Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on the Shelf? life of Marinated and Breaded Rainbow Trout

The rainbow trout has a great production capacity in Turkey. Marinated and breaded rainbow trout was prepared and the effect of the MAP technology on the shelf-life was studied. The samples were packaged and stored in 3 groups. These were the control (air), group A (5% O2 + 35% CO2 + 60% N2 ), and group B (30% CO2 + 70% N2 ). According to the results of the sensory, physical, chemical and the microbiological analyses, the control group samples spoiled after the 90th day and the A and B groups spoiled after the 120th day of storage. The results showed that modified atmosphere technology in extending to extend the shelf- life of this product.
Purification and Characterisation of a Burkholderia pseudomallei Protease Expressed in Recombinant E. coli

A genomic DNA fragment that contains the gene, which codes for a novel extracellular serine protease in Burkholderia pseudomallei, was cloned by using pQE40 as a vector. It was maintained in Escherichia coli JM109. The expression of the gene(s) resulted in the production of a 52 kDa protease. The recombinant protease was purified from the culture filtrate via ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and anion-exchange chromatography. The purified protease had an optimum pH and temperature of pH 8.9 and 38℃, respectively. The protease activity was inhibited by EGTA, EDTA, and PMSF, but not 1,10-phenanthroline. The first 11 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the purified protease were identified as LAPNDPYYYGY. PNDPYY was found to show homology to the Bacillus cereus microbial serine protease and B. subtilis PD498 serine protease. These results indicate that the protease that was purified in this study is an extracellular calcium-dependent serine protease. The purified protease was able to digest the human serum IgA, IgG, albumin, and transferrin, as well as bovine muscle actin and myosin. Furthermore, it was able to promote or cause dermonecrosis in experimental rabbits. These results propose the possible role of a novel B. pseudomallei extracellular calcium-dependent serine protease in the virulence of the pathogen.
GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG WHEAT VARIETIES BASED ON ISSR MARKERS

DNA based molecular markers allow precise, objective and rapid cultivar identification and discrimination. In the present study, the genetic variability and relationships among 65 hexaploid (Triticum aestivum L.) and 8 tetraploid (Triticum durum L.) wheat varieties were evaluated using five inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers. The used primers generated 63 DNA fragments with an average of 12.6 bands per primer. Polymorphism percentage ranged from 53.33 % (ISSR-844) to 78.57 % (HB12) with an average of 64.95 %. The 308bp (HB12) DNA fragment was unique marker for durum wheat varieties while the 855bp (ISSR-814) fragment was unique maker for bread wheat genotypes. Low PIC values were found indicating the wide differences between the p and q alleles tested by the ISSR markers. The ISSR primers (HB12 and ISSR-844) possessed high RP values and therefore seem to be the most informative primers for distinguishing wheat varieties. The dendrogram indicated that the ISSR markers succeeded in distinguishing the tested varieties in relation to their ploidy level and location, which the tetraploid varieties were put together in one group as well as the hexaploid varieties.
Oribatid Mites (Arachnida: Acari: Oribatida) from the Marine Littoral of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Southwestern Japan

