Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term effects of three hypoglycaemic plants ( Irvingia gabonensis , Urena lobata and Carica papaya ) on the oxidative status of normal rabbits

Medicinal plants have been recognized to have therapeutic effects and they may also have toxic side effects. Our previous studies have shown that Irvingia gabonensis, Urena lobata and Carica papaya, locally used in Nigeria to treat diabetes, possess long term hypoglycaemic and anti-obesity effects on normal rabbits. In this study, the long term effects of aqueous extracts of I. gabonensis bark, U. lobata root and C. papaya leaves on the oxidative status of normal rabbits were monitored at specific intervals in the serum for 24 weeks, and in the tissues. Oxidative status was determined by measuring activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Significant (p<0.05) decreases were observed in some weeks in the serum MDA levels; also, liver and pancreatic MDA levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower for all treated rabbits. SOD and catalase activities in the serum and tissue of the rabbits treated with the medicinal plants were generally higher or statistical similar to control. Findings in this study showed that these hypoglycemic medicinal plants did not exert oxidative damage; in some instances, particularly in the pancreas, they were found to be protective against oxidative damage. KEYWORDS: Medicinal plants, Irvingia gabonensis, Urena lobata, Carica papaya, Hypoglycaemic plants, oxidative damage
CORPORATE REPUTATION AND CORPORATE IMAGE INFLUENCE CUSTOMER PURCHASE INTENTIONS AND LOYALTY OF LOWCOST AIRLINES

This research studied on the corporate reputation and corporate image influence the customer purchase intentions and loyalty of low-cost airlines. The samples of this research were 400 low-cost airline users at 4 Upper-Northeast airports by using the stratified random sampling method (probability sampling technique) and convenience sampling method (non-probability sampling technique) and using a questionnaire to collect the data. The reliability of the questionnaire is found out by Cronbach's alpha coefficient method. The reliability of the corporate reputation, the corporate image, the purchase intention and the loyalty were 0.946, 0.940, 0.909 and 0.92. Descriptive Statistics used in the analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and the regression analysis will be used the Inferential Statistics to analyze.The results of the study found that the effect of corporate reputation on the customer purchase intentions of low-cost airline is about 52.20%, which the corporate reputation was a statistically significant in a positive relationship on the purchase intentions with 0.722. The effect of corporate image on the customer purchase intentions of low-cost airline is about 60.70%, which the corporate image was a statistically significant in a positive relationship on the purchase intentions with 0.779. The effect of corporate reputation on the customer loyalty of low-cost airline is about 50.60%, which the corporate reputation was the statistically significant in a positive relationship on the loyalty with 0.711. The effect of corporate image on the customer loyalty of low-cost airline is about 59.90%, which the corporate image was the statistically significant in a positive relationship on loyalty with 0.774. In conclusion, when customers perceive the good corporate image, they will have more loyalty to the airline. The better corporate image the airlines have, the more loyalty the customers will have to the airline. Moreover, when the customers receive news about the corporate reputation, it will bring the purchase intention to the customers to buy and use the airline service even more.
Assessing the effect of sorghum spent grain (pito mash) supplementation on the growth performance and yield of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kummer cultivated on cornstalks

ABSTRACT The viability of cornstalks as a substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kummer cultivation was studied. The effect of sorghum spent grain (pito mash), a nitrogen supplement, on growth performance and yield was also investigated. Three substrate formulae were used, viz., CSS-0 (100% cornstalks + 0% spent grains), CSS-5 (95% cornstalks + 5% spent grains), and CSS-10 (90% cornstalks + 10% spent grains). Most bags achieved complete ramification within 3 weeks after inoculation with spawns. In the second and third weeks, the mycelia growth rate of CSS-5 was significantly higher (Ρ < 0.05) than CSS-0 and CSS-10. CSS-5 also produced the earliest appearance of primordia, and the lowest interval between flushes. Relative substrate nutrient distribution elicited significant differences (Ρ < 0.05) in mushroom yields. The mushroom yields obtained after 6 weeks of harvesting were 118.4, 203.0 and 181.0 g for CSS-0, CSS-5, and CSS-10 respectively. The results of this study indicate that cornstalks are suitable substrates for P. ostreatus cultivation, and 5% sorghum spent grain supplementation is necessary for producing mushrooms with improved yields.
Selective logging intensity in an East African rain forest predicts reductions in ant diversity

