Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FRUIT FLIES AND THEIR PARASITOIDS IN THE FRUIT GROWING REGION OF LIVRAMENTO DE NOSSA SENHORA, BAHIA, WITH RECORDS OF UNPRECEDENTED INTERACTIONS

Several fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) assume the status of primary pests in fruit trees grown in Brazil, causing direct production losses. The aims of the study were to know aspects of diversity of fruit flies and their parasitoids in the fruit growing region of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia. Fruit samples were collected from 19 plant species during November/2011 and June/2014. Infestation rates were calculated in pupae.kg-1 of fruit and pupae.fruit-1. The results indicate the occurrence of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Neosilba pendula (Bezzi). Plant species Anacardium occidentale, Averrhoa carambola, Carica papaya, Eugenia uniflora, Malpighia emarginata, Mangifera indica var. “Haden”, “Rosa” and “Tommy Atkins”, Opuntia ficus indica, Pereskia bahiensis, Psidium guajava, Spondias lutea, Spondias purpurea and Spondias tuberosa are hosts of fruit flies in the region. Unprecedented bitrophic relationships between P. bahiensis and C. capitata and Anastrepha sp. and between Opuntia ficus indica and C. capitata and A. obliqua were recorded. Unprecedented tritrophic relationship for the state of Bahia Averrhoa carambola and C. capitata and parasitoid of the Pteromalidae Family were also recorded. Tritrophic associations between M. indica var. “Tommy Atkins” and S. purpurea and A. obliqua and Doryctobracon areolatus; and between S. purpurea and A. obliqua and Utetes anastrephae were observed.
Monthly variation and impact of pollution on the nutritional value of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) Leaves

Moringa oleifera Lam. , commonly found tree in sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan has a high nutrition value. The leaves, flowers and immature pods of Moringa are used as a vegetable in many countries. The leaves are highly nutritious and medicinal in nature. They are a rich source of iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, proteins, and essential amino acids. Hence Moringa leaves can be a good source of protein for the vegetarians and the under-nourished population. Present investigation deals with the study of monthly variation in the nutritional value of Moringa leaves from the month of June 2015 to January 2016. Impact of urban sewage pollution and roadside vehicular pollution on the amount of reducing and total sugars, chlorophylls (a, b and total), proteins, vitamin-C and pH of the leaves, was also studied. Results revealed that the highest amounts of reducing sugars, total sugars, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll during October 2015 whereas proteins, chlorophyll a , vitamin C and pH were highest during January 2016. Leaf samples collected from all the study sites exhibited minimum amounts of reducing sugars, chlorophylls (a, b and total) and pH during July 2015 whereas total sugars were lowest during December 2015. Proteins and vitamin C values were lowest during August and June 2015 respectively. Sewage and vehicular pollution showed an adverse effect on the nutritional contents of Moringa oleifera leaves. Of the two polluted sites, samples from near the sewage flow showed higher impact.
Genome-Wide Analysis of a Radiation-Induced Lesion Mimic Mutant in Rice

Lesion mimic mutations (LMMs) are very useful genetic tools in plants, however, it is difficult to uncover genome-wide mutations using traditional technology, the development of whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides a means by which to identify genome-wide LMMs. In this study, WGS was performed to reveal the molecular mechanisms behind LMMs in rice. An LMM JA001 was derived from indica rice IR64 by treating with 60Coγ-radiation. Solexa sequencing technology was applied to uncover the mutations. In the JA001 genome, 7.93% of the genome sequences were altered in the JA001 genome, among which were 351323 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 32,648 bp indel variations in 19,937 genes. Gene ontology clustering revealed that genes that are associated with binding, kinase activity, the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, the beta-galactosidase complex, protein phosphorylation, and cell–pollen recognition had a high mutation rate. It was also predicted that five mutated genes were involved in the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, and plant–pathogen interaction pathways. Genome-wide analysis of mutations provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of LMMs mutagenesis
Effect of silicon supplementation on growth and metabolism of strawberry plants at three developmental stages

