Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilization of Moringa oleifera leaf meals as plant protein sources at different inclusion levels in fish meal based diets fed to Lates calcarifer.

A feeding experiment was carried out to utilize Moringa oleifera, Lam leaf meals at varying inclusion levels in the fish meal based diets for Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer to determine its effects on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), proximate body composition and survival rates. L. calcarifer is a carnivorous fish that grows fast and is totally dependent on the use fishmeal (FM) as the main protein feed. Currently, the price of this feed is escalating, due to increasing competition of this conventional protein for livestock and human consumption as well as for aquaculture diets and industrial use thus making their costs too high thereby reducing the profitability of fish farming and its yield in terms of quantity and quality. Four isonitrogenous test diets were formulated to contain 40 % crude protein (CP). M. oleifera leaf meals (MOLM) were incorporated in sea bass diets at 0 % (T1); 10 % (T2); 20 % (T3) and 30 % (T4). The control diet (MOLM-0) contained 35 % fish meal without M. oleifera leaf meal. Groups of fifteen sea bass fingerlings with an initial weight of 2 g were randomly distributed at three replicates into each of twelve 100 L cylindro-conical fiberglass tanks and fed thrice a day for 75 days. At the end of the trial, feed utilization efficiency and survival rates of sea bass fed diets with up to 30 % dietary inclusion level of MOLM were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the diet with 20 % dietary inclusion level of M. oleifera (MOLM-20). The highest percentage weight gain (%), protein efficiency ratio had been observed in sea bass fed with control diet (0 % MOLF) than fish fed 10, 20 and 30 % MOLM diets. Weight gain and specific growth rate generally declined as dietary inclusion level of MOLM was increased from 20 – 30 % in fish meal based control diet for sea bass. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) for MOLM-0 and MOLM-10 diets were significantly different (P<0.05) among the diets fed MOLM-20 and MOLM-30. Proximate body composition of Asian sea bass showed that crude protein, crude ash decreased as the dietary inclusion level of MOLM was increased from 10 to 30 %. However, body crude lipid showed an opposite trend as the level of fish meal replacement with MOLM was increased. It was concluded that MOLM at a maximum level of 10 % could be acceptable as plant protein replacement in fish meal based diets without adverse effects on the growth performance and health welfare to L. calcarifer.
Spatial Patterns of Sexual Dimorphism in Minks (Mustela vison)

Abstract Spatial patterns of sexual dimorphism in minks (Mustela vison) from 35 localities in North America were examined using 25 cranial characters to test predictions of the resource partitioning hypothesis of sexual dimorphism. Specific hypotheses evaluated were that trophic structures would be among the most dimorphic and would not be strongly correlated to body size characters. Twenty of 25 characters were significantly larger in males. Predictions of the resource partitioning hypothesis were not supported as canine diameter, a widely used indicator of resource partitioning, was not sexually dimorphic and there was a relatively large correlation between body size traits and trophic traits. Significant spatial variation in degree of dimorphism was found. The patterns of sexual dimorphism from principal components analysis indicated that largest degrees of sexual dimorphism were found in minks from Pennsylvania and Florida and least degrees of dimorphism were in minks from Alaska and Quebec. Sexual dimorphism may have an important temporal component which should be investigated in further studies.
Studies on Seed Germination, Seedling Growth, and In Vitro Shoot Induction of Aloe ferox Mill., a Commercially Important Species

A study was done to investigate the effects of some physical and chemical factors on growth and development of Aloe ferox ex vitro and in vitro. The effects of light, temperature, and smoke-water on seed germination, ex vitro seedling growth require- ments, and effect of germination medium and cytokinins on shoot induction and multiplication in vitro were investigated. The highest germination percentage of A. ferox seeds was recorded between 15 and 30 8C. Seed germination was inhibited at 10 and 35 8C. There was a nonsignificant increase in germination percentage (78%) for seeds that were germinated under constant dark conditions. Smoke-water-treated seeds showed significant improvement in percentage germination (80%) over the control (66%) at 25 8C with a 16-h photoperiod. Seedlings of A. ferox subjected to alternating temperatures (30/15 8C) or being irrigated three times weekly at 25 8C showed better seedling growth. In an in vitro experiment, seedlings germinated in distilled water and one-tenth strength Murashige and Skoog medium had superior shoot induction competence compared with the other germination media. The cytokinins meta-Topolin (mT) and meta-Topolin riboside (mTR) at 5 mM gave significantly higher shoot multiplication rates compared with the control and benzyladenine (BA)-treated plants. A higher abnormality index was recorded for BA-treated plants. The findings of this study will be beneficial for commercial propagation of Aloe ferox.
Evaluation of yield loss in field sorghum from a C3 and C4 weed with increasing CO2

