Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fermentation methods on the mineral, amino and fatty acids composition of Cyperus esculentus

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) was subjected to different fermentation methods such as traditional, back slope and control. The raw and fermented samples were analyzed for mineral, amino and fatty acids. The results of mineral analysis revealed potassium and sodium as the most abundant mineral element with their value ranging from 546 to 91.6 mg/100 g and 64.00 to 3383.33 mg/100 g, respectively while copper was found in trace amount with value ranging from 0.03 mg/100 g to 0.05 mg/100 g. All the fermented samples shows significant increase in calcium ranging from 8.50 to 9.83 mg/100 g compared to raw samples (7.66 mg/100 g). Amino acid result showed arginine (23.02 g/100 g) as the most abundant amino acid present in back slope fermented tiger nut while tyrosine was the least amino acid (0.05 g/100 g). The oil in tiger nut showed a greater percentage of oleic acid (73.08%) which was recorded in back slope fermented milled sample. The overall result of the investigation revealed that back slope fermentation was the best method that may enhance mineral, amino and fatty acids content of tiger nut.
Effect of UVC rays on biomass production by Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson when mixed with various adjuvants

The effect of UVC rays on the viability of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschinikoff) Sorokin, in the presence of various concentrations of adjuvants comprising glycerol (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0%), tween-80 (0.5 and 1.0%), boric acid (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0%), carboxymethyl cellulose (0.5 and 1.0%), indigo (0.5 and 1.0%), turmeric (0.5 and 1.0%), molasses (0.5 and 1.0%), honey (1.0 and 2.0%), milk (1.0 and 2.0%), sunflower oil (0.5 and 1.0%), groundnut oil (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%), mustard oil (0.5 and 1.0%), soybean oil (0.5 and 1.0%) and ghee (0.5 and 1.0%) and formulations without adjuvants, when exposed for 10 to 50 minutes, 2, 3 and 5 hours was studied under laboratory conditions. The UVC rays proved detrimental to the fungus and the effect increased with increase in exposure period. After 5 hours exposure to UVC rays, N.r. +SFO 1.0 per cent produced highest (4.97g) biomass when it was in rest of the treatments (2.40 to 4.87g) against 1.80g in control (N.r. alone). The next promising treatments were N.r. +SFO 0.5 per cent (4.87g), N.r. +GNO 1.0 per cent (4.87g) and N.r. +GNO 2.0 per cent (4.77g). The control N.r. alone without UVC exposure produced 7.30g of fungal biomass. Among the various oils sunflower and groundnut oil, among chemical adjuvant glycerol 2.0 per cent, CMC 0.50 per cent, boric acid and among nutrient sources honey, milk act as appreciable UVC protectant.
Correlation analysis on self-care ability and self-efficacy of cirrhosis patients

Objective To investigate the correlation between self-efficacy and self-care ability of cirrhosis patients. Methods 497 eligible cirrhosis patients, treated in Hepatology Department in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to April 2015, were surveyed about their self-efficacy and self-care ability, by Chronic disease self-efficacy scale (CDSES) and Exercise of self-care agency Scale (ESCA). Survey instruments included general information survey, Chronic disease self-efficacy scale, and Exercise of self-care agency scale. The patients′ self-efficacy and self-care ability were evaluated and analyzed in correlation. Results Self-care ability of most cirrhosis patients was in a medium or lower level. The scores of self-efficacy and self-care ability of cirrhosis patients were (45.42±3.33) and (115.49±18.82), with the two of high-positive correlation (r=0.851, P<0.01). Conclusions The patient′s self-care ability can be directly enhanced by improving patient′s self-efficacy, and thus the patients′ quality of life can be guaranteed. Key words: Cirrhosis; Self-efficacy; Self-care ability; Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale
The rhythm of attentional stimulus selection during visual competition

