Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adrijana Burovska EXAMINATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF OATS GROWN IN CONDITIONS OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION

Petunia (Petunia sp.) and pink dianthus (Dianthus sp.) are important ornamental plants which are grown on balconies, in flower gardens, parks and other during summer period. Approximately 156 ornamental species are cultivated via tissue culture in different commercial laboratories worldwide. In vitro plant culture is one of the key tools in plant biotechnology that utilizes the totipotency of plant cells. In this research the influence of different concentrations and combinations of BA, GA3, IAA и NAA on meristem buds and cotyledons of petunia and pink dianthus as starting explants was studied. During the research development of starting explants was observed and certain changes were noted. The meristem buds cultivated on MS medium supplemented with certain growth regulators responded with development of callus firstly, and then leaf rosette and shoots. On the other hand, the meristem buds of pink dianthus developed merely shoots. All combinations of growth regulators under this study resulted in development of roots from shoots in pink dianthus, while in petunia, only the medium MS + 2 mg/l BA + 0,1 mg/l NAA stimulated root development in already formed shoots. The newly regenerants were acclimatized with their transfer to sterile mix of perlite and peat (1:1) in high moisture conditions. These research is base for further research on improvement of regeneration of different starting explants not only of petunia and dianthus, but also in other ornamental species.
12. The role of host diversity in Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. dynamics

There has been substantial debate about the influence of vertebrate host diversity on Lyme borreliosis risk. In North America, studies investigating Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and the Black-legged tick ( Ixodes scapularis ) have shown that on a large spatial scale there seems to be a negative correlation between host species diversity and Lyme borreliosis risk. However, studies on this relationship in Europe are lacking. I discuss the work done in North America and translate the findings and assumptions of these studies to the European situation, where the sheep tick ( Ixodes ricinus ) is the most important vector of B. burgdorferi s.l. The European situation is fundamentally different compared to the North American situation due to the high diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, which are transmitted by different groups of vertebrate species. Disease risk in Europe is hypothesised to increase with vertebrate diversity due to an increase in B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies diversity. However, it seems that the majority of genospecies in Europe is transmitted by two functional groups of host species, rodents and thrushes, which are present in most vertebrate assemblages. Therefore, it seems plausible that a dilution effect can also occur in Europe. This might result in high risk in urban areas where a few dominant species are very abundant, among which the most important reservoir hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. in Europe.
Stock market volatility and structural breaks: An empirical analysis of fragile five countries using GARCH and EGARCH models

This study aims to investigate the potential effects of structural breaks on volatility permanence and asymmetry in stock exchanges of fragile five countries. The study covers the stock market index of 12 countries that were evaluated as fragile fives by various investment institutions on different dates between January 2013 and November 2019. The GARCH and EGARCH models are used for volatility estimates, and ICSS iteration algorithm is used to detect structural breaks. Results of the study reveals that among the 12 stock exchanges Indonesia, India, Brazil, Russia and Turkey are the top five countries with persistent volatility in their stock market indices. According to the empirical results from the study, volatility models in which structural breaks were not included depicts that the permanence effect is high in Indonesia and India, however, it is relatively lower in Argentina and Egypt. In addition, asymmetric volatility and leverage effect was observed in all country indices except Argentina. While where the response to negative shocks are strongest the indices of Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa and India, the response in Russia is lower. No structural breaks were observed in South Africa, Mexico, Argentina and Qatar exchanges during the period considered in study. In addition, it was found that using structural breaks in volatility estimates increased the predictive performance of the models.
The effect of known mutator alleles in a cluster of clinical Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Natural selection has the potential to act on all phenotypes, including genomic mutation rate. Classic evolutionary theory predicts that in asexual populations, mutator alleles, which cause high mutation rates, can fix due to linkage with beneficial mutations. This phenomenon has been demonstrated experimentally and may explain the frequency of mutators found in bacterial pathogens. In contrast, in sexual populations, recombination decouples mutator alleles from beneficial mutations, preventing mutator fixation. In the facultatively sexual yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, segregating alleles of MLH1 and PMS1 have been shown to be incompatible, causing a high mutation rate when combined. These alleles had never been found together naturally, but were recently discovered in a cluster of clinical isolates. Here we report that the incompatible mutator allele combination only marginally elevates mutation rate in these clinical strains. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses provide no evidence of a historically elevated mutation rate. We conclude that the effect of the mutator alleles is dampened by background genetic modifiers. Thus, the relationship between mutation rate and microbial pathogenicity may be more complex than once thought. Our findings provide rare observational evidence that supports evolutionary theory suggesting that sexual organisms are unlikely to harbor alleles that increase their genomic mutation rate.
Assessment of the structure and function of kainate-type glutamate receptors GluR6

