Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHANGES IN ISOFLAVONE GLUCOSIDE AND AGLYCONE CONTENTS OF CHICKPEA YOGHURT DURING FERMENTATION BY LACTOBACILLUS BULGARICUS AND STREPTOCOCCUS THERMOPHILUS

Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus fermented chickpea yoghurt with a ratio of 1:1 (v/v) for 6–7 h at 42C. All cultures reached 109 cfu/mL of chickpea yoghurt. After 8 h, pH and titratable acidity ranged from 5.74 to 4.25 and 0.16 to 0.62%, respectively. Daidzein and genistein increased to 39.92 µg/g DW (dried weight of freeze-dried chickpea yoghurt) and 50.34 µg/g DW, respectively, after a 4-h fermentation. The amount of aglycone genistein and daidzein were more than that of glucoside daidzin and genistin. Total content of the aglycone daidzein and genistein was 90.26 µg/g DW at 4 h, which was 5.7 times of the initial fermentation (15.71 µg/g DW). Chickpea yoghurt fermentation hydrolyzed the isoflavone glucosides, and L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus converted isoflavone glucosides to aglycones. L. bulgaricus and S. Thermophilus seemed to be effective starters for chickpea milk with more aglycones and appropriate acidity. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Chickpea is one of the oldest consumed legumes in Xinjiang, and has a significant contribution to human diet treatment. Leguminosea is the plant family most abundant in isoflavones. Furthermore, researchers have credited isoflavones in soybeans for some beneficial health effects. The addition of chickpea to milk-based products could be a good alternative for increasing the intake of chickpea. In the present study, changes in the contents of isoflavone glucosides and aglycones during chickpea yoghurt fermentation were investigated. Lactic acid bacteria were expected to effectively convert isoflavone glucosides to aglycones in chickpea milk.
A high frequency plantlets regeneration protocol for banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) micropropagation.

ananas (Musa spp.), belonging to the family Musaceae, are the perennial monocotyledons fruit crops commonly grown in the tropics. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 98 per cent of world’s banana production was derived from developing countries. In international trade, bananas account for ~22 per cent of world’s fresh fruit production and are ranked second most important fruit crop after citrus (FAO, 2010). India is the largest producer of banana, contributing about 27 per cent of world’s total banana production. For commercialization, it is important that good quality bananas are produced consistently. Because of high degree of sterility and polyploidy of the edible varieties of banana (Stover and Simmonds, 1987), classical breeding is difficult. In order to augment conventional breeding and to avoid constraints imposed by some pests and pathogens, transgenic and in vitro approaches of breeding are being Members of the Research Forum
Diagnóstico de resistência anti-helmíntica em bovinos

The anthelmintic resistance in cattle has become a global problem, and in Brazil it has been reported in some states. Due to the need for more accurate methods of diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance the purpose this work was to evaluate two techniques (McMaster and Flotac) and two mathematical formulas (FECRT1 according to the average EPG and FECRT2 according to the total number of eggs counted) to calculate the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) in the diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance in cattle. The anthelmintic tested were ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), moxidectin (0.2 mg/kg), albendazole sulfoxide (2.5 mg/kg) and levamisole phosphate (4.7 mg/kg), administered at the dose recommended by the manufacturer. Ten farms were assessed, four visits in each pre-treatment (D -2), processing (D 0), 10 days post-treatment (D 10) and 28 days post-treatment (D 28). In all of the properties was observed resistance to one or more anthelmintics tested, regardless of the technique (McMaster or Flotac) or FECRT the mathematical formula (1 and 2). The genera/species found with resistance to one or more anthelmintics were Haemonchus placei, Cooperia spp. , Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum. In conclusion, the anthelmintic resistance is present in all herds evaluated. The Flotac technical and mathematical formula FECR2 were more accurate than the McMaster technique and formula FECR1. Need is greater awareness of the producers on the use of anthelmintics. Therefore, in future studies on anthelmintic resistance in cattle, use of the method of diagnosis with higher accuracy, it is recommended, as is the case FLOTAC method. In interpreting the results, our study indicates that the calculation by formula FECR2 %, which eliminates the use of a control group, should be recommended.
Swertia chirayita- an overview

Swertia chirayita is a medicinal plant indigenous to temperate Himalaya. Its medicinal usage is reported in Indian pharmaceutical codex, the British and the American pharmacopoeias and in different traditional systems of medicines such as the Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. The plant is used as a bitter tonic in treatment of fever and for curing various skin diseases. S. chirayita has an established domestic (Indian) and international market, which is increasing at a rate of 10% annually. The plant available in the market many a times is adulterated and substituted by close relatives of chirata. This article briefly reviews the botany, pharmacology, biochemistry, market demand and trade of the plant. This is an attempt to compile and document information on different aspects of S. chirayita and highlight the need for research and development.
Genetic evaluation of claw health in Denmark, Finland and Sweden

