Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partial replacement of soybean meal with Methylobacterium extorquens single‐cell protein in feeds for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

Funding information KnipBio Inc. Abstract A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile rainbow trout (15–16 g initial weight) to assess the effects of including single-cell protein (SCP) produced from Methylobacterium extorquens in trout feeds. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were produced: a control diet and two experimental diets containing 5% or 10% bacterial protein meal replacing soybean meal. Triplicate tanks, each containing 35 fish, were fed each diet to apparent satiation in a constant-temperature (15°C), flow-through tank system for 12 weeks. No statistically significant differences in final fish weight or other fish growth parameters were observed. Similarly, feed efficiency parameters showed no significant differences among groups. Nutrient retention indices (protein, fat, energy) were relatively high and similar among fish in each dietary treatment group, as were whole body proximate compositions. Fish survival was high, with a small but statistically significant increase for the 10% SCP diet. Overall, results demonstrate that SCP from M. extorquens is a safe and effective alternative protein for rainbow trout diets at the low inclusion levels tested. Slightly lower weight gain in fish fed the 10% SCP diet was largely due to lower feed intake, suggesting that adding palatability-enhancing ingredients to feeds may allow higher levels of M. extorquens SCP to be used without compromising fish growth.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Adenia Cissampeloides Plant Extracts on Bacteria Isolated from Fishes Recovered from Uwana River, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Adenia Cissampeloides, a Pesticidal plant has dynamic active ingredients which cause physiological destruction in fishes including Clarias gariepinus. Majority of these Pesticidal plants contain medicinal values. In this study, the in vitro antibacterial activity of A. Cissampeloides plant extracts on bacteria isolated from fishes recovered from Uwana River, Ebonyi State, Nigeria was bacteriologically investigated. The isolation and identification of bacteria from the fishes recovered from Uwana River was carried out using standard microbiology techniques. The phytochemical properties of the plant extracts were studied using phytochemical analysis while the antimicrobial activities of the A. Cissampeloides plant extracts were evaluated using agar well diffusion technique. Results from physicochemical analysis of the water samples and bacterial count established that Uwana River is polluted. Fourteen species of aerobic heterotrophic Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria were isolated and identified from the fishes. The Gram-positive bacteria included, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, S. hominis, S. cohnii, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Kocuria varians and Gram-negative bacteria were Raoutella ornithinolytica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia fonticola, and Enterobacter Gergovia. The most frequently isolated organism from the fishes was Raoutella ornithinolytica (19.04% and 31.82%). Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts shows that it possesses antimicrobial properties. Extract with petroleum ether showed highest inhibition zone diameter (8.2 mm) with Aeromonas veronii, while the least diameter was observed in Staphylococcus cohnii (4 mm). Methanol extracts of the plant on R. ornithinolytica showed (7mm) while on Aeromonas hydrophila it was (5mm). The results of this study show that the plant extracts of A. Cissampeloides had appreciable antimicrobial activity on bacteria isolated from fishes recovered from Uwana River. Conclusively, the tested extracts of A. Cissampeloides plant showed varying spectra of inhibitions and/or antimicrobial activity against the isolated bacteria. To cite this article [Uzoeto, H. O. , Ayogu, T. E. , Nwakaeze, E. A. , Iroha, I. R. , & Ejikeugwu, C. (2018). In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Adenia Cissampeloides Plant Extracts on Bacteria Isolated from Fishes Recovered from Uwana River, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences, 4(01), 1-7]. (P-ISSN 24129763) (e-ISSN 2412-8937). www.jomenas. org. 1
Localizing Structural and Functional Damage in the Neural Retina of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Studies demonstrate neuro-retinal damage in patients with diabetes and no clinically visible diabetic retinopathy. It is unknown which retinal regions are most vulnerable to diabetes. We hypothesized that the standard and slow-flash (sf-) multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and adaptive optics (AO) imaging will localize retinal regions of vulnerability. Fifty-five adolescents with diabetes and 54 controls underwent mfERG testing to isolate predominately retinal bipolar cell activity and sf-mfERG testing to isolate three oscillatory potentials (OPs) from intraretinal amacrine and interplexiform cells. Greatest mfERG delays were in the superior temporal quadrant and at 5°-10° eccentricity. Greatest sf-mfERG delays were found at different eccentricities for each OP. Twenty adolescents with diabetes and 14 controls underwent AO imaging. No significant differences in cone photoreceptor density were found; however, patients showed a trend towards reduced density in the superior nasal region. Inner retinal structures may be more susceptible to damage by diabetes than outer retinal structures.
The effects of exogenous E-cadherin inhibition in MCF-7 mammary epithelial cells

