this will create substantial challenges to the investigation of phenotypic outcomes, particularly in humans where multiple tissues are not readily available.


Non-equilibrium induction of tin in germanium: towards direct bandgap Ge1âxSnx nanowires
The development of non-equilibrium group IV nanoscale alloys is critical to achieving new functionalities, such as the formation of a direct bandgap in a conventional indirect bandgap elemental semiconductor. Here, we describe the fabrication of uniform diameter, direct bandgap Ge1âxSnx alloy nanowires, with a Sn incorporation up to 9.2âat.%, far in excess of the equilibrium solubility of Sn in bulk Ge, through a conventional catalytic bottom-up growth paradigm using noble metal and metal alloy catalysts. Metal alloy catalysts permitted a greater inclusion of Sn in Ge nanowires compared with conventional Au catalysts, when used during vapourâliquidâsolid growth. The addition of an annealing step close to the Ge-Sn eutectic temperature (230â°C) during cool-down, further facilitated the excessive dissolution of Sn in the nanowires. Sn was distributed throughout the Ge nanowire lattice with no metallic Sn segregation or precipitation at the surface or within the bulk of the nanowires. The non-equilibrium incorporation of Sn into the Ge nanowires can be understood in terms of a kinetic trapping model for impurity incorporation at the triple-phase boundary during growth
The effect of cigarette smoke exposure on the development of inflammation in lungs, gut and joints of TNFÎARE mice
The inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha is a central mediator in many immune-mediated diseases, such as Crohn's disease (CD), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epidemiologic studies have shown that cigarette smoking (CS) is a prominent common risk factor in these TNF-dependent diseases. We exposed TNF Delta ARE mice; in which a systemic TNF-alpha overexpression leads to the development of inflammation; to 2 or 4 weeks of air or CS. We investigated the effect of deregulated TNF expression on CS-induced pulmonary inflammation and the effect of CS exposure on the initiation and progression of gut and joint inflammation. Upon 2 weeks of CS exposure, inflammation in lungs of TNF Delta ARE mice was significantly aggravated. However, upon 4 weeks of CS-exposure, this aggravation was no longer observed. TNF Delta ARE mice have no increases in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a diminished neutrophil response in the lungs after 4 weeks of CS exposure. In the gut and joints of TNF Delta ARE mice, 2 or 4 weeks of CS exposure did not modulate the development of inflammation. In conclusion, CS exposure does not modulate gut and joint inflammation in TNF Delta ARE mice. The lung responses towards CS in TNF Delta ARE mice however depend on the duration of CS exposure
Memory effects in annealed hybrid gold nanoparticles/block copolymer bilayers
We report on the use of the self-organization process of sputtered gold nanoparticles on a self-assembled block copolymer film deposited by horizontal precipitation Langmuir-Blodgett (HP-LB) method. The morphology and the phase-separation of a film of poly-n-butylacrylate-block-polyacrylic acid (PnBuA-b-PAA) were studied at the nanometric scale by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The templating capability of the PnBuA-b-PAA phase-separated film was studied by sputtering gold nanoparticles (NPs), forming a film of nanometric thickness. The effect of the polymer chain mobility onto the organization of gold nanoparticle layer was assessed by heating the obtained hybrid PnBuA-b-PAA/Au NPs bilayer at T >Tg. The nanoparticles' distribution onto the different copolymer domains was found strongly affected by the annealing treatment, showing a peculiar memory effect, which modifies the AFM phase response of the Au NPs layer onto the polar domains, without affecting their surfacial composition. The effect is discussed in terms of the peculiar morphological features induced by enhanced mobility of polymer chains on the Au NPs layer
The extraordinary evolutionary history of the reticuloendotheliosis viruses
The reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs) comprise several closely related amphotropic retroviruses isolated from birds. These viruses exhibit several highly unusual characteristics that have not so far been adequately explained, including their extremely close relationship to mammalian retroviruses, and their presence as endogenous sequences within the genomes of certain large DNA viruses. We present evidence for an iatrogenic origin of REVs that accounts for these phenomena. Firstly, we identify endogenous retroviral fossils in mammalian genomes that share a unique recombinant structure with REVsâunequivocally demonstrating that REVs derive directly from mammalian retroviruses. Secondly, through sequencing of archived REV isolates, we confirm that contaminated Plasmodium lophurae stocks have been the source of multiple REV outbreaks in experimentally infected birds. Finally, we show that both phylogenetic and historical evidence support a scenario wherein REVs originated as mammalian retroviruses that were accidentally introduced into avian hosts in the late 1930s, during experimental studies of P. lophurae, and subsequently integrated into the fowlpox virus (FWPV) and gallid herpesvirus type 2 (GHV-2) genomes, generating recombinant DNA viruses that now circulate in wild birds and poultry. Our findings provide a novel perspective on the origin and evolution of REV, and indicate that horizontal gene transfer between virus families can expand the impact of iatrogenic transmission events
Models and simulations for the photometric lsst astronomical time series classification challenge (Plasticc)
We describe the simulated data sample for the "Photometric LSST Astronomical Time Series Classification Challenge" (PLAsTiCC), a publicly available challenge to classify transient and variable events that will be observed by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a new facility expected to start in the early 2020s. The challenge was hosted by Kaggle, ran from 2018 September 28 to 2018 December 17, and included 1,094 teams competing for prizes. Here we provide details of the 18 transient and variable source models, which were not revealed until after the challenge, and release the model libraries at this https URL. We describe the LSST Operations Simulator used to predict realistic observing conditions, and we describe the publicly available SNANA simulation code used to transform the models into observed fluxes and uncertainties in the LSST passbands (ugrizy). Although PLAsTiCC has finished, the publicly available models and simulation tools are being used within the astronomy community to further improve classification, and to study contamination in photometrically identified samples of type Ia supernova used to measure properties of dark energy. Our simulation framework will continue serving as a platform to improve the PLAsTiCC models, and to develop new models
T Cells Contribute to Tumor Progression by Favoring Pro-Tumoral Properties of Intra-Tumoral Myeloid Cells in a Mouse Model for Spontaneous Melanoma
Tumors affect myelopoeisis and induce the expansion of myeloid cells with immunosuppressive activity. In the MT/ret model of spontaneous metastatic melanoma, myeloid cells are the most abundant tumor infiltrating hematopoietic population and their proportion is highest in the most aggressive cutaneous metastasis. Our data suggest that the tumor microenvironment favors polarization of myeloid cells into type 2 cells characterized by F4/80 expression, a weak capacity to secrete IL-12 and a high production of arginase. Myeloid cells from tumor and spleen of MT/ret mice inhibit T cell proliferation and IFNÎł secretion. Interestingly, T cells play a role in type 2 polarization of myeloid cells. Indeed, intra-tumoral myeloid cells from MT/ret mice lacking T cells are not only less suppressive towards T cells than corresponding cells from wild-type MT/ret mice, but they also inhibit more efficiently melanoma cell proliferation. Thus, our data support the existence of a vicious circle, in which T cells may favor cancer development by establishing an environment that is likely to skew myeloid cell immunity toward a tumor promoting response that, in turn, suppresses immune effector cell functions
A combined estimator using TEC and b-value for large earthquake prediction
[EN] Ionospheric anomalies have been shown to occur a few days before several large earthquakes. The published works normally address examples limited in time (a single event or few of them) or space (a particular geographic area), so that a clear method based on these anomalies which consistently yields the place and magnitude of the forthcoming earthquake, anytime and anywhere on earth, has not been presented so far. The current research is aimed at prediction of large earthquakes, that is with magnitude M-w 7 or higher. It uses as data bank all significant earthquakes occurred worldwide in the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2018. The first purpose of the research is to improve the use of ionospheric anomalies in the form of TEC grids for earthquake prediction. A space-time TEC variation estimator especially designed for earthquake prediction will show the advantages with respect to the use of simple TEC values. Further, taking advantage of the well-known predictive abilities of the Gutenberg-Richter law's b-value, a combined estimator based on both TEC anomalies and b-values will be designed and shown to improve prediction performance even more.Baselga Moreno, S. (2020). A combined estimator using TEC and b-value for large earthquake prediction. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica Hungarica. 55(1):63-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-019-00281-5S6382551AbordĂĄn A, SzabĂł NP (2018) Metropolis algorithm driven factor analysis for lithological characterization of shallow marine sediments. Acta Geod Geophys 53:189â199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-017-0210-zAkhoondzadeh M, Saradjian MR (2011) TEC variations analysis concerning Haiti (January 12, 2010) and Samoa (September 29, 2009) earthquakes. Adv Space Res 47(1):94â104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.07.024Asencio-CortĂ©s G, Morales-Esteban A, Shang X, MartĂnez-Ălvarez F (2018) Earthquake prediction in California using regression algorithms and cloud-based big data infrastructure. Comput Geosci 115:198â210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2017.10.011Baselga S (2018) Fibonacci lattices for the evaluation and optimization of map projections. Comput Geosci 117:1â8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2018.04.012Baselga S (2019) TestGrids: evaluating and optimizing map projections. J Surv Eng 144(3):04019004BerĂ©nyi KA, Barta V, Kis Ă (2018) Midlatitude ionospheric F2-layer response to eruptive solar events-caused geomagnetic disturbances over Hungary during the maximum of the solar cycle 24: a case study. Adv Space Res 61(5):1230â1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2017.12.021Biswas A, Sharma SP (2017) Interpretation of self-potential anomaly over 2-D inclined thick sheet structures and analysis of uncertainty using very fast simulated annealing global optimization. Acta Geod Geophys 52:439â455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-016-0176-2Borgohain JM, Borah K, Biswas R, Bora DK (2018) Seismic b-value anomalies prior to the 3rd January 2016, Mwâ=â6.7 Manipur earthquake of northeast India. J Asian Earth Sci 154:42â48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2017.12.013Buonsanto M (1999) Ionospheric stormsâa review. Space Sci Rev 88:563â601. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005107532631Buskirk RE, Frohlich CL, Latham GV (1981) Unusual animal behavior before earthquakes: a review of possible sensory mechanisms. Rev Geophys 19:247â270. https://doi.org/10.1029/RG019i002p00247Dobrovolsky IR, Zubkov SI, Myachkin VI (1979) Estimation of the size of earthquake preparation zones. Pure appl Geophys 117:1025â1044. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876083Dogan U, Ergintav S, Skone S, Arslan N, Oz D (2011) Monitoring of the ionosphere TEC variations during the 17th August 1999 Izmit earthquake using GPS data. Earth Planets Space 63(12):1183â1192. https://doi.org/10.5047/eps.2011.07.020Florido E, MartĂnez-Ălvarez F, Morales-Esteban A, Reyes J, Aznarte-Mellado JL (2015) Detecting precursory patterns to enhance earthquake prediction in Chile. Comput Geosci 76:112â120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2014.12.002Florido E, Asencio-CortĂ©s G, Aznarte JL, Rubio-Escudero C, MartĂnez-Ălvarez F (2018) A novel tree-based algorithm to discover seismic patterns in earthquake catalogs. Comput Geosci 115:96â104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2018.03.005Freund FT, Kulahci IG, Cyr G, Ling J, Winnick M, Tregloan-Reed J, Freund MM (2009) Air ionization at rock surfaces and pre-earthquake signals. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 71(17â18):1824â1834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2009.07.013Gopinath S, Prince PR (2018) Nonextensive and distance-based entropy analysis on the influence of sunspot variability in magnetospheric dynamics. Acta Geod Geophys 53:639â659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-018-0235-yGrant RA, Halliday T (2010) Predicting the unpredictable; evidence of pre-seismic anticipatory behaviour in the common toad. J Zool 281:263â271. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00700.xGrant RA, Halliday T, Balderer WP, Leuenberger F, Newcomer M, Cyr G, Freund FT (2011) Ground water chemistry changes before major earthquakes and possible effects on animals. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8:1936â1956. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8061936Guo J, Yu H, Li W, Liu X, Kong Q, Zhao C (2017) Total electron content anomalies before Mw 6.0â+âearthquakes in the seismic zone of southwest China between 2001 and 2013. J Test Eval 45(1):131â139. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20160032International GNSS Service (2019) IGS products. https://www.igs.org/products. Accessed 5 May 2019Kane RP (2005) Ionospheric foF2 anomalies during some intense geomagnetic storms. Ann Geophys 23:2487â2499. https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-23-2487-2005Kulhanek O, Persson L, Nuannin P (2018) Variations of b-values preceding large earthquakes in the shallow subduction zones of Cocos and Nazca plates. J South Am Earth Sci 82:207â214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2018.01.005Lin JW (2010) Ionospheric total electron content (TEC) anomalies associated with earthquakes through KarhunenâLoĂ©ve Transform (KLT). Terr Atmos Ocean Sci 21(2):253â265. https://doi.org/10.3319/TAO.2009.06.11.01(T)Lin JW (2011) Latitude-time total electron content anomalies as precursors to Japanâs large earthquakes associated with principal component analysis. Int J Geophys. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/763527Liu JY, Chen YI, Chuo YJ, Chen CS (2006) A statistical investigation of preearthquake ionospheric anomaly. J Geophys Res 111:A05304. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JA011333Liu JY, Chen YI, Chen CH, Liu CY, Chen CY, Nishihashi M, Li JZ, Xia YQ, Oyama KI, Hattori K, Lin CH (2009) Seismoionospheric GPS total electron content anomalies observed before the 12 May 2008 Mw7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. J Geophys Res 114:A04320. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JA013698Nuannin P, Kulhanek O, Persson L (2005) Spatial and temporal b value anomalies preceding the devastating off coast of NW Sumatra earthquake of December 26, 2004. Geophys Res Lett 32:L11307. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022679Pardalos PM, Romeijn HE (eds) (2002) Handbook of global optimization, vols. 1 & 2. Kluwer, DordretchPaul B, De BK, Guha A (2018) Latitudinal variation of F-region ionospheric response during three strongest geomagnetic storms of 2015. Acta Geod Geophys 53:579â606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-018-0221-4Pulinets S, Boyarchuk K (2004) Ionospheric precursors of earthquakes. Springer, BerlinPulinets SA, Legenâka AD, Gaivoronskaya TV, Depuev VKh (2003) Main phenomenological features of ionospheric precursors of strong earthquakes. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 65:1337â1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2003.07.011Reyes J, Morales-Esteban A, MartĂnez-Ălvarez F (2013) Neural networks to predict earthquakes in Chile. Appl Soft Comput 13:1314â1328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2012.10.014ĆentĂŒrk E, Ăepni MS (2018a) A statistical analysis of seismo ionospheric TEC anomalies before 63 Mwââ„â5.0 earthquakes in Turkey during 2003â2016. Acta Geophys 66:1495â1507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0214-2ĆentĂŒrk E, Ăepni MS (2018b) Ionospheric temporal variations over the region of Turkey: a study based on long-time TEC observations. Acta Geod Geophys 53:623â637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-018-0233-0ĆentĂŒrk E, Ăepni MS (2019) Performance of different weighting and surface fitting techniques on station-wise TEC calculation and modified sine weighting supported by the sun effect. J Spat Sci 64(2):209â220. https://doi.org/10.1080/14498596.2017.1417169ĆentĂŒrk E, LivaoÄlu H, Ăepni MS (2019) A comprehensive analysis of ionospheric anomalies before the mw 7.1 Van earthquake on 23 October 2011. J Navig 72(3):702â720. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0373463318000826Shiuly A, Roy N (2018) A generalized VSâN correlation using various regression analysis and genetic algorithm. Acta Geod Geophys 53:479â502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-018-0220-5U.S. Geological Survey (2019) Earthquake catalog. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/. Accessed 5 May 2019Warwick JW, Stoker C, Meyer TR (1982) Radio emission associated with rock fracture: possible application to the Great Chilean Earthquake of May 22, 1960. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 87:2851â2859. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB087iB04p02851Yao Y, Chen P, Wu H, Zhang S, Peng W (2012) Analysis of ionospheric anomalies before the 2011 M w 9.0 Japan earthquake. Chin Sci Bull 57(5):500â510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4851-yZakharenkova IE, Shagimuratov II, Krankowski A (2007a) Features of the ionosphere behavior before the Kythira 2006 earthquake. Acta Geophys 55(4):524â534. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-007-0031-5Zakharenkova IE, Shagimuratov II, Krankowski A, Lagovsky AF (2007b) Precursory phenomena observed in the total electron content measurements before great Hokkaido earthquake of September 25, 2003 (Mâ=â8.3). Stud Geophys Geod 51(2):267â278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-007-0014-
- âŠ