A new genus, three new species, and three known species of oribatid mite are described firom the marine littoral of the Ryukyu Arehipelago, southwestern Japan. These taxa are Arotrobates granutatus Luxton, 1992, Rhizophobates shimojanai gen. nov. and sp. nov., Schusteria nagisa sp. nov,, S. saxea sp. nov., Atismobates reticutatus Luxton, 1992, and Fortaynia rotunda Marshall and Pugh, 2oo2. Two Afirican species of thc genus Schusteria, S. melanomerus Marshall and Pugh, 2000 and S. ugrasent Marshall and Pugh, 2ooe, are transferred to the new genus Rhizophobates.
Income Diversification, Inequality and Poverty among Rural Households in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined income diversification, inequality and poverty among rural households in Oyo state, Nigeria. Cross-section data were generated from the survey conducted on a sample of 200 households with the aid of structured questionnaire using multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics, diversification index, Gini coefficient, FGT poverty index, and the Probit regression model were used to analyze data. Mean income diversification index of 1.22 shows that majority of the respondents had multiple streams of income but crop farming had the largest share (90%) in total income. Mean income of respondents was ₦77,613.2±83575.01, and Gini coefficient of 0.48, 0.46, and 0.39 were obtained for total income, nonagricultural income, and agricultural income respectively. The poverty line was ₦6,490.50 and mean per capita expenditure was ₦9,735.74. The head count ratio showed that 53.5% of the households were poor while 46.5% were regarded as non-poor, and poverty gap was 0.214. From probit results, age, secondary occupation, and farm size had significant inverse relationship with poverty status. Having primary and secondary income sources is poverty reducing, therefore, rural households should be encouraged to remain in farming, especially crop farming, and motivated through skill acquisition to diversify into other income generating activities.
Soil Effects on Forest Structure and Diversity in a Moist and a Dry Tropical Forest

Soil characteristics are important drivers of variation in wet tropical forest structure and diversity, but few studies have evaluated these relationships in drier forest types. Using tree and soil data from 48 and 32 1 ha plots, respectively, in a Bolivian moist and dry forest, we asked how soil conditions affect forest structure and diversity within each of the two forest types. After correcting for spatial effects, soil‐vegetation relationships differed between the dry and the moist forest, being strongest in the dry forest. Furthermore, we hypothesized that soil nutrients would play a more important role in the moist forest than in the dry forest because vegetation in the moist forest is less constrained by water availability and thus can show its full potential response to soil fertility. However, contrary to our expectations, we found that soil fertility explained a larger number of forest variables in the dry forest (50 percent) than in the moist forest (17 percent). Shannon diversity declined with soil fertility at both sites, probably because the most dominant, shade‐tolerant species strongly increased in abundance as soil fertility increased.
Effect of the phosphorus content in a nutrient solution on the expression of genes encoding phosphorus transporters in tomato grown on different substrates.

Effects of the phosphorus content in a nutrient solution (15 or 50 mg P dm-3), growing substrate (rockwool or coconut fiber) and the plant growth stage (for roots: 71 or 113 days after transplanting DAT; for leaves: 71 or 92 DAT) on the chemical composition of roots, the phosphorus content in leaves and the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in the transport of phosphorus from the medium to the plant were investigated in tomato cv. Admiro F1 grown in a foil tunnel. A fertigation system without recirculation was used. Regardless of the plant age and growing substrate, tomatoes fertilized with a nutrient solution containing 50 mg P dm-3 had more phosphorus, iron, boron and copper in roots and more phosphorus in leaves. Irrespective of the stage of plant growth and phosphorus level in the medium, the content of almost all macroand microelements was higher in roots of plants grown in rockwool than in coconut fiber. The stage of plant growth significantly affected the mineral composition of roots as well as the P content in tomato leaves. More phosphorus was stored in roots of younger plants, whereas the phosphorus content was lower in younger than in older leaves. Our analysis of the gene expression showed that transporters encoded by LePT1-LePT4 were involved in phosphate nutrition. Expression of the genes was generally (except LePT4) higher in plants treated by the solution containing 15 mg P dm-3 than in plants treated by 50 mg P dm-3. The expression of genes LePT2, LePT3 in roots of older plants (113 DAT) was generally higher than in young plants.
Occurrence of pathogens in populations of Ips typographus, Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and Hylobius spp. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae) from Austria, Poland and France

