Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria against Food Born Pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes

In recent years due to changes in lifestyle and eating behavior of the human populations, disease caused by contaminated food has increased significantly. Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteric are three of the most important food borne bacterial pathogens and can lead to food borne diseases. Also today wide spread of resistance to antibiotics among bacteria occurs due to increased consumption of antibiotics. Therefore, there is a dire need for development of new types of safe antimicrobial compounds. In this field, the most extensive research and commercial practices are based on probiotic bacteria. Probiotics, specifically lactic acid bacteria, are broadly used in the food industry for fermentation. Furthermore, probiotics produce valuable antimicrobial products that results to health effects. Now, the use of probiotic for treatment of disease is thought to be an effective way to improve the gut health and an alternative for treatment by antibiotics. Probiotics contribute to food safety by inhibition of the growth of other bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria can be used as protective cultures to compete with several pathogens and undesired organisms. Since food safety has become a significant international concern, here we investigated application of lactic acid bacteria for controlling the growth of Listeria monocytogenes.
Ustilago kamerunensis on Napier grass in Kenya

Napier or elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum Schum. , is the major source of fodder for stall-fed dairy cattle in Kenya. In the early 1990s, a new disease, caused by Utilago kamerunensis P. & H. Sydow was reported on the grass. Since there was a lack of information on the general pest and disease status of Napier grass in Kenya, a survey was carried out. The survey confirmed that U. kamerunensis was the major pest and disease threat to Napier grass production in the country, having spread to four districts and occurring in 27% of farm plots sampled. The existence of disease hotspots suggests that the main means of spread is through transport of infected planting material, and that the severity of the disease in Kenya compared with other countries results from an increase in the cultivation of Napier grass over the past decade.
Male Infertility and Patriarchal Paradoxes in Egypt

Male infertility is a major global reproductive health problem, contributing to more than half of all cases of infertility worldwide. Yet women typically bear the social burden of childlessness when their husbands are infertile. This article explores the four major patriarchal paradoxes surrounding male infertility in the Muslim Middle Eastern country of Egypt. There, women in childless marriages typically experience procreative blame, even when male infertility (glossed as weak worms) is socially acknowledged. In addition, Egyptian women married to infertile men experience diminished gender identity and threats of male-initiated divorce. Ironically, the introduction of new reproductive technologies to overcome male infertility has only served to increase this divorce potential. Although male infertility also presents a crisis of masculinity for Egyptian men, this crisis often redounds in multiple ways on the lives of women, who ultimately pay the price for male infertility under conditions of Middle Eastern patriarchy.
Resistance to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (Hem., Aleyrodidae), in Gossypium thurberi, a wild cotton species

Abstract Gossypium thurberi Todaro is a wild cotton species native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern USA. Four years of field studies in California's Imperial Valley revealed consistent very high levels of resistance in G. thurberi against silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, an important pest of cotton in many regions of the world. Naturally developing field infestations in plots of G. thurberi were significantly lower than in plots of the commercial cotton cultivars DP 5415, Siokra L23, and Stoneville 474. Gossypium thurberi has two morphological traits that, in past research, have been associated with lower levels of whitefly susceptibility: smooth‐ and okra‐leaf; however, the levels of resistance observed in G. thurberi were significantly greater than in the cotton cultivar DP 5415, which is a smooth‐leaf cotton, and Siokra L23 which, like G. thurberi, has both smooth‐ and okra‐leaf traits. Therefore, the high level of resistance in G. thurberi seems to be due to factors above and beyond smooth‐ and okra‐leaf. Siokra L23, which is among the least whitefly‐susceptible cotton cultivars, developed whitefly populations over 30 times those on G. thurberi in all 3 years that Siokra L23 was tested. The difference in whitefly population development between G. thurberi and the other two cotton cultivars was even more striking, up to a 475‐fold difference. In contrast to the clear results on naturally developing field infestations, experiments comparing nymphal survival among G. thurberi and commercial cotton cultivars did not detect antibiosis, and both choice and no‐choice oviposition experiments did not detect antixenosis. Thus, the mechanisms of resistance in G. thurberi remain unknown.
ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SEVERAL TYPES OF ENDODONTIC SEALERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