Recent research indicates that attentional stimulus selection could in fact be a rhythmic process, operating as a sequence of successive cycles. When two items must be monitored, an intriguing corollary of this “blinking spotlight” notion could be that the successive cycles are directed alternately to each target; as a result, each item would effectively be selected at half the intrinsic rate of attentional selection. Here, we tested this prediction in two experiments. In an endogenous attention task, subjects covertly monitored one or two peripheral images in order to detect a brief contrast change. In the sustained occipital EEG power spectrum, selecting two vs. one item resulted in a relative increase around 4Hz and a relative decrease around 10–11Hz. In a second experiment, we tested if comparable oscillations could be observed in the stimulus-evoked EEG visual representational content. Subjects saw a first peripheral image displayed alone for 600ms, before a second one also appeared for the same duration, but at a different peripheral location. Using pattern analysis on EEG evoked-responses, we were able to create item selective classifiers that constantly indicated which stimulus was on the screen. The time-course of single-trial classifier decision values presented a relative spectral peak around 11Hz when only one object was present, and around 4–5Hz when two objects were on the screen. These results are both compatible with an attentional stimulus selection process sampling the visual field at around 10–11Hz, and resulting in a half-frequency effective sampling around 4–5Hz when there are two items to monitor.
Contracaecum Railliet & Henry, 1912 (Nematoda, Anisakidae): o parasitismo relacionado à biologia de três espécies de peixes piscívoros no reservatório do Jaguari, SP

With the aim of analyzing aspects of parasitism by Contracaecum sp. in relation to the sex of fish, the period of sexual maturity, the development and methods of foraging of Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794), Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) and Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, 1850, 70 example of these fish species, piscivorous in the adult phase, were examined between may, 2000 and june 2001 in the Jaguari reservoir, state of Sao Paulo. The prevalence and intensity of infection related to the general state of health and development of the fish using the relative factor of condition (kn) were also measured. The prevalence and intensities of infection - H. malabaricus, 100% and 15,56 larva/fish, R. quelen, 73.33% and 28.41 larva/fish and S. hilarii, 83.37% and 57,08 larva/fish, respectively - indicate the high position of these species in the trophic chain of the reservoir. The analysis of kn showed that parasitism does not affect the general state of health of the studied fish. The sex of the fish and the period of sexual maturity affect the parasitism levels only for S. hilarii. The foraging method of fishes influences the parasitism.
Variações na composição e estrutura da vegetação permitem detectar agrupamentos florísticos em uma Floresta Subtropical Atlântica no Sul do Brasil

As variacoes da vegetacao em funcao da posicao topografica tem despertado o interesse dos pesquisadores. Entretanto, poucos estudos verificaram as associacoes floristicas formadas pela posicao topografica de uma encosta. Neste trabalho, analisamos se as variacoes na vegetacao permitem detectar agrupamentos floristicos em uma Floresta Pluvial Subtropical. A vegetacao foi amostrada em 25 parcelas de 400 m² distribuidas sistematicamente, onde foram medidos os individuos com DAP ≥ 5,0 cm. Amostramos 1.727 individuos e 144 especies. A ordenacao NMDS segregou tres grupos em funcao da posicao topografica da encosta (Monte Carlo, P ≥ 0,05; ANOSIM, P < 0,001). Euterpe edulis e Sloanea guianensis se destacaram nos tercos inferior e medio da encosta, enquanto Ocotea aciphylla e Alchornea triplinervia se destacaram no terco superior. Algumas especies se mostraram indicadoras dos setores analisados, como e o caso de Actinostemon concolor e Alsophila setosa no terco inferior, Cyathea corcovadensis e Rudgea recurva no terco medio e Myrcia pulchra e Podocarpus sellowii no terco superior. Nossos resultados indicaram que as variacoes floristicas e estruturais observadas por Veloso e Klein (1959) e Klein (1980; 1984) para o Vale do Itajai em Santa Catarina apresentam validade estatistica nos dias atuais, pois verificamos a formacao de diferentes grupos de acordo com a posicao topografica da encosta.
The role and importance of vanadium, chromium and nickel in poultry diet

The levels of essential microelements in poultry feed must be high enough to satisfy the birds' requirements, yet low enough to ensure the safety of both animal feed and meat and eggs for human nutrition. The essential role of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in poultry nutrition is still under investigation, while their toxicity was well established a long time ago. Even though some feeds might represent a potential source of harmful amounts of microelements, the combination of relevant quality control programs in the animal feed industry, as well as the application of good production practices and the adequate education of nutritionists can substantially reduce the risks associated with overfeeding such minerals. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the role, importance and needs of poultry for V, Cr and Ni.
The Caribbean lowland evergreen moist and wet forests