Occurrence of pathogens in four important forest pest insect species, Ips typographus, Ips sexdentatus, Hylobius abietis and Hylobius pinastri, from Austria, Poland and France was investigated in 2006–2008. Insects were collected from 46 sampling sites. In total 5,634 living adult beetles were dissected. Some dead adults and some very few dead larvae were inspected for fungal infection. Eight pathogen species (Ips typographus entomopoxvirus, Gregarina typographi, Mattesia sp.,Chytridiopsis typographi, Unikaryon montanum, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria caledonica and Isaria farinosa) were found in I. typographus from the three countries. Four pathogen species were found in I. sexdentatus from Austria and France (Gregarina cf. typographi, Metschnikowia cf. typographi, B. bassiana and B. caledonica). Five pathogen species were found in H. abietis from Austria and Poland (Gregarina hylobii, Ophryocystis hylobii, Nosema hylobii, B. bassiana and B. brongniartii) and two in H. pinastri from Poland (G. hylobii and O. hylobii). Some of the pathogen species were found for the first time in one of the three countries or are reported for the first time in one of the investigated beetle species. Differences in occurrence and geographical distribution of these pathogens are discussed with regard to their respective apparent host spectrum and possible ecological requirements.
Fruiting structure of the red raspberry: multivariate analysis of lateral characteristics.

SummaryThe variation in six selected characteristics of fruiting laterals within each of 12 raspberry genotypes was studied in 1975 by principal components analysis. In all genotypes the first three vectors were similar, and represented general lateral vigour, reproductive vigour and unachieved reproductive vigour of the lateral. Cluster analyses indicated that the vectors formed three stable groups. The vector scores for general lateral vigour and reproductive vigour varied with the position of the lateral on the fruiting cane: general lateral vigour was often greater towards the base whereas reproductive vigour was greater at the tip. Data collected from four of the 12 genotypes in 1977 showed essentially the same relationships except for differences in the way in which general lateral vigour varied with position on the cane. This could be related to differences in cane vigour between the two plantations. The mean values of the six characteristics for each genotype in 1975 were also used in a principal .
The mechanism of interaction of the linker histone with DNA and nucleosomes

approved: This dissertation examines the interaction of the linker histone with DNA and with nucleosomes. The first goal of the project was to characterize the interaction of the linker histone with DNA. Three factors previously reported to influence the linker histone's interaction with DNA were examined: ratio of linker histone to DNA sites of binding, monovalent ions in the local environment, and conformation of the DNA molecules. Evidence obtained through gel mobility shift assays demonstrates the strong preference by the linker histone for DNA with superhelical torsion, i.e., supercoiling, and the negative cooperative mode of binding that the linker histone exhibits in association with supercoiled DNA. The second part of the dissertation examines the location of linker histone binding on the nucleosome, and documents the pronounced tendency of the linker histone to bind to two DNA duplex strands. A preparation of homogeneous nucleosome core particles, consisting of a defined 238 base pair DNA fragment and the core histone octamer positioned precisely on this DNA, was used as a substrate for the UV-induced Redacted for privacy crosslinking of the linker histone to the DNA of this nucleosome. By site-specific labeling of a single site on the DNA of the nucleosome, the linker histone was observed crosslinked at that labeled site, confirming that the linker histone binds at the pseudo-dyad axis of the nucleosome. This evidence was used to support a model of linker histone binding to the nucleosome that invokes the association of the linker histone with no fewer than two duplex strands of DNA of the nucleosome.
Picicola Clay and Meinertzhagen (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from jacamars and puffbirds (Piciformes: Galbulidae, Bucconidae), with descriptions of five new species

The three species of previously named Picicola Clay and Meinertzhagen from jacamars and puffbirds are redescribed and five new species are described and illustrated. These new species and their type hosts are: Picicola valquii ex Notharchus tectus (Boddaert), P. naokii ex Bucco capensis Linnaeus, P. osheai ex Malacoptila fusca (J.F. Gmelin), P. faucetti ex Chelidoptera tenebrosa (Pallas), and P. oneilli ex Notharchus macrorhynchos (J.F. Gmelin). We collected partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences for all of the species in this group, and these data support the genetic distinctiveness of these new species. A key is provided for the identification of all eight species of Picicola from jacamars and puffbirds.
Prolificacy in Indian goat breeds is independent of FecB mutation