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and is essential in most physiological processes. Recent evidence . indicates that the structure of ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) is unique among the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. The C-terminus of GluR is intrarather than extracellular and the pore forming segment (M2) forms a hairpin structure in the membrane. In addition, several studies indicate that the M3-M4 loop (the segment connecting transmembrane 3 and 4) is extracellular. However, other studies suggest that residues within the M3-M4 loop are sites of phosphorylation and modulation of channel function by intracellular protein kinases, and therefore the loop is intracellular. To reconcile these conflicting data, we hypothesized that GluR may have a dynamic structure in which, upon agonist binding to and activation of the channel, a portion of the M3-M4 loop containing putative phosphorylation sites translocates across the membrane to the cytosolic side. In order to test this hypothesis, we used site directed mutagenesis to mutate a putative PKA phosphorylation site located in M3-M4 loop of GluR6 (Ser684) to Cys, allowing further modification of this residue by Cys-specific reagents. Using a combined biochemical and electrophysiological approach, we determined that in the Hgand-unbound state of GluR6(S684C), Cys-684 is accessible from the extracellular side to modification by a Cys-specific biotinylating reagent as well as by streptavidin. In addition, we found that this residue becomes inaccessible for biotinylation upon agonist binding and activation of the channel. However, our electrophysiological data indicate that translocation of C684 to the cytoplasmic side is unlikely. The results of our biochemical and electrophysiological experiments indicate
Impact of Egg Weight Selection on Body Weight of Japanese Quail

The aims of study to determinate the direct selection response for egg weight and its correlated response on body weight at hatch and 6 weeks of age for Japanese quail during three generations. Results showed that, the cumulative response was 0.82 of base and two selected generations of selection for egg weight. Moreover, overall mean of body weight at hatch for selected line (8.8g.) was higher than that for control line (8.4g.) by 3.92%, with significant differences between them as a correlated response of selection. Also, the corresponding values of body weight at 6 weeks were 179.9 g. vs with 169.6 g. increasing by 6.06% for selected lines with significant differences between them. In conclusion, increasing of body weight at hatch and 6 weeks of age as a correlated response can be obtained by direct selection for increase egg weight in Japanese quail.
Taxonomic Revision and Phylogenetic Position of the Brazilian Endemic Genus Sphaerorrhiza (Sphaerorrhizinae, Gesneriaceae) Including Two New Species

Abstract Sphaerorrhiza, a genus of herbaceous plants endemic to the Cerrado domain in Brazil, was recently segregated from the genus Gloxinia and placed in its own monotypic subtribe Sphaerorrhizinae. Most information on this little-known taxon derived from the observation of a single species and a limited number of collections. Using new material representative of all recognized species we reassess the monophyly of Sphaerorrhiza and its phylogenetic placement within Gesnerioideae based on the analysis of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (atpB-rbcL, matK, rpl16, rps16, trnL-trnF) DNA sequences. Our results support the monophyly of the genus and its segregated position from the other clades of Gesneriaceae. A taxonomic revision of Sphaerorrhiza is presented, including new anatomical and morphological data and the first reported chromosome number for the genus. Four species are recognized and two species are described as new, S. rosulata and S. serrata. Descriptions, illustrations, and a distribution map, as well as a key to the species of Sphaerorrhiza, are provided.
Cannabinoids and Motor Control of the Basal Ganglia: Therapeutic Potential in Movement Disorders