The saying “geography is destiny” has been used by historians and economists to explain largescale phenomena such as human trading routes, migration patterns, technological innovation, spread of disease, and the motivation for and outcomes of wars. In the context of Costa Rican ecosystems, one might also invoke the expression to frame more than five million years of the history of Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands. We do not imply that events have been or will be predictable, but rather that geography has played a critical role in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands with respect to initial origin of the landmass, climate, patterns of vegetation, sites of early human settlement, colonial expansion, the construction of access roads, colonial and postcolonial exploitation of natural resources, conservation efforts, and current political and environmental issues. In this chapter we offer a brief overview of these topics, encapsulate major biological research efforts in the Caribbean lowlands over the past 50 years, and look into the future— always within the framework of geography at different scales. Today the Caribbean lowland portion of Costa Rica, broadly defined, includes the entire Province of Limón (with its Caribbean Sea margin), plus portions of the Provinces of Heredia, Alajuela, and Guanacaste (with their northern edges along the Río San Juan and other stretches of Costa Rica’s border with Nicaragua) (Fig. 16.1). For this map, we define the upper altitudinal limit of the area as 300 m, although some sections of this chapter will use slightly different elevations, depending on the standards of a particular
Effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) feed supplement on growth performances in "Queue Fine de l’Ouest" lambs

*Corresponding author: omar_maamouri@yahoo.fr Abstract This study aims explore the effects of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae feed supplement on lambs growth and their feed intake. For this purpose, 14 lambs aged of 148 days were used during 9 weeks and allocated to 2 groups according to body weight and age. Lambs receiving a basal diet of oat hay ad libitum supplemented with whole grain barley (400g) and concentrate (400g). The control group (C) received oat hay ad libitum, whole grain barley (400g) and concentrate (400g). The second group (Y) received the same feeds than (C) group plus a dose of 1,5g/lamb/day of yeast Actisaf ® Sc 47 . The ration was distributed twice a day at fixed times. Animals of two groups had free access to water. This study showed that the average amount of oat hay voluntarily ingested was 147,1 and 148,7 g DM/lamb/day, for (C) group and (Y) one respectively in the first week of control. Feed intake continues to increase slightly until the 5 week and reached a maximum around the 9 week of trial (374,6 vs. 439,9 g DM/lamb/day for (C) group and (Y) respectively). Weight of lambs has evolved during trial period, it increased from 22,5 kg to 30,5 kg for (C) group and 22,3 kg to 34,5 kg for (Y) group with a notable superiority for (Y) group in comparison with (C) one. For the daily gain, the respective averages are 145 g/day and 223 g/day for lambs of (C) group and (Y) one. The statistical analysis shows that there are significant differences for daily gain (g/day) within 5, 6, 8 week of growth trial, and a significant difference of daily gain throughout growth trial (1 ; 8 week). Feed conversion decreased notably for lambs of (Y) in comparison with group and (C) one.
Microhabitat preference of sympatric Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) in a low-order forest stream

ABSTRACT Aim of this study was to investigate the presence and distribution of Hydraenidae in relation to selected abiotic parameters in a single, uniform riffle of the Caramagna Stream (northwestern Italy). Six species belonging to the genus of Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 were found (H. andreinii D'Orchymont, 1934, H. subimpressa Rey, 1885, H. assimilis Rey, 1885, H. heterogyna Bedel, 1898, H. truncata Rey, 1884 and H. devillei Ganglbauer, 1901), with evident niche preferences. Our study provided interesting information about ecological requirements of minute moss beetles at small-scale and evidenced that maintaining elevate habitat diversity is essential to preserve high species abundance at local scale.
Identification Of Resistance Sources To Wheat Stem Rust From Introduced Genotypes In Kenya

