Tree species recognition system based on macroscopic image analysis

An automated wood texture recognition system of 48 tropical wood species is presented. For each wood species, 100 macroscopic texture images are captured from different timber logs where 70 images are used for training while 30 images are used for testing. In this work, a fuzzy pre-classifier is used to complement a set of support vector machines (SVM) to manage the large wood database and classify the wood species efficiently. Given a test image, a set of texture pore features is extracted from the image and used as inputs to a fuzzy pre-classifier which assigns it to one of the four broad categories. Then, another set of texture features is extracted from the image and used with the SVM dedicated to the selected category to further classify the test image to a particular wood species. The advantage of dividing the database into four smaller databases is that when a new wood species is added into the system, only the SVM classifier of one of the four databases needs to be retrained instead of those of the entire database. This shortens the training time and emulates the experts’ reasoning when expanding the wood database. The results show that the proposed model is more robust as the size of wood database is increased.     

A study on some reproductive disorders in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia with special references to uterine infections and abortion

Dromedary camels complaining from conception failure or abortion were investigated and their herders interviewed in Al Ahsa province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during 2013 and 2015. The most important reproductive disorder according to the responders is uterine infection (60.2%) followed by obesity (22.3%) then physiological conditions (hormonal disturbances; 7.8%), adhesions (3.9%) and repeat breeders (2.9%). Of the camel herders, 78.6% reported previous occurrence of abortion in their herds and 46% reported abortion cases in the last season (2015/2016), while 21.4% reported no history of abortion. Most of the responders (97.1%) do not call a veterinarian for cases of abortion in their herds and 53.4% do not discard aborted materials. The majority of the herders (76.7%) deny that handling aborted materials or touching vaginal fluids can result in human infection, or replied they do not know. Uterine swab samples were collected and tested by PCR for seven potential pathogens and sera tested for antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Brucella. Five pathogens were identified in infected uterine samples, namely Coxiella burnetii (36%), Campylobacter spp. (27%), Brucella spp. (17%), Salmonella spp. (13%), and Chlamydia spp. (7%). Sero-prevalence of Brucella and BVDV was 8.2 and 29.1% in overall sera, respectively, and varies with regard to the region. The findings of the present study demonstrate that reproductive disorders dominated by uterine infections and abortions are widespread in dromedary camels in KSA.     

First confirmation of rabies in Zamfara State,Nigeria—in a sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Thymoquinone enhances the activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in peripheral leukocytes of diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of glycemic control using thymoquinone (TQ) on energy metabolism related enzymes in leukocytes of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The treatment of both TQ and insulin commenced 4 weeks after induction of diabetes. Plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels were significantly reduced after TQ treatment, whereas immunoreactive insulin (IRI) showed significant increase. The activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of peripheral blood leukocytes were significantly higher in rats treated with TQ and insulin as compared to that in diabetic controls. On the other hand the activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) showed no significant changes between groups. ML ratio (cytosolic MDH/LDH specific activity ratio) was restored to those in the control rats. The results of this study demonstrate that TQ significantly increased insulin level and the activities of cytosolic and mitochondrial MDH in leukocytes of STZ-diabetic rats.     

Cytoarchitectural differences of myoepithelial cells among goat major salivary glands

Previously, the distribution of myoepithelial cells (mecs) in the salivary glands was studied by both immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy; however, little was elucidated concerning their morphological features, especially in goats. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytoarchitecture of the mecs in goat major salivary glands (parotid, mandibular, and sublingual glands) and the nature of the saliva secretion. The cytoarchitectural features of the mecs were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemically. The secretory endpieces in the parotid gland are of the pure serous type, but in both the mandibular and sublingual glands they are of the mixed type. In all studied glands, the intercalated ducts were covered by mecs which, unlike the large stellate cells that surrounded the secretory endpieces, were spindle-shaped with few cytoplasmic processes. Interestingly, the mecs were found to bulge on the basal surfaces of the serous acini and intercalated ducts in all glands and to be in close contact to the seromucous tubules surface in the mandibular and sublingual glands forming a continuous network around it. In conclusion, the differences in the degree of development of the mecs as well as the number of their cytoplasmic processes may be correlated with the nature of the secretion and the number of the secretory granules. Thus these observations may have some relevance in the diagnosis of atrophy and pathogenic conditions of these glands.     

New withanolides from Mandragora officinarum: First report of withanolides from the Genus Mandragora

Two new withanolides named mandragorolide A (1) and mandragorolide B (2) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Mandragora officinarum of Jordanian origin, along with five known withanolides namely larnaxolide A (3), withanolide B (4), datura lactone 2 (5), withanicandrin (6) and salpichrolide C (7). Compound 3 has been reported only once before, from the leaves of Larnax glabra. This is the first report of withanolides of different biogenetic types from the genus Mandragora. Isolation of known fatty compounds, coumarins, sterols and tropane alkaloids was also achieved in this study.     