A Claw Health Index (CHI) was developed and included in the Nordic Total Merit Index (NTM). The index combined information from a multiple trait evaluation that contained 7 claw trimming traits in each of the first 3 lactations. Genetic parameters for the 21 traits were estimated for Holstein and Red Dairy Cattle (RDC). Heritabilities ranged from 0.01 to 0.07 for both breeds. Correlations between CHI and fitness indices and NTM were all favourable for selection.
Assessment of long-term glycemic control and its correlation with psychological variables in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an urban community setting -

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and their families may respond to the diagnosis, treatment, or complications of the disease with a variety of feelings, such as guilt anxiety depression or stress. The presence of diabetes changes oneâ€™s life and creates demand of treatment. Not only emotions directly affect glycemia; emotional stress may disrupt the individualâ€™s eating habits, exercise programs, and daily routine, thereby altering daily diabetes management and impairing glycemic control. Existing literature suggests that depression may be more strongly related with glycemic control. Frustration to achieve good glycemic control could lead to depression. In addition, diabetes often serves as a focus for other problems and conflicts in life; in turn, diabetes may be influenced by these life stresses. Objectives: To assess long-term glycemic control (past three months) by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 DM patients in an urban community setting. To study association between psychological variables (anxiety, depression, and stress) and HbA1c. Materials and Methods: It is a community-based cross-sectional study. 183 study subjects selected from urban community who were already diagnosed of type 2 DM with active treatment for more than 6 months. Stress, depression, and anxiety were the psychological factors evaluated individually in each study subjects using standard questionnaire. HbA1c was done by standardized high pressure liquid chromatography technique. Results: Out of 183 study subjects, 140 (i.e., 76.5%) subjects have fair glycemic control and 40 (23.5%) have poor glycemic control. 140 subjects (76.5%) have an anxiety scale reading of
Age, growth and stock assessment of the Indian oilsardine Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes 1847 off Mahout coast, Sultanate of Oman

A study on the age, growth and stock assessment of the Indian oilsardine Sardinella longiceps was conducted between September 2007 and September 2009 from Mahout along the Arabian Sea coast of Oman. The size of the fish in commercial catches varied from 161 mm to 228 mm total length (TL). The length-weight relationship for both males and females can be expressed as W = 0.00005*L2.914659. The estimated growth parameters L∞, K and t0 were 230 cm, 1.33 y-1 and -0.09 y respectively and most of the fish caught were in 1+ year of age. The annual total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) rates were 3.661, 2.21 and 1.451 respectively. The exploitation rate (E) was 0.396. The estimated standing stock was 1,473 t and the annual stock stood at 7,311 t. The MSY estimated by Thompson and Bell analysis was equal to 5,552 t. The study indicates scope for additional catches of Indian oilsardine from the Mahout coast.
Tardigrades of Fish Creek Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada: A Preliminary Survey

Tardigrades are cosmopolitan animals with a patchy distribution record, largely due to the limited collection history for this phylum rather than actual rarity. Most Canadian records are from near coastal areas, with a few notable exceptions, most recently one study of tardigrades in central Alberta. The present study reports the occurrence of 12 species or species groups in Fish Creek Provincial Park in southern Alberta. Eight of these taxa are new records for Alberta, and two ( Diphascon (Diphascon) granifer and Echiniscus granulatus ) are new records for Canada.
Role of Serodiagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness, is caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which is a chronic form of the disease present in western and central Africa and by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is an acute disease located in eastern and southern Africa. Objective: To evaluate the microscopical, serological (CATT; CIATT) and PCR. Methods: A population of 200 serum samples from 3 displaced health centres around Khartoum state was examined usig different techniques blood films, CATT, CIATT test and PCR on whole blood and similar analysis in their cross reactivity which resulted in the detection of the false positive cases of sleeping sickness from patients with malaria, leishmaniasis, Filarial (W. bancrofite) and negative cases show in Toxoplasma gondii and hydatid disease from non-endemic areas of sleeping sickness. Results: Showed that from 200 serum samples there were 121 male and 79 female detected (17.35% and 24.05%, respectively) and by CIATT detected 7.0% and 6.0%, the result show more positive cases by CATT than CIATT in displaced people in Khartoum state. However parasitological examination did not show the present of the parasites. But in PCR test from 37 blood samples there were 4 cases positive, 10.8%. Conclusion: By serological analysis the CATT shows more positive cases than CIATT and can be used interchangeably with the old format of the CATT test. It is highly suitable for use in peripheral health facilities in HAT-endemic countries.
Agriculture in urban planning : generating livelihoods and food security