Abstract Dwarf sorghum (C4) was grown at ambient and at projected levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (250 mol mol−1 above ambient) with and without the presence of a C3 weed (velvetleaf) and a C4 weed (redroot pigweed), to quantify the potential effect of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] on weed–crop interactions and potential crop loss. In a weed-free environment, increased [CO2] resulted in a significant increase in leaf weight and leaf area of sorghum but no significant effect on seed yield or total aboveground biomass relative to the ambient CO2 condition. At ambient [CO2] the presence of velvetleaf had no significant effect on either sorghum seed yield or total aboveground biomass; however, at elevated [CO2], yield and biomass losses were significant. The additional loss in sorghum yield and biomass was associated with a significant (threefold) increase in velvetleaf biomass in response to increasing [CO2]. Redroot pigweed at ambient [CO2] resulted in significant losses in total aboveground biomass of sorghum but not in seed yield. However, as [CO2] increased, significant losses in both sorghum seed yield and total biomass were observed for sorghum–redroot pigweed competition. Increased [CO2] was not associated with a significant increase in redroot pigweed biomass (P = 0.17). These results indicate potentially greater yield loss in a widely grown C4 crop from weedy competition as atmospheric [CO2] increases. Nomenclature: Dwarf sorghum, Sorghum bicolor cv. ‘Martin,’ redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. AMARE; sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medicus ABUTH.
Changes in the plant cover of the dune hill in Folusz near Szubin (NW Poland) between 1959 and 2012: the problem of preservation of xerothermic grasslands in the agricultural landscape

The dune hill in Folusz is one of the most interesting sites with xerothermic vegetation in the Polish lowland. It is different from other sites by the fact that xerothermic vegetation covers a single dune located amidst large areas of Molinia meadows rather than slopes of river valleys. Vegetation occurring on the hill represents a cold Stipa steppe with rare species of floodplain meadows and has long aroused the interest of botanists. In the 19th century and in the early 20th century, observations in this area were carried out by German botanists (L. Kuhling, F. Spribille, H. Miller, W. Bock). In the 1930s, the investigation was continued by botanists from the University in Poznan. After World War II, it was one of the main research sites for botanists and ecologists from the University in Torun, and recently also from the universities in Bydgoszcz. Floristic lists were compiled by all the aforementioned researchers, which describe the state of flora in the subsequent periods, and when collated in tables, they help to determine the directions of changes occurring in the area over a hundred years. Not all the materials obtained in the past were published. A lot of interesting data were preserved in the Torun centre in the form of actual vegetation maps and releves. This paper presents the comparison of vegetation from 1959, plotted on the unpublished vegetation map by J. Wilkon-Michalska, with the vegetation in 2013. Changes in the land cover were also analysed through a series of aerial photographs from 1961, 1975, 1986 and 2005. The GIS and GPS technology was used in the spatial analysis. Furthermore, the analysis of flora changes was performed, including the comparison of data presented in ecological literature with unpublished data collected by J. Wilkon-Michalska in 1956-1964. In addition, numerical analysis of releves from both these periods and from 2012 was performed. The objective of all the analyses was to determine how the changes were affected by spontaneous development of oak trees on the dune and destructive human activity related to exploitation of the sand, afforestation of the dune with pine, birch and oak, and planting of common lilac. An effort was also made to assess the importance of including the Folusz dune hill within the Natura 2000 site − PLH040027 „Molinia meadows in Folusz” − for preventing further degradation of xerothermic vegetation.
Biomass-pigment relationships in potamoplankton

During most of the growing season of 1994, pigment content, as determined by HPLC analy- sis of algal sample extracts, was followed in the River Meuse (Belgium) potamoplankton. The concen- tration of some algal pigments (chlorophylls a and b, fucoxanthin, lutein, echinenone and alloxanthin) was related to biomass estimates of total phytoplankton and of major taxonomic components (diatoms, green algae, cyanobacteria and cryptomonads). Highly significant linear regressions were obtained for chlorophyll o-total biomass, fucoxanthin-diatoms, lutein-green algae, chlorophyll fr-green algae. However, no relationship was found for cyanobacteria or cryptomonads and their specific pigments, which may be attributed to poor accuracy of biomass estimates for these non- dominant algae. In conclusion, the good relationship found for dominant algae and their specific pig- ments confirms the value of pigments as quantitative markers of phytoplankton, as detected in other marine and freshwater environments.
Phylogeny of Basal Angiosperms: Analyses of Five Genes from Three Genomes1

