Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recognition of the prioritized types and individual of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the drinking water of Shanghai and a health risk assessment

ABSTRACT Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) exist and are often grouped into categories according to their functional mechanism and effect on human health. In this study, six types of PPCPs were detected and characterized in the drinking water of Shanghai, covering 35 water treatment plants. The PPCPs concentrations were ranged from 2.57 ng/L to 19.4 ng/L and over 10 ng/L in nearly half of the samples. Hormones, blockers, and veterinary drugs were considered to contribute negligibly to the overall pollution from PPCPs for their low concentrations. However, dicyclohexylamine and psycholeptics were detected in all samples, with a maximum concentration of 11.8 ng/L, 7.82 ng/L, and 9.07 ng/L for dicyclohexylamine, sertraline, and sulpiride, respectively. In addition, high toxicity antitumor drug cyclophosphamide was detected in one-third of the samples and the highest concentration was 3.72 ng/L. In all, the four PPCPs evaluated accounted for over 80% of the detected PPCPs levels. Therefore, it was determined that the major PPCPs are contributing to water pollution in the region. While these compounds do not pose a potential human health risk at their present levels, close attention should be paid to the use of these PPCPs and their discharge into drinking water source.
Influence of land configuration on rain water use efficiency, yield and economics of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in maize-cowpea sequence cropping under rainfed condition of Northern Transitional Zone

The main aim of land configurations is in situ conservation of soil moisture by increasing the opportunity time for augmented water use efficiency and drain out excess water. The field study was conducted for two years under rainfed conditions of Dharwad on residual soil moisture and fertility. Cowpea produced higher grain yield (13.4 q ha-1), haulm yield (25.6 q ha-1) and harvest index (34.4 %) with Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF) method of planting. Similarly, BBF method resulted in higher soil moisture content (32.09 % at 40 DAS) and rain water use efficiency (RWUE) of 5.96 kg ha-mm-1. The RWUE had a significant and highly positive correlation with soil moisture at 40 and 55 DAS (with r value of r=0.94** and r=0.96**, respectively). BBF method of planting also registered higher gross return (Rs.42725 ha-1), net return (¹ 27515 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (2.82). Cowpea can be grown successfully after summer maize on existing BBF configuration for higher yield and rain water use efficiency.
Evaluation of Anti-Obesity Potentials of Sphenostylis stenocarpa Ethanolic Seed Extract

Aim: Evaluation of the anti-obesity potentials of Sphenostylis stenocarpa ethanolic seed extract in albino rats. Study Design: Experimental design. Methodology: The rats were assigned into 6 groups (A- F) of 12 rats per group replicated three times. Obesity was induced in rats of groups B to F, by daily feeding with high fat diet for 5 weeks. Only rats with an abdominal circumference (AC) of 20 cm, thoracic circumference (TC) of 17 cm and body mass index (BMI) of 0.68 g/cm 2 and above respectively were considered obese and used for the study. The extract obtained by standard methods was screened phytochemically. Whereas the rats in the normal control (group A) received normal growers mash diet and distilled water, the obese negative control (group B) received the high fat diet and distilled water only, while the positive control (group C) received high fat diet, distilled water and 60 mg/kg b.wt of Orlistat. Graded doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.wt of the extract were administered to groups D, E and F respectively. Results: Evidently, 400 mg/kg of Sphenostylis stenocarpa treatment proved to be the most effective dose in all parameters assayed. The treatments proved to be more effective when compared with the negative control than as compared with the positive control. Conclusion: The ethanolic seed extract of Sphenostylis stenocarpa proved to possess some antiobesity potentiality which evidently seems to be most effective with longer duration of treatment.
Using Language Entertainment Activities to Enhance University Students’ English Vocabulary at Albaha University