Stem rust Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici of wheat is the most important disease in Kenya. Emergence of race Ug99 and other variants virulent to host resistance genes including Sr31 has rendered 95% of Kenyan cultivars susceptible. This study aimed to identify new sources of resistance to stem rust in a collection of exotic genotypes. Three hundred and sixteen wheat genotypes were screened at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Njoro for two seasons in 2015. The host reaction to disease was evaluated based on the modified Cobb scale. The relative Final Rust Severity (rFRS), Average Coefficient of Infection (ACI) and relative Area Under Disease Progress Curve (rAUDPC) were used to characterize the genotypes for stem rust resistance. Agronomic traits were also recorded. Six genotypes namely ALBW-100, ALBW- 204, EPCBW-261, EPCBW-295, PCHP-309 and PCHPBW-310 with significantly low ACI, rAUDPC and rFRS were identified. Thirty five genotypes showed Pseudo-Black Chaff (PBC) phenotype associated with resistant gene Sr2, a source of partial resistance in wheat. The genotypes also showed low disease severity (20-25%) and Moderately Susceptible (MS) – Susceptible (S) infection types in both seasons. Genotypes had significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) on plant height, 1000-kernel weight and number of tillers indicating genetic variation which could be exploited in breeding for resistance to stem rust. The negative relationship between agronomic variables involving plant height, spikelet length and 1000-kernel weight showed harmful effects of stem rust on plant characteristics including yield. The stem rust resistant genotypes with good agronomic traits could be introgressed into adapted Kenyan backgrounds while the genotypes showing presence of PBC could be utilized to develop durable stem rust resistant wheat. Inheritance studies to elucidate the exact genes conferring resistance to stem rust could be conducted for breeders to exploit their genetic variability.
Impact of the fishery for late-larval European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) on the adult stock in the Adriatic Sea

Impact of the fishery for late-larval European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) on the adult stock in the Adriatic Sea Piera Carpi*, Elisabetta B. Morello, Andres Uriarte, Monica Panfili, Beatriz Roel, Alberto Santojanni, Fortunata Donato and Enrico Arneri National Research Council of Italy ISMAR, Marine Sciences Institute, Largo Fiera della Pesca, Ancona, 60125, Italy Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, CEFAS, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK Fundaci on AZTI, Herrera Kaia, Portualde z/g, Pasaia 20110, Spain *Corresponding author: tel: þ44 15025 24447; e-mail: piera.carpi@cefas.co.uk Present address: Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, AdriaMed Project, FAO-FIRF, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy
Study of proteinase activity of Lactobacillus plantarum NCIM 2083

Lactobacilli are important organisms used in several lactic acid fermentations. Lactobacilli cultured in milk perform activities like breaking down of lactose to simple sugars, proteolysis, lipolysis and lactic acid production. Lactobacillus depends on proteolytic system for degradation of protein ‐ casein in milk from which they get their complex nutrient requirements for growth. This complex proteolytic system consists of proteinases, peptidases and amino and peptide carriers. Yogurt fermented milk having increased nutritive value, is more palatable, easily digestible and assimilable than milk. It has been observed that many people are sensitive to milk and cannot digest it easily. In developing nations this is an important cause for concern as such sensitive people suffers from protein-energy deficiency, more so if they are from the economically weaker section of the society. In this study an attempt has been made to understand the proteinase system from Lactobacillus plantarum NCIM 2083. The enzyme was found to be cell wall bound. It was active optimally at 30°C at pH 7.0. The peptides obtained after proteolysis were studied using SDS- PAGE, HPLC techniques and Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS).
Effect of Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines on territory densities of the Sky Lark Alauda arvensis in an intensively managed agricultural landscape

ABSTRACT Capsule: Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines increase Sky Lark Alauda arvensis territory densities in winter crops. Aims: To analyse the effects on Sky Lark territory density of Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines in winter cereals and oilseed rape. Methods: We mapped Sky Lark territories on fields with Sky Lark plots or additional tramlines as well as on adjacent control sites, from 2010 to 2013 in Saxony, Germany, where agricultural land use is intensive, dominated by winter-sown crops and takes place in large fields. Results: In test sites with Sky Lark plots, 5.6 and 3.1 territories per 10 ha were found in the early (April/May) and late periods (June/July) respectively, compared to 3.3 and 1.4 territories per 10 ha in control sites. Sky Lark territory densities in fields with additional tramlines were 1.6 times higher in the early period (4.2 versus 2.6 territories per 10 ha) and 2.2 times higher in the late period (3.6 versus 1.6 territories per 10 ha). Conclusion: Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines improve large fields for the Sky Lark and have the potential to increase the Sky Lark population.
Plant species selection by sheep in semi-natural dry grasslands extensively grazed in the south-western Italian Alps

