Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snakehead Fish (Channa Striata) : Semi-Induced Breeding and Larval Growth

Objectives:The purposes of the present study are to produce technology of the snakehead fish breeding in Central Kalimantan region of Indonesia and to analyze the growth of larvae produced. Methods/Statistical Analysis:The experiments are conducted using twenty four of the broodstock and a pairof the fish isplaced to the hapa.The ovaprim doses injected on dorsal of the fish in this experiment are A: 0 ml/kg (control), B: 0.3 ml/kg, C: 0.5 ml/kg and D: 0.7 ml/ kg body weight of fish. The parameters are observed that the natural spawning of the fish and total larval body length of larvae. Findings:Spawning is observed 30-37 hours after application of ovaprim with dose 0.5 ml/kg, followed by application of 0.3 ml /kg ovaprim dose with spawning latency time of 4-5 days.During the early stages total length growth is increasedgradually and sharply. It is increased further and after 20 daysfrom hatching until the end of experiment as well as digestive tract development. Improvement/Applications: At day 25 after hatching coinciding to presence of pyloric caeca the fish may be introduced artificial feeds.
Sablefish mortality associated with whale depredation in Alaska

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) depredation (whales removing or damaging fish caught on fishing gear) can reduce catch rates and decrease the accuracy of fish stock assessments. This study advances our understanding of the impact of whale depredation on the commercial sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) fishery in Alaska and evaluates the impact depredation may have on the annual federal sablefish assessment. A statistical modelling approach was used to estimate the whale effect on commercial sablefish fishery catch rates; killer whale depredation was more severe (catch rates declined by 45%–70%) than sperm whale depredation (24%–29%). Total estimated sablefish catch removals 1995–2014 ranged from 1251 t to 2407 t by killer whales in western Alaska management areas and 482 t to 1040 t by sperm whales in the Gulf of Alaska 2001–2014. Including sablefish mortality due to whale depredation on the commercial fishery in the sablefish stock assessment resulted in a 1% reduction in the recommended quota. Accounting for sablefish mortality due to whale depredation in the commercial fishery in the sablefish assessment will occur tandem with correcting for depredation on the annual National Marine Fisheries Service longline survey, the primary survey index used in the assessment.
Study of genetic variation in yarrow using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Two types of molecular markers, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were assayed in order to study genetic diversity of 12 yarrow accessions belonging to three species. Seven ISSR primers and nine RAPD primers generated 187 amplified fragments, most of which were polymorphic. The Jaccard’s similarity indices (J), based on RAPD and ISSR profiles, were subjected to UPGMA analysis. Application of Mantel’s test for cophenetic correlation to the cluster analysis indicated the high fitness of the accessions to a group (r = 0.97). The dendrogram generated revealed three groups. The results of the clustering showed that Achillea eriophora was separated from the other genotypes in the dendrogram. The principle component analysis (PCA) plot confirmed the results of the clustering. According to the results of the cluster analysis, three species were adjoined in 0.29% similarity coefficient. The results of the clustering analysis corresponded closely with the geographical origins of the genotypes. The results of this study will provide the basic information for effective conservation programs.
The genus Brachypsectra LeConte, 1874 (Coleoptera: Brachypsectridae) in the Palaearctic Region

We summarize all information regarding the genus Brachypsectra (Coleoptera: Brachypsectridae) in the Palaearctic Region. New material of B. kadleci Hajek, 2010 is reported from western and southern Iran and its intraspecific variability in coloration and morphology is described and figured. Brachypsectra jaechi sp. nov. from southern Turkey is described from males, and an unassociated Brachypsectra species from Cyprus is reported, including the descriptions of its female and larva. These findings are the first records of this genus as well as of the family Brachypsectridae for Turkey and Cyprus. Additionally, a diagnostic key to the adult males and larvae of all Brachypsectra species is updated.
Vectorisation de petits acides nucléiques par des lipopolyplexes : application au cancer du sein