Few studies have considered the use of entertainment activities in teaching foreign languages. The significance of the present study emerges from handling the use of educational entertainment activities as a strategy to improve Saudi university students’ vocabulary learning. The current study aim is to explore the use of entertainment activities in enhancing the students’ vocabulary at Albaha University. A pretest and posttest are administered to a sample of 20 junior students, enrolled in English courses in the College of Science and Arts in Almandaq, as the study participants. A quasi-experimental approach, that involves the study of the experimental group (n=10) and control groups (n=10), applies in the current study. The study uses SPSS to analyze the data. The findings of the study reveal that the use of entertainment activities has a statistically significant impact on improving the students’ vocabulary. Also, they show that entertainment activities in the educational process help to motivate the learner to interact with the educational material and with other learners in the learning situations. Accordingly, it is recommended that increasing the extent of using entertainment activities helps in enhancing the junior students’ vocabulary learning as an effective teaching strategy. In terms of the study findings, It is conclued that the application of the entertainment activities enables teachers and learners to pinpoint such activities in building university students’ vocabulary and other language skills.
Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae: Ophthalmophaginae) from the bearded barbet, Lybius dubius (Capitionidae), and the white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis (Sturnidae), that died at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. was found in the air sacs and body cavities of 2 bearded barbets, Lybius dubius, and a white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis, that died at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana between June, 2000 and April, 2005. The new species can be distinguished from Szidatitrema philomachii and Szidatitrema vogeli, the only species currently assigned to this genus, by having a smaller egg size (80–105 by 40–55 compared to 117–126 by 54–72 and 110 by 50, respectively) and the testes of S. yamagutii n. sp. are less obliquely positioned relative to each other. Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. further differs from S. philomachii by lacking an oral sucker and having larger testes (anterior testis 405 by 375 compared to 270 by 210; posterior testis 435 by 370 compared to 225 by 210) and from S. vogeli by having a shorter cirrus sac (345 compared to 554) ), smaller testes (anterior testis 405 long compared to 700; posterior testis 435 long compared to 500), a smaller ovary (220–330 wide compared to 400), and a larger postovarian space (approximately 10% of body length compared to 6%). This new species was likely introduced into the Audubon Zoo through the importation of species of Old World birds.
Inventarisasi Ektoparasit Pada Ikan Mas Koki (Carrasius auratus) Di Kecamatan Ciseeng – Kabupaten Bogor

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi dan inventarisasi jenis dan prevalensi ektoparasit pada ikan Mas Koki ( Carrasius auratus ) yang dibudidayakan di Kecamatan Ciseeng Kabupaten Bogor. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah dengan mengambil obyek sampel sebanyak 10% dari total pembudidaya ikan Mas Koki di Kecamatan Ciseeng yaitu sebanyak 15 pembudidaya ikan yang tersebar di Desa Parigi Mekar, Babakan dan Ciseeng. Masing-masing kolam diambil sebanyak 5 ekor/kolam, sehingga total sampel yang diamati adalah 75 ekor. Masing-masing ikan akan diamati pada bagian lendir, insang dan sirip dan membandingkan hasilnya dengan buku kunci identifikasi parasit. Dari hasil penelitian terhadap ikan Mas Koki yang berasal dari Kecamatan Ciseeng didapatkan jenis-jenis ektoparasit yang menginfestasi ikan sebagai berikut: Trichodina sp, Dactylogyrus sp, Gyrodactylus sp, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis , Argulus sp, Tetrahymena sp dan Oodinium sp. Untuk prevalensi ektoparasit pada ikan Mas Koki di Kecamatan Ciseeng adalah: Trichodina sp (79%), Dactylogyrus sp (25%), Gyrodactylus sp (43%), Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (7%), Argulus sp (5%), Tetrahymena sp (21%) dan Oodinium sp (24%). Adapun prevalensi ektoparasit pada masing-masing desa adalah: Desa Parigi Mekar (94%), Desa Babakan (95%), dan Desa Ciseeng (95%). Prevalensi ektoparasit berdasarkan organ tubuh adalah: lendir (87%), insang (51%) dan sirip (53%). Kata kunci : ikan mas koki, ektoparasit, prevalensi
The effect of lymphocytes secretome on skeletal muscle stem cells regeneration with ageing

