Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transgene Fragments in the Blood and Tissue of Chicken Fed with Genetically Modified Soy and Maize

The aim was to evaluate the transfer of DNA fragments into the blood, kidney and liver of broilers fed with diet containing the genetically modified (GM) Roundup Ready soybean GTS40-3-2, and the genetically modified Bt maize MON 810. Unsexed broilers ROSS 308 were used, animals were fed by diet with the same nutritional composition and components, except of GM soybean and maize. The diet for the first experimental group contained GM soybean, for the second group GM maize corn, for the third both GM soy and maize, and for the control GM-free soybean and maize. The experiments was done on day old chicks upto the 42nd day of life. Control genes and transgene fragments were amplified by PCR. Fragments of control soy lectin gene were detected in 7 blood samples out of 118, and in 18 liver samples out of 20. Fragments of control maize HMG gene was present in 5 blood samples out of 118, liver and kidney were negative. The control gene positive samples were from all three experimental groups, the control group was negative. Transgene fragments of Roundup Ready soybean were found in 11 blood samples out of 118, and in 3 liver samples out of 20 in the experimental group fed with GM soybean, kidney was negative. For maize transgene, 19 blood samples out of 118 were positive, allways in the experimental group fed with GM maize, liver and kidney were negative. Nutritional safety was not compromised by the analysis, as only the fragments were looked for, not whole genes.
Expanding on Watson's framework for classifying patches: when is an island not an island?

Aim The aims were: (1) evaluate the potential of Watson's framework for studying species composition in fragments and islands for a specific landscape type: cryptobiotic crust systems in the arid south‐western US; (2) expand Watson's original model to include ephemeral/non‐equilibrium systems by revising his categories of patch age and matrix contrast; and (3) examine the interplay between patch dynamics and species autecology, demonstrating the need for more work on ephemeral patchy systems.
The Cytoskeletal basis of plant growth and form

Part 1 Molecules of the cytoskeleton: actin and actin-associated proteins, David W. McCurdy and Richard E. Williamson tubulin gene expression in higher plants, Patrick J. Hussey, et al the molecular pharmacology of plant tubulin and microtubles, Louis C. Morejohn potential significance of microtubule rearrangement, translocation and reutilization in plant cells, Barry A. Palevitz microtubule-associated proteins in higher plants, Richard J. Cyr cytoplasmic and nuclear intermediate filament antigens in higher plants, Peter J. Shaw, et al. Part 2 The cell wall: microtubule-mediated control of microfibril deposition - a re-examination of the hypothesis, Thomas H. Giddings Jr, and L. Andrew Staehelin the biochemistry of cellulose synthesis, Deborah P. Delmer architecture of the primary cell wall - a new model, Maureen McCann and Keith Roberts biochemistry of xyloglucans in regulating cell elongation and expansion, Takahisa Hayashi. Part 3 Directional cell expansion: regulation of cell expansion, Ulrich Kutschera microtubules and the regulation of cell morphogenesis by plant hormones, Hiroh Shibakoa role of the cytoskeleton in gravity perception, Andreas Sievers, et al in vitro xylogenesis, Robert W. Seagull and Marcia M. Falconer. Part 4 Mitosis: mitosis in plants, Anne-Marie Lambert, et al patterns of regulation during mitosis, Stephen M. Wolniak. Part 5 Determination of the division plan: the preprophase band, Susan M. Wick cytoskeleton elements of the phragmosome establish the division plane in vacuolated higher plant cells, Clive W. Lloyd the cytokinetic apparatus in meiosis - control of division plane in the absence of a preprophase band of microtubules, Roy C. Brown and Betty E. Lemmon. Part 6 The cytoskeleton in plant development: the cytoskeleton in ferm protonemal growth in relation to photomorphogenesis, Masamitsu Wada and Takashi Murata the cytoskeleton in moss morphogenesis, John H. Doonan mutual alignments of cell walls, cellulose and cytoskeletons, their role in meristems, Paul B. Green and Jeanne L. Selker.
Predicting plant species’ responses to river regulation: the role of water level fluctuations

