Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation and identification of brown adipose tissue on positron-emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Characterisation and identification of brown adipose tissue on positron-emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging Since the first published description of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in 1551 its reputation has changed from that of a mere curiosity of little physiological significance in adult humans, to meriting reclassification as a metabolic organ in its own right. Obesity is a major global public health problem. Modulation of non-shivering thermogenesis through BAT manipulation presents an attractive therapeutic target for inducing weight loss. Testing the efficacy of such pharmacological agents requires the development of a reliable imaging biomarker to enable BAT quantification. In this thesis we have evaluated the effectiveness of positron-emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in quantifying BAT. Retrospective analysis of 3,295 consecutive PET scans performed at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (Coventry, UK) in 2007-2012 showed 18F-FDG uptake consistent with BAT in 5.3% of scans. Gender (female), age (younger), BMI (lower), serum glucose (lower), time of day (earlier), and temperature (lower) were all significant predictors of BAT prevalence. Regression analysis showed patients’ age and preceding day’s minimum temperature to correlate most strongly with BAT volume, while the impact of other factors is less clear. We also showed the pattern of BAT uptake within individuals to be consistent across serial PET scans. Quantitative colocalisation techniques showed this degree of colocalisation to be significant in 14/15 patients, implying fixed BAT deposits in adult humans. Concerns over the high ionising radiation dose of PET scans has stimulated research into MR as an alternative means of detecting BAT, with the potential to identify BAT irrespective of its activation state. Using IDEAL FSE sequences acquired on a 3 Tesla clinical MR scanner, we found BAT to have a significantly lower fat fraction than white adipose tissue in rats post mortem and adult humans in vivo. Our efforts to identify BAT prospectively using fat fraction yielded inconsistent results.
LHRHa-induced ovulation of the endangered-Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) and its effect on egg quality and two sex steroids: testosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogestrone

To induce synchronized ovulation, migrating wild Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) females were treated with two interperitoneal injections of Des-Gly10, d-Ala6 LHRH (LHRHa), given 3 days apart. Two injections of 100 μg kg−1 body weight of this hormone effectively induced ovulation. Within 27 days from the second injection, all fish injected with 100 μg kg−1 LHRHa had ovulated compared with 54.5% of the controls. The mean time to ovulation was reduced significantly (P<0.05) from 31.67±4.84 days in control fish and 28.83±7.31 days in sham-treated fish to 16.36±1.61 days in fish injected with 100 μg kg−1 LHRHa. The fertilization rate in 50 and 100 μg kg−1 LHRHa-injected fish was significantly lower than that in the control fish (P<0.05). In fish injected with 50 and 100 μg kg−1 LHRHa, significant (P<0.05) changes in testosterone (T) and 17α-hydroxyprogestrone (OHP) levels were observed. After the second LHRHa injection, the fish injected with 100 μg kg−1 showed the highest serum levels of testosterone and OHP. These results demonstrate that the use of LHRHa can effectively reduce the mean time to ovulation and induce synchronized ovulation in Caspian brown trout.
Sheath Brown Rot Disease of Rice Caused by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae in the Peninsular Malaysia

Relative to the established and well known rice diseases, sheath brown rot caused by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae can be considered new but getting widespread and serious all over the world. Our research was aimed to monitor and quantify the incidence and importance of the disease in Malaysia. A series of field monitoring and sampling were conducted to quantify the incidence and severity of the disease. Laboratory analysis of the collected diseased plant was done to identify the causal organism. Disease resistance screening of selected rice cultivars were also conducted to overcome the problem. The disease was found to become more important,prevalent and widely spread throughout rice growing areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Infected plants in the field became yellowish,lower leaf sheaths turned light or dark brown, while grains produced by an infected plant were discoloured, malformed and empty. The highest disease incidence was recorded in the state of Pahang (62%) and Selangor (62%), while the most severe infection was recorded in Pahang (55%) and Terengganu (61%). The evaluations of varietal resistance evaluation showed that the pathogen naturally infected all tested rice varieties at different levels of infection. Several rice varieties i.e. MR240, MR243, MR244, MR245, MR246, MR248 and MR249, classified as moderately resistant to the disease, could be recommended for planting in the next planting season.
Reproductive Biology of Barb Fish (Barbonymus balleroides Val. 1842) in Fragmented Habitat of Upstream Serayu River Central Java, Indonesia