Older people experience skeletal muscle wasting, in part due to impaired proliferative capacity of quiescent skeletal muscle satellite cells and. The work presented in this thesis set out to examine the hypothesis that microenvironment of skeletal muscles can be influenced by immune cell secretions, which affect satellite cell proliferation, and that beneficial immune-muscle interactions in young people are blunted in elderly. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of ageing human lymphocytes on skeletal muscle cell behaviour. For this purpose, lymphocytes were isolated from whole blood of young (aged 18-25 years) and older (aged 78-85 years) healthy volunteers and older healthy volunteers. All the participants were healthy, with no history of muscle disease and not on immunosuppressant or corticosteroids treatment that affect immune function. Lymphocytes were cultured with, or without, anti-CD3/CD28 activators for 4 days to induce release of cytokines, interleukins and growth factors into the media. The secreted proteins were used to prepare conditioned media that were used to culture C2C12 myoblasts. Secretomes were analysed and fifteen secreted Th1/Th2 cytokines and IGF-I were quantified by multiplex immunoassay. The gene expression and protein concentrations of amphiregulin were determined from T-lymphocytes lysates by real-time PCR and ELISA respectively. The levels of CD25 and FoxP3 expression in lymphocytes were examined using flow cytometry. The expression of muscle transcription factors, MyoD and Myogenin were determined by real- time PCR. Activated Mek1/Erk1/2 and Akt/mTOR were measured by multiplex immunoassay. Our results demonstrate for the first time that a decrease in the levels of amphiregulin and CD25 coincides with the increase in FoxP3 with ageing, which may be involved in suppression of lymphocytes. Seven cytokines were differentially secreted by the young- compared with the old-activated lymphocytes. The secretome from young-activated lymphocytes had 30% (P<0.005) higher IGF-I concentrations compared with old and control treatments. The conditioned media from young -activated lymphocytes increased the rate of proliferation of myoblasts by ~3-fold (P<0.005) and caused an approximate 4-fold (P<0.005) increase in migration compared with non-activated lymphocyte control media. These responses were characterised the extended proliferation of young -treated myoblasts was also associated with a decrease in MyoD and Myogenin and an increase in mediators of proliferation Mek1/Erk1/2and a decrease in the key proteins for differentiation, Akt/mTOR. In contrast, myoblasts treated with conditioned media from old-activated lymphocytes exhibited a high degree of differentiation.
Effect of Dietary Choline on Plasma and Liver Lipid Levels in Rats Fed on a High Cholesterol Diet

It has been established that choline is an essential nutrient in many species of animals, and that a deficiency of choline results in disturbance of the lipid metabolism. were fed on choline-deficient fatty the serum levels of such lipids as triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol (CHOL) decreased, probably because of impairment in serum lipo-protein synthesis and secretion.1 However, the influence of chloine included in a diet at high levels on the lipid me- tabolism is not fully understood, although a plasma cholesterol-elevating effect of choline choride in rats fed on a high CHOLdiet.6) In we report the effect of dietary choline on plasma and liver lipid levels in rats fed on a high CHOL diet. The interacting effect ofcholine and glycine was also investigated.
Liver histology and histomorphometry in hybrid sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) reared on intensive fish farming

This study aimed to characterize the liver histology and histomorphometry in sorubim hybrid of different categories (nursery, growth and grow-out) reared on fish farming. The categories were defined considering body weight (BW): nursery category (n = 5): BW = 37.06 ± 6.00 g (31.6–45.3 g); growth category (n = 5): BW = 310.40 ± 53.80 g (242.1–376.4 g) and grow-out category (n = 5): BW = 874.28 ± 27.59 g (846.2–913.1 g). Liver fragments were processed to paraffin inclusion, and sections were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (HE glycogen analysis and to detect ferric irons (Fe3+) respectively. The hepatosomatic index decreased between the categories (P < 0.01). The percentage of PAS-positive hepatocytes in the nursery category was higher (P < 0.05) in relation to the growth and grow-out categories. The hepatocytes from all fish were positive to Perl's staining. The density volumetric of liver structures did not differ among categories except to blood vessels were higher (P < 0.01) in the nursery and growth. The area (μm2) and perimeter (μm) of hepatocytes, and the area (μm2), perimeter (μm) and volume (μm3) of the nuclei from grow-out fish were lower (P < 0.01) than those from the nursery and growth categories. Changes in morphometric characteristics of hepatocytes may result from metabolic changes associated with body growth surubins; therefore, these morphometric characteristics of liver tissue can be used as functional biomarkers for the assessment of fish health and nutrition status.
Pertumbuhan Prenatal dalam Kandungan Kambing Melalui Superovulasi

