Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Herbivory in omnivorous fishes: effect of plant secondary metabolites and prey stoichiometry

Summary 1. Many animals that consume freshwater macrophytes are omnivorous (i.e., they include both plant and animal matter in their diet). For invertebrate omnivorous consumers, selection of macrophyte species depends partly on the presence of secondary metabolites in plants, plant carbon/nutrient balances and/or physical structure of plants. However, little is known about the mechanisms influencing consumption of macrophytes in aquatic vertebrates. 2. For two fish species, the omnivorous rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), feeding preferences were determined in three choice experiments. We tested (i) whether the presence of secondary metabolites and macrophyte stoichiometry affects macrophyte species selection by fish, (ii) the importance of macrophyte stoichiometry by manipulating the macrophytes experimentally and (iii) the rate of herbivory when the most palatable macrophyte is offered simultaneously with a common animal prey. 3. In a choice experiment with five species of submerged macrophytes (Callitriche sp., Chara globularis, Elodea nuttallii, Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton pectinatus), Myriophyllum was clearly consumed least by both fishes, which strongly correlated with the highest phenolic concentration of this macrophyte. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was found between consumption and C : N ratio of the five macrophytes. The two most consumed macrophytes also had the lowest dry matter concentration (DMC). 4. In a second choice experiment, the C : N ratio of the least (Myriophyllum) and most (Potamogeton) palatable plants was manipulated by growing the macrophytes under fertilised and unfertilised conditions and subsequently feeding them to rudd. The avoidance of consumption of the chemically defended Myriophyllum by rudd was partly alleviated by the lowered C : N ratio. 5. The third choice experiment showed that both fishes preferred animal prey (the amphipod Gammarus pulex) over the most palatable macrophyte (Potamogeton) when offered simultaneously. The C : N ratio of the amphipods was about half that of the lowest C : N ratio measured in the macrophytes. Consumption by the fishes could not clearly be related to C : P or N : P ratios of prey items in any of the experiments. 6. We conclude that omnivorous fish avoid macrophytes that are chemically defended. However, when these defences are only minor, stoichiometry (C : N ratio) in combination with DMC may be a determining factor for consumption by vertebrate facultative herbivores.
Effect of mentha extract (Mentha piperita) supplementation in drinking water on performance, plasma lipoproteins, carcass charasteristic and liver color index or weight in broiler chickens

Mixed day-old broiler chicks (160) in 4 groups were used to investigate the effects of mentha extract (Mentha piperita) on performance, carcass characteristics, plasma lipoproteins and liver indices. All the chickens were fed the similar starter (day 1–21 of age) and grower (day 22–42 of age) diets in pellet form, but received 0.0 (ZM), 0.2 (LM), 0.4 (MM) and 0.6% (HM) alcoholic extract of Mentha piperita in drinking water during the experimental period (day 1 to day 42 of age). Performance (feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio), hot carcass and proportional weights of thigh, wing and abdominal fat were not affected by mentha consumption. But breast proportional weight increased linearly as the mentha extract level increased. Positive and negative quadratic regression models were observed between mentha extract level with the liver colour index and liver proportional weight respectively. Mentha extract supplementation decreased plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL- C and VLDL- C quadrically. It was concluded that mentha extract consumption in drinking water can have beneficial effects on plasma lipoproteins and breast proportional weight. Moreover it decreased the synthesis of lipids in liver and consequently decreased the liver proportional weight and increased the liver colour index.
Molecular methods in microbial ecology.

It is now generally accepted in microbial ecology that cultivation-based approaches provide an incomplete picture of microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract because only a minority of microbes can be obtained in culture. Therefore, the application of molecular approaches, especially those focused on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence diversity, have become popular as they enable researchers to bypass the cultivation step. These approaches have provided considerable information about microbial ecosystems, including the GI tract. This chapter will summarize the different approaches and their impact on our knowledge of the ecology of the GI tract and provide guidelines for future research directions with a focus on preand
Rôle du périplasme dans la perception par la bactérie de son environnement : utilisation des ß-galactanes par Erwinia chrysanthemi : voie de signalisation du système Rcs dans la virulence d'Erwinia chrysanthemi

