Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of complex bacteriological and serological analysis in patients with spondyloarthritis

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of associated chronic systemic inflammatory immune-mediated rheumatic diseases affecting axial and peripheral joints and entheses. The aim of the present study was to identify what parameters are useful to determine in order to better understand the correlation between the disease activity/severity and the microbiological results/immune status against intestinal and/or urogenital pathogens. Microorganisms known to trigger SpA, including Klebsiella spp. , Yersinia spp. , Salmonella spp. , Campylobacter spp. and Chlamydia spp. , were analyzed in various specimens (stool, urine, synovial fluid and serum) collected from 27 randomly selected SpA patients and 26 healthy controls using a combined direct and indirect approach relying on conventional culture technique and nucleic acid-based assays together with serological testing by ELISA. Although Escherichia coli derived from phylogroup A prevailed in the gut microflora of the patients and controls, differences were observed regarding the representatives of the other phylogroups with a higher prevalence of E.coli members of phylogenetic group B1 in the stool specimens of patients. Antibodies against the targeted species were detected in SpA patients and controls, and the serological profiles of the former were more diverse and complex. In conclusion, the detection of anti-bacterial antibodies combined with other specific laboratory investigations should be more extensively used to monitor SpA patients in association with their symptoms and in order to determine and administer more effective therapeutics.
Population Irruptions of Northern Bobwhite: Testing an Age-Specific Reproduction Hypothesis

Abstract Age-specific reproduction has been suggested for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and has been hypothesized as a factor contributing to population irruptions. However, little research has been conducted on the subject. We conducted a laboratory and field study to determine if age-specific reproduction occurred in northern bobwhites. Our objectives were to compare 7 reproductive measures (% F nesting, date of first incubated nest, egg-laying rate, nesting rate, clutch size, egg mass, and egg hatchability) between first- and second-year breeders and determine if differential reproduction was impacted by diet quality. The laboratory study consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with age and diet quality (low protein [12%] and high protein [24%]) as the factors. Data for the field study represented a 6-year data set of bobwhite reproduction (May–Sep 2000–2005) obtained from an ongoing radiotelemetry study in southern Texas, USA. We documented similar productivity (i.e., % F laying, egg-laying rate, and egg mass) and timing of laying (i.e., date of first egg) between juvenile (n = 33) and adult bobwhites (n = 27) in our laboratory study. However, females on the high-protein diet exhibited a greater egg-laying rate than females on the low-protein diet. Under field conditions, we also documented no difference in productivity (% F nesting, nesting rate, clutch size, egg hatchability) and timing of nesting (date of first incubated nest) between age classes (n = 59 juv and 32 ad). Our findings do not support early suppositions of age-specific reproduction in quail. Quail irruptions should not be influenced by population age structure as it relates to age-specific reproduction.
A polyphasic method for the identification of aflatoxigenic 'Aspergillus' species isolated from Camel feeds

The main goal of our study was to identify Aspergillius spp. isolates by polyphasic taxonomic techniques. Differential culture media, biochemical and molecular characterization were applied to 21 isolates of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger from Saudi Arabia camel feeds. Six aflatoxin producing culture media were used for characterizing and identifying aflatoxigenic isolates. The blue fluorescent ring visible under UV light which indicates the ability to produce aflatoxin, by aflatoxinogenic strains was not observed for any of the tested non aflatoxigenic isolates. Biochemical characterization involving the screening of the isolates for five aflatoxins was also performed. As found, most isolates were capable of producing detectable levels of both B and G type's aflatoxins (AFs) and maltoryzine, although 4 of the 7 A. niger isolates failed to produce any detectable amount of AFs. PCR was performed using one set of primers that specifically targets the aflatoxin regulatory gene (aflR) involved in aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway as well as four specific primers for A. flavus and A. niger. The presence of the aflR gene did not correlate with aflatoxigenicity. Most of the fungi belonging to A. flavus group reacted positively with aflR primers that cover the region from 540 to 1338 of aflatoxin regulatory gene with product size of 798 base pairs (bp). All A. flavus isolates had positive PCR results using the primer pair FLA1-FLA. A unique DNA fragment of the expected 500-bp size was amplified in all A. flavus isolates, while no PCR products were visualized in other Aspergillus species or members belong to other fungal genera. Using the primer pairs OMt1R-OMt1F, a single fragment of about 1232 bp A. niger isolates was amplified but did not amplify with DNA extracted from other Aspergillus species or species belonging to other fungal genera. Detection and quantification of these two important aflatoxin-producing Aspergilli could provide important information to predict the aflatoxin profiles which may be present in the feed matrix.
Designing Ruthenium Anticancer Drugs: What Have We Learnt from the Key Drug Candidates?