The study of reproductive biology of barb fish, Barbonymus balleroides was conducted for one year in Serayu River, Central Java, between June 2012 and May 2013. The aims of this study are to access sexual dimorphism, the size at first maturity, reproductive potency, and spawning season. Fish sampling was conducted in three zones, 2 stations in each zone by using gill net, cast net, and electro fishing. The caught fishes were preserve in formalin and they were observed in laboratory. The results showed that this fish has sexual dimorphism, the size at first maturity of males 150-182 mm and females and 175-202 mm. The fecundity varied from 2,760 to 50,085 eggs with mean 17,347 eggs. The relationships between fecundity and body length, and fecundity and body weight were linear, positive and significant. The gonad maturity is consisted of five stages. The highest mean Gonado Somatic Index (GSI) of female was found in the upper zone which was followed by the lower zone, i.e. 2.43 and 2.34 respectively. -----------------------------------------------------------------------* Corresponding author. E-mail address:fisharyono@gmail.com.
Cell Binding Sequences in Mouse Laminin α1 Chain*

Laminin-1, a multifunctional glycoprotein of the basement membrane, consists of three different subunits, α1, β1, and γ1 chains. Previously, we used synthetic peptides to screen for biologically active sequences in the laminin α1 chain C-terminal globular domain (G domain) and identified several cell binding sequences (Nomizu, M., Kim, W. H., Yamamura, K., Utani, A., Song, S. Y., Otaka, A., Roller, P. P., Kleinman, H. K., and Yamada, Y. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 20583–20590). Here, we identify new cell binding sequences on the remainder of the laminin α1 chain by systematic peptide screening, using 208 overlapping synthetic peptides encompassing the central and N-terminal portions of the α1 chain. HT-1080 cell attachment activity to the peptides was evaluated using peptide-coated plastic substrates and peptide-conjugated Sepharose beads. Twenty five peptides showed cell attachment activities on either the peptide-coated plastic substrates and/or the peptide-conjugated Sepharose beads. A-13 (RQVFQVAYIIIKA) showed strongest cell attachment activity in both the assays. Cell attachment to 14 of the peptides was inhibited by heparin. EDTA and integrin antibodies inhibited cell adhesion to two of the peptides, A-13 and A-25, suggesting that these sites likely bind to integrins. These peptides inhibited cell attachment to laminin-1 but not to collagen I, suggesting these active sites are available on the intact molecule. Most of active sequences were localized on globular domains suggesting that these structures play a critical role in binding to cell-surface receptors.
Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha−1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha−1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha−1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.
Identification of phytochemicals and the associated genes in Eksotika papaya at ripening index 5 using functional genomics.