1. Consultant Endodontist, Member of the Scientific Council, Saudi Board of Endodontics, Swedish Board in Endodontics, Fellowship in Endodontic Microsurgery, Jeddah Specialty Dental Centre, Ministry of Health. 2. Dental Intern, Riyadh Elm University, KSA. 3. Dental Intern, Imam Abdulrahman University, KSA. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History Received: 01 April 2020 Final Accepted: 05 May 2020 Published: June 2020
Adaptability of pecan as a species.

Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch] is indigenous to the Mississippi River drainage system of the United States. Climate in the native pecan region ranges from humid to semiarid and from mild to harsh winters. Rainfall is bimodal with peaks in March to April and in August to September. Pecan is site specific and is the climax tree species on loamy, well drained, first bottom river land with a relatively high water table. Detrimental effects from pecan's shade intolerance from its more vigorous, sympatric species are minimized as these species are specific to differsites. Pecan's deep and phreatophytic rooting habit ensures soil moisture during drought periods and facilitates pecan's survival in semiarid regions. Root development in the humus-surface layer ensures nutrient uptake from the most nutrient rich layer of the soil and, when the lower soil profile is saturated, aeration for the roots and water and nutrient uptake. The bimodal rain pattern replenishes soil profile moisture and its timing ensures seed germination, stand establishment, well-developed seed, and minimal drought stress. Natural selection for freeze tolerance and for minimum fruit development time allows survival in areas with harsh winters and short growing seasons. Regulation of seed germination and budbreak by heating and chilling results in pecan being native in cold and warm climates, greatly increasing the native range. The northern limit for pecan is dictated by heat units; the southern limit is restricted by lack of bimodal rains and vivipary. Reproductive stress is caused by the high lipid content of seed, but is counteracted by a long juvenile growth period of the seedling, by a small nut size and low percentage kernel, and by off production years of the tree. Nut and percentage kernel decrease as the growingseason decreases which contributes to species survival in geographical regions with a short growing season. Selection for small nuts with low percentage kernel is enhanced by predators. Tree reserves are depleted by heavy production during on years and are replenished during off years. Perpetuation of pecan forests is apparently from sib/half sib seedlings following predator satiation while dissemination into new areas may be mainly by predators. Pecan and its pests successfully co-exist. Major defense against fruit feeders is escape in time, leaf feeders by biological associations and accommodation, and leaf diseases by confrontation. Heterozygous progenies from cross-pollination provide ample genetic diversity for continuous pecan selection to endure pressures imposed throughout a wide climatic range. Ecological adaptions within native pecan forests should be used in developing and maintaining commercial pecan orchards.
Fingers in action! Chromatin Organization and Transcriptional Regulation by CTCF and CTCFL

markdownabstract__Abstract__ Chromatin is hierarchically folded and wrapped in order to compact DNA. It is accessible to specific proteins to allow regulation of various cellular processes. Although chromatin is organized into higher-order structures it is highly dynamic and it can influence genome configuration and transcription via interactions with various subnuclear compartments. CTCF is the most important factor involved in chromatin structure regulation, in particular the spatial organization of higher-order chromatin configurations. CTCF-like (CTCFL) is a testis specific paralogue of CTCF, whose function has been characterized to a lesser extent. The aim of this thesis is to obtain more insight in the biological roles of CTCF and CTCFL. A general introduction to the field of nuclear organization and transcription regulation is provided in chapter 1. This chapter also provides an overview of the process of spermatogenesis during which both CTCF and CTCFL are thought to perform important functions. Finally this chapter also summarizes already known aspects of CTCF, CTCFL and their functional interaction partners. The role of CTCF and CTCFL in the regulation of ribosomal repeat DNA is the main focus of chapter 2. CTCF and CTCFL interact with the key regulator of RNA polymerase I, UBF. Furthermore, CTCF regulates the spacer promoter by recruiting RNA polymerase I, H2A.Z and UBF to rDNA. In chapter 3 the focus shifts towards the study of CTCF binding motifs and the binding of CTCF zinc fingers to DNA. Using a genome-wide binding analysis on CTCF zinc finger mutants we propose a model for DNA binding by CTCF. Chapter 4 and 5 examine the functional relationship between CTCF and CTCFL extensively in mouse embryonic stem cells and testis by examining genome-wide binding and transcription profiles. Finally, chapter 6 provides a general discussion elaborating on the findings in this thesis. Furthermore, the findings are positioned in perspective with current literature and provide recommendations for further experiments on this topic.
Numerical Analysis of Histogram-based Estimation Techniques for Entropy-based Spectrum Sensing