Foreword. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Household Food Security Among Urban Farmers in Nairobi, Kenya. 2. Urban Compost: A Socio-Economic and Agronomic Evaluation in Kumasi, Ghana. 3. Urban Agriculture as a Livelihood Strategy in Lima, Peru. 4. The Social and Economic Implications of Urban Agriculture on Food Security in Harare, Zimbabwe. 5. Urban Agriculture and Food Security in Lilonwe and Blantyre, Malawi. 6. An Analysis of the Quality of Wastewater Used to Irrigate Vegetables in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, Ghana. 7. Water Contamination and its Impact on Vegetable Production in the Rimac River, Peru. 8. Wastewater Use and Urban Agriculture in Kinhasa, DR Congo. 9. The Health Impacts of Farming on Producers in Rosartio, Argentina. 10. Using Participatory Education and Action Research for Health Risk Reduction amongst Farmers in Dakar, Senegal. 11. Complex Ecologies and City Spaces: Social-ecological Networks of Urban Agriculture. 12. Urban Agriculture and Physical Planning: A Case Study of Zaria, Nigeria. 13. Conclusion. Index.
Root Growth of Quercus Crassifolia, Q. Crassipes, and Fraxinus Uhdei in 2 Different Soil Types

Seedlings of selected tree species were grown in small benchtop rhizotrons filled with fine- and coarsetextured soils representing 2 different urban edaphic conditions in Mexico City. Bulk density was significantly higher and porosity was significantly lower in the coarse-textured soil. The maximum depth of root penetration visible behind the glass was significantly greater in the fine-textured soil for each of the 3 species after 5 months. Roots of Fraxinus uhdei penetrated deeper than roots of both Quercus crassipes and Q. crassifolia in both soils. Fraxinus uhdei root and shoot dry weight were significantly reduced in coarsetextured soil compared to the fine-textured soil, but both Quercus species were unaffected by soil type. In the finetextured soil, F. uhdei root and shoot dry weight was significantly greater than both Quercus species, but not in the coarse-textured soil. At the end of the study, F. uhdei growing in fine-textured soil were taller than F. uhdei growing in coarse-textured soil and taller than both Quercus species in both soils, though the difference took 6 weeks longer to develop in the coarse-textured soil.
Prevalence and intensity of endoparasites in small ruminants kept by farmers in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya.

The keeping of small ruminants is a common practice in most urban and peri-urban areas in Africa, despite its illegality. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of endoparasites in sheep and goats kept by farmers in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya. Faecal samples were collected from 66 sheep and 60 goats, from different areas in the municipality. The helminth and coccidia species were identified and the level of infection compared between age, sex, body condition and area of origin. The prevalence of various types of parasites in sheep and goats were respectively: strongyles 80%, 90%; Strongyloides spp 5%, 13%; Trichuris spp 0%, 2%; Fasciola spp 37%, 36%; Paramphistomum spp 30%, 12%; Moniezia spp 21%, 16%; Coccidia 35%, 48%; Entamoeba spp 87%, 77%; Balantidium coli 2%, 3%; and Giardia spp 10%, 10%. Majority of animals excreted either 2 or 3 parasite types, while only a few sheep had 4 different parasite types. A relatively higher number of animals had heavy infections with strongyles (mean EPGs of 1253 and 1108 in sheep and goats, respectively), while for other helminths and coccidia most animals had light infections. Although the adults had higher levels of infections with trematodes, young animals had higher infections of the other types of parasites. Apart from trematodes and coccidia, male animals had higher prevalence and intensity of the other parasites. Sheep with poor body condition were significantly associated with higher mean EPGs of strongyles while in goats it was Moniezia spp. The association between the prevalence and intensity of the parasites and the independent factors are discussed. The occurrence of parasites with zoonotic significance (Fasciola spp, Entamoeba spp, Balantidium coli, and Giardia spp) is also discussed in the light of livestock farming in urban areas. Key word: Goats, Kisumu, parasites, sheep, urban and peri-urban farming, zoonoses
Vero-Toxigenic Escherichia Coli (VTEC): To Sum up all we know

Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli renamed after detection of production ability of cytotoxin which kills Vero cells, a continuous cell line derived from the kidney of the African green monkey (Chlorocebus sp). These toxins are proved to cause severe diseases in humans. As an emerging food borne pathogen group, VTEC infection may lead to life threatening haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).
The RNA Decapping Machinery is a Conserved Anti-Bunyaviral Restriction Factor