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which patients exhibit gradual loss of memory that impairs their ability to learn or carry out daily tasks. Diagnosis of AD is difficult, particularly in early stages of the disease, and largely consists of cognitive assessments, with only one in four patients being correctly diagnosed. Development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of AD has proved to be a lengthy, costly and relatively unproductive process with attrition rates of > 90%. As a result, there are no cures for AD and few treatment options available for patients. Therefore, there is a pressing need for drug discovery platforms that can accurately and reproducibly mimic the AD phenotype and be amenable to high content screening applications. Here, we discuss the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be derived from adult cells, as a method of recapitulation of AD phenotype in vitro . We assess their potential use in high content screening assays and the barriers that exist to realising their full potential in predictive efficacy, toxicology and disease modelling. At present, a number of limitations need to be addressed before the use of iPSC technology can be fully realised in AD therapeutic applications. However, whilst the use of AD-derived iPSCs in drug discovery remains a fledgling field, it is one with immense potential that is likely to reach fruition within the next few years. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
Effect of date of transplanting on the incidence of green leaf hopper (GLH), Nephotettix virescens (Distant) & N. nigropictus (Stal) in rice field, Jharkhand

Rice is the staple food for the Asian subcontinent. Green leafhoppers are the most common leafhoppers in rice field and are primarily critical because they spread viral disease tungro as well as they prefer rice plants that have been fertilized with large amount of nitrogen. Field trials on the subject of the effect of date of transplanting on the incidence of green leaf hopper (GLH) in rice field carried out during Kharif seasons 2016 and 2017 at research farm BAU, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand. In order to be evaluated three date of transplanting (01 July, 21 July & 12 August, 20 days interval) in randomized block design and it replicate ten times with one common variety (Sahbhagi). We observed 1st time GLH incidence in our research plots 20 DAT, 30 DAT & 40 DAT respective at late planting, normal planting, and early planting in rice field. The incidences of GLH were recorded at 40, 60 and 80 DAT as well as noticed that lower incidence of the pest were started at 40 DAT and thereafter the pest intensity began to widen gradually with the advancement of crops age. It was remarkable to mention the outcome of shifting in dates of transplanting of rice were significant indication of pest population, during first date (1st July) of transplanting were recorded lower intensity of pest attack with respective to all the observation (40, 60 & 80 DAT). As such the intensity of the pest attack were observed to be in ascending order of early planting (1st July) ˂ normal planting (21st July) ˂ delayed planting (12th August) findings of the pest population GLH/10 hills, at the respective planting dates, early planting most effective than both normal & delay planting, normal date of transplanting was at par, while delay planting was on par, but overall mean population only early planting was most effective (p = 0.05), when the rice plants were transplanted at the respective planting dates in the year 2016 & 2017 studies.
The Aspergillus nidulans septin AspB plays important roles in septum, branch, and conidiophore development