ABSTRACT Due to its robustness to noise uncertainty, Entropy-Based Spectrum Detection (EnBD) has been proposed to sense primary transmissions in cognitive radio networks. Based on the histogram method, the number of bins must be optimal to accurately estimate the entropy of the samples received. In this work, the performance of the EnBD with respect to several rules for determining the number of bins in the histogram is evaluated. And, it is demonstrated that detection performance is different for each of the aforementioned rules due to the probability distribution of the primary signal.
A Noradrenergic Mechanism Influences the Circadian Timing System in Rats and Hamsters

Brainstem monoaminergic projections to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and to the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), appear to modulate both photic and non-photic effects on the circadian system. Recent work in this laboratory has concentrated on the role of noradrenaline in the regulation of circadian period and phase. Previously, this lab has shown that chronic administration of the alpha2 adrenergic agonist, clonidine, to rats maintained in constant light (LL) shortens free-running circadian period and promotes dissociation of rhythmicity, while acute clonidine administration to hamsters produces phase shifts similar to those observed with photic stimuli. These results suggest an interaction between clonidine and photic input on circadian rhythmicity, and so the present study was designed to examine systematically the relationship between chronic clonidine administration and photic input in both rats and hamsters. In DD and low intensity LL, clonidine did not alter free-running circadian wheel-running rhythms of rats, but under moderate to high intensity LL, clonidine significantly reduced the period-lengthening effects of LL. Chronic clonidine administration also altered several aspects of circadian phase in hamsters; phase shifts in response to light pulses of varying intensity at CT 19 were reduced; steady-state entrainment phase under a 24-h light-dark cycle (LD 14:10)was delayed; and synchronization to a 23-h light-dark cycle (LD 13:10) was impaired. Clonidine appeared to have little effect on free-running period of hamsters, but a trend towards dissociation of rhythmicity under LL was observed. These effects may reflect an action of clonidine at the photic input pathways to the circadian system, or directly at the circadian pacemaker, since alpha 2 adrenoceptors have been localized both in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and in several of its projection areas. As both clinical and experimental studies suggest that clonidine may have depressogenic properties, chronic administration of clonidine to rodents may provide an animal model of the alterations in circadian rhythmicity seen in human depression.
Effect of prebiotic oligosaccharides on growth of Lactobacillus strains used as a probiotic for chickens

In the present study, the effect of 10 commercially available oligosaccharides on the growth of 11 Lactobacillus strains, which were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens and have been used as a multistrain probiotic for chickens, was evaluated in vitro. The utilization of oligosaccharides was highly variable among the 11 Lactobacillus strains and considerable strains differences (P < 0.05) were observed. Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO) supported good growth for all the 11 Lactobacillus strains, followed by galactooligosaccharides (GOS), gentiooligosaccharides (GTO) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Oligosaccharides such as Raftilose L60, Raftilose P95, Raftiline LS, and mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) were poorly utilized by all the Lactobacillus strains. Growth kinetics study also showed variations in the specific growth rates and growth patterns of four representative Lactobacillus species on four selected oligosaccharides. The highest specific growth rate was demonstrated by Lactobacillus salivarius I 24 on FOS. The results showed that the ability of the 11 probiotic Lactobacillus strains to utilize oligosaccharides could be both strain and substrate specific, which demonstrates the importance of selecting suitable prebiotic oligosaccharides for the preparation of synbiotics.
The cortical organization in language tasks of Mandarin and Uyghur speakers