Au cours de cette these, j’ai utilise des complexes composes d’acides nucleiques, d’un polymere cationique et de liposomes cationiques appeles Lipopolyplexes pour formuler des siRNA (LPRi) et un leurre ADN (LPD) afin inhiber la croissance des cellules 4T1, un modele murin de carcinome mammaire. Dans une premiere etude, des injections systemique ou endotracheale de LPRi avec des siRNA anti-luciferase n’ont pas permis d’inhiber l’expression de la luciferase dans des metastases pulmonaires induites par des cellules 4T1-luciferase. A partir de ces resultats, les LPRi ont ete ameliores en ciblant les cellules 4T1 avec le peptide uPA et/ou RGDc ou l’acide folique incorpores aux liposomes selon diverses approches. Les formulations obtenues ont ete caracterisees, leur endocytose et l’effet siRNA mesures in vitro. Cette deuxieme partie a permis d’etablir que les LPRi decores avec du folate etaient la meilleure formulation ciblee. Dans une troisieme partie, l’inhibition de la proliferation des cellules 4T1 a ete recherchee en ciblant le facteur de transcription STAT3. Des LPRi anti-STAT3 ont montre une tres bonne efficacite pour inhiber STAT3, mais sans effet antiproliferatif significatif. Des LPD anti-STAT3 ont montre un tres bon effet antiproliferatif, celui-ci etant renforce lorsqu’une co-delivrance siRNA/leurre ADN (LPRiD) a ete realisee. In vivo, un delai de la croissance des tumeurs 4T1 a ete observe apres co-delivrance siRNA/leurre ADN. Cette these a permis de montrer l’efficacite des lipopolyplexes pour la delivrance combinee de siRNA et de leurre ADN dans les cellules tumorales 4T1. Ils indiquent que des etudes sont cependant necessaires pour augmenter leur delivrance in vivo dans la tumeur.
Assessment of quantitative differences among diverse genotypes of French bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for yield and yield attributing traits

The present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.) during the Rabi season of 2012-13 on 21 diverse genotypes of french bean in order to evaluate the quantitative variation with respect to yield and yield contributing plant traits. The pod yield per hectare ranged from 87.93 (RLFB58) to 138.88 (HOR-137). The highest pod yield per hectare was recorded by 138.88 (HOR-137), followed by PDR-14 (138.56) and EC-592938 (138.35 g). On the basis of results of this experiment it can be concluded that earliness behavior of the genotypes was not good for high yield while most of the high yielding genotypes were showed late maturity. In the present experiment, LVFB-2, RLFB-58 and RCFB64 were found early maturing genotypes which may be used for the development of short duration cultivars.
Environmental Factors Affecting Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence of Foxtail Sophora (Sophora alopecuroides)

Foxtail sophora is a widely distributed problematic weed in western Iranian dryland farming systems. Little information is available on seed germination and seedling emergence of this weed species in response to environmental and agronomic factors. This study was conducted to address this knowledge gap. Maximum seed germination (80%) occurred at 25C and decreased at lower temperatures (<1% at 5C) or under fluctuating temperature regimes. Light and pH did not have any substantial effect on seed germination. Foxtail sophora was tolerant to osmotic stress and moderately tolerant to sodium chloride. It was tolerant to salinity and drought stress during germination, which suggests that the population of this weed may increase in western farmlands of Iran. No seedlings emerged when seeds were buried at depths greater than 6 cm, which indicates that minimum- and no-till systems would increase seedling emergence of this species. Therefore, using sweep cultivators would be beneficial in management of foxtail sophora seedlings in the drylands of west of Iran. Nomenclature: Foxtail sophora, Sophora alopecuroides L.
Studies on Effect of Stabilization Methods on Physico-Chemical Properties of Rice Bran