After nearly 20 years of research on the use of ruthenium in the fight against cancer, only two Ru(III) coordination complexes have advanced to clinical trials. During this time, the field has produced excellent candidate drugs with outstanding in vivo and in vitro activity; however, we have yet to find a ruthenium complex that would be a viable alternative to platinum drugs currently used in the clinic. We aimed to explore what we have learned from the most prominent complexes in the area, and to challenge new concepts in chemical design. Particularly relevant are studies involving NKP1339, NAMI-A, RM175, and RAPTA-C, which have paved the way for current research. We explored the development of the ruthenium anticancer field considering that the mechanism of action of complexes no longer focuses solely on DNA interactions, but explores a diverse range of cellular targets involving multiple chemical strategies.
Sexual Dimorphism in a Colubrid Snake, Dinodon semicarinatum (Reptilia: Squamata), from Okinawajima Island of the Central Ryukyus, Japan

ABSTRACT Sexual dimorphism was examined in a population of the colubrid snake, Dinodon semicarinatum, from the northern part of Okinawajima Island. This snake exhibited a prominent male-larger sexual size dimorphism (SSD), and this was considered to have resulted from male-male combat for mating opportunity. The size of the head relative to snout-vent length was significantly larger in females than in males, suggesting that segregation for differential food items between sexes, often considered the major cause of SSD in snakes, does not account for the distinct SSD in D. semicarinatum. Patterns and causes of sexual dimorphism in other characters are also presented and discussed.
Determinants of survival in gastric cancer: A single center experience

Aim: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The effect of lymph node dissection and the extent of gastric resection on survival remains controversial, while improved survival has been reported with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this study, we aimed to present a single center experience. Material and Methods: Patients undergoing gastric resection due to gastric cancer were retrospectively assessed in order to examine the determinants of survival in gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric malignancies other than adenocarcinoma were excluded from the study. Result of preoperative diagnostic work up, operative data, histopathology of the surgical specimen, and postoperative follow up parameters were evaluated and recorded. Results: Among a total of 139 patients operated due to gastric malignancy between January 2008 and January 2014 in our unit, 124 were diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma. The median duration of follow up was 6 months, during which 53 patients (42.7%) were found to have disease recurrence (10 local, and 43 systemic). A higher T stage was associated with shorter survival (p<0.0001), as was the N stage (p<0.0001). Parameters that emerged as having a statistical significance (p<0.05) in the univariate analysis, i.e. gender, tumor size, T stage, N stage, differentiation, and surgical margin status, were subjected to a multivariate analysis, where T stage, N stage, and proximal/distal surgical margin status maintained their significant association with the survival. Conclusion: Several factors such as tumor stage, tumor diameter, histological type, and number of metastases emerged as having significant prognostic importance in patients with gastric cancer.
Feeding activities of zooplankton in the Bohai Sea

The Bohai Sea was the site of the Chinese national GLOBEC programme. During the June 1997 cruises of R/V Science No.1, observations and experiments on zooplankton feeding were conducted. At five 48 h time-series stations the following observations and measurements on zooplankton were carried out: (1) diurnal vertical migration, by collecting samples at different layers every 3 h with a closing net; (2) diurnal feeding rhythms, by gut pigment analysis; and (3) ingestion rate, by both gut pigment analysis and the dilution method. A classification by body size was used to deal with the diversity of species and developmental stages of zooplankton assemblages. Samples were separated into three size groups: small (200-500 mu m), medium (500-1000 mu m) and large (> 1000 mu m). The results showed that the copepods (Calanus sinicus, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia bifilosa and Centropages mcmurrichi) performed clear diurnal vertical migrations. However, their behaviour was different at different stations. The variation in gut pigment content over the 24 h cycle showed strong diurnal feeding rhythms, particularly for the large size group. Gut pigment contents reached their daily maximum during the time from dusk to midnight (18:00-24:00). The peak value was about 10 times the minimum observed in the daytime. The in situ daily grazing rate, based on gut pigment contents and evacuation experiments, was 4.00-12.65 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the small size group, 5.99-66.58 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the medium size group and 31.31-237.13 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the large size group. The copepods consumed only a small part (2.90-13.52%) of the phytoplankton biomass hut about 77% of the daily production. The grazing mortality rate of phytoplankton by microzooplankton (<200 mu m) measured by the dilution method ranged from 0.43 to 0.69 day(-1) The calculated daily consumption of phytoplankton biomass was 35-50%, and 85-319% of the potential production.
Calcium carbonate precipitation by different bacterial strains

Bacteria are capable of performing metabolic activities which thereby promote precipitation of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite. In this study, it is shown that microbial mineral precipitation was a result of metabolic activities of some specific microorganisms. Concrete microorganisms were used to improve the overall behavior of concrete. It was predicted that bacterial calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) precipitation occurs as a byproduct of common metabolic processes such as urea hydrolysis. In this study, ureolytic bacteria that were capable of precipitating calcium carbonate were isolated and further their urease activity was tested based on the production of urease. Scanning electron microscopy (SED) analysis revealed the direct involvement of these isolates in calcium carbonate precipitation. The production of calcite was further confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis.
An application of the integrative method for extending part lactation milk record in Mediterranean Italian buffalo reared in Caserta province