Objective To observe the difference in activated brain regions when speaking Mandarin and Uyghur.Methods Blood oxygenation level dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to scan the brains of 30 healthy,right handed volunteers-15 native Uyghur speakers and 15 native Mandarin speakers-while they performed semantic identification and verb generation tasks.The fMRI data were used to generate statistical parametric maps of the brain areas activated by each task.Results In the semantic identification task the left anterior cingulate gyrus (BA23) and the midline mesophyll wedge were activated significantly more strongly in the Uyghur group compared with the Mandarin speakers.In the verb generation task the left inferior temporal gyrus (BA37),the inferior parietal lobule,the fusiform gyrus and the parahippocampal gyrus in the Uyghur group were all significantly more active.The right superior temporal gyrus (BA38) in the Mandarin group was significantly more active during verb generation than among the Uyghur speakers.Conclusions The brain regions activated during semantic processing and verb generation differ when speaking Uyghur and Mandarin.The cingulate gyrus and the praecuneus are more involved in Uyghur-language semantic processing,especially the left anterior cingulate gyrus.The right hemisphere is more important in Mandarin processing than in Uyghur. Key words: Uyghur; Mandarin; Semantic identification; Verb generation; Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Shelf life of frozen stored mud crab (Scylla serrata) meat

Shelf life of mud crab (Scylla serrata) meat during frozen storage at -20 0 C for 200 days was determined by chemical and sensory evaluation. The results indicated that crab meat can be stored in an acceptable condition for 130 days. During frozen storage, decreases in pH, moisture, total nitrogen and glycogen were noticed. Among the freshness parameters, lactic acid (212.6 to 388.8 mg%), Total volatile base nitrogen, TVBN (2.6 to 32.7 mg%), Trimethylamine nitrogen peroxide value, TMAN (1.01 to 17.55mg%) and Peroxide value, PV (0.84 to 27.93 milli moles of oxygen/kg of fat) increased, whereas nonprotein nitrogen, NPN (417.4 to 356.8 mg%) and alpha amino nitrogen, AAN (292.2 to 251.8 mg%) values decreased. Sensory evaluation of the frozen stored crab meat revealed the limits of acceptability of the product to be TVBN 18.2 mg%, TMAN 7.25 mg% and PV 15.13 millimoles of oxygen per kg fat.
Regulation of α-Cell Function by the β-Cell in Isolated Human and Rat Islets Deprived of Glucose: the “Switch-off” Hypothesis

The “switch-off” hypothesis to explain β-cell regulation of α-cell function during hypoglycemia has not been assessed previously in isolated islets, largely because they characteristically do not respond to glucose deprivation by secreting glucagon. We examined this hypothesis using normal human and Wistar rat islets, as well as islets from streptozotocin (STZ)-administered β-cell-deficient Wistar rats. As expected, islets perifused with glucose and 3-isobutryl-1-methylxanthine did not respond to glucose deprivation by increasing glucagon secretion. However, if normal rat islets were first perifused with 16.7 mmol/l glucose to increase endogenous insulin secretion, followed by discontinuation of the glucose perifusate, a glucagon response to glucose deprivation was observed (peak change within 10 min after switch off = 61 ± 15 pg/ml [mean ± SE], n = 6, P < 0.01). A glucagon response from normal human islets using the same experimental design was also observed. A glucagon response (peak change within 7 min after switch off = 31 ± 1 pg/ml, n = 3, P < 0.01) was observed from β-cell-depleted, STZ-induced diabetic rats whose islets still secreted small amounts of insulin. However, when these islets were first perifused with both exogenous insulin and 16.7 mmol/l glucose, followed by switching off both the insulin and glucose perifusate, a significantly larger ( P < 0.05) glucagon response was observed (peak change within 7 min after switch off = 71 ± 11 pg/ml, n = 4, P < 0.01). This response was not observed if the insulin perifusion was not switched off when the islets were deprived of glucose or when insulin was switched off without glucose deprivation. These data uniquely demonstrate that both normal, isolated islets and islets from STZ-administered rats can respond to glucose deprivation by releasing glucagon if they are first provided with increased endogenous or exogenous insulin. These results fully support the β-cell switch-off hypothesis as a key mechanism for the α-cell response to hypoglycemia.
The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Capitata Part 1