ABSTRACT The effect of silicon (Si) was studied in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) plants grown under greenhouse conditions and harvested at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages. Vegetative growth and fruit dry weight were improved by Si. The concentration of carbohydrates decreased in the leaves but increased in the roots upon Si treatment. However, the level of the soluble protein pool increased in both leaves and roots at the expense of free amino acids at all three developmental stages. Analyses of phenolics by HPLC and assay of enzyme activity in both soluble and cell wall-bound fractions of the leaves, roots and fruits indicated that Si significantly modified the profile of phenolics and the activity of metabolising enzymes at all three developmental stages. All fruit quality parameters were remarkably improved by Si. According to our results, Si improves both quantitative and qualitative parameters in strawberries through stimulation of growth and modification of phenolics metabolism.
Physical Properties of Buckwheat Water Biscuits Formulated from Fermented Flours by Selected Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract The growth of lactic acid bacteria during liquid-state fermentation of buckwheat flour and changes in pH during the process were analyzed. Eight strains of Lactobacillus were selected as the most active strains used to obtain new fermented flours. Physical properties of buckwheat water biscuits formulated from these fermented flours were studied. The hardness of freshly prepared biscuits was affected by the lactic acid bacteria applied, with its highest value noted for the water biscuits made of buckwheat flour fermented by L. plantarum IB. Significantly greater differences in hardness values of water biscuits were noted after 24 h storage. Moreover, water biscuits made of the fermented flours were lighter and had a higher browning index as compared to the control biscuits prepared from unfermented buckwheat flour. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of selecting lactic acid bacteria for the fermentation of buckwheat flour focusing on some physical properties of the water biscuits.
Effect of narasin (Skycis) or zinc bacitracin (Albac) inclusion on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs sent for slaughter using a 3-phase marketing strategy

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of narasin or zinc bacitracin on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs sent for slaughter using a 3-phase marketing strategy. The study used 2,219 crossbred pigs in a randomized complete block design (blocking factor = start date) with 3 dietary treatments: 1) Control (no feed additive), 2) 15 mg/kg narasin (Skycis, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN), and 3) 28 mg/kg zinc bacitracin (Albac, Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ). Pigs were housed in single-sex pens of 25 pigs in a commercial wean-to-finish facility and there were 30 pen-replicates of each dietary treatment. All pigs were weighed as a group (i.e., pen) on d 0 (start of experimental feeding period), 77, 91, and 105 (end) of study. Pigs had ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the study period; all feed additions to the feeder were recorded. Pigs were sent for slaughter according to the following marketing strategy: 1) after 77 d on study, the heaviest 20% of each pen was sent for slaughter (Phase 1), 2) after 91 d on study, the next heaviest 48% of each pen were sent for slaughter (Phase 2), and 3) after 105 d on study, the remaining 32% of each pen was sent for slaughter (Phase 3). Pigs within each pen were selected for slaughter by visual appraisal of weight and shipped to a commercial slaughter facility where standard carcass measurements (HCW, LM depth, and backfat depth) were measured. Feeding narasin increased (P < 0.05) final live BW (1.3 kg) and overall ADG (1.1%) compared to the other treatments, which were similar (P > 0.05). Dietary treatment did not impact (P > 0.05) overall G:F. Feeding narasin increased (P < 0.05) HCW (1.4 kg) and carcass yield (0.3% units) compared to the other dietary treatments, which were similar (P > 0.05) for these traits. Overall, these results demonstrate that narasin-fed pigs had improved overall growth rate, HCW, and carcass yield compared to controls or pigs fed zinc bacitracin.
Niche centrality and human influence predict rangewide variation in population abundance of a widespread mammal: The collared peccary (Pecari tajacu)

(1) To evaluate whether geographic variation in population abundance of a widespread mammal (Pecari tajacu) is related to its location with respect to the centroid of its ecological niche or to the centroid of its geographic range. (2) To assess whether the abundance–niche centrality relationship defines the maximum expected abundance at any location, rather than the realized abundance. (3) To test whether including human impacts improves the abundance–niche centrality relationship, and therefore the prediction of geographic variation in population abundance.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CLAUDIN-1 AND S100A4 EXPRESSION IN PRIMARY COLORECTAL CARCINOMA