Erwinia chrysanthemi est une enterobacterie phytopathogene responsable de la formation d'une pourriture molle sur un large spectre de plantes hotes. Sa virulence depend principalement de la secretion d'exoenzymes (dont les pectinases et cellulases) qui vont degrader la paroi des cellules vegetales. L'objectif de cette these est de participer a la comprehension du role du periplasme dans la perception de l'environnement par la bacterie. Nous avons caracterise genetiquement et biochimiquement le locus gan codant 9 proteines impliquees dans le transport et la degradation des s-galactanes (un des composants de la pectine). Les OPG (glucanes periplasmiques osmoregules) sont essentiels pour la virulence d'E. chrysanthemi puisqu'un mutant opgG incapable de les synthetiser presente un phenotype pleiotrope dont la perte de virulence. Une mutation suppressive de la mutation opgG localisee dans le gene rcsC a ete obtenue au laboratoire. Nous avons voulu preciser le role du systeme a deux composants RcsCDB dans le pouvoir pathogene de la bacterie. La mutation rcsC2 conduit a une diminution de la phosphorylation du regulateur RcsB due a une augmentation de l'activite phosphatase de RcsC. Pourtant RcsB n'est pas essentielle pour la virulence. Nous avons egalement montre que l'expression des genes regules par le systeme RcsCDB est influencee par la quantite des OPG. Une faible surexpression d'une version soluble de RcsF engendre une activation du systeme Rcs et que la faible surexpression de DjlA et IgaA n'a pas d'effet significatif. Enfin, nous avons entrepris de caracteriser la structure de RcsF par mutagenese dirigee.
Maternal life history of white-tailed deer: factors affecting fetal sex allocation, conception timing, and senescence

Questions: How does maternal condition and regional variation in resource abundance affect fetal sex ratio allocation, timing of litter conception, and decreased fecundity due to senescence? Data studied: We used female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) maternal age and mass and reproductive tract data (number and sex of fetuses) collected from 1995 to 2011 throughout Alabama. Methods: Fetal sex ratio allocation: We aged collected fetuses to determine conception date and examined the effects of maternal age and mass, litter size, and conception timing (relative to site-specific average conception timing). Timing of litter conception: We examined effects of maternal characteristics. Fecundity: We examined effects of maternal age and mass. In all models, we assessed the effect of regional variation in resource abundance. Conclusions: Fetal sex ratio allocation: The only significant predictor was conception timing, and sons were more likely as conception date was closer to the peak of breeding. We did not find support for Trivers-Willard or the local resource competition hypothesis. Timing of litter conception: Maternal age, mass, and their interaction (maternal age × mass) explained conception timing, with smaller females conceiving further from the mean conception date among younger females and larger females conceiving further from the mean conception date among older females (likely related to reproductive output in the prior breeding season). Fecundity: Not previously demonstrated, we found support for age-related reproductive senescence in female white-tailed deer.
Genome-Wide Expression Dynamics during Mouse Embryonic Development and Organogenesis Reveal Similarities to Drosophila Development

Negative-acting photoresist compositions are used in a variety of reproductive and imaging systems. Significant problems with these compositions are their inability to cure to a tough, solvent resistant state, tackiness in the uncured compositions, and the tendency of the uncured compositions to flow under force. The present composition combines six ingredients to form a photoresist composition which overcomes many of these problems in the prior art.
Characteristics of salicylic acid-induced delay in disease caused by a necrotrophic fungal pathogen in tobacco

Abstract Treatment of tobacco with salicylic acid delayed the onset of disease caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea . Inoculation of salicylic acid-treated tobacco with B. cinerea spores resulted in the development of limited necrotic lesions, similar to the hypersensitive response lesions that are normally associated with resistance to avirulent pathogens. In contrast, untreated plants showed watery spreading necrosis that is typical of infection with B. cinerea . Light and scanning electron microscopic examination revealed that B. cinerea hyphae were contained within the hypersensitive-like lesions in the salicylic acid-treated plants during the time-course of the experiment. Intercellular fluid from salicylic acid-treated tobacco was effective at inhibiting the hyphal growth of B. cinerea in vitro . When components of the intercellular fluid with a molecular weight greater than 3000 Da were removed, the intercellular fluid no longer inhibited mycelial growth suggesting that the inhibitory factor is one or more of the extracellular pathogenesis-related proteins.
Knowledge Levels of Nursing Students on Disaster Nursing and Their State of Disaster Preparedness

Background: Turkey is a country that very frequently experiences disasters due to its geological structure, and earthquakes are Turkey’s most frequent type of natural disaster. To best fulfill their roles and responsibilities during a disaster, nurses are expected to enhance their knowledge and experience. Aim: This was a descriptive study and aimed to determine nursing students’ knowledge levels on disaster nursing and their state of disaster preparedness. Method: This study included fourth-year nursing students in two universities located in the Ankara and Konya provinces of Turkey. It was conducted in the second education terms between 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. For data analysis, this study used frequency values, a chi-square test to assess students’ views on disaster nursing courses by their universities, and an independent sample t-test. Results: 51.6% students were nursing students in University A located in Konya, with 48.4% studying at University B in Ankara. The mean age of students was 2.41 ± 0.95 years, and 85.5% were female. Most of students studying in University A (67.8%) reported that they had received education about disasters, and this rose to 83.2% in University B students. This showed that students’ disaster education status differed between universities. Only 6.8% of University A students reported that they had received disaster nursing education, while 68.6% of students studying at University B had received education about disaster nursing. The data obtained from this study showed that the status of receiving disaster nursing education varied according to the university attended (p<0.05), that there were statistically significant relationships between disaster nursing knowledge scores and students’ universities, genders, whether they had received education about disasters and disaster nursing. Conclusion: This study found significant differences between students in both universities in terms of their having received education about disasters, disaster nursing, and knowledge scores on disaster nursing.
Leaders’ emotional labor strategies and wellbeing: does perceived organizational justice mediates the relationship?