DNA sequences of five mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear genes from 105 species (103 genera and 63 families) representing all major lineages of gymnosperms and basal angiosperms were analyzed using parsimony methods to reconstruct the phylogeny of basal angiosperms. The standard most parsimonious trees search, taxon deletion analyses, and constraint analyses in combination with Kishino‐Hasegawa tests provided a rigorous analytical perspective for identifying Amborella, Nymphaeales, and Illiciales‐Trimeniaceae‐Austrobaileya (ANITA) as the basalmost lineages of extant angiosperms. The parsimony criterion (equal weighting) favored the trees in which Amborella was sister to all other angiosperms, whereas the likelihood measure favored the trees in which the Amborella‐Nymphaeales clade represented the first diverging lineage of angiosperms. However, the Kishino‐Hasegawa test showed that these trees, as well as those in which Nymphaeales were sister to all other angiosperms, were not significantly different from each other. The clade of eumagnoliids, consisting of Winterales, Piperales, Magnoliales, and Laurales, was also consistently recovered in all of the analyses, albeit with low bootstrap support. Two genera of Gnetales, Gnetum and Welwitschia, did not form a sister group to angiosperms but fell into conifers with strong support. This result refutes the anthophyte hypothesis.
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in world biodiversity hotspots: the need for a greater global perspective in assessing N deposition impacts

Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is known to reduce plant diversity in natural and semi‐natural ecosystems, yet our understanding of these impacts comes almost entirely from studies in northern Europe and North America. Currently, we lack an understanding of the threat of N deposition to biodiversity at the global scale. In particular, rates of N deposition within the newly defined 34 world biodiversity hotspots, to which 50% of the world's floristic diversity is restricted, has not been quantified previously. Using output from global chemistry transport models, here we provide the first estimates of recent (mid‐1990s) and future (2050) rates and distributions of N deposition within biodiversity hotspots. Our analysis shows that the average deposition rate across these areas was 50% greater than the global terrestrial average in the mid‐1990s and could more than double by 2050, with 33 of 34 hotspots receiving greater N deposition in 2050 compared with 1990. By this time, 17 hotspots could have between 10% and 100% of their area receiving greater than 15 kg N ha−1 yr−1, a rate exceeding critical loads set for many sensitive European ecosystems. Average deposition in four hotspots is predicted to be greater than 20 kg N ha−1 yr−1. This elevated N deposition within areas of high plant diversity and endemism may exacerbate significantly the global threat of N deposition to world floristic diversity. Overall, we highlight the need for a greater global approach to assessing the impacts of N deposition.
DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF STROMAL MYOFIBROBLASTS IN LARYNGEAL CARCINOGENESIS DIAGNOSTIČNI IN NAPOVEDNI POMEN MIOFIBROBLASTOV PRI KARCINOMU GRLA

Background. Recent studies have shown that stro- mal reaction in cancer has a more important diagnostic and prognostic significance than previously thought. CD34-posi- tive stromal cells and myofibroblasts may play an important role in host response to invasive cancer. The aim of our studies was therefore to analyze the distribution and immunohis- tochemical phenotype of stromal cells in epithelial hyperpla- stic lesions (EHL) and squamous carcinoma (SC) of the lar- ynx, and to establish their diagnostic and prognostic signifi- cance. Methods. We investigated samples of 62 resected larynxes with SC, 50 laryngeal biopsies of EHL and SC, and 5 samples of normal laryngeal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry was per- formed using antibodies against vimentin, a-smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin, CD34 and leucocyte common antigen (LCA). Results. The stroma of normal laryngeal mucosa and EHL con- tained scattered CD34-positive cells, but there were no SMA- positive myofibroblasts. In contrast, the stroma of SC contained SMA-positive cells but there were no CD34-positive stromal cells. We observed two patterns of stromal reaction in SC: one was characterised by a marked proliferation of myofibroblasts and desmoplasia, with scarce lymphocytic infiltration; this pattern tended to be associated with well or moderately differentiated SC. The other was characterised by few myofibroblasts, weak desmoplasia, and dense lymphocytic infiltration; the latter pattern tended to be associated with moderately or poorly di- fferentiated SC. Conclusions. Our studies show that disappearance of CD34- positive cells and appearance of SMA-positive myofibroblasts in the stroma is associated with transformation of laryngeal EHL to SC. This pattern of stromal reaction should be regarded as an additional marker of invasion. Our results also suggest that characteristics of stromal reaction in SC could be of pro- gnostic significance.
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE STRAINS ISOLATED IN TEHRAN, IRAN