Rice bran is a by-product of rice milling industry and constitutes around 8 per cent of the total weight of rough rice. It is primarily composed of aleurone, pericarp, subaleurone layer and germ. It is a good natural source of many vital nutrients but has some limitations in food application. It is highly susceptible to rancidity caused by the inherent enzyme lipase. In order to inactivate enzymatic deterioration, whole rice bran samples were subjected to stabilization methods. Stabilization of rice bran was carried out using hot air oven method and autoclave method. The rice bran was stabilized using hot air oven method at 130 o C for 20 min and autoclaved with commercial retort at 120 o C for 20 min. The autoclave method resulted in better nutrient preservation than hot air oven method and appears to be a practical and rapid tool for heat stabilization of rice bran. Autoclaved rice bran has comparatively higher levels of protein, fat and ash contents than hot air stabilized rice bran. Ash and carbohydrate contents showed a significant changes on application of stabilization methods. Mineral composition of autoclave method is better than hot air oven stabilization method of rice bran. Thermal processing decreased the free fatty acids of rice bran after 8 weeks compared with unstabilized rice bran The rancidity in term of free fatty acid (FFA) was less increased 0.4 to 3.5 per cent in autoclave treated rice bran than untreated rice bran 1.2 to 35.5 per cent at the end of 2 months of storage period. The free fatty acid levels for both hot air oven and autoclaved rice bran were below the 4 per cent permissible level for 2 months for the product packed in polyethylene packs and stored in ambient room temperature. Results indicated that autoclave treatment might effectively improve the shelf-life of rice bran that contained a good amount of vital nutrients for health benefit and is useful in many food applications such as food supplement and edible oil extraction.
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Melastoma candidum (Melastomataceae)

Abstract The plant genus Melastoma is comprised of members estimated to have formed through recent species radiation. Natural hybridization among member species further complicates taxonomy within the genus. Herein, we report the complete chloroplast genome of M. candidum, assembled from partial data obtained from a parallel whole-genome Illumina paired-end sequencing effort on the species. The chloroplast genome was 156,682 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,084 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,094 bp, separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,752 bp each. It was predicted to contain a total of 129 genes, with an overall GC content of 37.17%. Phylogenetic analysis placed M. candidum in the same clade as species within the Melastomeae tribe of Melastomataceae.
Treating the lungs via the brain: Mechanisms underpinning improvements in breathlessness with pulmonary rehabilitation

Background Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often discordant with airway pathophysiology (“over-perception”). Pulmonary rehabilitation has profound effects upon breathlessness, without influencing lung function. Learned associations can influence brain mechanisms of sensory perception. We therefore hypothesised that improvements in breathlessness with pulmonary rehabilitation may be explained by changing neural representations of learned associations, reducing “over-perception”. Methods In 31 patients with COPD, we tested how pulmonary rehabilitation altered the relationship between brain activity during learned associations with a word-cue task (using functional magnetic resonance imaging), clinical, and psychological measures of breathlessness. Results Improvements in breathlessness and breathlessness-anxiety correlated with reductions in word-cue related activity in the insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (breathlessness), and increased activations in attention regulation and motor networks (breathlessness-anxiety). Greater baseline (pre-rehabilitation) activity in the insula, ACC and prefrontal cortex correlated with the magnitude of improvement in breathlessness and breathlessness anxiety. Conclusions Pulmonary rehabilitation reduces the influence of learned associations upon neural processes that generate breathlessness. Patients with stronger word-cue related activity at baseline benefitted more from pulmonary rehabilitation. These findings highlight the importance of targeting learned associations within treatments for COPD, demonstrating how neuroimaging may contribute to patient stratification and more successful personalised therapy.
SEROLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND MOLECULAR DETECTION OF BRUCELLA INFECTION IN BOVINES INCLUDING QUANTIFICATION IN MILK BY REAL-TIME PCR