As emotions play a crucial role in organizations, many researchers have turned their attention to examining emotions in organizational behavior studies to gain a more in-depth understanding of human behaviors within organizations. Leaders’ emotions are deemed important as key elements of effective leadership. Leaders attempt to manage their emotions when interacting with their followers, and these emotions ultimately influence their wellbeing and attitudes. Perceived organizational justice is also proposed as an important factor that might intervene this relationship. Hence, this paper proposed a theoretical framework for studying the relationship between leaders’ emotional labor strategies and wellbeing, in which perceived organizational justice is the mediating factor.
How Does Investment in Working Capital Effect the Probability of Manufacturing Companies at Indonesian Stock Exchange

: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of investment in working i.e cash conversion cycleand control variables i.e. current ratio, firm growth and leverage to firm profitability for a sample of 51 of manufacturing companies in Indonesian stock exchange. In addition, this paper also tries to find the break event point of cash conversion cycle and profitability. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on secondary financial data obtained from Indonesian capital market directory from 2014 to 2017.Multiple linier regression was applied to knowthe effect of cash conversion cycle, current ratio, firm growth and leverage to profitability. Findings – The findings indicate that cash conversion cycle, current ratio positively influence profitability, meanwhile, firm growth and leverage do not effect profitability. The results also confirm the inverted U-shape relationship between cash conversion cycle and profitability. The break event point of cash conversion cycle is 66 days. Originality/value– To best of our knowledge this research is a preliminary attempt contributing to the literature by providingevidence for an inverted U-shaped relation between working capital investment and profitability of manufacturing companies at the Indonesian stock exchange. Research limitations – This research only focuses on manufacturing sector companies. For further research, it is recommended to observe all companies sectors in the Indonesian stock exchange and add other relevant variables. Practical implications -The findings have implication for management of manufacturing companies at the Indonesian stock exchange.to pay attention to investment efficiency in working capital.
Herbivorous insects in flower-buds of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae), with special emphasis on Lepidoptera.

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae), e uma arvore de alta importância economica no cerrado brasileiro e, apesar da ampla literatura sobre a especie, as informacoes sobre os insetos que atacam suas estruturas reprodutivas sao escassas. Apresentamos aqui o primeiro levantamento dos insetos que atacam botoes florais de C. brasiliense em duas areas do Distrito Federal, Brasil. Insetos adultos (Leplidoptera, Diptera e Hymenoptera) emergiram de 82% das inflorescencias coletadas. As larvas de Diptera se alimentam das anteras no interior dos botoes florais. Foram encontradas nove especies de Lepidoptera, e as duas mais abundantes foram Phidothrica erigens (Pyralidae) e uma especie nao identificada de Gelechiidae. A especie de Pyralidae foi dominante em uma area de cerrado preservado (FAL) e a de Gelechiidae em area de cerrado alterado e fragmentado (UnB). A proporcao destas especies e de seus himenopteros parasitoides variou durante o periodo de floracao, sendo que os himenopteros foram mais abundantes na area preservada.
Two-dimensional protein patterns of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds; effects of isolation procedure and imbibition

Abstract A computer-aided comparison of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seed protein patterns, obtained after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, was made for three different extraction procedures: TCA acetone/lysis buffer, lysis buffer only and modified Laemmli/lysis buffer. Comparison of the isolation methods showed that about half of the amount of proteins detected was common in each method. Also, proteins specific to some isolation methods were detected. Protein synthesis during imbibition was monitored using 35S-methionine. After labelling the proteins were extracted using TCA acetone/lysis buffer. Following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis the gels were first silver stained, to give a general picture of all proteins present in the seed, then the gels were exposed to a film for autoradiography. Comparison of the in vivo-synthesized protein patterns and the silver-stained proteins revealed that from day 0 to day 1 the protein pattern was changed but the total number of different spots was similar. After 1 day of imbibition, the number of protein spots increased greatly and the protein pattern changed again.
Opposing Biological Functions of Retinoic Acid in Normal Embryonic Development