Background – The emergence and spread of penicillin and multidrug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has become a major concern worldwide. Consequently, clinical laboratories should consider screening-selected isolates to determine whether they are susceptible to cefotaxime as well as to penicillin. The aim of this study was to survey drug resistance among clinically important isolates of S. pneumoniae recovered from patients in Tehran. Methods – The drug susceptibility of 130 isolates of S. pneumoniae cultured from severely infected patients from 1998 to 2000 was determined using both agar disk diffusion and macro broth dilution tests. Isolates were grown from clinical specimens including blood (60%) and cerebrospinal fluid (20%) from patients with pneumonia, bacteremia or meningitis. The remaining isolates were recovered from sputa (10%) and sinus exudates. Bacterial cultures were sent to Pasteur Institute for conformational and drug susceptibility tests. Results – Sixty-eight percent of isolates were resistant to penicillin, 10% to erythromycin, 52% to cotrimoxazole, and 56% to tetracycline. Of the 25% of the organisms that were found to be resistant to cefotaxime, 1% were highly resistant. None of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefotaxime corresponded to the MICs of penicillin (being the same or different by only 1 or 2 dilutions). Conclusion – Resistance to penicillin and cefotaxime increased over the study period. Penicillin-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae cultured from patients in Tehran were also more likely to be resistant to other beta-lactams such as cefotaxime. The increasing trend of antibiotic resistance among strains of S. pneumoniae in Iran is alarming, and the treatment of infections with this organism will be more difficult in the future. Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volume 6, Number 3, 2003: 192 – 195.
Phytochrome-regulated Growth of Young Watermelon Plants

Phytochrome-regulated growth of watermelon (Citrulls lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Naki CV. Sugar Baby) was investigated by treating plants with brief exposures of red (R) or far-red (FR) light at the end of the daily photoperiod. Light treatments were initiated when the plants were 2 weeks old (two true-leaf stage). After 4 days of treatment, petiole lengths of leaf 1 (first leaf above the cotyledon) and leaf 2 (second leaf above the cotyledon) were longer, and the angle formed between these two petioles was more acute in plants treated with end-of-day (EOD) FR than in plants treated with EOD R light or non-EOD-treat ed plants (control). After 7 days of treatment, internodes 2 and 3 and petioles from leaves 1, 2, and 3 were longer from plants treated for 7 days with EOD FR light than from plants treated with EOD R light or from controls. The EOD FR light promotion of internode, petiole angle, and petiole elongation was reversible by immediately following the FR with R, implicating the involvement of phytochrome in the regulation of these growth processes of watermelon. After 21 days of treatment, most of the internodes (six of eight) from the EOD FR-treated plants were longer than the corresponding internodes from the EOD R-treated plants. Plants that were treated with EOD light for 21 days and then grown for an additional 14 days without EOD light treatments exhibited no residual EOD light effect on internode elongation (as compared to plants not exposed to EOD light). Residual EOD FR light treatment effects on elongation of petioles 1, 2, 3, and 4 were suggested for
Vaginal bacteria flora concurred with vaginal sponges in black Iraqi goats

The aim of this study was to identify the vaginal bacteria flora in black Iraqi goats subjected to estrus synchronization. Sixteen multiparous black Iraqi goats presented in the farm of the College Veterinary Medicine, Al-Anbar University, were included in this study, during the breeding season, from May 2011 to July 2011. The ages of the animals rwere 2-4 years. A polyurethane sponge containing 20 mg of micromsed cronolone (fluorogestone acetate progestagen) was inserted in the vagina for 14 days. Standard bacteriological procedures were performed on vaginal mucus swabs obtained before application of the sponges and at sponges withdrawal. Results of this study revealed that the most bacterial flora was Gram positive Bacilli before insertion of sponges, while most of Gram negative Bacilli were present after sponges withdrawal. Bacterial culture of vaginal swabs taken before insertion of sponges showed 8 isolates (50%) G _ and 8 isolates (50%) G + , while after withdrawal of sponges the bacterial culture showed 10 isolates G _ (45.4%) and 12 isolates (54.6) G + . The most prevalent bacteria isolated were S. aureus (10 isolates) 26.3%. E. coli (6 isolates) 15.8%, P. vulgaris (6 isolates) 15.8%, C. (4 isolates)10.5% and other bacteria where having 2 isolates 5.2% for each one includes, Entercoccus fecalis, Entrococcus, Entrobacter, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Salmonella. In conclusion, using progestagen impregnated sponges in the vagina for estrus synchronization could stimulate inflammation of the vaginal mucous membrane and increase of bacterial infection.
FourMethodsComparedforMeasuring Des-Carboxy-Prothrombin (Piv-ii)

PIVKA-II (Protein ktduced by Atamin K Absence) is abnormal des-carboxylated prothrombin, which is present in vitamin K deficiency or in patients using warfarin. With a sensitive method for PIVKA-Il, biochemical vitamin K deficiency can be established before clinical symptoms occur. We give an overview of methods used to detect PIVKA-II, and four select-ed methods are inter-compared: (a) measuring total factor II including Pivi-il by using Echis carinatus snake venom as an activator of prothrombin; (b) measuring plvKA-ll by using snake venom as an activator of factor II after adsorption of functional factor ii onto barium sulfate; (c) electrophoresis-immunofixation method; and ( enzyme immunoassay. We found d to be the most sensitive and reliable method for PIVKA-ll. a simple method for extracting 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyiglycol (MHPG) from The sample is