Brucellosis is a widespread and economically important infectious disease of animals and humans caused by members of the genus Brucella. The transmission of the disease is by direct or indirect contact with infective excretors. Brucella contaminated milk presents a potential threat to the new born calves and human beings as it can spread through ingestion and causes infectious abortion and undulant fever. The correct and prompt diagnosis is important in controlling and eradicating the disease in animals. The present study was under taken to detect the Brucella antibodies in serum as well as in milk and for detection of Brucella organisms in bovine milk. The ELISA was used for detection of Brucella antibodies in serum in conjunction with RBPT and STAT to detect their efficacy as compared to ELISA, whereas, ELISA and MRT were employed for detection of antibodies in milk. To detect the presence of Brucella organisms in milk, cultural and PCR methods were used. Comparison among three genus specific primer pairs was made to detect their efficacy to detect Brucella DNA by PCR. The real-time was used for quantification of Brucella in milk. A comparison was also made among antibody detection, cultural and molecular methods to detect Brucella infection in bovines. A total of 231 bovine serum samples were screened for presence of Brucella antibodies. Of these, 67 (29.00%) serum samples were found positive for Brucella antibodies by ELISA. The much higher seropositivity (38.29%) was found in cattle than in buffaloes (26.63%). Sensitivity of RBPT and STAT were found to be of 25.37% and 61.19%, respectively, with considering ELISA as a gold standard test while specificity was found to be of 99.39% and 98.78%, respectively. Out of 53 bovine milk samples screened 15 (28.30%) and 08 (15.09%) were found positive for Brucella antibodies by ELISA and MRT, respectively. Considering ELISA as a gold standard test, the sensitivity and specificity of MRT were found to be 40.00% and 94.73%, respectively. In comparison of serum antibody and milk antibody detection tests on total 53 serum and milk samples from common individual animals, the ELISA detected antibodies in more number of serum samples (37.73%) than that of milk (28.30%). Considering serum ELISA as a gold standard test, the sensitivity of RBPT, STAT, MRT and milkELISA were found to be of 40.00%, 70.00%, 30.00% and 55.00%, respectively, while specificity was found to be of 100.00%, 100.00%, 93.93% and 87.87%, respectively. The overall agreement of 77.34% for RBPT, 88.67% for STAT, 69.81% for MRT and 75.47% for milk-ELISA were found with the serum ELISA. Brucella could be recovered only from four milk samples (2 each from cows and buffaloes) of the 53 cultivated on Brucella agar medium. The isolates were identified as
Nearshore Habitat and Fish Assemblages along a Gradient of Shoreline Development

AbstractLittoral habitat is a critical component of lake ecosystems. Expansion of residential development along lakeshores has led to habitat modification, which may alter lentic fish communities. Previous studies have linked lakeshore development to reductions in abundance of aquatic vegetation and coarse woody structure (CWS), and many have quantified the influence of the density of docks on aquatic habitat structure and individual fish species. However, few studies have quantified fish assemblages relative to the effect of density or pattern of development. Using docks as a proxy for development, we calculated dock density, cumulative dock area, and estimates of the proportion of shoreline that was developed, affected by development, or left in large undeveloped segments for 28 Minnesota lakes. We assessed nearshore structural habitat (aquatic vegetation, CWS, and riparian features), a lake-wide fish index of biotic integrity (IBI), and nearshore components of the fish IBI relative to the development m.
Persistence of native and exotic plants 10 years after prairie reconstruction

Prairie reconstructions are a critical component of preservation of the imperiled tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the Midwestern United States. Sustainability of this endeavor depends on establishment of persistent cover of planted native species and resistance to noxious weeds. The goal of this study was to understand the influence of early reconstruction practices on long‐term outcomes. Twelve replicates of three planting methods (dormant‐season broadcast, growing‐season broadcast, and growing‐season drill) and three seed mix richness levels (10, 20, or 34 species), fully crossed in a completely randomized design were planted in 2005 on nine former agricultural fields located in Iowa and Minnesota. Cover by species was estimated in 2005–2007, 2010, and 2015. In 2015, cover of planted species, native nonplanted species, and exotic species were similar to those recorded in 2010. Cover of the noxious weed Cirsium arvense had also declined by an average of 49% without herbicide from a peak in 2007 to low stable levels from 2010 to 2015. Richness of planted forbs, on the other hand, were still increasing in high‐richness broadcast treatments (e.g. 17–59% increase 2010–1015 in Minnesota). Two results in 2015 are reasons for concern: cover of planted species is only slightly over 50% in both Minnesota and Iowa, though with forbs still increasing, this may improve; and the cool‐season exotic grasses Poa pratensis and Bromus inermis are increasing at both Minnesota and Iowa sites. Control of these invasive grasses will be necessary, but care will be needed to avoid negative impacts of control methods on natives.
The historical reconstruction of distribution of the genus Halecium (Hydrozoa: Haleciidae): a biological signal of ocean warming?