Vitamin A and its metabolic derivative, retinoic acid (RA) are essential biomolecules for normal development regulation and regeneration in different organs. Too much and deficiency of vitamin A can be toxic for fetuses lead to birth defects or is associated with many congenital malformations. It has been known that RA alone or in combination with other morphogens promotes the developmental program such as neural differentiation and patterning. Here, we discussed RA role in the neural patterning of the embryonic stem cells and its function in promoting the neural differentiation in neural plate of the developing embryo through attenuating the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. By using different techniques, we also argued the opposite function of RA in inducing apoptosis in the human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) shown by upregulating the caspase expression. Finally, we discussed that some biological parameters including cell density and passage appeared to be involved in this cytotoxicity response
Water quality monitoring into a recirculating aquaculture system for intensive rearing of carp (Cyprinus carpio) juveniles fed with probiotics supplement.

Dynamics of water quality parameters in an intensive recirculating system of juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) is dependent on many factors, the most important being the stocking density, feeding intensity and biochemical composition of the feed. The objective of this work is the monitoring of chemical parameters of physical environment in culture conditions in a recirculating system using a probiotic feed and monitor the evolution of these parameters during the experiment. We have evaluated the main water quality parameters, namely temperature, the pH, oxygen, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and chlorine. Temperature, water and oxygen and the reaction caused by sensors in the automatic control system quality water, and for other parameters was used to determine colorimetric method with kits with Merck type Spectroquant Nova 400. With the use of a probiotic feed containing 30% protein and varying concentrations of probiotic BioPlus 2B®, consisting of Bacillus licheniformis (DSM 5749) and Bacillus subtilis (DSM 5750) in a ratio of 1:1, recycled water quality was maintained in the allowable spread of culture supported by the species. During the experiment, their values were within the following spacing: ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH4) from 0,17 to 0,86 mg / l; Nitrites (N-NO2) 0,24 to 0,54 mg / l; Nitrate (N-NO3) 16,7 – 20,4 mg / l and chlorine (Cl) 23,4 to 32,3 mg / l.
Genetic Divergence Studies in Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Genetic biodiversity among sixty genetically diversified genotypes of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) for nine quantitative characters by Multivariate analysis revealed that the factors other than geographical diversity might have been responsible for grouping of genetic divergence. The clustering pattern revealed that the genotypes originating from different geographical regions got themselves grouped into different clusters. This indicated that the geographic biodiversity is not the only factor in determining genetic biodiversity. The genotypes with same geographic origin could have undergone change for different characters under selection during the process of evolution. The free clustering of the ecotypes suggested the influence of direction of selection pressure (applied) for realizing maximum yield in different ecosystems, the nicely evolved homeostatic devices would favour constancy of the associated characters and thus show indiscriminate clustering. The comparative study of efficacy of Tocher’s method of grouping with Complete linkage dendrogram indicated the superiority of Complete linkage dendrogram over Tocher’s method with a defined uniformity of index of homogeneity and optimum number of uniform clusters.
Effects of kaolin clay, sulphur and fosetyl-aluminium on tomatopotato psyllid and 'zebra chip' in fried potato crisps

Zebra chip (ZC) is mottled browning discolouration of cooked potato crisps caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso). ZC has caused significant problems in the New Zealand potato industry. Tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) (TPP) is a vector for CLso. Surround® WP, formulated from nontoxic kaolin clay and a spreader-sticker, is effective in protecting fruit trees from various insect pests. Sulphur has been widely used to control arthropod pests, especially mites. Fosetyl-aluminium has no bactericide properties as such, but can change the host susceptibility to some bacteria, such as fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). A field trial, conducted at Pukekohe to determine the effects of kaolin clay, sulphur, and fosetyl-aluminium applied as foliar sprays, on TPP, potato yields, tuber dry matter content and incidence of ZC, found that, while not reducing ZC, sulphur demonstrated potential for reducing TPP nymph numbers in the crop. Kaolin and fosetyl-aluminium were not effective in controlling either TPP or ZC.
The use of RAPD markers for detecting genetic similarity and molecular identification of chamomile (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.) genotypes

The objectives of this study was to assess the of genetic similarity and identification of 13 wild species and 7 cultivars of chamomile using RAPD markers. 53 RAPD primers were screened, only 12 produced polymorphic and repeatable fragments. in total, all primers used produced 157 fragments out of which 149 were polymorphic. The RAPDbased genetic similarity was estimated. genetic similarity matrix was applied for cluster analysis through uPgmA method. On the dendrogram, only genotypes from Austria, czech Republic as weel as genotypes collected in area of Lublin were grouped together. The remaining genotypes from the same area were located in different groups. Present study demonstrated that RAPD markers provided a practical and effective method not only to evaluate the genetic similarity and relationships but also to identify chamomile genotypes.