Background: Metastasis is a major cause of death in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a role in promoting carcinoma invasion and metastasis. Many molecules are crucial in EMT, including claudin-1 and S100A4. Aim of work: The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of expression and the prognostic significance of claudin-1 and S100A4 in primary colorectal carcinoma. Methods: Claudin-1 and S100A4 expressions were retrospectively analysed by immunohistochemistry in 55 paraffin-embedded specimens of patients with primary colorectal carcinoma. The expressions were correlated with clinicopathological variables, Dukes staging and lymph node metastasis. Results: Normal colonic and rectal mucosa exhibited diffuse, strong circumferential linear membranous pattern of claudin-1 staining (score 0). Twenty six cases (65%) of primary colorectal carcinomas showed decreased claudin1 expression compared to normal mucosa and 14 cases (35%) showed similar claudin1 expression (score 0). None of the studied cases showed increased claudin1 expression. A highly statistically significant relationship was found between claudin1 expression and Lymphovascular invasion (p=0.003), degree of lymphocytic infiltration, peritumoral budding, lymph node ratio, lymph node metastasis and Dukes staging (p<0.001). Fourteen cases (35%) showed negative S100A4 expression (score 0-2), 10 cases (25%) showed mild positive S100A4 expression (score 3), 9 cases (22.5%) showed moderate positive S100A4 expression (score 4-5) and 7 cases (17.5%) showed marked positive S100A4 expression (score 6). A highly statistically significant relationship was found between S100A4 expression and grade of differentiation, lymphovascular invasion (p=0.002), lymphocytic infiltration, peritumoral budding, lymph node metastasis, lymph node ratio and Dukes staging (p<0.001). By Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) method, there is a strong inverse correlation between claudin1 and S100A4 expression. Conclusions: Loss of tight junctions represented by decreased claudin1 expression and acquisition of mesenchymal properties represented by S100A4 overexpression are important in primary colorectal carcinoma progression and metastasis.
Screening Almond Rootstocks for Sources of Resistance to Armillaria Root Disease

Prunus dulcis (almond) is one of the most susceptible horticultural crops to Armillaria root disease. Resistance to Armillaria mellea and Armillaria tabescens , the geographically isolated causal fungi that attack almond and closely related Prunus persica (peach), has been evaluated in studies of almond, peach, and other Prunus rootstocks, but not in one comprehensive study. We evaluated the relative resistance to A. mellea and A.tabescens ofsix clonally propagated almondandpeachrootstocks (Bright’s5, Empyrean 1, Hansen 536, Krymsk 1, Krymsk 86, and Lovell) in comparison with that of clonally propagated Marianna 2624 rootstock (resistant control) and clonally propagated Nemaguard rootstock (susceptible control). Replicate clones used in the growth chamber assay were micropropagated and rooted in vitro before inoculating the culture medium with Armillaria spp. At 2 months, the most resistant and susceptible rootstocks were Krymsk 86 and Hansen 536, respectively, with 27% vs. 89% mortality. This ﬁnding was consistent among two isolates of A. mellea and one isolate of A. tabescens in three replicate experiments. Our ﬁnding of low mortality among Krymsk 86, Krymsk 1, and cerasifera parentage, of resistance in ﬁeld conﬂicts reports of susceptibility to A. tabescens Resistance to A. tabescens of genotypes with Myrobalan parentage in our assay tissue ﬁeld biotic abiotic growth assay for and screen progeny of
Virulence evolution of a parasite infecting male and female hosts

Parasites experience different tradeoffs between transmission and virulence in male and female hosts if the sexes vary in life history or disease-related traits. We determine the evolutionarily stable levels of exploitation by pathogens under two scenarios: an unconstrained pathogen that expresses different exploitation rates within each host type as well as a pathogen constrained to express the same exploitation rate in each sex. We show that an unconstrained horizontally-transmitted parasite evolves to express the same sex-specific exploitation rate within each sex as it would in a host population composed entirely of hosts with that sex’s resistance and intrinsic death rate. In contrast, the ESS exploitation rate of a constrained pathogen is affected by sex-differences in susceptibility and non-random contact patterns between host types that differ in resistance. As the amount of within-sex transmission increases, the ESS shifts closer to the optimum trait value in the more susceptible sex. Allowing for some degree of vertical transmission, the exploitation rate expressed in females (but not males) changes with contact pattern even in unconstrained pathogens. Differences in contact pattern and susceptibility play an important role in determining the ESS exploitation rate by shifting the reproductive value of each host type.
Anti-candidal Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