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain appear to be intimately involved in the motor control. Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are densely located in the basal ganglia (BG), a forebrain system that integrates cortical information to coordinate motor activity regulating signals. In fact, the administration of plant-derived, synthetic or endogenous cannabinoids produces several effects on motor function. These effects are paralleled to changes in the levels of different neurotransmitters in the BG, including GABA, dopamine and glutamate, all of which are important players in movement control. Cannabinoid receptors also participate in the etiopathology of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) or Huntington’s disease (HD). In fact, both CB receptors and endocannabinoid levels are altered in the BG of patients with PD and HD and animal models of these diseases. The benefit of cannabinoids in PD or HD is not limited to the symptomatic amelioration, since several publications have revealed interesting neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of these drugs. It has been suggested that cannabinoid modulation may constitute an important component in new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of motor disturbances. D2, D1, dopamine receptor-mediated alleviation of akinesia neuropro‐ tection behavioral neurochemical alterations induced by intracaudate
High-throughput CRISPRi phenotyping in Streptococcus pneumoniae identifies new essential genes involved in cell wall synthesis and competence development

Genome-wide screens have discovered a large set of essential genes in the opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, the functions of many essential genes are still unknown, hampering vaccine development and drug discovery. Based on results from transposon-sequencing (Tn-Seq), we refined the list of essential genes in S. pneumoniae serotype 2 strain D39. Next, we created a knockdown library targeting 348 potentially essential genes by CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and show a growth phenotype for 254 of them (73%). Using high-content microscopy screening, we searched for essential genes of unknown function with clear phenotypes in cell morphology upon CRISPRi-based depletion. We show that SPD1416 and SPD1417 (renamed to MurT and GatD, respectively) are essential for peptidoglycan synthesis, and that SPD1198 and SPD1197 (renamed to TarP and TarQ, respectively) are responsible for the polymerization of teichoic acid (TA) precursors. This knowledge enabled us to reconstruct the unique pneumococcal TA biosynthetic pathway. CRISPRi was also employed to unravel the role of the essential Clpproteolytic system in regulation of competence development and we show that ClpX is the essential ATPase responsible for ClpP-dependent repression of competence. The CRISPRi library provides a valuable tool for characterization of pneumococcal genes and pathways and revealed several promising antibiotic targets.
In vivo and carcass characteristics of goats and sheep sold for slaughter in Ceará State

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as caracteristicas in vivo e de carcaca de caprinos e ovinos comercializados para abate, oriundos de diferentes regioes do estado do Ceara. Foram avaliados 36 animais sem raca definida (SRD), 18 caprinos e 18 ovinos, machos nao castrados, adquiridos em feiras livres, criados em sistema extensivo de producao, advindos das regioes de Quixada, Sobral e Taua. Antes do abate os animais foram pesados, sendo realizadas as mensuracoes zoometricas e de escore corporal e, pos-abate, foram realizadas as pesagens e mensuracoes morfometricas das carcacas, assim como as pesagens e rendimentos dos cortes comerciais. In vivo , o peso corporal (PVA) medio foi de 23,83 ± 3,76 kg para os caprinos e 25,22 ± 5,25 kg para os ovinos, escore corporal proximo a 2 e idade media de 12 meses, sem diferenca entre as especies. Nas carcacas, nao houve diferenca entre as especies e procedencias para pesos e rendimentos de carcaca e perdas por resfriamento. As conformacoes das carcacas foram avaliadas como ruins e a cobertura de gordura avaliada como muito magra, com superioridade dos valores das carcacas caprinas em relacao as ovinas nestes aspectos. Os ovinos apresentaram maiores valores de area de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea e maior peso e proporcao de perna que os caprinos. Caprinos e ovinos sem raca definida, criados em sistema extensivo no estado do Ceara e comercializados nas feiras livres na capital, independente da regiao de origem, alcancam o peso de abate com idade avancada e condicao corporal magra, resultando em carcacas de qualidade inferior, pouco musculosas e mal acabadas. Nas condicoes extensivas de criacao no estado do Ceara animais da especie ovina apresentam maior habilidade em produzir carne que a caprina.
The role of the predator Trophon geversianus in an intertidal population of Mytilus chilensis in a rocky shore of the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