Genetic studies on sheep prolificacy have indicated that litter size and ovulation rate is determined by the action of single genes, named fecundity (Fec) genes. In the present study, an attempt was made to screen Indian goats for the presence or absence of FecB mutation in BMPRIB gene which has been established as a prolificacy associated marker in sheep. Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted from 200 goats with history of high twinning rate for three consecutive parities belonging to six prolific breeds (Black Bengal, Beetal, Barbari, Malabari, Sikkim and Jakhrana) of India. These goats were genotyped for the presence of FecB mutation by forced restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR technique. The efficiency and accuracy of the PCR-RFLP assay was confirmed by DNA sequencing of representative samples of each breed. All the goats were found to be homozygous non-carriers indicating absence of FecB mutation. Complete concordance was observed between the results obtained by PCRRFLP and direct DNA sequencing. These results suggest that fecundity of these prolific goat breeds is not linked to the same locus in BMPRIB gene as in some sheep breeds, and other polymorphism(s) or genes may be involved in governing the fecundity trait in caprines.
Molecular characterization of freshwater turtle genus Pangshura based on structure and evolution of four selected proteins

An in-silico study has been performed for sequence analysis, tertiary structure prediction and evolutionary characterization of four selected proteins from the highly endangered Southeast Asian turtle species under the genera Pangshura and Batagur (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Pangshura and Batagur). The analyses were performed using the sequence data of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I, NADHdehydrogenase subunit 4 (NADH4), Recombination activating protein 1 (RAG 1) and Recombination activating protein 2 (RAG 2). The study represents the application of comparative modelling method for protein 3D structure prediction. The evolutionary analyses were conducted in MEGA5 using Maximum Likelihood and NeighbourJoining methods. The results showed that the P. smithii and P. tentoria are the sister species followed by P. tecta and P. sylhetensis their successive sister-taxa. The overall Quality factors predicted by ERRAT verification programme for the predicted 3D structures are more than 95%. After successful verification of the coordinate files, the structures were deposited to PMDB Protein Model Database of University of Rome and available for further uses. The computational models of the proteins could be of use for further evaluation of molecular mechanism of function. The present study also provides an indispensable groundwork for future conservation and genetic analysis of other turtle genera.
Bacteria associated with different legume species grown in heavy-metal contaminated soils.

Corresponding Author E-mail : moez.jebara@mes.rnu. tn Tel. : (+216) 22583307; Fax: (+216) 79325948 This study was conducted on seven experimental soil samples from mining and agricultural sites in Tunisia. Four local legumes, Vicia faba, Lens culinaris, Cicer arietinum and Sulla coronaria, were tested to select appropriate legume–tolerant bacteria symbionts for specific metal contamination. Soil analysis showed that Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations were significantly higher in contaminated sites than in agricultural soils. Investigation of legumes response to contamination showed that the greatest reduction in the shoot and root dry weights was observed in Sulla coronaria upon Cd contamination due to highly metal accumulation; while Vicia faba and Lens culinaris contained Cu and Pb respectively in their organs. Metal tolerance analyses showed that isolates from Vicia faba could grow with maximum Cu, Pb and Cd levels of 2, 4 and 4.5 mM, respectively; however, isolates from the others tested legumes were more sensitive to heavy metals. Genetic characterization by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rDNA for 20% of the isolates revealed different species including Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhizobium phaseolus, Rhizobium etli and Agrobacterium. Selected Rhizobium species were chosen with their appropriate legumes to form prospective symbiotic systems for eventual phytostabilisation purposes, which should be tested in contaminated areas.
How the National HIV/AIDS Response Can Strengthen the Health System in Myanmar Through the Support of Global Health Initiatives

