Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Phenological Stage and Elevation on Phytochemical Characteristics of Essential Oil of Teucrium polium L. and Teucrium orientale L.

This study aimed to evaluate effects of elevation and phenological stage on essential oil components of Teucrium polium L. and Teucrium orientale L. belonging to the Lamiaceae family. The aerial parts of the grown plants in two ranges of elevation including 2000-2500 and 2500-3000 m above sea level were harvested at three time-points, including end of vegetative, flowering, and seed filling stages. The main components in the T. polium oil were α-pinene (40.52 to 54.05%), β-pinene (17.36 to 23.3%), and limonene (10.10 to 15.19%) and the major constituents in the essential oil of T. orientale were α-pinene (0.00 to 25.10%), and β-caryophyllene (18.18 to 56.01%). Analysis of results confirmed the significant effects of phenological stage and elevation on the percentages of essential oil components. High elevation above sea level caused increase in aromatic compounds such as α-pinene and limonene from monoterpene hydrocarbons but decrease in sesquiterpene compounds such as β-caryophyllene contents. There was significant correlation between essential oil constituents under different elevations and phenological stages. In addition, harvesting time at different phenological stages affected the chemical compositions in the essential oils, in a way that the highest concentrations of α-pinene and β-pinene as volatile components (monoterpene hydrocarbons) and β-caryophyllene (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons) as important constitutes in pharmaceutical industry were obtained from flowering stage.
Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia Michx., syn. Muscandinia rotundifolia (Michx.) Small): The Resilient, Native Grape of the Southeastern U.S

Angiosperms are well adapted to tolerate biotic and abiotic stresses in their native environment. However, the growth habit of native plants may not be suited for cultivation and their fruits may not be desirable for consumption. Adapting a plant for cultivation and commercial appeal through breeding and selection may accentuate weaknesses in pest tolerance. The transition of muscadine from a wild, native plant to a cultivated crop has taken place over the last 150 years. Early production primarily involved cloning elite wild selections; few pest management inputs were needed since the material was genetically similar to the native plant. Over time, emphasis was placed on the refinement of pruning, trellising, and other cultural inputs to increase productivity and commercial implementation. In turn, breeders developed newer cultivars with greater productivity and commercial appeal. Many modern muscadine cultivars remain tolerant to biotic pests and are adapted to a hot and humid climate. The primary focus of this review is to provide a descriptive context of muscadine as a native American, perennial fruit crop that requires minimal pest management in hot, humid climates relative to recently introduced European bunch grapes. Inherent muscadine traits resulting in fewer pesticide inputs make them worthy of being planted across considerable acreages; yet, muscadines remain a niche crop. We conclude that muscadines suffer from their short history of cultivation in a confined region and would benefit from breeding and marketing efforts to increase consumption, commercial acceptance, and awareness.
The electron transport chain sensitises Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis to the oxidative burst

Small colony variants (SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus typically lack a functional electron transport chain and cannot produce virulence factors such as leukocidins, hemolysins or the anti-oxidant staphyloxanthin. Despite this, SCVs are associated with persistent infections of the bloodstream, bones and prosthetic devices. The survival of SCVs in the host has been ascribed to intracellular residency, biofilm formation and resistance to antibiotics. However, the ability of SCVs to resist host defences is largely uncharacterised. To address this, we measured survival of wild-type and SCV S. aureus in whole human blood, which contains high numbers of neutrophils, the key defense against staphylococcal infection. Despite the loss of leukcocidin production and staphyloxanthin biosynthesis, SCVs defective for heme or menquinone biosynthesis were significantly more resistant to the oxidative burst than wild-type bacteria in a whole human blood model. Supplementation of the culture medium of the heme-auxotrophic SCV with heme, but not iron, restored growth, hemolysin and staphyloxanthin production, and sensitivity to the oxidative burst. Since Enterococcus faecalis is a natural heme auxotroph and cause of bloodstream infection, we explored whether restoration of the electron transport chain in this organism also affected survival in blood. Incubation of E. faecalis with heme increased growth and restored catalase activity, but resulted in decreased survival in human blood via increased sensitivity to the oxidative burst. Therefore, the lack of functional electron transport chains in SCV S. aureus and wild-type E. faecalis results in reduced growth rate but provides resistance to a key immune defence mechanism.
Properties and Applications of Morinda citrifolia (Noni): A Review.