Summary 1 One of the main targets of river regulation with dams and dykes is the stabilization of highly fluctuating water tables. While there is information about the overall impact of such regulation measures on plant species composition and richness, far less is known about specific species’ response patterns to reduced water level fluctuations. 2 The response of 30 common grassland species to soil moisture and water level fluctuations was assessed. Floristic data were collected from the floodplain of the Elbe River, Germany, from 182 plots, 99 within the recent floodplain and 83 in an older floodplain, separated from one another by dykes. Hydrological data were collected weekly over 2 years at 37 water level wells. Using logistic regression, the patterns of species’ responses to hydrological regulation were predicted. 3 The majority of species responded significantly to water level fluctuations. Species of high elevation habitats occurred at lower elevations where water level fluctuations were reduced, indicating increasing drought at high elevation habitats. However, species that occurred in floodplain depressions tended to shift from lower to higher elevations to avoid permanent inundation. 4 Almost half of the species showed a significant preference for either highly fluctuating water tables, characteristic of the recent floodplain, or for stable water tables, characteristic of the older floodplain. The probability of their occurrence was either reduced or increased along a gradient of reduced fluctuations. These species’ responses could be partly explained by altered flooding regimes, although other factors, such as disturbance and dispersal processes, were also involved. 5 Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that reduced water level fluctuations caused by the construction of dams and dykes lead to substantial changes in the spatial distribution of floodplain plant species and in species composition. The methodology reported here allows accurate prediction of shifts in floodplain vegetation in response to human-induced alterations in floodplain landscapes. This can be used as a tool to assess river regulation measures and for floodplain restoration purposes, such as dyke relocations.
Optimizing Chlorella Vulgaris And Anabaena Variabilis Growth Conditions For Use As Biofuel Feedstock

Isolation and characterization of Chlorella vulgaris (green alga) and Anabaena variabilis (cyanobacterium) were made from natural and artificial water bodies of Dhaka University and Khulna, Bangladesh from March through December 2014 using modified Chu-10D medium to determine their potential as feedstock for biofuel production. Optimum growth measured as total chlorophyll and optical density under varying physical and chemical environments was determined. The optimum growth for C. vulgaris was obtained at pH 6.5 under light intensity of 110 µE m -2 s -1 and one and a half times the concentration of the Chu-10D. Compared to this, the optimum growth for A. variabilis was obtained at 7.0 pH, 90 µE m -2 s -1 light intensity and normal Chu 10D. Both organisms were grown at 25 o C temperature. Aeration of medium showed a significant positive growth for both the isolates. Supplementation of medium with vitamin B 1 , B 6 , B 7 and B 12 would yield higher biomass of C. vulgaris as biofuel feedstock. Vitamins were not required for growing A. variabilis.
Analysis of Essential Histidine Residues Enzymes by Chemical Modification and Mutagenesis of Maize Branching Site-Directed

Received ,]amman' 8, ]998 Incubation of maize branching enzyme, mBEI and mBEII, with 1130 [. tM diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) rapidly inactivated the enzymes. Treatment of the DEPC-inactivated ertzymes with 100-500 mM hydroxylamine restored the enzyme activities. Spectroscopic data indicated that the inactivation of BE with DEPC was the result of histidine modification. The addition of the substmte amylose or amylopectin retarded the enzyme inactivation by DEPC, suggesting that the histidine residues are important for substrate binding. In maize BEll, conserved histidine residues are in catalytic regions 1 (His320) and 4 (His508). His320 and His508 were individually replaced by Ala via site-directed mutagenesis to probe their role in catalysis. Expression of these mutants in E. coli showed a significant decrease of the activity and the mutant enzymes had K~, values 10 times higher than the wild type. Therefore, residues His320 and His508 do play an important role in substmte binding.
Observations of predator activity at wildlife water developments in southern Arizona.

Wildlife water developments have been constructed and maintained throughout the arid western United States to beneflt big game and upland gamebird populations. There is debate, however, over possible detriments to wildlife from artificial water sources in deserts and other arid environments. One concern is that water developments attract predators, which then impact the prey populations that these developments are intended to benefit. To examine the extent of predator activity around water developments, we examined 15 paired water and non-water (random) sites for sign (scats, tracks, visual observations, animal parts such as feathers and bones, and carcasses) of predators and prey. Predator sign was 7x greater around water sites than nonwater sites (P = 0.002). Coyote (Canis latrans Say) sign accounted for 79% of all predator sign and was 7x greater near water than away from water (P = 0.006). Amount of sign for all prey species combined was not different between paired sites (P = 0.6), but results for individual species and groups of species was variable; passerine and gallinaceous bird sign was greater around water sites (P = 0.008), ungulate sign was not different between water and non-water sites (P ? 0.20), and lagomorph sign was almost 2x greater away from water than near water (P = 0.05). Predators were probably attracted to wildlife water developments to drink rather than hunt; without water developments, predators may be even more concentrated around the fewer natural water sites.
Effect of body condition score on blood metabolite and production performance in crossbred dairy cattle