ABSTRACT The distribution of 130 nominal species of the genus Halecium, based on published records, has been mapped for the first time in a comprehensive set of marine ecoregions, to analyse their distribution. Most Halecium species are found at mid- and high latitudes, with some overlaps in distribution ranges across regions. The species richness of Halecium is strongly related to the latitudinal gradient, with maximal diversity at polar and temperate latitudes. Previous detailed studies in the Mediterranean Sea show that large Halecium species of coldwater affinity have regressed or disappeared in recent years, probably due to global warming. Worldwide, however, the overall species richness of Halecium has not changed along the latitudinal gradient over recent decades, with some changes in species composition at temperate-tropical latitudes in both hemispheres, even though the majority of the species that have not been recorded for more than 50 years are of coldwater affinity. The genus can be considered an indicator for biological responses to climate changes for the Mediterranean Sea, but the available distribution data do not allow extending this possibility to the rest of the world. A focused evaluation on the distribution of Halecium species with the addition of new field data might reinforce the picture stemming from the present analysis.
A new elasmosaurid plesiosaurian from the Early Cretaceous of Russia marks an early attempt at neck elongation

Plesiosaurian marine reptiles evolved a wide range of body shapes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, including long-necked forms. Many Late Cretaceous members of the clade Elasmosauridae epitomized this part of the plesiosaurian morphological spectrum by evolving extremely long necks through somitogenesis (resulting in an increase in the number of cervical centra) and differential growth (resulting in the elongation of cervical centra). However, the early evolution of elasmosaurids remains poorly understood because of a generally poor Lower Cretaceous fossil record. We describe a new elasmosaurid, Jucha squalea gen. et sp. nov., from the upper Hauterivian (Lower Cretaceous) of Ulyanovsk (European Russia), in addition to other elasmosaurid remains from the same area. Jucha squalea is one of the oldest and basalmost elasmosaurids known and lacks a series of features that otherwise characterize the group, such as the heart-shaped intercoracoid fenestra and the median pectoral bar. However, Jucha squalea marks an early attempt at cervical elongation through differential growth. The data we gathered on the shape of cervical centra among elasmosaurids suggest multiple episodes of elongation and shortening. However, the precise patterns are obscured by an unstable phylogenetic signal. Cervical, elongation, differential growth, Hauterivian, marine reptiles, Xenopsaria
Rem2 regulates distinct homeostatic mechanisms in visual circuit plasticity

Activity-regulated genes sculpt neural circuits in response to sensory experience. These calcium-sensitive genes generally fall into two categories: transcription factors and proteins that function at synapses. Yet little is known about activity-regulated, cytosolic proteins that transduce signals between the neuronal membrane and the nucleus. Using the visual system as a model, we investigated the role of the activity-regulated, non-canonical Ras-like GTPase Rem2 in vivo. We demonstrate that Rem2-/- mice fail to exhibit normal ocular dominance plasticity during the critical period. At the circuit level, cortical layer 2/3 neurons in Rem2-/- mice show deficits in both postsynaptic scaling up of excitatory synapses and misregulation of intrinsic excitability. Further, we reveal that Rem2 plays a novel, cell-autonomous role in regulating neuronal intrinsic excitability. Thus, Rem2 is a critical regulator of neural circuit function and distinct homeostatic plasticity mechanisms in vivo. HIGHLIGHTS Rem2 is required in excitatory cortical neurons for normal ocular dominance plasticity Rem2 regulates postsynaptic homoeostatic synaptic scaling up Rem2 alters the intrinsic excitability of neurons in a cell-autonomous manner