Abstract The essential oil of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) obtained by hydro-distillation (0.65%) was subjected to anti-candidal activity against vaginal and blood isolates of Candida albicans. Further the clove essential oil was analysed for its chemical components by GC-MS. Clove essential oil rendered the growth of all isolates of C. albicans, while most of isolates were resistant to flucanozole antibiotic. The inhibition of vaginal isolates of C. albicans by clove essential oil was found to be directly proportional to its concentration. Significant reduction in the growth of all isolates of C. albicans was observed at absolute concentration of clove essential oil as compared to the positive control (P≤0.05). The MIC and MFC values (1.25 μl/ml and 2.5 μl/ml respectively) was recorded for all C. albicans isolates except isolate no. 9, which had higher MIC (2.5 μl/ ml) and MFC (5.0 μl/ml) values than other. Clove essential oil also inhibited budding; it ranged from 23.7 to 42.9%. Results revealed that the clove essential oil completely inhibited the germ tube formation of isolates 1, 2 and 8 at 1/2 MIC, for rest the inhibition ranged from 7.7 to 3.2%. The GC-MS analysis of clove essential oil shows presence of five chemical components with eugenol (74.6%) as the major component. Other components were chavibetol (19.7%), caryophyllene (3.5%), trisiloxane,1,1,1,5,5,5-hexamethyl-3,3-bis [(trimethylsilyl)oxy] (1.7%) and caryophyllene oxide (0.5%). The results clearly showed that clove essential oil was more effective than the antimycotic synthetic antibiotic fluocanazol. Thus it can be explored further for the management C. albicans infections.
Investigation of milk urea nitrogen concentration and factors affecting its variation in Greek Holstein herds

Η μέτρηση της συγκέντρωσης του ουρeϊκού αζώτου (MUN) στο γάλα αποτeλeί ένα χρήσιμο eργαλeίο στη διατροφική διαχeίριση των eκτροφών γαλακτοπαραγωγών αγeλάδων, καθώς eίναι eνδeικτικό της ποσότητας του αζώτου της τροφής που δeν αξιοποιeίται. Σκοπός της παρούσας eργασίας ήταν να μeλeτηθούν, για πρώτη φορά, οι συγκeντρώσeις του MUN στο γάλα eλληνικών eκτροφών και να eρeυνηθούν οι παράγοντeς που eπηρeάζουν τη διακύμανσή του. Για το λόγο αυτό, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν 23.266 ατομικές γαλακτομeτρήσeις από 24 eκτροφές αγeλάδων φυλής Holstein στην πeριοχή της Θeσσαλίας. Για τη στατιστική eπeξeργασία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν μέθοδοι πeριγραφικής στατιστικής, ανάλυσης διακύμανσης και πολλαπλής παλινδρόμησης. Παρατηρήθηκαν σημαντικές διαφορές μeταξύ των eκτροφών (P<0,05). Η μέση τιμή του MUN στο σύνολο των eκτροφών ήταν 15,54 mg/dL. Πeρισσότeρeς από το 90% των μeτρήσeων ήταν υψηλότeρeς από τις τιμές-στόχο που προτeίνονται για τις πeρισσότeρeς eκτροφές. Σe αντίθeση μe τα πeρισσότeρα βιβλιογραφικά δeδομένα, οι τιμές MUN ήταν χαμηλότeρeς (Ρ<0,05) τους καλοκαιρινούς και φθινοπωρινούς μήνeς. Η συγκέντρωση του MUN αυξανόταν όσο αυξανόταν το ύψος της γαλακτοπαραγωγής, αλλά μόνο μέχρι την τιμή MUN των 16 mg/dL. Το ποσοστό του λίπους στο γάλα και ο λόγος λίπους/πρωτeϊνών σχeτιζόταν αρνητικά μe τη συγκέντρωση του MUN, eνώ αγeλάδeς μe υψηλή πeριeκτικότητα πρωτeϊνών στο γάλα eίχαν χαμηλότeρο MUN (P<0,05). Το ύψος της γαλακτοπαραγωγής, τα συστατικά του γάλατος και ο μήνας της μέτρησης eυθύνονταν μόνο για το 25,8% της διακύμανσης των τιμών του MUN (P<0,05). Συμπeρασματικά, η συγκέντρωση του MUN στο γάλα στις eλληνικές eκτροφές eίναι μeγαλύτeρη από τις τιμές-στόχο που προτeίνονται διeθνώς, γeγονός που δηλώνeι συστηματικά διατροφικά σφάλματα μe πιθανές eπιπτώσeις στην υγeία και τηγονιμότητα των αγeλάδων.
Comparison of barley silages with varying digestible fiber content to corn silage on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial protein synthesis using rumen simulation technique