As natural forest ecosystems increasingly face pressure from deforestation, it is ever more important to understand the impacts of habitat fragmentation and degradation on biodiversity. Most studies of anthropogenic change in the tropics come from Southeast Asia and South America, and impacts of habitat modification are often taxon‐specific. Here we empirically assessed the impact of habitat fragmentation and recent (within 25 yr) and historic (>25 yr ago) selective logging on the diversity of ants in the Kakamega rain forest in western Kenya, and asked whether these forms of degradation interact as multiple stressors. We found that the severity of recent selective logging was negatively related to overall species richness and abundance as well as the richness and abundance of forest specialists, but found no detrimental effect of past selective logging or habitat fragmentation on ant diversity, although habitat fragment size was correlated with estimated species richness. There was also no effect of any form of habitat degradation on the richness or abundance of open habitat specialists, even though these species often exploit niches created in disturbed environments. Ultimately, this study reveals the detrimental impact of even moderate forms of habitat degradation on insect biodiversity in the understudied African rain forests.
The Role of Semaphorin-Neuropilin-1 Signalling in Pulmonary Vascular Development

Increasing evidence suggests that normal pulmonary vascular morphogenesis is critical for the formation and maintenance of the lung parenchyma, both preand postnatally. Indeed, the disruption of angiogenic pathways, whether through inherent genetic predisposition or as a consequence of life-saving interventions, may underlie many pulmonary diseases of infancy, including alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). To understand the etiology of – and advance treatments for – such diseases, we must first identify the fundamental genetic regulators that orchestrate normal parenchymal development. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane receptor that plays essential roles in normal and pathological vascular development, and binds two distinct ligand families: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Class 3 Semaphorins (SEMA3). Although VEGF-NRP1 interactions in systemic vascular development have been described, the importance of SEMA3-NRP1 signalling in systemic or pulmonary vascular morphogenesis is uncertain. We hypothesized that SEMA3-NRP1 and VEGF-NRP1 interactions are fundamental pathways in the orchestration of pulmonary vascular development in both the embryo and neonate. Disruption of these pathways
A Comprehensive Study on the Effect of Maltitol and Oligofructose as Alternative Sweeteners in Sponge Cakes

Abstract In the present study the possibility of reduced-calorie sponge cake production with maltitol and oligofructose was investigated (control: 100% sucrose; M1: 100% maltitol; M2: 77% maltitol–23% oligofructose; M3: 23% maltitol–57% sucrose–20% oligofructose; M4: 25% maltitol–75% sucrose). The sensory and physical properties of the final product such as volume, specific volume, moisture and water activity, crust color, firmness and overall acceptability were evaluated. Among four samples, M3 (maltitol–sucrose–oligofructose) showed very close results to the control in terms of water activity, firmness and sensory properties and even outmatched it in volume and specific volume. M3 also presented darker crust in comparison with control. According to the results, M2 and M4 were also appropriate in some properties like volume, specific volume, water activity and crust color. M1 showed the weakest physical and sensory attributes. Moisture was not affected by maltitol and oligofructose (p > 0.05).
The role of GABA-ergic interneurons in CA1 and dentate gyrus for sequence learning