International financing plays a substantial role in driving the national HIV/AIDS response in Myanmar. This health policy and systems research is designed as a piece of descriptive work that employs a sequential iterative context-focused approach. It aims to propose policy recommendations to Myanmar for strengthening its health delivery system for the national HIV/AIDS response through the support of global health initiatives. This study reviews the current situation of the national HIV/AIDS response and finds that Myanmar has missed the opportunity to capitalize on the use of the Global Fund’s monies to strengthen the health system. We propose that strengthening service delivery platforms of township health systems will be the key to unlocking these opportunities in future. The role of complementary financing from other donors and domestic resources becomes instrumental to ensure sufficient resource allocation to the sub-national level. Deliberate planning is also required to optimize the use of those scarce resources. Several health system constraints and overarching issues that determine health service delivery and uptake are explored and discussed. Thus, this study will contribute to our global depository of knowledge about the constraints and challenges around health system strengthening in developing countries.
What factors determine where invertebrate‐feeding birds forage in dry agricultural grasslands?

Increases in the intensity of the management of agricultural grasslands over the past 50 years have reduced plant species diversity in swards and increased uniformity in structure through changes in fertilizer regimes, grazing and mowing practices. These factors, as well as increased disturbance and trampling, have reduced the number and diversity of forbs and thus the diversity and abundance of invertebrates, in particular of foliar species. Associated with these changes in management, there has been a large decline in the abundance of many species of farmland birds in pastoral areas and more local extinctions compared with arable areas. To understand the impact of these management changes on bird populations, and design measures to reverse the declines, it is necessary to identify the key factors influencing bird usage of fields. We review results from five studies, which have related fertilizer and grazing management to bird usage of grass fields. Species that fed on soil invertebrates tended to show a positive response to the amount of nitrogen fertilizer added and increased grazing pressure, although there was a high degree of correlation between these two variables. In summer, many species, including corvids, Common Blackbird Turdus merula, Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba and Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis, showed a negative relationship with sward height, and in winter more species showed a positive relationship with bare ground. Taller sward heights are associated with a greater abundance and diversity of bird invertebrate food resources, and accessibility of food items or a lower risk of predation (actual or perceived) are likely to be the reasons for birds choosing to forage on shorter swards and in areas with more bare ground. Birds feeding on soil invertebrates were found to be generally tolerant of modern management practices that maintain short swards short, as accessibility to the soil has been increased. Species that feed on foliar invertebrates or forb seeds have been affected negatively by modern grassland agricultural practices.
The size of spider eggs and estimates of their energy content.

Egg size was used to estimate the energy incorporated into egg production in a sample of 24 species representing 11 families. Egg mass scaled geometrically to egg diameter. Egg mass can be accurately estimated from the easily measured diameter of an egg. Comparison of egg sizes between populations of seven species common to Connecticut and Florida suggest egg size is species-specific. The constancy of energy density of spider eggs allows relatively accurate estimates of the energy incorporated into egg production using easily obtained data on egg size, number of eggs per clutch, and number of clutches.
Effects of Shell Thickness, Shell Pores and Egg Weight Loss on Hatchability on Japanese Quail Eggs

This study was conducted to determine the effects of eggshell thickness, pores, and weight loss on hatchability on Japanese quail eggs. A total of 477 eggs, collected within 5 days, placed in an incubator after determining individual egg weights, and eggs were individually weighted on 5, 10, 14, and 18th days of incubation. Percentage egg weight loss was calculated for individual eggs for each incubation interval. On day 18 of incubation, all unhatched eggs were opened and examined macroscopically for evidence of stage of embryonic development. Egg types were classified as infertile (INF), early dead (ED), late dead (LD), embryos that pipped the shell but failed to emerge (PIP) and hatched (H). Dry chicks weights from hatched eggs were obtained on day 18. Shell thickness and porosity were determined in all egg types. The greatest egg weight loss until the day 14 of incubation was observed in ED eggs; it was intermediate in LD and INF eggs, whereas it was low in H and PIP eggs (P