The Merging of Two Dynasties—Identification of an African Cotton Leaf Curl Disease-Associated Begomovirus with Cotton in Pakistan

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is a severe disease of cotton that occurs in Africa and Pakistan/northwestern India. The disease is caused by begomoviruses in association with specific betasatellites that differ between Africa and Asia. During survey of symptomatic cotton in Sindh (southern Pakistan) Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus (CLCuGV), the begomovirus associated with CLCuD in Africa, was identified. However, the cognate African betasatellite (Cotton leaf curl Gezira betasatellite) was not found. Instead, two Asian betasatellites, the CLCuD-associated Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB) and Chilli leaf curl betasatellite (ChLCB) were identified. Inoculation of the experimental plant species Nicotiana benthamiana showed that CLCuGV was competent to maintain both CLCuMB and ChLCB. Interestingly, the enations typical of CLCuD were only induced by CLCuGV in the presence of CLCuMB. Also in infections involving both CLCuMB and ChLCB the enations typical of CLCuMB were less evident. This is the first time an African begomovirus has been identified on the Indian sub-continent, highlight the growing threat of begomoviruses and particularly the threat of CLCuD causing viruses to cotton cultivation in the rest of the world

Feeding behaviour of cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

No description availabl

Feeding behaviour of cultured rainbow trout

No description availabl

Agonistic acts as possible indicator of food anticipatory activity (FAA) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Food anticipatory activity (FAA) was assessed in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in two small raceways using demand-feeding (T2) and hand-feeding (t2). The fish of both raceways were subjected to restricted feeding (RF) at two times in two places and the fish distribution and/or trigger actuation, total agonistic behaviour between fish, and swimming speed were measured. Food anticipatory activity did not appear clearly when using the usual measures. The present study suggests that the expression of FAA is not limited to trigger actuations, fish positioning or swimming activity but may also be described by swimming speed and agonistic behaviour. Key words: Food anticipatory activity (FAA), Self-feeders, Agonistic acts, Swimming speed, Rainbow trou

Factors affecting quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Background: Cancer can produce many different symptoms, some subtle and some not at all subtle. An increasingly important issue in oncology is to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients. The cancer-specific QoL is related to all stages of this disease.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL in cancer patients with solid tumors and at the different chemotherapy cycles (CT).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 200 cancer patients were included. With some modification, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to measure QoL in the patients. The QoL in most subjects (66%) was fairly favorable.Results: A significant relationship between the cancer type, pain intensity, and fatigue was found. However, none of the demographic variables (age, education, marital status, income) were significantly related to QoL. Nevertheless, significant difference was found between the level of QoL in patients with < 2 CT cycles and/or with 3-5 cycles (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Cancer is an important health issue influencing QoL. An appropriate treatment which may provide care to the cancer patients is CT. A CT cycle may improve QoL in patients with solid tumors

Demand-feeding activity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in raceways

Demand-feeding activity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in raceways was studied. The raceways were positioned within a re-circulating system and each was supplied with filtered and aerated freshwater. The raceways were divided equally into 4 sections and respectively numbered from section 1 (most upstream, the location of the water inlet) to section 4 (most downstream, the location of the water outlet). In order for the fish to be visually identified, they were tagged individually, by means of the button technique. Self-feeding activity was defined as a number of trigger actuations by the fish, recorded by the computer. The Chronolab and Citech programs were used for data acquisition and presentation of self-feeding activity as actograms and periodograms. The results showed that there were three fish that accounted for more than 89% of combined total actuations of the two demand-feeders (up-and downstream), namely W/B (White/Black), W/R (White/Red) and W/W (White/White) and the contribution of the fish W/B in the two demand-feeders was far greater than the fish W/R or W/W. In addition, by restricting the times during which food was available, demand-feeding activity of the fish became more or less synchronized to the mealtimes. This investigation suggests that when demand-feeders are used individual rainbow trout are able to learn to use the feeders, but when kept in groups, only a few individuals can operate the system (due to the development of dominance hierarchy)

Specific Individuals of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Are Able to Show Time-Place Learning

Using demand-feeders, time-place learning association of food was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in 2 small raceways (TR1 and TR2). In order for the fish to be visually identified, they were tagged individually and their behaviour and distribution were monitored by cameras. Equipping with a demand-feeder, TR1 was assigned to test 2 times/1 place (2T/1P) while 2 demand-feeders were used in TR2 assigned to test 2 times/2 places (2T/2P). After 26 days of restricted feeding (RF) the fish were deprived of food for 3 days. The results of the present study indicate that, at the group level, rainbow trout are not able to clearly demonstrate time-place learning except for some fish in the group. These fish were identified as dominants, in terms of a higher rate of agonistic acts or a greater amount of food eaten. Feeding behaviour was largely influenced by social dominance of the group, especially through territoriality. © TÜBİTAK

A spatial memory task in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

There are two types of behaviour by which an animal can use spatial memory in order to exploit food availability: win-stay (lose-shift) and win-shift (lose-stay). This study aimed to determine which strategy was used by rainbow trout fish. To test whether fish were using win-shift or win-stay, the fish were given three consecutive morning feedings or afternoon feedings only. The behaviour of fish during this trial was a win-stay strategy. The experiment suggests that rainbow trout engage in ‘win stay’ behaviour. This finding may help us to understand the spatial memory regarding win-stay in rainbow trout