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship among the body condition score (BCS), dynamics of serum metabolites and certain production parameters in crossbred dairy cattle from near calving to early lactation period. Eighteen animals were selected on the basis of their BCS at 14 days before their expected date of calving and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 animals had BCS>4.5 whereas group 2 and 3 had BCS in between>3 to 1.5 to < 3.0. Blood samples were collected from each of these animals on 5 different days, 14 day before their expected date of calving, 3, 14, 28 day after calving and fifth sample on the next day of first observed heat (DFH). Animals were scored for body condition on day of their blood collection. Loss in BCS was highest for group 1 and minimum for group 3 animals. Group 1 animals had almost constant glucose concentration up to stage 5, whereas group 2 animals showed increasing trend up to stage 4 and group 3 animals up to stage 3. Urea concentration increased up to stage 4 for all 3 groups, thereafter it decreased. Total protein (TP) and albumin concentration increased with progression of lactation. Group 1 and 3 had their highest total cholesterol (TC) value at stage 5 whereas group 2 animals at stage 4. A negative correlation was found between BCS and urea nitrogen which was –0.529. Similarly negative correlation (–0.710) was found between BCS and TP. Group 1 animals had lowest (28.83 days) DFH and group 3 highest (41 days). Peak yield was highest for group 1 followed by groups 2 and 3. The groups differed significantly in days to attain peak yield (P<0.05), with highest (46.83) being in group 3 and lowest (20.5) in group 2 animals. It was concluded that the cows which calved with higher body condition lost greater portion of condition score during early lactation and either high or low condition score group cows took more days to attain peak milk yield than the moderate condition score group. Cows with low body condition score had higher serum urea nitrogen and total protein concentration.
Mixotrophic flagellates in coastal marine sediments: quantitative role and ecological significance

Mixotrophy, which is the combination of autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition, is a common phenomenon in aquatic food webs. Mixotrophic feeding strategies are species specific and dependent on environmental factors, such as light and nutrient conditions. In contrast to the plankton, nothing is known about the occurrence and the ecological role of benthic mixotrophs. In the present study, mixotrophic nanoflagellates were investigated in coastal marine sediments. Their quantitative importance and their ecological role were investigated in dependence of light and nutrient conditions and along small-scale vertical and horizontal gradients at the main sampling site at Falckenstein Beach in the Western Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the significance of mixotrophs was compared in sediment and plankton in different systems along a salinity gradient and at different geographical sites, as well as in plankton and sea ice of the Greenland Sea. Mixotrophs showed varying abundances and contributions to the flagellate community, which could not be attributed to particular environmental factors in all cases. Disparate responses in temporal and spatial scales were attributed to differences in community composition of mixotrophs and in the relative importance of environmental factors that determine mixotrophic feeding strategies. Abundances of mixotrophs increased with increasing salinity. However, they contributed low portions to the total nanoflagellates (max. 7%), with higher portions to the total phytoflagellates (max. 25%) than to total bacterivores (max. 10%). Highest contributions were found in sea ice and plankton of the Greenland Sea. Mixotrophic feeding strategies were proposed to play a greater role in oceanic plankton and sea ice than in coastal sediments.
Understanding Academic Educators' Work in Supporting Student Wellbeing

Universities are increasingly concerned with student mental health, as empirical studies indicate a high prevalence and severity of psychological distress among student populations (Larcombe et al., 2016; Bore et al., 2016). From a developmental systems perspective, discussions about student wellbeing must include the perspectives and needs of academic educators. Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) offers several suggestions for how academic educators can facilitate wellbeing through their teaching, but there is still little evidence of the work that educators do to promote student wellbeing as part of their everyday practice. Using an online survey, we asked 315 academic educators from diverse disciplines at three universities about their experiences with student mental health: their awareness of related issues, their strategies, and institutional supports. In general, respondents were aware and concerned about student mental health. They described diverse strategies for promoting student wellbeing, many of which were common practices in higher education, and all of which were consistent with Self-Determination Theory approaches. The implication for educators concerned with wellbeing is to identify the elements of their teaching that might already be promoting wellbeing. Respondents also wanted greater institutional support around responding to student distress and around mental health literacy. Their comments highlight the importance of a developmental systems approach to student wellbeing in which university systems work together and support each other.
Newts under siege: range expansion of Triturus pygmaeus isolates populations of its sister species

The newt species Triturus marmoratus and Triturus pygmaeus are both present in central Portugal where they have parapatric distributions. We used four genetic markers to determine which species was present in 31 populations. In the centre of the study area we found a T. marmoratus enclave. Despite small interpopulation distances, hybridization is locally rare. We built several models to try to explain this distribution using environmental data. The best model, chosen by Akaike's Information Criterion, relates the presence of T. marmoratus with the temperature in July, the relief of the landscape, and a higher use of the land for orchards. The current distribution can best be explained by T. pygmaeus expanding north and replacing T. marmoratus, the latter only persisting where ecological conditions are relatively favourable.
Inheritance of characters in kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus )

This investigation was carried out to study the inheritance pattern in intraspecific crosses involving two local varieties of Hibiscus cannabinus L. One variety has pink flowers and resistance to root knot nematode, while the other variety has light yellow flowers but susceptible to root knot nematode. Results show that the inheritance of pink flowers and resistance to root knot nematode was controlled by two independently assorting genes with both dominant alleles ‘P’ and ‘R’ producing plants having pink flowers and resistant to root knot nematode, while their recessive alleles ‘p’ and ‘r’ produced plants having light-yellow flowers and susceptible to root knot nematode, respectively.
Specific, cumulative, and co-occurring social adversities : pathways to psychotic-like experiences across a dimensional psychosis phenotype spectrum

Gap in the Literature. Researchers have endeavoured to find the best factor structure underlying the nature of PLE’s to assess the psychosis phenotype in healthy or at-risk populations, thus allowing detection of early vulnerable signs, and therefore early intervention for potential transitions across the continuum. Instruments measuring the psychosis phenotype have relied on specifically rating experiences and symptoms based on how often they occur, thus failing to acknowledge whether the experiences or symptoms, or both, are distressing, therefore, not providing succinct information on whether these experiences regardless of frequency, are liable to cause concern. Aim. The present study aims to examine the dimensional structure of 16 PLE’s using two separate groups modelling the underlying structure of PLE’s (1) a level of ‘frequency-only’ (2) a level incorporating distress associated with frequency. Method: The data used (N=34, 653) in the present chapter was drawn from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related condition (NESARC). Analogous for measuring psychotic experiences in a general population sample, 16 items taken from Section 10 of the NESARCwhich made use of the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (AUDADIS-
Genetics of the Evolutionary Process

1. The Unity and Diversity of Life2. Genetic Continuity and Change3. Mutation and Genetic Variability4. Normalizing Natural Selection5. Balancing Selection and Chromosomal Polymorphism6. Balancing Selection and Genetic Load7. Directional Selection8. Random Drift and Founder Principle9. Populations, Races, and Subspecies10. Reproductive Isolation11. Patterns of Species Formation12. Patterns of Evolution
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Solanum torvum (Solanaceae)

Leaves, stem, roots and inflorescence of Solanum torvum Sw. were extracted in two different organic solvents (chloroform & methanol). Antibacterial and antifungal effects of the extracts were tested on fifteen (six Gram positive & nine Gram negative) human pathogenic bacteria and on eight pathogenic fungi. Methanolic extracts of roots of S. torvum exhibited promising antibacterial and antifungal effects on all organisms tested in comparison with that observed in the leaves, stems and inflorescence extracts. The toxicity of the extracts was in the following order; root>stem>inflorescence>leaf. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of methanolic extract of roots of S. torvum were in the range between 64-128 µg mL -1 . Chloroform extracts of roots were more toxic (LC 50 35.4629 ppm) than other extracts analyzed in Brine shrimp test. In conclusion, S. torvum appears to be an attractive material for the development of antimicrobial drugs and environment friendly biopesticides.
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BIOFILM FORMATION AND RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS IN STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Thirty one staphylococci out of 50 were BF forming (according to icaAD gene detection by polymerase chain reaction and/or microtitre plate assay) and 19 non-BF forming isolated from clinical specimens and intravascular catheters of patients admitted to the pediatric hospital of Ain-Shams University. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for all isolates using disk diffusion test for cefoxitin, gentamicin and rifampicin and HiComb MIC Test for vancomycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, sulphamethizole and teracycline. An increase in the resistance of the staphylococcal isolates, particularly the coagulase negative, was noted. No statistical significant difference was detected between BF forming and non BF Staphylococci, however, 48.8% of BF forming strains were methicillin resistant (MR) and all were associated with multiple-resistance to antibiotics as 16% were resistant to 3 antibiotics, 32% to 4 antibiotics, 39% to 5 antibiotics, and 13% to all antibiotics tested. A high resistance was detected MR staphylococcal isolates to erythromycin (92.9%), gentamicin (60.7%), and ciprofloxacin (89.3%) showing a statistical significant difference when compared to methicillin sensitive Staphylococci (63.6%, 9%, 66.7%, respectively). Finally we conclude that there is an increase in the resistance of staphylococcal isolates to different antibiotics and BF formation is associated with multi-resistance to antibiotics.