Members of the septin family of proteins act as organizational scaffolds in areas of cell division and new growth in a variety of organisms. Here we show that in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the septin AspB is important for cellular division, branching, and conidiation both preand post-mitotically. AspB localizes postmitotically to the septation site with an underlying polarity that is evident as cytokinesis progresses. This localization at the septation site is dependent on actin and occurs before the crosswall is visible. AspB localizes premitotically as a ring at sites of branching and secondary germ tube emergence. It is the only known branch site marker. In addition, AspB is found at several stages during the development of the asexual reproductive structure, the conidiophore. It localizes transiently to the vesicle/metula and metula/phialide interfaces, and persistently to the phialide/conidiospore interface. A temperature-sensitive mutant of AspB shows phenotypic abnormalities including irregular septa, high numbers of branches, and immature asexual reproductive structures. INTRODUCTION Actively growing cells are faced with two related problems. They must target new material to the appropriate site(s), and they must partition new material such that the resulting cells receive the full complement of cytoplasmic and genetic constituents. Both the targeting and partitioning problems can be solved by establishing organizational cues that can direct vesicle fusion or tether signals that coordinate specific biochemical reactions. Walled organisms, such as fungi and plants, have the added complication of breaking down portions of the existing rigid wall so that new growth can proceed.
Sustaining recovery in red gum, black box and lignum in the Murray River Valley: clues from natural phenological cycles to guide environmental watering

ABSTRACT The natural flow regime of the Murray River in south-eastern Australia has been fundamentally altered through regulation and extraction, with fewer, shorter floods, changing seasonality of flows and reduced floodplain connectivity. Ecosystems which evolved over millenia show serious stress and decline under the regulated regime. Environmental water allocations being returned to Murray Valley ecosystems to halt the decline and improve river health are not sufficient to re-create missing floods, but aim to mimic key elements of the natural water regime. For floodplain vegetation communities, the missing element is seasonal water availability to maintain condition of mature trees and trigger germination of seedlings. Dominant perennial vegetation species river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), black box (E. largiflorens) and lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) suffered significant stress and death during the severe Millenium drought (2000–2010), but drought-breaking floods in 2010–2012 replenished soil moisture reserves. A new generation of seedlings germinated, and many environmental watering projects now focus on enhancing survival of these seedlings. Previous studies suggested that timing of phenological stages can indicate key timing for beneficial delivery of environmental water. These findings are being tested at Lower Murray Valley sites, to identify optimum timing for watering to support recovery in floodplain vegetation communities.
Growth and yield of Cowpea [Vignaunguiculata (L.) Walp] as influenced by jeevamrutha and panchagavya application

A field experiment was carried out during kharif 2015 at organic farming block of Research Institute on Organic Farming, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru to study the influence of different levels of jeevamrutha and panchagavya on growth, yield attributes and yield of cowpea in red sandy loam soil. The results revealed that application of jeevamrutha at 1000L ha-1 and panchagavya at 7.5% significantly influenced growth parameters like plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index. Interaction effect of jeevamrutha and panchagavya was significant in enhancing the grain yield of cowpea besides improvement in yield attributes like number of pods per plant, length of pods, pod weight, number of seeds per pod, seed weight per plant and 100 seed weight. Nodule characteristics – total and effective number of nodules as well fresh and dry weight of nodules was also significantly influenced by jeevamrutha and panchagavya application at different levels and also due to their interaction. Liquid organic formulations – jeevamrutha and panchagavya are effective in producing higher grain yield in cowpea.
Feeding by Antarctic krill Euphausia superba in the West Antarctic Peninsula: differences between fjords and open waters