ABSTRACT Predation influences changes in the abundance and the limits of spatial distribution of organisms on rocky shores. We quantified the effect of the predation pressure of the gastropod Trophon geversianus on the mytilid Mytilus chilensis in a rocky intertidal community of the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego. We quantified the density of T. geversianus along with the density of T. geversianus preying on M. chilensis and examined the potential relationship between sizes of both T. geversianus and M. c hilensis. Additionally, we carried out laboratory experiments to quantify the drilling and ingestion rates of T. geversianus on M. c hilensis at different aerial exposure times. At mid intertidal levels, unlike at low intertidal levels, T. geversianus consumed more frequently the available size range of mussels. On average, sizes of predator and prey consumed were positively correlated. The drilling rate decreased with increasing time of aerial exposure. Additionally, permanently submerged predators invested less time consuming the same amount of food than individuals exposed for 4 out of 12 h (4/12 h). Predators exposed for 9/12 h invested less time and consumed less food than those exposed 4/12 h. Our results suggest that T. geversianus is an efficient predator of M. chilensis, due to both its high density and feeding rate. Our results suggest that the strong predation pressure of T. geversianus on M. chilensis prevents this key competitor from monopolizing space at the low level through controlling their abundance, and further limits their vertical distribution.
Non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean marine protected areas : diversity, distribution and impacts

The distribution of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the effect of some selected Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on NIS establishment and spread was assessed using rapid assessment. Trophic interactions between the indigenous benthic taxa and NIS were investigated using stable isotope analysis, in order to determine the role of NIS in invaded ecosystems and possible impacts it has on indigenous taxa. Different protection regimes had no obvious effect on the pattern of benthic NIS spread. However, all fouling NIS and cryptogenic species on mooring lines of leisure craft were recorded outside of MPAs. Isotopic niche of non-indigenous herbivores Aplysia dactylomela and Percnon gibbesi showed no overlap with the ones of indigenous macroinvertebrates and fish. The mixing models indicated that the non-indigenous green alga Caulerpa cylindracea was the most important resource in the diet of the non-indigenous crab Percon gibbesi, thus providing the evidence for the invasion meltdown hypothesis.
Diazotroph derived nitrogen supports diatom growth in the South West Pacific: A quantitative study using nanoSIMS

Nitrogen is essential for life but is often a major limiting nutrient for growth in the ocean. Biological dinitrogen fixation is a major source of new nitrogen to surface waters and promotes marine productivity. Yet the fate of diazotroph‐derived nitrogen (DDN) in marine ecosystems has been poorly studied, and its transfer to auto‐ and heterotrophic plankton has not been measured. Here, we use high‐resolution nanometer scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) coupled with 15N2 isotopic labelling and flow cytometry cell sorting to examine the DDN transfer to specific groups of natural phytoplankton and bacteria during three diazotroph blooms dominated by the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp. in the South West Pacific. During these experiments, 13% ± 2% to 48% ± 5% of the fixed 15N2 was released into the dissolved pool and 6% ± 1% to 8% ± 2% of this DDN was transferred to non‐diazotrophic plankton after 48 h. The primary beneficiaries of this DDN were diatoms (45% ± 4% to 61% ± 38%) and bacteria (22% ± 27% to 38% ± 12%), followed by pico‐phytoplankton (3% ± 1% to 21% ± 14%). The DDN was quickly converted to non‐diazotrophic plankton biomass, in particular that of diatoms, which increased in abundance by a factor of 1.4–15 over the course of the three experiments. The single‐cell approach we used enabled quantification of the actual transfer of DDN to specific groups of autotrophic and heterotrophic plankton in the surface ocean, revealing a previously unseen level of complexity in the pathways that occur between N2 fixation and the eventual export of DDN from the photic zone.
Histidine, Lysine and Ornithine Decarboxylase Bacteria in Spanish Salted Semi-preserved Anchovies.