Phytochemicals and the associated genes involved in primary and secondary metabolite pathways at ripening index 5 of Carica papaya var. Eksotika were investigated using GC-MS based metabolomics approach and mRNA pairedend sequencing. A total of 54 metabolites were identified for polar and nonpolar compounds belonging to amino and organic acids, saturated/unsaturated fatty acids, sugars/sugar alcohols, simple phenolics, vitamins and sterols and alkanes. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), ɑ- and ɣ-tocopherols (vitamin E) and plant sterols such as stigmasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol were among the metabolites identified in this study. A total of 48,765 putative unigenes were obtained from mRNA paired-end sequencing of which 59% (28,736) showed significant (E-value 10 –5 ) expression to enzymes in the non-redundant (nr) database. Of these, only 4.9% (1,413) were predicted to be potentially involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of primary and secondary metabolites based on KEGG pathway analysis. These include carotenoids, fruit volatiles including mono- and diterpenoids, stillbenoids, flavonoids, flavones and flavonols, anthocyanins, phenylpropanoids, betalains, isothiocyanates, steroids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, sugars and sugar alcohols, brassinosteroids, amino- and organic acids, abscisic acid, laticifers and proteases. GO analysis identified 67 of the unigenes in the molecular function category to be involved in antioxidant activity. By mapping to the KEGG pathway, 29 metabolites were identified to have direct association with several of the predicted papaya unigenes including metabolites belonging to amino and organic acids, sugars, fatty acids and plant sterols. Keywords: fruit metabolomics and genomics; ripening index 5; bioinformatics; phytonutrients
Behavior of young bulls in confinement housed separately or in group.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of young bulls (between September and October of 2003) and to associate this with their performance. Fifty crossbred animals were divided among three treatments: T1, with a pair of animals in each of 10 pens; T2, with 10 animals in individual stalls; and T3, with 20 animals in a collective pen. An adaptation period was followed by 5 d of observations, with annotations every 15 min between 6:00 and 20:00 h. The observed activities were ingestion, rumination and leisure. Dry and wet bulb temperatures, black glove temperature in shade and in the sun, and relative humidity were recorded at 10:00 and 15: h. Conditions of thermal comfort were also evaluated through the temperature and humidity index (THI). The mean THI value of 78.0 indicated thermal discomfort of the animals. Time dedicated to ingestion by T1 animals (113.5 min) surpassed that of the other treatments (T2, 88.6 min and T3, 102.1 min). Ruminations time was similar for animals of T1 (121.3 min) and T2 (116.2 min), but greater than that of T3 (100.8 min). Leisure time of T1 animals (185.1 min) was less than those of T2 (215.1 min) and T3 (217.0 min). Animals of all the treatments preferred to ruminate while lying. Time spent lying was greater in individually housed animals (T2) and in those of the collective pen (T3). However, there were no significant differences among the treatments in weight gain of the animals.
Systematics of the African river frog genus amietia (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The African river frog genus Amietia is found near rivers and other lentic water sources throughout central, eastern and southern Africa. Because the genus includes multiple morphologically conservative species, taxonomic studies of river frogs have been limited. We sampled 49 individuals of Amietia from multiple localities in and near the Albertine Rift (AR) of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. We utilized single-gene (16S) and concatenated (12S, 16S, cytochrome b and RAG1) gene-tree analyses and coalescent species-tree analyses to construct phylogenetic trees. Two divergence dating approaches were used in BEAST, including secondary calibration points with 12S, 16S and RAG1 and a molecular clock with the 12S, 16S and cyt b gene. All analyses recovered Amietia as monophyletic with strong support, and revealed several well-supported cryptic lineages, which is consistent with other recent phylogeography studies of AR amphibians. Dating estimates were similar, and Amietia diversification is consistent with global cooling and aridification events in the Miocene and Pliocene, respectively. Our results suggest additional taxonomic work is needed to describe multiple new species of AR Amietia, which have limited geographic distributions that are likely to be of conservation concern.
Effects of stoking rates and supplementary feed on the growth performance of Blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) reared in earthern ponds.

This study was carried out to investigate the optimizing of stocking density of grass carp (164.3 g/fish) at a rates of 100, 200 and 300 fish/pond with 1000 of Blue tilapia (11.39g/fish) reared in earthen ponds and test the effects of rabbit manure as organic fertilizer or using supplementary feed and its effects on the growth performance of fish during 14 weeks of the trial (Table, 1). Fish were stocked in 18 earthen ponds each of a total area 1000 m (three ponds/treatment). Rabbit manure as organic fertilizer was applied in three treatments by a rate of 40 kg/pond (T1, T2 and T3) weekly during the experimental period (14 weeks). Also, supplemental feeding was tested in polyculture system throughout the three treatments (T4, T5 and T6) at a rate of 3% of total biomass of fish, four times daily (9.00, 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00 hr.). Results obtained can be summarized on the following Treatment applied had significant effect on the final body measurements of tilapia and carp at a lower stocking density and supplementary feed. Feeding Blue tilapia on supplementary feed increase total production at T6 (higher stocking density of grass carp). The final body weight of Blue tilapia was higher with supplemental feeding in all treatments tested. Increasing final body weight of Blue tilapia Blue tilapia with increasing stocking density of grass carp. On the hand, final body weight of grass carp decreased with using supplementary feed at higher stocking density (T6), but final yield increased. All water quality parameters evaluated were within acceptable limit for fish culture in pond water.
Nigerian mistletoe ( Loranthus micranthus Linn) aqueous leaves extract modulates some cardiovascular disease risk factors in monosodium glutamate induced metabolic dysfunction