: Antarctic krill Euphausia superba are key components of Antarctic ecosystems, serving as the major prey item for most of the megafauna in the region. Coastal fjords along the West Antarctic Peninsula have been identified as biological hotspots, areas in which high biomasses of both E. superba and their megafauna predators are consistently observed. We investigated feeding by E. superba in fjords and adjacent open waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula. Next generation sequencing of stomach contents from 174 krill indicated a diverse diet, with broad patterns consistent with previous understanding of E. superba feeding. Diatom sequence reads were frequent and abundant, indicating a largely diatom-based diet, while the occasional presence of high abundances of copepod sequence reads suggests carnivory supplemented the diet. Striking differences were observed between the stomach contents of krill collected in fjords and those of krill collected in adjacent open waters. Chaetoceros spp. diatoms made up 71% of the stomach contents sequences of krill collected in fjords, but less than 10% of the stomach contents sequences of krill collected in open waters. These differences could not be explained by differences in the surface water phytoplankton communities, as in both open waters and fjords Chaetoceros spp. made up less than 10% of the surface water sequence read assemblages. These feeding differences highlight the importance of taking into account regional differences in krill feeding when considering E. superba ’s roles in Southern Ocean ecosystems, and suggest krill in fjords may make use of vertical structure in phytoplankton assemblages.
Evaluating trait-based ecology in Sphagnum moss

EVALUATING TRAIT-BASED ECOLOGY IN SPHAGNUM MOSS Oluwatobi Adeyemi Oke Advisor: Dr. Merritt Turetsky University of Guelph, 2018 Investigations into the distribution and abundance of non-vascular plants have largely focused on their diversity and productivity in given environments. A trait-based approach, which considers intraspecific variation and evolution of functional traits and how plant–environment interactions influence ecosystem processes has not been explored in this plant group. A way forward is to evaluate moss traits within the context of theories such as resource economics theory (RET) and optimal partitioning theory (OPT), which provide clear mechanistic predictions for pattern of trait responses that reflects the life-history strategies of species. RET posits that plant traits are coordinated for fast or slow resource acquisition and growth strategies. OPT predicts that plants would invest in the organ receiving the most limiting resource. Collectively, these theories can provide insights into how traits influence ecophysiological adaptation of different species and the importance of intraspecific variability in this plant group. In this thesis, I used combinations of factorial and field experiments to evaluate the trait-based ecology in Sphagnum moss traits in the context of the RET and OPT. In the first chapter, I used a factorial experiment involving light, moisture and plant density to test whether two ecologically disparate Sphagnum species conformed to the fast-slow strategies predicted by RET and often observed in vascular plants. Consistent with OPT, Sphagnum diverted biomass from branch to capitulum under moisture stress to optimize atmospheric sources of moisture. In the second chapter, I used factorial experiments involving plant origin (hummock versus hollow), light, and moisture to show that intraspecific trait variability influences the range of environment that Sphagnum occupies within peatland, and therefore matters to the ecophysiology of this plant group. In the third chapter, I explore trait variability in Sphagnum moss at different spatial scales. I found that the traits varied the most within patches, which is the smallest sampling unit but also that the mechanisms controlling different traits may be operating at different spatial scales. Collectively, the studies showed that Sphagnum traits are integrated for performance but that the relationships among traits operates differently from that of vascular plants. Nonetheless, the traits are adaptable to the trait-based framework and could be tested against additional ecological theories.
Effect of pesticides on the tobacco spider mite tetranychus evansi baker & pritchard on tomatoes in kenya.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the pesticides commonly used by farmers in controlling the Tobacco spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out to determine the susceptibility of T. evansi to dicofol, bifenthrin, propargite, lambda-cyhalothrin, dimethoate and profenofos+cypermethrin using the manufacturer’s recommended rates. Ovicidal and adulticidal (contact and residual) assays were done in the laboratory. In the greenhouse, mite leaf damage scores were taken and mite population per cm2 was determined. Laboratory results showed egg mortalities due to contact effect to be 26.1% in dimethoate treatment and 100% in dicofol, bifenthrin, propargite, profenofos+cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin treatments. The adult mortality due to contact with the pesticides was 100% for dicofol, propargite, bifenthrin and profenofos+cypermethrin treatments whereas mortality for lambdacyhalothrin was 80%, dimethoate 4% and none in the control. Mortality due to residual effect was 100% for dicofol and was lower for all the other compounds although the mites escaped to the cotton barrier. Greenhouse studies showed that damage scores and mite populations reduced after the application of dicofol, propargite, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and profenofos+cypermethrin whereas for dimethoate and control, the scores continued increasing. There was gradual increase in leaf damage and mite populations per cm2 in both Dimethoate treated plants and the control over time. Tobacco spider mites (T. evansi) collected from Loitoktok, Kibwezi, Athi-River and Subukia were evaluated for their susceptibility to bifenthrin, profenofos+cypermethrin, dicofol, dimethoate, lambda-cyhalothrin and propargite. Bifenthrin, profenofos+cypermethrin, dicofol and propargite caused significant mortality in the mites from all the populations tested, however, mortality did not differ significantly between the populations for each of these pesticides (P<0.05). Pooled data also showed that mortality did not differ signicantly between dicofol, bifenthrin, propargite and dicofol with average contact adult mortalities of 100%, 99.67%, 99.83% and 99.83% respectively. Lambda-cyhalothrin caused significant mortality in the mites from Kibwezi. However, mites from Loitoktok, Subukia and Athi-River showed significant tolerance. There were significant levels of tolerance to dimethoate in all the populations sampled with the highest adult mortality of 42.5% for the Kibwezi population. Pooled data shows that there was significant difference (P<0.05) between lambda-cyhalothrin (65.33%), dimethoate (20.5%), the control (1%) and the rest of the pesticides tested. Mites from most Kenyan farms respond well to bifenthrin, propargite, profenofos+cypermethrin and dicofol. Dimethoate and lambda-cyhalothrin should be avoided
Role of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in protection of spermatogenic and Sertoli cells against histological alterations induced by torsion/detorsion in rats