The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Filifera Part 4. - This study reviews all European hydroids belonging to the filiferan family Eudendriidae. Two new species occurring in the northeastern Atlantic are described: Eudendrium capillaroides new spec. and Eudendrium unispirum new spec. Eudendrium vaginatum Allman, 1863, is redescribed. It is characterized by a special type of nematocysts and traits of the perisarc. It is distinct from Eudendrium annulatum Norman, 1864, which is a separate, valid species. Eudendrium fragile Motz- Kossowska, 1905 and Eudendrium islandicum Schuchert, 2000 are both recognized as synonyms of E. album Nutting, 1898. Eudendrium stratum Bonnevie, 1898 and E. planum Bonnevie, 1898 are both recognized as synonyms of E. rameum (Pallas, 1766). Eudendrium insigne Hincks, 1861 is indistinguishable from E. ramosum and newly collected material from the type locality confirmed this. Eudendrium insigne must thus be regarded as a synonym of E. ramosum (Linnaeus, 1758). A re-examination of the type material of Eudendrium elsaeoswaldae Stechow, 1921 revealed that it is conspecific with E. ramosum (Linnaeus, 1758), becoming thus a new synonym of the latter. Perigonimus multicornis Allman, 1876 is indistinguishable from Myrio - nema hargitti (Congdon, 1906) and must be regarded as a senior synonym of the latter. Because it seems likely that the original type locality designation "Kattegat" was incorrect, it should not replace M. hargitti or M. amboinense.
Stoichiometric food quality and herbivore dynamics

Herbivores may grow with nutrient or energy limitation, depending on food abundance and the chemical composition of their food. We present a model that describes herbivore growth as a continuous function of two limiting factors. This function uses the synthesizing unit concept, has the hyperbolic Monod model as a limiting case, and has the same number of parameters as the Monod model coupled to Liebig’s discontinuous minimum rule. We use the model to explore nutrient-limited herbivore growth in a closed system with algae, Daphnia and phosphorus as the limiting nutrient. Phosphorus in algae may substantially influence Daphnia growth. This influence changes over time and is most pronounced when algae and Daphnia populations fluctuate strongly. Relative to classic models that only consider food quantity as a determinant of Daphnia growth, our model shows richer dynamical behaviour. In addition to the standard positive equilibrium, which may be stable or unstable depending on nutrient availability, a new positive equilibrium may arise in our model when mortality rates are relatively high. This equilibrium is unstable and reduces the likelihood of long-term persistence of Daphnia in the system.
Lean Management in IT Organizations: A Ranking-type Delphi Study of Implementation Success Factors

: Lean management (LM) is well established in manufacturing organizations, and LM adoption in service organizations has recently increased. However, we lack research that focuses on the success of lean management implementations in IT organizations (lean IT). This paper contributes to knowledge of the success factors of lean IT implementation and the relative importance of each factor based on the insights of field experts. The experts identified, agreed on, and ranked 12 implementation success factors for lean IT in a Delphi study using the best/worst scaling technique. The most important factors were leadership involvement, change culture and work ethic, employee involvement, and performance management. Factors of intermediate importance were implementation facilitation, training and education, clear vision and direction, long-term focus, communication, and a holistic approach. Least important factors were existing skills, organizational changes/standardization, and financial resources. This paper contributes a more nuanced understanding of the relative importance of lean IT success factors, proposes relationships between them, and comprehensively explains how to use the rigorous best/worst scaling method in a traditional ranking-type Delphi study.