The safety of monosodium glutamates (MSG's) usage has generated much controversy locally and globally. This study investigates the efficacy of Loranthus micranthus in modulating the metabolic disorder associated with MSG intake. Thirty five (35) female rats randomized to three groups labeled 1 (7 rats), 2 (21 rats) and 3 (7 rats), respectively were used. They were administered with normal saline, MSG (200 mg/Kg) and MSG (200 mg/kg) + L. micranthus (600 mg/Kg), respectively for 28 days. Seven rats were then sacrificed from each group. The remaining rats in group 2 were then redistributed to groups labeled 4 and 5 consisting of 7 rats each. MSG was then withdrawn from all the rats. Group 4 was treated with L. Micranthus (600 mg/Kg) while normal saline was administered to group 5. All administrations were carried out for 30 days. The rats were then sacrificed and the serum was used for analysis. Analysis showed increase total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -cholesterol, glucose and total protein concentrations and a reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) -cholesterol (when MSG was administered). These parameters were restored to normal with L. micranthus treatment. Although no histological change was observed in the uterus, there was a significant increase in organs relative weight when rats were placed on MSG but this was reversed with L. micranthus . The study suggests the efficacy of L. micranthus in reversing cardiovascular disorder and its ability to prevent MSG induced fibroid in rat. Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, Lipid profile, Loranthus micranthus , of monosodium glutamates (MSG). African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(39) 3989-3998
Antennal sensilla of the ground beetle Bembidion lampros Hbst (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

Merivee, E. , Ploomi, A. , Rahi, M. , Luik, A. and Sammelselg, V. 2000. Antennal sensilla of the ground beetle Bembidion lampros Hbst (Coleoptera, Carabidae). — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 81 : 339‐350 Antennal sensilla typology, number and distribution pattern were studied in the ground beetle Bembidion lampros Hbst (Coleoptera, Carabidae) using scanning electron microscopy. The 1.6‐1.8 mm long filiform antennae of both sexes consist of the scape, pedicel and of the flagellum composed of nine flagellomeres. In both sexes, three types of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensilla trichodea, five types of sensilla basiconica, one type of sensilla coeloconica, one type of sensilla campaniformia and Bohm sensilla were distinguished. The possible function of the sensilla was discussed and three types of sensilla were considered as olfactory, sensilla trichodea type 2 and sensilla basiconica types 1 and 2. Olfactory sensilla occupy dorsal and/or ventral areas of the flagellomeres and occur sparsely (sensilla basiconica type 1) or not at all (sensilla basiconica type 2 and sensilla trichodea type 2) outside these areas. No remarkable sexual differences in the types, numbers and distribution of antennal sensilla were found.
Growth, mortality and stock assessment of sin croaker Johnieops sina (Cuvier, 1830) from Ratnagiri waters, Maharashtra

Growth, mortality and stock parameters of Johnieops sina was assessed based on the length frequency data collected from Ratnagiri during 2009-11. The growth parameters were estimated as L ∞ = 266 mm, K = 0.9 y -1 and t 0 = -0.002 years. Mortality coefficients Z, M and F were estimated as 7.03, 1.81 and 5.22 respectively. The exploitation rate ‘E’ was very high at 0.74. Virtual population analysis followed by Thompson and Bell analysis indicated that there is no decline in the catch at the present level of fishing, but further increase in ef fort may not be good for the stock in the long run.
The Effect of Different Storage Temperatures on the Growth and Enterotoxin Producing Characteristics of Stapyhlococcus aureus in Çiğ Köfte