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are an important class of emerging pathogens that cause mortality and morbidity worldwide. As obligate intracellular parasites with limited coding capacity, viruses must hijack host factors to replicate while evading host detection. To date, no specific therapeutic interventions exist for arboviruses and most lack FDA approved vaccines. This is in part due to a lack of understanding of viral-host interactions. To identify host factors that impact infection, we performed a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila and identified 131 genes that affected infection of the mosquito-transmitted bunyavirus Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV). Dcp2, the catalytic component of the mRNA decapping machinery, and two decapping activators, DDX6 and LSM7, were antiviral against disparate bunyaviruses in both insect cells and adult flies. Bunyaviruses 5' cap their mRNAs by `cap-snatching' the 5' ends of poorly defined host mRNAs. We found that RVFV cap-snatches the 5' ends of Dcp2 targeted mRNAs, including cell cycle related genes. Loss of Dcp2 allows increased viral transcription, while ectopic expression of Dcp2 impedes transcription. Furthermore, arresting cells in late S/early G2 led to increased Dcp2 mRNA targets and increased RVFV replication. Therefore, RVFV competes for the Dcp2-accessible mRNA pool, which is dynamically regulated and can present a bottleneck for viral replication. I extended these studies to mammalian cells and I found that the two known human decapping enzymes, DCP2 and NUDT16, restrict RVFV replication. Since depletion of either gene impacted replication, this suggests that DCP2 and NUDT16 are non-redundant. In human cells, I found that RVFV predominately capsnatches from mRNAs associated with translation, and the stability of these mRNAs is regulated by decapping; furthermore, instability of these mRNAs is triggered by RVFV infection. I hypothesize that translationally-associated genes, including ribosomal protein mRNAs, are selectively degraded during this response to limit translation to prevent viral replication. These data suggest that a particular functional class of mRNAs (translation-associated) can be coordinately regulated at the level of mRNA stability by decapping, and that this may be used as a mechanism by cells to selectively regulate gene expression. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Immunology First Advisor Sara Cherry
Analysis of the microbiome and host-transcriptome in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

Skin is the primary interface to the external environment, protecting us from harmful compounds and infection. Over many millennia, coevolution has culminated in a mutualistic relationship between ourselves and a specialised, yet diverse resident community of microorganisms. This microbiota is thought to exist in a delicate balance to maintain homeostatic equilibrium, and plays a role in the shaping of our immune system. Skin diseases are some of the most common human disorders and present a considerable economic burden. There is now growing appreciation of the role the cutaneous microbiome plays in disease, and how host-microbe interplay is associated with disorders of the immune system. The cutaneous microbiota as well as the host transcriptome and the interactions between them is the focus of this thesis. Computational methods were used to examine the microbiota and transcriptomes of a large cohort of matched samples from healthy volunteers and patients with Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Psoriasis (PSO). The community composition of inflamed and healthy skin was assessed and the specific species which are over-represented on diseased skin were identified. In parallel, the host gene expression was profiled to identify common and disease specific transcriptional signatures revealing clinically relevant pathways. Next, using schemes of dimensionality reduction and computational methods, the associations between microbes, disease severity and host transcription was interrogated. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated an impressive relationship with AD associated gene signatures, whereas host-microbe associations in PSO were inconclusive. Using Weighted Gene Co-expression Networks Analysis (WGCNA), gene-gene interaction networks were reconstructed and differentially connected modules between healthy and inflammatory states were identified. Modules encoding processes for the epidermal barrier, extracellular matrix, non-coding RNA metabolism and immune system processes were all associated with
Nutritional value of rapeseed expeller cake for broilers: effect of dry extrusion

The effect of extrusion, applied in the production of cold-pressed rapeseed cake on its nutritional value for broilers was evaluated. Two experiments were performed on 55 female broiler chickens, kept individually and allocated to 2 groups of 14 birds (growth trial) or to 3 groups of 9 chickens (digestibility trial). Rapeseed cakes pressed once (RC) or extruded and pressed again (RCE) were mixed in a 6:4 proportion with a basal diet and used in a balance trial with 3-week-old chickens. Furthermore, they were included into wheat-soyabean meal diets at a level of 100 or 150 g/kg and fed during 1-3 and 4-6 weeks of age, respectively, in a growth trial. Due to extrusion and additional pressing, the amount of crude fat decreased from17.4% in RC to 10% in REC, fat digestibility increased from 83 to 91% (P<0.01), protein digestibility decreased from 79 to 76% (P<0.01), and the metabolizable energy value decreased from 13.8 to 11.4 MJ/kg DM (P<0.01). Broilers ate more of the REC diet compared with the RC diet and their final body weight gain was higher (2.61 vs 2.39 kg; P<0.05). This, as well as a lower relative mass of the liver (P<0.05) and kidneys (P<0.01) and a slightly lower mass of thyroids, indicates that extrusion resulted in partial inactivation of the antinutritional factors present in rape seeds.