Thirty six Etawah-grade does (BW 20.4-44.2 kg, age 2.5-7 years) were used to study the efficacy of increasing secretion of endogenous hormones of pregnancy by superovulation of does to stimulate of growth prenatal in uterus. The does were injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), 0 IU/kg BW [grouped into nonsuperovulation-NSO] and 15 IU/kg BW [grouped into Superovulation-SO]. Intravaginal sponge (60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate) was applied for 14 days to synchronize estrus cycle. Twenty four hours prior to sponge removal, PMSG was injected to stimulate superovulation. After sponge removal, five experimental does were mixed with one buck for natural mating. Superovulation prior to mating increased number of corpora lutea, mean of maternal serum estradiol concentration, progesterone concentration, litter size, average birth weight and average milk yield, by 112, 67, 42, 27, 32, and 35%, respectively. Those were correlated with the increase of uterine, corpora lutea, and individual birth weight.
Engineering Lipid Droplet Assembly Mechanisms for Improved Triacylglycerols Accumulation in S. cerevisiae

Production of triacylglycerols (TAGs) through microbial fermentation is an emerging alternative to plant and animal-derived sources. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a preferred organism for industrial use but has natively a very poor capacity of TAG production and storage. Here, we engineered S. cerevisiae for accumulation of high TAG levels through the use of structural and physiological factors that influence assembly and biogenesis of lipid droplets. First, human and fungal perilipin genes were expressed, increasing TAG content by up to 36% when expressing the human perilipin gene PLIN3. Secondly, expression of the FIT2 homologue YFT2 resulted in a 26% increase in TAG content. Lastly, the genes ERD1 and PMR1 were deleted in order to induce an ER stress response and stimulate lipid droplet formation, increasing TAG content by 72% for Δerd1, with an additive effect for both YFT2 and PLIN3 expression. These new approaches were implemented in previously engineered strains that carry high flux of fatty acid biosynthesis and conversion of acyl-CoA into TAG, resulting in improvements of up to 138% over those high-producing strains without any substantial growth effects or abnormal cell morphology. We find that these approaches are not only a major advancement in engineering S. cerevisiae for TAG production, but also highlight the importance of lipid droplet dynamics for high lipid accumulation in yeast.
Long-term precommercial thinning effects on Larix occidentalis (western larch) tree and stand characteristics

Precommercial thinning (PCT) is used to increase tree size and shorten harvest rotation time. Short-term results from PCT studies often show a trade-off between individual-tree growth and net stand yield, while longer-term effects of PCT on tree growth and stand yield are less well documented. We used a 54-year-old PCT study to test long-term effects of forest density and thinning schedules on stand yield and tree-level characteristics in even-aged western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) stands. The study has three target densities (494, 890, and 1680 trees·ha−1) crossed with three thinning schedules (target density achieved through one, two, or four entries). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear contrasts were used to test the effects of density and number of entries on tree- and stand-level attributes. Thinning before stand age 10 years leads to long-term constant yield (219.0–269.5 m3·ha−1; P > 0.05) across the tested densities. We also found constant volume growth across stand densities during the.
Strategic combination of nutritional approaches for gastrointestinal parasite control in sheep

The consequences o f protein nutrition on the degree o f periparturient relaxation o f immunity to nematode parasites in sheep may be more pronounced at higher levels o f infection pressure. Here, the interactive effects o f metabolizable protein (MP) nutrition and infection pressure on resistance and lactational performance o f ewes were assessed. Twin-rearing ewes were trickle infected with either 1000, 5000 or 10,000 infective Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae and fed either at 0.8 (low protein, LP) or 1.3 (high protein, HP) times their estimated MP requirement. Expected interactions between feeding treatment and infection pressure were not observed. Periparturient relaxation o f immunity, as indicated by variation in faecal egg counts, was higher in LP ewes than in HP ewes and FEC showed an inverse relationship with infection pressure indicating possible density dependency effects on worm fecundity. Plasma pepsinogen concentration linearly increased with infection pressure. Daily total nematode egg excretion, assessed at week three o f lactation, was not significantly affected by infection pressure but was reduced by 65% in HP ewes compared to LP ewes. M P supplementation improved lamb performance but had little effect on ewe body weight and plasma protein concentrations, whilst lactational performance, as judged from lamb performance, tended to be reduced with increased infection pressure. The residts suggest periparturient M P supplementation to ewes reduces nematode egg excretion independent o f infection pressure and improves lactational performance o f parasitized ewes even in the presence o f moderate MP scarcity. K eyw ords: Teladorsagia circumcincta, metabolizable protein, infection pressure, faecal egg count
Performances agro-morphologiques des varietes locales et ameliorees de maïs au sud-ouest du Niger