Morinda citrifolia commonly known as noni is a perennial plant originating in Southeast Asia, consumed over 2000 years. Due to its versatility of adaptation and use of the structures of the plant for different therapeutic purposes, noni attracted the attention of researchers from the pharmaceutical and food industry. Chemical and nutritional analyzes already performed in M. citrifolia reveal the existence of more than 200 phytochemical substances with bioactive properties such as acids, alcohols, phenols, saccharides, anthraquinones, carotenoids, esters, triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, lactones, iridoids, ketones, lactones, lignans, nucleosides, triterpenides, sterols, and aromatic compounds. The high nutritional value of M. citrifolia may induce therapeutic effects, including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The main industrial products from this plant are beverages (juice drinks), powders (from dried fruits), oil (from seeds), and leaf powders. Biological and phytotherapeutic applications of M. citrifolia are promising, but more extensive studies are still required. Thus, this review aims to gather updated and comprehensive information on Morinda citrifolia, discussing its traditional use, biochemical, phytotherapics, and toxicological properties, as well as the recent advances in the processing and standardization of products derived from noni fruit.
Dynamism of the breeding program for irrigated rice in Southeast Brazil

The estimation of the genotypic replacement rate is aimed at evaluating the performance of breeding programs. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the genetic improvement program of flooded rice, developed in Minas Gerais, during the period from 1993 to 2016. We evaluated 210 lines in three environments between 1993 and 2016, in blocks, ranging from three to four replicates. The mean genotype replacement rate and the mean of genotypes included, maintained and excluded in each year were estimated. The average genotypic replacement rate was 44% for Lambari and Janauba, and 43% for Leopoldina. The average maintenance in Lambari was 39%, and in Janauba and Leopoldina this consisted of 40%. The average number of the genotypes excluded from the evaluation in the following year and the average number of the evaluated genotypes in the year that allows concluding on the dynamics of the rice improvement program, in terms of replacement of improved varieties over the years. In all locations, the mean inclusion was higher than the mean exclusion, indicating the good efficiency of the irrigated rice breeding program. These results were satisfactory for the dynamics of the genetic improvement program of irrigated rice in Minas Gerais.
Gross morphology of testes and gonadosomatic index of Khaki Campbell duck(Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) at different postnatal ages

The present work is conducted to elucidate the gross morphology and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of testes of Khaki Campbell duck at different ages: at 1 day of age, at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months of age. The testes of duck were found suspended from its abdominal surface to the roof of the abdominal cavity by mesorchiam. The testes were situated symmetrically on each side of the midline of the body and cranioventral to the kidney. The shape of the testes was elongated shaped and yellowish white in color at 1 day, 1 and 2 months old. At three months of age, the left testis assumed the shape of a bean, while the right testis remained elongated, and then at 6 months and 1 year old, both testes were bean shaped, white to creamy white in color. The paired testis weight was 0.004 Â± 0.009g at day one old, which increased gradually as the age advanced and reached a maximum weight of 23. 767Â± 0.804g at 6 months of age, then decreased at 1 year old. The mean length of the left testis and right testis was 0.37 Â± 0.041 cm and 0.315 Â± 0.040 cm respectively and mean width of the left testis and right testis was 0.17 Â± 0.017 cm and 0.14 Â± 0.032 cm respectively at day 1 old, which increased gradually as the age increased. The maximum gonadosomatic index 3.79 Â± 0.401% which was recorded at the age of 6 months indicating high sperm production ability. Further in-depth study is necessary to clarify the reasons behind this.
Targeted prey fields determine foraging effort thresholds of a marine diver: Important cues for the sustainable management of fisheries

Understanding functional relationships between seabirds and prey can play an important role in the sustainable management of fisheries that compete for the same resources yet data linking the foraging performance of seabirds directly with concurrent information on prey supplies remain limited. We assess the influence of prey availability on the foraging performance of breeding African penguins Spheniscus demersus using data from instrumented birds during 14 pelagic fish surveys carried out over 3 years around their two largest breeding colonies, St Croix and Bird islands in Algoa Bay. Characteristics of prey fields targeted by African penguins were identified by assessing the response of foraging birds to the acoustically determined distribution of small pelagic fish. Path‐ and dive‐derived foraging performance metrics were modelled as a response to overall and targeted prey abundance estimates to assess potential nonlinear functional relationships between penguin foraging effort and prey availability. African penguins displayed marked spatial heterogeneity in their selection of foraging sites, but birds from both colonies invariably foraged on fish schools <40 m deep. Generalized additive model fits improved for all foraging performance responses when using targeted prey abundance (i.e. only fish in areas frequented by penguins and at depths <40 m, as opposed to estimates using all prey). Models for trip duration (r² = 0.45) and foraging path length (r² = 0.44) showed a negative nonlinear form in their response to targeted prey abundance, with significant improvement in penguin foraging effort when prey abundance was greater than 45% of the maximum prey biomass recorded. Synthesis and applications. Functional relationships between seabird foraging performance and prey supplies have the potential to inform the sustainable management of fisheries that compete for the same prey. Our findings highlight the importance of quantifying prey that is available to seabirds when assessing critical thresholds in prey abundance below which seabird foraging performance is adversely affected. These findings can be integrated into dynamic ocean management strategies to mitigate resource competition around seabird colonies. A framework for flexible, colony‐centred closures is proposed as a more dynamic alternative to time/area closures with the potential to respond to prevailing habitat conditions in near real‐time.
Acid exposure impairs mucus secretion and disrupts mucus transport in neonatal piglet airways