Sheep can have an important role in the conservation of abandoned and shrub- and tree-encroached, semi-natural dry grasslands because their feeding behaviour is known to affect plant diversity and structure. Nevertheless, little information is available about feeding preferences of sheep at the sward-patch scale and about the effects of stocking density on their selectivity. Consequently, we investigated plant-species selection by sheep managed with a low-intensity grazing, examining the influence of stocking density and plant species abundance by means of vegetation surveys and animal GPS tracking. Sheep grazed a graminoid-dominated, semi-natural dry grassland (Festuco–Brometea) in Piedmont Region, north-west Italy. Plant species, classified into graminoids, suffruticose forbs, and herbaceous forbs, were selected with a different intensity by sheep, which preferred graminoids over suffruticose and herbaceous forbs. Plant species showing a high consumption ratio (CR), i.e. the level of selection of plant species (CR >10%), were mostly graminoids (e.g. Bromus erectus, Koeleria vallesiana and Stipa pennata). Furthermore, Carex species were also noticeably selected, in particular C. humilis, whereas spiny species and those with a rosette or prostrate forms were rarely grazed. The heterogeneity of stocking density over the pasture allowed testing of the relationships between stocking density and CR. For many species, the higher the stocking density, the higher was the CR, regardless of the abundance of dominant neighbouring species. Results suggest that sheep under low-intensity grazing conditions exert a specific plant-species selection in abandoned dry grasslands. By regulating the stocking density through the management of grazing sheep, it may be possible to condition the consumption of certain plant species, with medium–long-term effects on the botanical composition.
Understanding doublecortin-like kinase gene function through transgenesis

Doublecortin (DCX) and DCX-domain containing Doublecortin-Like Kinase (DCLK) gene splice variants function during embryonic development, where they play a role in microtubule binding. Although a role for the DCLK gene during embryogenesis is clearly established, it encodes multiple, different transcripts, some of which are expressed in the adult brain or in response to neuronal activity. This suggests that the DCLK gene may have additional functions beyond neuronal development. Strikingly, the roles of two DCLK gene products, DCLK-short and CaMK-related peptide (CARP), remain largely elusive. Therefore, we have generated transgenic mice with over-expression of either CARP or a constitutively active form of DCLK-short, called δC-DCLK-short, in the brain. This has opened up the possibility to study the effect of over-expression of these DCLK transcripts in the brain during adulthood. To gain more insight in DCLK gene function in the adult brain we aimed to study and describe the phenotypes of these transgenic mice at different functional levels, such as the genetic, network and behavioural level.
The Effect of Ametropia on Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss

Myopia has been discussed as a risk factor for glaucoma. In this study, we characterized the relationship between ametropia and patterns of visual field (VF) loss in glaucoma. Reliable automated VFs (SITA Standard 24-2) of 120,019 eyes from 70,495 patients were selected from five academic institutions. The pattern deviation (PD) at each VF location was modeled by linear regression with ametropia (defined as spherical equivalent (SE) starting from extreme high myopia), mean deviation (MD), and their interaction (SE × MD) as regressors. Myopia was associated with decreased PD at the paracentral and temporal VF locations, whereas hyperopia was associated with decreased PD at the Bjerrum and nasal step locations. The severity of VF loss modulated the effect of ametropia: with decreasing MD and SE, paracentral/nasal step regions became more depressed and Bjerrum/temporal regions less depressed. Increasing degree of myopia was positively correlated with VF depression at four central points, and the correlation became stronger with increasing VF loss severity. With worsening VF loss, myopes have increased VF depressions at the paracentral and nasal step regions, while hyperopes have increased depressions at the Bjerrum and temporal locations. Clinicians should be aware of these effects of ametropia when interpreting VF loss.