Le mais ( Zea mays L.) joue un role important dans la securite alimentaire des populations du Niger. Toutefois, sa culture est en baisse, ce qui constitue une menace a la securite alimentaire et aux ressources phytogenetiques du mais. L’objectif general de cette etude etait d’evaluer les performances agro-morphologiques des varietes locales et ameliorees du mais au Sud-Ouest du Niger afin d’identifier les varietes prometteuses sur la base de leurs performances agronomiques. Au total, vingt-cinq varietes de mais dont deux varietes locales et vingt-trois varietes ameliorees produites par le Centre International d’Amelioration du Mais et du Ble du Zimbabwe (CIMMYT/Zimbabwe) ont ete evaluees a la station experimentale de Tara (Gaya/ Niger). Treize caracteres agro-morphologiques dont la compacite de l’epi, la forme du grain, le taux d’emergence, le nombre de jours a 50% floraison mâle et femelle, la hauteur de la plante, la longueur de l’epi, le diametre de l’epi, le nombre d’epis a la recolte, le poids des epis a la recolte, le poids des grains, le poids de 100 grains et le poids du fourrage sec ont ete utilises. L’analyse de variance a montre des differences significatives entre les varietes pour les differents caracteres agro-morphologiques. La classification hierarchique ascendante (CHA) a revele que cette variabilite est structuree en 4 groupes. Les groupes 1 et 2 regroupent les varietes plus precoces, plus productives avec un fort taux d’emergence. Les groupes 3 et 4 regroupent les varietes moins precoces, moins productives et avec un faible taux d’emergence. Sept varietes prometteuses appartenant aux groupes 1 et 2 ont ete identifiees. Il s’agit toutes des varietes ameliorees (CZH132163, CZH132194, CZH1262, CZH132150, CZH132139, CZH1155 et CZH1261). Ces resultats peuvent etre directement utilises pour un programme d’amelioration de la productivite du mais au Sud-Ouest du Niger. Mots Cles: Niger, securite alimentaire, variete prometteuse, Zea mays L.
An exploration of ecological concepts in the context of antimicrobial resistance and the use of phytochemical compounds within the ruminant gut microbiome

Secondary plant metabolites have recently been gaining interest in livestock production systems following the ban of in-feed antibiotics within the European Union. The rise in antimicrobial resistance found in pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria has lead to increased interest in the research community regarding the use of phythochemicals as an alternative to antibiotics. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of including phytochemicals in a livestock production system. Specifically, a high tannin-containing forage, sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), was evaluated in vitro for its antimicrobial effect on Escherichia coli. We determined that phytochemicals alone are not as inhibitory as synthetic antibiotics. Thus, the use of combination therapy to deter the development of antimicrobial resistance was evaluated. A myriad of plant compounds were screened for their synergistic interactions with ciprofloxacin. Geraniol, an essential oil, was identified to possess good antimicrobial activity and synergistic interactions with ciprofloxacin. Therefore the effect of long term exposure to both ciprofloxacin and geraniol were examined. Results demonstrated that once an antimicrobial concentration threshold was reached, resistance to ciprofloxacin increased markedly in the presence of both geraniol and ciprofloxacin. Finally, an in vivo trial was conducted in which forty steers were fed sainfoin or alfalfa over a 9-week period to evaluate its ability to reduce E. coli shedding and its impact on gut microbiota in the context of popular theoretical ecology concepts. Results from the in vivo study indicate that sainfoin was able to promote a slight decrease in generic E. coli shedding which could be maintained throughout the trial. Using high-throughput sequencing, the effect of sainfoin on the microbial ecosystem of the ruminant gut was evaluated. Sainfoin induced a significant shift in the microbial community structure of the rumen and to a lesser