The growing and toxin-producing ability of strains of Staphylococcus aureus producing enterotoxin A (SEA 10652 FDA 196E), B (SEB 10654 FDA 243), C (SEC 10655 137) and D (SED 10656 494) were investigated in cig kofte (a raw ball prepared by the hand-kneading of lean ground-beef, fine bulgur and a variety of spices). For this purpose, cig kofte samples prepared under experimental conditions (Group I containing enterotoxin A, Group II containing enterotoxin B, Group III containing enterotoxin C, Group IV containing enterotoxin D, and Group V (mix) containing enterotoxins A, B, C, and D) were separately contaminated by strains of S. aureus at the level of 105 cfu/g, and the samples were stored at 10 °C, at room temperature (21-23 °C) and at 30 °C. The counting of S. aureus colonies and enterotoxin determination in the samples was performed at the initiation of storage, and after 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h. There was no increase in the S. aureus count and toxin was not detected in the samples stored at 10 °C. Enterotoxin was only determined in Group I 24 h after storage among samples stored at room temperature. In all the groups stored at 30 °C, the S. aureus count increased until 12 h, but decreased between 12 and 24 h. At the same temperature, while enterotoxin was detected only in Groups I (enterotoxin A) and V (enterotoxin A and D) at 12 h; in addition to these groups, enterotoxin was detected in Groups II (enterotoxin B) and IV (enterotoxin D) 24 h after storage. In conclusion, cig kofte contaminated with S. aureus at the level of 105 cfu/g produced enterotoxin and caused a health risk while stored at room temperature (21-23 °C) for 24 h and 30 °C for 12 h.
ROOT ANATOMICAL PLASTICITY IN RESPONSE TO SALT STRESS UNDER REAL AND FULL-SEASON FIELD CONDITIONS AND DETERMINATION OF NEW ANATOMIC SELECTION CHARACTERS FOR BREEDING SALT-RESISTANT RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Kok anatomisinin tuz sartlarinda kullanilabilirligine dair bilgiler eksiktir ve bu anlamda etkin anatomik seleksiyon karakterlerinin tespit edilmesi, calismanin esas amacini olusturmaktadir. Bunun icin 31 degisik celtik cesidinin (verim degerlerine gore “En iyi”den “en dusuk”e kadar) tuz sartlari ve kontrol sartlarinda, cimlenmeden hasada kadar, karsilikli olarak kok anatomik ozellikleri karsilastirilmis ve detayli anatomik ozellikleri cikarilmistir. Ilaveten histokimyasal yontemlerle apoplastik yapilar arastirilmistir. Si elementi degerleri, anatomik degisken degerleri, plastisite oranlari, plastisite egilimleri ve her grubun tuz stresi altindaki stratejik anatomik degisim yonelimleri tespit edilmistir. Sonucta; koruyucu anatomik karakterlerin “En iyi” grupta ya ayni kaldigi (kontroldeki gibi) ya da kismen iyi yonde artis gosterdigi, diger gruplarda ise ayni kaldigi (kontroldeki gibi) ya da daha kotu yonde degisim gosterdigi tespit edilmistir. Anatomik plastisite ozelliginin temelde apoplastik bariyer karakterleri ile dogrudan iliskili oldugu ortaya cikarilmistir. Her ne kadar tum cesitlerde tuz stresi altinda az ya da cok anatomik degiskenlik gorulse de en onde gelen anatomik karakterler sunlardir: (1) hucre boyutlari, (2) Si varligi, (3) Si birikim sekli, (4) Si’un kok stelar kisma dogru dagilimi, (5) ksilem ark yapisi, (6) apoplastik bariyerlerin lignifikasyon-suberinizasyon ozellikleri ve dereceleri, (7) zamk ve fenolik icerikli idioblastik hucrelerin varligi/yoklugu, (8) orta derecede anatomik degiskenlik. Ozetle; tuzlu ve normal sartlar altinda koruyucu modifikasyonlarini en stabil tutan cesitlerin, seleksiyon ve islah acisindan en fazla dikkate deger oldugu tespit edilmistir.