Screening of cotton germplasm for resistance to Verticillium dahlia Kleb. under greenhouse and field conditions

Currently, the most effective and economically feasible means of controlling Verticillium wilt is to grow wilt-resistant cultivars. Nevertheless, resistant germplasm lines that are able to overcome this detrimental disease remain rare. Hence, we aimed to identify high-quality germplasm lines that exhibit high resistance, to address the dearth in optimum production. Our field and greenhouse studies showed significant variation among all tested germplasm lines with respect to wilt-assessment parameters. Highly resistant or resistant germplasm included 1421Bt-4133, O Siv2, Arcot-1, and GP93; Zhong 21371 and Yumian 2067 were moderately responsive; and Arcot402bne, Arcot438, Xinluzao-3, and Jimian11 were highly susceptible to wilt. Overall, germplasm line 1421Bt-4133 appeared to be an ideal material with strong resistance potential against V. dahliae. The germplasm lines O Siv2, Arcot-1, GP93, Zhong 21371, and Yumian 2067 showed variability in resistance potential in artificially or naturally-infested soil. This variability may be due to the genetic potential of the plants and to the adaptability of V. dahliae. We determined that the 1421Bt-4133 germplasm line was ideal, as it demonstrated resistance diversity against V. dahliae in all observed wilt-assessment parameters. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of viable germplasm lines for improving cotton production. The resistant germplasm lines uncovered in this study may provide new disease resistance sources in the breeding program.     

Biological control of the millet head miner Heliocheilus albipunctella in the Sahelian region by augmentative releases of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: effectiveness and farmers’ perceptions

On-farm augmentative releases of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) for controlling the millet head miner (MHM) Heliocheilus albipunctella (de Joannis) were tested in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from 2007 to 2009. In addition, a survey of farmers’ perceptions of insect pests, with particular focus on MHM, and the biological control program (BCP) was carried out. There was a significant increase of MHM parasitization rate after the releases, with up to 97% mortality. The survey on farmers’ perceptions revealed a fair knowledge of the MHM and the ability of farmers to describe the pest and the damage it caused. Farmers claimed that the biocontrol agent H. hebetor is effective and perceived a significant gain in grain yield due to this control strategy. Implications of these findings for a large extension of the MHM biocontrol program are discussed.     

Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Clarias gariepinus Dried with Solar Dryers and Solar Tents in Sokoto,Nigeria

A research was conducted to assess the effects of three different drying techniques, namely open sun drying （OSD）, solar dryers （SD） and solar tent dryers （STD）. Data on physical characteristics such as weight, total length and standard length were recorded and proximate composition of the fish sample Clarias gariepinus （Burchell, 1822） was carried out before, during and after drying to assess changes on physical characteristics and nutrient composition at different level. After drying, the samples were subjected to storage for eight weeks. The result obtained shows that there was no significant （P 〉 0.01） difference in the drying weight of the fish samples between the direct SD and the STD. However, for the total and standard length there was significant （P 〈 0.01） difference in the drying techniques, but no significant difference （P 〉 0.05） in the drying period. There was no significant （P 〉 0.05） difference on the physical parameters, storage period, proximate composition of both direct SD and STD and the drying period, respectively. Therefore, direct SD can be substituted with the STD without altering the quality of the product.     

Effect of High‐Molecular‐Weight Glutenin Subunit Allelic Composition on Wheat Flour Tortilla Quality

Wheat cultivars possessing quality attributes needed to produce optimum quality tortillas have not been identified. This study investigated the effect of variations in high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits encoded at the Glu‐1 loci (Glu‐A1, Glu‐B1, and Glu‐D1) on dough properties and tortilla quality. Flour protein profiles, dough texture, and tortilla physical quality attributes were evaluated. Deletion at Glu‐D1 resulted in reduced insoluble polymeric protein content of flour, reduced dough compression force, and large dough extensibility. These properties produced very large tortillas (181 mm diameter) compared with a control made with commercial tortilla wheat flour (161 mm). Presence of a 7 + 9 allelic pair at Glu‐B1 increased dough strength (largest compression force, reduced extensibility, and small‐diameter tortillas). Deletion at Glu‐A1 produced large tortillas (173 mm) but with unacceptable flexibility during storage (score <3.0 at day 16). In general, presence of 2* at Glu‐A1, in combination with 5 + 10 at Glu‐D1, produced small‐diameter tortillas that required large force to rupture (tough texture). Presence of 2 + 12 alleles instead of 5 + 10 at Glu‐D1 produced tortillas with a good compromise between diameter (>165 mm) and flexibility during storage (>3.0 at day 16). These allele combinations, along with deletion at Glu‐D1, show promise for tortilla wheat development.