•The hippocampus (HPP) is widely accepted as a structure that supports spatial memory. Current interest is focused on temporal processing for sequences of events. It has been demonstrated that HPP lesions disrupt acquisition of a spatial temporal sequence in an 8-arm maze (DeCoteau & Kesner, 2000). •HPP subregions have been indicated to be critical in spatial temporal sequence processing. The CA1 region has been shown to play a critical role in temporal information processing and CA1 principal cell lesions impair acquisition of 8-arm radial maze sequences (Rolls & Kesner, 2006; Weeden et al, 2009). The dentate gyrus (DG) is also an important region in the processing of new spatial information, but granule cell lesion studies indicate that principal cells are not a necessary component in the learning of sequential events (Weeden et al, 2009). •Interneurons exhibit inhibitory control over the excitatory principal cells of HPP (Freund & Buzáki, 1996). Their role in temporal processing for spatial locations has yet to be identified. Electrophysiological recording investigations indicate that CA1 and DG interneurons display differential patterns of activation when engaged in identical tasks, such as novel environment exploration (Nitz & McNaughton, 2004). These divergent patterns suggest unique roles for interneurons of different subregions. Within the HPP, inhibitory interneurons exclusively express Substance P receptors (SPR). SPRs have a high affinity for a peptidase-resistant Substance P analog conjugated to the neurotoxin saporin (SSP-Saporin), which allows for selective neurotoxic lesions of inhibitory interneurons that spare surrounding excitatory principal cells (Martin & Sloviter, 2001). 99.26
Diagnosis of field-aged extruded cable material using the thermally stimulated currents (TSC) method

This paper is an update of preliminary results presented elsewhere. TSC measurements were performed on samples taken from three field-aged cables which had failed after 6 to 14 years in service and one unaged cable. For the sake of comparison, the four 28-kV distribution cables were chosen for their similar manufacturing characteristics. In order to isolate the effect of electrical aging, two lengths of 63-kV cables from the same extrusion were studied: one unaged and one electrically aged in laboratory conditions without the presence of water.
Occurrence of the parasite Prosorhynchus squamatus (Digenea) in mussels Mytilus trossulus from the Gulf of Gdańsk (the southern Baltic Sea)

Abstract Sporocysts with cercariae of Prosorhynchus squamatus Odhner, 1905 (Digenea, Bucephalidae) have been found for the first time in mussels Mytilus trossulus Gould, 1850 from the Gulf of Gdańsk (the southern Baltic Sea). The presented work provides a description and morphometry of larvae of this parasite.
Trophic position and seasonal changes in the diet of the red wood ant Formica aquilonia as indicated by stable isotope analysis

1. Red wood ants are among the most numerous generalist predators and strongly affect the composition of arthropod communities in forest ecosystems. However, their trophic position remains poorly understood. Stable isotope analysis was applied to study the trophic position of Formica aquilonia and reveal seasonal changes in its trophic links with both myrmecophilous aphids and other invertebrates in a mixed forest of western Siberia.
Activation of lateral hypothalamic group III mGluRs suppresses drug-seeking following abstinence and cocaine-associated increases in excitatory drive to orexin/hypocretin cells

The perifornical/lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) orexin (hypocretin) system is involved in drug-seeking behavior elicited by drug-associated stimuli. Cocaine exposure is associated with presynaptic plasticity at LHA orexin cells such that excitatory input to orexin cells is enhanced, both acutely and into withdrawal. These changes may augment orexin cell reactivity to drug-related cues during abstinence and contribute to relapse-like behavior. Studies in hypothalamic slices from drug-naïve animals indicate that agonism of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) reduces presynaptic glutamate release onto orexin cells. Therefore, we examined the group III mGluR system as a potential target to reduce orexin cell excitability in-vivo, and tested whether activating these receptors could normalize orexin cell activity following cocaine and reduce cocaine-seeking elicited by drug-associated stimuli during abstinence. First, we verified that group III mGluRs regulate orexin cell activity in vivo by showing that intra-LHA infusions of the selective agonist L-(+)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) reduces Fos expression in orexin cells following 24h food deprivation. Next, we extended these findings to show that intra-LHA L-AP4 infusions reduced discriminative stimulus-driven cocaine-seeking following withdrawal. L-AP4 had no effect on general motor activity of sucrose self-administration. Finally, using whole-cell patch clamp recordings from identified orexin cells in orexin-GFP transgenic mice, we show that enhanced presynaptic drive to orexin cells persists for up to 14d into withdrawal and that this plasticity is normalized by L-AP4. L-AP4 had no effect on measures of postsynaptic plasticity in cocaine-exposed animals. Together, these data indicate that agonism of LHA group III mGluRs reduces orexin cell activity in-vivo and is an effective strategy to suppress cocaine-seeking behavior following withdrawal. These effects are likely mediated, at least in part, by normalization of presynaptic plasticity at orexin cells that occurs as a result of cocaine exposure.
Optimization of the coating of octyl-CALB with ionic polymers to improve stability and decrease enzyme leakage