We have studied the histidine decarboxylase activity in 118 strains of bacteria isolated from commercial samples of Spanish semi-preserved anchovies. The lysine and ornithine qualitative decarboxylase activity was also studied. The microorganism that presented the highest histamine activity was Morganella morganii , with 2123.26 ± 414.00 ppm of histamine after 24 h of incubation at 37°C. Two strains of Bacillus spp. and a strain of Staphylococcus xylosus were isolated with the capacity to form 10.54 and 110.00 ppm of histamine, respectively. However, the histidine decarboxylase activity of Bacillus spp. is not likely to be significant to human health. The microbic species with capacity to form histamine and those with capacity to form other biogenic amines were similar. Therefore, the prevention of the proliferation of microorganisms able to form histamine would also mean avoiding amine accumulation that leads to histamine food poisoning. The Niven medium was an efficient test to valutate the histamine production of isolated strains after an incubation of 24 h at 37°C and using a backwards technique for quantification and detecting the false positives. This incubation time should be longer (48 h) when Bacillus is detected, with the finality to eliminate false negatives on the initial screening. The application of the enzymic technique for histamine quantification was excellent. In our research, we have observed that the number of microorganisms is an important factor in the accumulation of histamine, but other factors exist which also influence such accumulation, probably depending on the kind of enzyme decarboxylase.
AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF BALINESE PURPLE SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS L.) PREVENTS OXIDATIVE STRESS AND DECREASES BLOOD INTERLEUKIN-1 IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS

Background: Hypercholesterolemia can cause oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Anthocyanin can prevent oxidative stress, it will decrease the inflammation by decreasing the pro inflammatory cytokine in animal models. Purple sweet potato in Bali has been proven of having high anthocyanins content. The aim of these study was to prove the ability of aqueous extract of Balinese purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in decreasing the blood interleukin-1 level in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Methods: Subjects of this study were 18 male adult rabbits divided into 3 groups with randomized post test only control group design. Group 1 rabbits were given standard diet as a control group. Group 2 rabbits were given high cholesterol diet. Group 3 rabbits were given aqueous extract of Balinese purple sweet potato 4 ml/Kg.BW/day and high cholesterol diet. After 60 days of treatment, the blood level of total cholesterol, MDA and interleukin- 1 were measured as post test examination. The data were analysed by using anova. Results: The results showed significant increases of blood total cholesterol, MDA, and interleukin-1 in group 2 (p<0.05). In group 3 the increases of blood total cholesterol and MDA levels were sligthly lower than the group 2 (p<0.05). Group 3 also showed significantly lower of blood interleukin-1 levels than those in group 2 (p<0.05). Conclusion: From this finding, it can be concluded that aqueous extract of Balinese purple sweet potato can decrease oxidative stress and decrease the level of interleukin-1 in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Unravelling Factors Contributing to Mumps Outbreaks

The aim of this thesis is to provide insights into possible causes for the recent mumps outbreaks among MMR vaccinated persons in the Netherlands. In this way, our research contributes to the evaluation of the MMR vaccine in the light of the recent mumps outbreaks worldwide and can be used to inform public health decisions. Specifically, the objectives of this thesis are to: 1) Investigate the role of epidemiological, virological and immunological factors in the occurrence of the recent mumps outbreaks; 2) Track mumps virus transmission using sequencing as a tool; 3) Study the effect of MMR vaccination on the development of mumps virus infection and severity of disease.