Abstract This study was performed on 21,622 lactation of Mediterranean Italian dairy buffalo recorded by AIA with ICAR standard from 1992 to 1996 in Caserta province. The extending of lactation was performed using integrative methods (Pilla et al., 1979), taking into account the effect of lactation number per day, calving order and month of calving. The results showed that the obtained coefficient was able to extending the lactation at 270 days with good approximation also beginning from a part –lactation of 90 days. In this case, the correlation coefficient between real and estimate milk yield varied from 0.91 to 0.93 in the considered groups. Moreover, the percentage of difference between real and estimated average milk yield is not over 5%.
Parasites of the Red Jollytail, Brachygalaxias bullocki (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae), from the Maullín River, Patagonia, Chile

Abstract Brachygalaxias bullocki (Regan, 1908) is a fish species endemic to Chile, and its distribution is restricted from Concepción to Chiloé Island. A survey conducted during January 2007, involving 26 fish from the Maullín River in Southern Chile, shows that infracommunities richness ranged from 0 to 5 with a mean species richness of 2.3 (SD = 1.3). Nine species of parasites were recorded, and 8 constitute new records of parasites for B. bullocki: Ichthyophthirius sp. , Trichodina sp. , Epistylididae, Myxobolus sp. , Myxidium sp. , Tylodelphys sp. , Stephanoprora uruguayense, and Diplodon chilensis.
Association Between Habitat Characteristics, Human Activities, and Anuran Species in a Wetland Agricultural Landscape

Abstract I conducted anuran vocalization surveys in cranberry bogs, drainage ditches, and reservoirs of three active and three abandoned cranberry farms in the New Jersey Pinelands to examine the distribution of four anuran species in three consecutive years. I then applied a multinomial model to quantify their calling intensity and assess the influence of cranberry cultivation activities on each anuran species. I discovered that four species naturally inhabiting the Pinelands exhibited varied responses to cranberry cultivation. The responses ranged from positive to negative depending on the life history characteristics, disturbance tolerance, and especially the breeding season of the species in question. Green frogs (Lithobates (=Rana) clamitans) showed a high abundance in the bog habitats of active farms, where they exhibited prolonged courtship calls in late summer. Fowler's Toads (Anaxyrus (=Bufo) fowleri) exhibited high abundance in the ditches of active farms and the reservoirs of abandoned farms. On the other hand, Southern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus) and Carpenter Frogs (Lithobates virgatipes) showed a reduced occurrence and calling intensity in active farms, probably because of the intensive water management that coincides with their breeding or wintering season, respectively. My findings indicate that wetlands in agricultural settings with diverse habitats can potentially be used as breeding habitats by anurans, but only if agricultural activities do not interfere with the anuran's breeding and wintering patterns.
Flattening of the Wage Phillips Curve and Downward Nominal Wage Rigidity: The Japanese Experience in the 2010s

In this paper, we examine from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective the validity of the hypothesis that downward nominal wage rigidity (DNWR) induced upward rigidity in wage setting, thereby contributing to the flattening of the wage Phillips curve. We focus in particular on Japanese regular workers, those workers who are characteristically employed on long-term contracts. Our theoretical study, which incorporates long-term employment contracts, indicates that DNWR induces upward wage rigidity through the following two channels: first, due to the lack of sufficient downward wage adjustments during economic downturns, firms may become reluctant to increase wages in economic recovery phases; second, firms contain wage increases even in economic expansion phases as they take into account the risk of pay cuts in the future. The strength of the latter channel largely depends on expected economic growth and its uncertainty. As a result, the wage Phillips curve becomes flatter than would be the case without DNWR. In line with the theoretical result, our empirical study using the panel data of Japanese regular workers reveals that the slower growth of monthly earnings, which excludes bonuses but includes overtime pay, for workers who display a strong degree of DNWR pushed down the growth of monthly earnings at the aggregate level by 0.4 percentage points per year (a range of 0.2 to 0.6 percentage points, given uncertainty regarding the identification of DNWR) between 2010-17. In particular, the channel arising from future pay cut risks became relatively stronger in the late 2010s, when labor market conditions became markedly tighter. JEL Classification: E24; E31; J30
Phenotypic Characterization and Comparative Study on ESBL-producing E. coli of Clinical Origin