Tenacious mucus produced by tracheal and bronchial submucosal glands is a defining feature of cystic fibrosis (CF). Although airway acidification occurs early in CF, whether transient acidification is sufficient to initiate mucus abnormalities is unknown. We studied mucus secretion and mucus transport in piglets forty-eight hours following an intra-airway acid challenge. Acid-challenged piglet airways were distinguished by increased mucin 5B (MUC5B) in the submucosal gland but decreased lung lavage fluid MUC5B, following in vivo cholinergic stimulation, suggesting a failure in submucosal gland secretion. Concomitantly, intrapulmonary airways were obstructed with glycoprotein rich material under both basal and methacholine-stimulated conditions. To mimic a CF-like environment, we also studied mucus secretion and transport under diminished bicarbonate and chloride transport conditions ex vivo. Cholinergic stimulation in acid-challenged piglet airways induced extensive mucus films, greater mucus strand formation, increased dilation of submucosal gland duct openings and decreased mucociliary transport. Finally, to elucidate potential mediators of acid-induced mucus defects, we investigated diminazene aceturate, a small molecule that inhibits the acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC). Diminazene aceturate restored surface MUC5B in acid-challenged piglet airways under basal conditions, mitigated acid-induced airway obstruction, and magnified the number of dilated submucosal gland duct openings. These findings suggest that even transient airway acidification early in life might have profound impacts on mucus secretion and transport properties. Further they highlight diminazene aceturate as an agent that might be beneficial in alleviating certain mucus defects in CF airway disease. One sentence summary Early life airway acidification has profound impacts on mucus secretion and transport.
Baseline corticosterone does not re fl ect iridescent plumage traits in female tree swallows

The production of high quality secondary sexual traits can be constrained by trade-offs in the allocation of energy and nutrients with other metabolic activities, and is mediated by physiological processes. In birds, the factors influencing male plumage quality have been well studied; however, factors affecting female plumage quality are poorly understood. Furthermore, it remains uncertain which physiological traits mediate the relationship between body condition and ornaments. In this three-year study of after-second-year female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), we investigated (1) the relationship between baseline corticosterone near the end of the brood-rearing period (CORTBR) and feather colour characteristics (hue, saturation, brightness) the following year, and (2) the relationship between baseline corticosterone measured during incubation (CORTI) and brood rearing (CORTBR), and feather colour in the same year. To control for reproductive effort, we included reproductive parameters as covariates in all analyses. In this first study between CORT and the plumage colour characteristics of a species bearing iridescent feathers, we did not find any relationship between CORTBR and the colour of subsequently-produced feathers, nor did we find any relationship between CORT and the colour of feathers displayed during that breeding season. If CORT levels at the end of breeding carry over to influence the immediately subsequent moult period as we expect, our results generally indicate that structural plumage quality may not be as sensitive to circulating CORT levels compared to carotenoid-based colouration. Future studies, particularly those employing experimental manipulations of CORT during moult in species with iridescent traits, are necessary to fully determine the role glucocorticoids play in mediating the quality of secondary sexual characteristics.
Evaluation the Growth Performance of Egyptian Garlic Landraces and In vitro Synseeds of Bulblets Formation