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to assess the magnitude of differences among barley silages with different in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (ivNDFD) in comparison with corn silage in (1) predicted carbohydrate digestibility, (2) rumen fermentation characteristics, and (3) microbial protein synthesis using rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with four treatments. The four whole-plant silages utilized in this study were CS-TMR = corn silage (30 h ivNDFD = 32%), HNDFD-TMR = barley silage with high ivNDFD (30 h ivNDFD = 37%), INDFD-TMR = barley silage with intermediate ivNDFD (30 h ivNDFD = 28%), and LNDFD-TMR = barley silage with low ivNDFD (30 h ivNDFD = 26%). Results from RUSITEC showed that nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation characteristics, and microbial protein synthesis did not differ among diets that contained different varieties of barley silage (P > 0.1). However, CS-TMR tended to have a higher microbial protein yield than all barley silage diets (P = 0.06). These results show higher ivNDFD of barley silage may not necessarily correspond with greater impact on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis. However, feeding the corn silage had higher microbial protein synthesis in the RUSITEC and might enhance the dairy cattle performance compared with barley silage.
A new species and a new record of Clitopilus and a description of C. orientalis from India based on morphology and molecular phylogeny

Three species of Clitopilus , C. albidus sp . nov . , C. subscyphoides and C. orientalis, are described from Kerala State, India, based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Comprehensive descriptions, photographs, and comparisons with phenetically similar and phylogenetically related species are provided. The RNA polymerase II genes ( rpb2 ) of the three species were sequenced and analyzed. In addition, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nLSU) genes were sequenced and used in BLAST searches to find similar sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on rpb2 sequences performed using both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Analysis (BA) methods supported the novelty of C. albidus and its placement within the genus Clitopilus . C. subscyphoides and C. orientalis are the first and second record respectively of these species from India.
Effects of gamma‐irradiated soybean pod extract on oxidative stress, cancer cell viability, and tyrosinase inhibition

Soybean pods contain abundant dietary fiber and phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds. However, few bioactivity studies have been conducted using soybean pods, while soybean leaves, and seeds have been well characterized. In this study, the effect of gamma irradiation on the physiological properties of soybean pod extract (SPE) was investigated. SPE was irradiated at 0, 5, 10, and 20 kGy, and the phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activity were investigated. The total phenolic compounds were increased and total flavonoids were decreased as the irradiation dose increased. Antioxidant activity, which was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assays, improved as the irradiation dose increased. In addition, cancer cell viability, and tyrosinase activity were reduced by gamma irradiation. These results show that soybean pods can be utilized as functional food materials after gamma irradiation. Practical applications Gamma irradiation modified the chemical composition of soybean pod extract (SPE). Such irradiation improved the antioxidant, anti-pigmentation, and anti-carcinogenesis effects compared to those of control SPE. Therefore, this material, previously considered a byproduct of soybean processing, can be used as a functional food to prevent such disorders as oxidative damage, cancer, and hyperpigmentation.