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) continue to be a major challenge in clinical setups worldwide, conferring resistance to the expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. The present study focused on the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli clinical isolates among patients diagnosed of Wound and Urinary Tract Infections attending Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. A total of one hundred and ninety two clinical isolates of E. coli was studied for their susceptibility patterns to cephalosporin antibiotics and detection of ESBL producers was carried out by double disc synergy test (DDST) and Brilliance ESBL Agar. Of the 192 isolates tested for their antibiogram, 19(9.9%), 41(21.4%), 132(68.7%); 48(25.0%) and 144(75.0%) isolates were from wound, high virginal swab, urine, male and female respectively. The isolates showed higher susceptibility to cefepime (a 4th-generation cephalosporin) with percentage susceptibility of 78.9, 85.4 and 73.5 to the isolates from wound, HVS and urine respectively. Higher resistance was recorded among the 3rd-generation cephalosporins which include Cefotaxime (63.4%), Ceftriaxone (57.9%), and Cefpodoxime (73.7%). Among the resistant isolates of E. coli, 20 isolates were phenotypically confirmed ESBL producers by the DDST and Brilliance ESBL Agar methods. Ten (10) ESBL producing E. coli was confirmed using DDST method whereas 15 ESBL producing E. coli was confirmed using the Brilliance ESBL Agar. Brilliance ESBL Agar was found to be better than DDST in the detection of ESBLs. Continuous monitoring of drug resistance and regulating the use of cephalosporin drugs in our hospitals is vital for proper infectious disease management and treatment.
Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Suidae (Mammalia) in Indonesia

Fossil and extant suids from Indonesia, ranging in age from Pliocene? to Recent, are revised. All material is ascribed to the genus Sus, except two species found on Sulawesi (Celebes) which belong to Babyrousa and Celebochoerus, respectively. From the ten Recent species and subspecies recognised, one from the Island of Flores - Sus heureni - is described as new. The Recent species are compared with the fossil ones on the basis of the same morphological characters. As a result uniformity is achieved in the classification of the extant and fossil suids. Based on this classification, the phylogeny, evolution and biostratigraphy of the various Javanese species of the genus Sus are discussed.
Survival of undesirable micro-organisms in fruit yoghurts during storage at different temperatures

The survival of undesirable micro-organismsYersinia enterocolitica,Escherichia coli,Rhodotorula mucilaginosa,Kluyveromyces marxianusin fruit yoghurts after inoculation at two different levels (102–103cfu/ml and 104–106cfu/ml) was investigated during storage at 4 and 8°C. When stored at 4°C, the survival ofY. enterocoliticawas not significant (3 days) except when the size of the initial inoculum was larger than 105cfu/ml: in this case, viable cells of the pathogen were still recovered after 17 days of storage. Cells ofE. coliwere detected in the yoghurt samples after 24–48 days at 4°C, regardless of the inoculum size. The growth of yeasts easily occurred at 4°C;R. mucilaginosashowed an increase of 10–100 fold andK. marxianus) was able to grow from 102to 105–106cfu/ml during the 30 days of storage. Similar trends were noted with 8°C storage. The survival of both contaminants was longer than 8–10 days and yeasts were able to grow remarkably well, with microbial values of 106cfu/mlR. mucilaginosaand 108cfu/ml (K. marxianusin the case of the large inoculum. Throughout the whole experiment, the counts for lactic streptococci were around 108–109cfu/ml whereas lactobacilli levels were 106cfu/ml, and viability declined after 15 days of storage. The competitionin vitrobetween bothLactobacillusandStreptococcusstrains isolated from yoghurt andE. coliwas also investigated. WithLactobacillus, the inhibition ofE. coliwas very effective; no viableE. colicells were detected after 24 h incubation. TheStreptococcusstrain was also able to inhibitE. colibut not so rapidly; slight growth ofE. coliwas observed during the first 3 h, followed by a marked decrease in the number of cells.
Observations on the food value of seven species of Algae to the larvae of Ostrea Edulis I. Feeding experiments

Six species of algae, Chlorella marina Butcher, Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher, Isochrysis galbana Parke, Monochrysis lutheri Droop, Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin and Hemiselmis virescens Droop were fed to oyster larvae in bacteria-free culture. In addition, cultures of Chlorella stigmatophora Butcher, Isochrysis galbana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum containing bacteria were also used. Cultures of galbana containing bacteria were used as controls in all series of experiments. In each series various densities of food, expressed both as cell numbers and as packed cell volume, were fed to the larvae of Ostrea edulis L. for 22–46 h and the change in the mean size of the larval population was used as the index of the value of the food. The experiments with Chlorella confirmed previous work that organisms of this genus have little value as food for larvae. With Dunaliella and Phaeodactylum growth was better at low food densities with some (but not all) batches of larvae compared with Isochrysis. The comparison of cultures of Isochrysis and Phaeodactylum with and without bacteria showed no consistent improved growth with either food. Monochrysis had about the same food value as Isochrysis. With Hemiselmis some growth was obtained but not as much as with Isochrysis.