Abstract Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) immobilized on octyl-agarose (OC) was submitted to coating with polyethylenimine (PEI) and dextran sulfate (DS). Using lowly loaded enzyme preparations, the properties of OC-CALB preparations hardly improved, suggesting too large the distance between enzyme molecules. However, using OC-CALB preparations with maximum loading, CALB stability was greatly improved in different conditions after PEI coating. Moreover, the CALB release from the OC support in the presence of detergents, or during thermal or organic solvent inactivations was greatly reduced after this treatment (PEI plus DS coating). The results pointed that the main positive effect of this coating could be derived from the physical intermolecular crosslinking of the CALB molecules with the polymers that reduce the enzyme desorption from the support. The coating of OC-CALB-PEI with DS only produced a minimal improvement on enzyme performance. Even though the enzyme release was much more difficult after physical crosslinking, all enzyme molecules could be released from the OC support combining an ionic detergent (SDS), high buffer concentration, pH 3 and 45 °C, while using the OC-CALB just 2% SDS at pH 7 and 25 °C was enough to release all enzyme. The support could be reused several cycles. Thus, this strategy permitted to greatly reduce the enzyme desorption during operation and to improve enzyme stability while keeping the enzyme immobilization reversibility.
The fundamental principles of antibody repertoire architecture revealed by large-scale network analysis

The antibody repertoire is a vast and diverse collection of B-cell receptors and antibodies that confer protection against a plethora of pathogens. The architecture of the antibody repertoire, defined by the network similarity landscape of its sequences, is unknown. Here, we established a novel high-performance computing platform to construct large-scale networks from high-throughput sequencing data (>100’000 unique antibodies), in order to uncover the architecture of antibody repertoires. We identified three fundamental principles of antibody repertoire architecture across B-cell development: reproducibility, robustness and redundancy. Reproducibility of network structure explains clonal expansion and selection. Robustness ensures a functional immune response even under extensive loss of clones (50%). Redundancy in mutational pathways suggests that there is a pre-programmed evolvability in antibody repertoires. Our analysis provides guidelines for a quantitative network analysis of antibody repertoires, which can be applied to other facets of adaptive immunity (e.g., T cell receptors), and may direct the construction of synthetic repertoires for biomedical applications.
TESTICULAR TOXICITY OF DOXORUBICIN IN MALE ALBINO WISTAR RATS AND ITS AMELIORATION WITH QUERCETIN

A total of 48 male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups consisting of 12 in each group. Group 1-Control, Group 2-Doxorubicin treated @ 4mg/kg b.wt intraperitoneally weekly once. Group 3treated with quercetin @ 80mg/kg b.wt, orally daily. Group 4-treated with doxorubicin @ 4 mg/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally weekly once and quercetin @ 80mg/kg b.wt, orally daily. Six rats from each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at fortnight intervals of experimental study and the abdominal cavity was opened through a midline abdominal incision to expose the reproductive organs. The cauda epididymis of one testis was excised to obtain the epididymal contents and semen analysis was done. There was significant increase in abnormal sperm count and significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count in Group 2 animals as compared to other groups. Further sperm count was increased in Group 3 as compared to control Group 1 showing quercetin improves fertility in male animals.
How many genera of vascular plants are endemic to New Caledonia? A critical review based on phylogenetic evidence.