Egyptian garlic cultivars suffered degenerations; lower bulb yield and smaller size of bulbs which represent a crucialproblem. A survey of some Egyptian landraces to detect there genetic diversity is considered in this study . In addition,developing of simple method for bulblets regeneration and synthetic seed formation to decrease amount of clove seeds.Fourteen vegetative growth and bulb characteristics for 27 Egyptian garlic landraces were measured during two growingseason to determine the phenotypic variations under condition of New Borg El-Arab, Egypt . An in vitro study was, also,carried out to determine the direct shoot induction and bulblets formation for six selected landraces and under three mediaprotocol. The results of the field experiment revealed that, Significant differences among all studied local cultivars andecotypes of Egyptian garlic were observed for vegetative growth, bulb and total yield characteristics . Among the studiedvarieties of Egyptian landraces, Borg El-Arab landrace was superior in vegetative growth as plant height (cm), leaves no./plant, leaf length (cm), leaf width (mm), plant fresh weight (g) and foliage fresh weight (g). While, quality characters wereassociated with purple bulbs landraces like Egaseed and Sids-40-Ayat. Bulb dry matter percentage ranged from 36.6 to45.68 % and from 35.07 to 44.89 % however, average cloves number per bulb was ranged from 9.33 to 40.00 and from3.55 to 32.71 in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. The results for the invitro experiment revealed thatefficient and simple method of bulblets regeneration and improving multiplication rate were developed for six selectedlandraces using three different media. Garlic explants (cultured on MS media) were supplemented with 6 % sucrose and 2mg/l JA (T-3); produced significant higher mean values for numbers of bulblets /clove (12.61) and higher insignificantmean values for numbers of shoots and bulblets /explant, bulblets formation % and numbers of bulblets per clovecompared with control treatment (T-1). Control treatment (T-1) produced the highest significant average bulblet weight(259.72 mg). "Salaqus-3" landrace was superior and gave the highest significant mean values for number of shoots perexplant and bulblets per clove compared with other landraces. "Clone-21" produced the highest bulblet weight (232.94mg). Synthetic seeds for six garlic landraces formed by immersing bulblets in gel matrix (3% sodium alginate solution),and exposure to calcium chloride solution (2.5 %) were germinated successfully in unsterilized soil mixture consisted ofpeatmoss, sand and soil (1:1:1). Conclusion: Egyptian garlic landraces showed great variability and a promising in vitroperformance for plant regeneration and bulblets formation. This finding could be used as alternative propagation method,cultivars rejuvenation and germplasm conversation management along with capsulation technology.
Extensive capsule locus variation and large-scale genomic recombination within the Klebsiella pneumoniae clonal complex 258/11

Klebsiella pneumoniae clonal complex (CC) 258/11, comprising sequence types (STs) 258, 11 and closely related STs, is associated with dissemination of the K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). Hospital outbreaks of KPC CC258/11 infections have been observed globally and are very difficult to treat. As a consequence there is renewed interest in alternative infection control measures such as vaccines and phage or depolymerase treatments targeting the K pneumoniae polysaccharide capsule. To date, 78 immunologically distinct capsule variants have been described in K. pneumoniae. Previous investigations of ST258 and a small number of closely related strains suggested capsular variation was limited within this clone; only two distinct ST258 capsular synthesis (cps) loci have been identified, both acquired through large-scale recombination events (>50 kbp). Here we report comparative genomic analysis of the broader K. pneumoniae CC258/11. Our data indicate that several large-scale recombination events have shaped the genomes of CC258/11, and that definition of the complex should be broadened to include ST395 (also reported to harbour KPC). We identified 11 different cps loci within CC258/11, suggesting that capsular switching is actually common within the complex. We also observed several insertion sequences (IS) within the cps loci, and show further diversification of two loci through IS activity. These findings suggest the capsular loci of clinically important K. pneumoniae are under diversifying selection, which alters our understanding of the evolution of this important clone and has implications for the design of control measures targeting the capsule.
Engineered Genetic Redundancy Relaxes Selective Constraints upon Endogenous Genes in Viral RNA Genomes

Genetic redundancy, understood as the functional overlap of different genes, is a double-edge sword. At the one side, it is thought to serve as a robustness mechanism that buffers the deleterious effect of mutations hitting one of the redundant copies, thus resulting in pseudogenization. At the other side, it is considered as a source of genetic and functional innovation. In any case, genetically redundant genes are expected to show an acceleration in the rate of molecular evolution. Here we tackle the role of genetic redundancy in viral RNA genomes. To this end, we have evaluated the rates of compensatory evolution for deleterious mutations affecting an essential function, the suppression of RNA silencing plant defense, of tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV). TEV genotypes containing deleterious mutations in presence/absence of engineered genetic redundancy were evolved and the pattern of fitness and virulence recovery evaluated. Genetically redundant genotypes suffered less from the effect of deleterious mutations and showed relatively minor changes in fitness and virulence. By contrast, non-genetically redundant genotypes had very low fitness and virulence at the beginning of the evolution experiment that were fully recovered by the end. At the molecular level, the outcome depended on the combination of the actual mutations being compensated and the presence/absence of genetic redundancy. Reversions to wild-type alleles were the norm in the non-redundant genotypes while redundant ones either did not fix any mutation at all or showed a higher nonsynonymous mutational load.
Older Males of Common Rosefinch Erythrina erythrina (Pallas, 1770) (Aves: Passeriformes) Sing Longer Strophes than Younger Individuals

In males of many bird species, plumage coloration and song characteristics can change with age. In the common rosefinch Erythrina erythrina delayed plumage maturation is observed, young males are duller than older ones and are similar to females. To date, variation in song parameters at a microgeographic scale and between various populations from Europe and Asia have been documented but characteristics of males’ songs at different ages have not been studied. We studied whether the difference in plumage between subadult and adult males was correlated with differential song structure. Parameters of the songs of yearling and older males were generally similar but we showed that certain song characteristics varied between the two age classes, with older males singing with a longer strophe length than yearlings. The song and plumage coloration may play different roles in mate choice in this species.