Background and Objectives: Testicular torsion is an emergency. Thus, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are fundamental to avoid irreversible testicular damage. The present study aimed to throw more light on the histological alterations in adult albino rat’s ipsilateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion (T/D) and to demonstrate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injection on these alterations.Materials and Methods: Twenty seven adult healthy male albino rats were divided into 3 main equal groups: Group I (Control group), Group II (T/D): the rats were surgically operated to perform T/D and Group III (T/D+MSCs): the animals were injected with MSCs in tail vein at the end of the surgery. All rats were sacrificed ten weeks from the start of the experiment and testis specimens were processed to be examined by light and electron microscope. Blood specimens were taken to measure serum testosterone level.Results: Degenerative changes were observed in spermatogenic and Sertoli cells of T/D group and were associated with statistical significant reduction in serum testosterone level, height of germinal epithelium, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vimentin immunoexpression. These changes were observed to be reduced in T/D+MSCs group.Conclusions: MSCs treatment could protect the spermatogenic and Sertoli cells from degenerative changes in testis after T/D in adult albino rats. Hence, MSCs therapy could be considered as a promising therapeutic tool to preserve spermatogenesis in cases of testicular T/D and should be more studied either on experimental animals or human.
A test of the matched filter hypothesis in two sympatric frogs, Chiromantis doriae and Feihyla vittata

ABSTRACT The matched filter hypothesis proposes that the auditory sensitivity of receivers should match the spectral energy distribution of the senders’ signals. If so, receivers should be able to distinguish between species-specific and hetero-specific signals. We tested the matched filter hypothesis in two sympatric species, Chiromantis doriae and Feihyla vittata, whose calls exhibit similar frequency characters and that overlap in the breeding season and microenvironment. For both species, we recorded male calls and measured the auditory sensitivity of both sexes using the auditory brainstem response (ABR). We compared the auditory sensitivity with the spectral energy distribution of the calls of each species and found that (1) auditory sensitivity matched the signal spectrogram in C. doriae and F. vittata; (2) the concordance conformed better to the conspecific signal versus the hetero-specific signal. In addition, our results show that species differences are larger than sex differences for ABR audiograms.