New Caledonia is a biodiversity hotspot located in the south-western Pacific, well known for its rich, unique and endangered flora. The island flora has a high level of endemism not only at the species level (75%), but also at the generic and family (three endemic) levels. We review here the taxonomic validity of the c. 100 endemic New Caledonian genera of vascular plants (13%) by using the monophyly criterion based on the available phylogenetic data. As observed in other island floras, some of these genera were recovered nested in larger genera and are conse-quently likely to lose their rank. After a critical review, we concluded that the New Caledonian plant vascular flora contains between 62 and 91 endemic genera. This large variation in the number of endemic genera is mainly caused by a lack of DNA sequences (eight genera) and limited phylogenetic evidence. This work highlights gaps of knowledge that will have to be addressed to stabilize the taxonomy of the New Caledonian flora. Although this study shows that several genera are not monophyletic, New Caledonia still harbours more endemic genera than any other islands in the Pacific Ocean. Preliminary results indicate that the high level of endemism at higher taxonomic levels could be explained by an accumulation of relictual lineages, rather than adaptive radiations. Hypotheses explaining this phenomenon are provided in this study. Endemics can be either relicts—‘left behind,’ or they can be autochtonous—evolving their dis-tinguishing characteristics, which place them in distinct genera or families, after arrival on islands. The two processes are not always different. Relicts may change after they have become island residents.
Antifungal activity of Cymbopogon citratus against Colletotrichum gloesporioides

The objective of this research was to evaluate in vitro the inhibitory activity of essential oils from fresh leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in yam. The research was conducted in the department of Sucre, Colombia. The essential oils of C. citratus were collected in the municipalities of Sincelejo, La Union and Sampues, in September and October 2015. The essential oil was extract from fresh leaves using the microwave-assisted hydrodistillation. Concentrations of 5000, 8000 and 10 000 ppm of each essential oil were prepared. An absolute control, a positive control (benomyl 1 g/l) and a negative control was used. An inhibitory activity was obtained by using the direct seeding on surface of the potato-dextrose-agar method and it was expressed as percentage of inhibition rate. The chemical characterization of essential oils was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The highest percentages of antifungal index were observed in the lemongrass from Sincelejo at concentrations of 5000, 8000 and 10 000 ppm, after in La Union at 8000 and 10 000 ppm, and finally at Sampues at 10 000 ppm, with a value of 97.77%; the effect was similar to the positive control with benomyl 1 g/l. Citral was the main constituent of the essential oils extracted. The essential oils obtained from the three municipalities showed antifungal activity against C. gloeosporioides.
First general inventory of the terrestrial Heteroptera fauna and its specificity on the oceanic island of Reunion

Summary This first general inventory of Reunion’s terrestrial Heteroptera was built in two steps. First, current knowledge was assessed and 108 species were reported as present in Reunion. Secondly, a morpho-species based identification method allowed the compilation of an overview of the actual diversity of the terrestrial Heteroptera fauna on Reunion including undescribed species and an estimate of the proportion in the different families. Over a period of eight years this method allowed a general approach at a community level over most of the island. Sampling took into account the large diversity of Reunion’s vegetation and unique habitats. The analysis found 144 morpho-species and 15 species, and new identifications of one suborder, one family, two subfamilies, four tribes and 10 genera indicating a minimum of 18 new species. Based on current knowledge and the new identified taxa, a minimum of 126 species in 25 families are present on Reunion. Specifically, Reunion’s terrestrial Heteroptera fauna is characterized by a very large proportion of Anthocoridae and Rhyparochromidae, a large proportion of Alydidae and a small proportion of Pentatomoidea. This article also reports the large number of undescribed species in Reunion, while previous studies led to the description of 11 endemic species of Reduviidae, Aradidae, Cydnidae, Tingidae, Largidae and Anthocoridae. Finally, a voucher collection (i.e. a reference set of morpho-species) has been assembled as stepping stones to a better understanding of the undescribed part of the Reunion’s terrestrial Heteroptera fauna.