Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proximate neutral lipid composition of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed was extracted with hexane (H) and chloroform/methanol (CM) (2:1, v/v) to determine the effect of the solvent on the amount and composition of the recovered lipid. The amount of the total lipid (TL) extracted with H was 29.6% of the seed weight, while that extracted with CM was 49.9%. Column and thin-layer chromatographic procedures on Silica Gel were performed to fractionate the main neutral lipid (NL) subclasses. Fatty acid composition of the NL subclasses, triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species, and sterol (ST) content were estimated. The NL amount was found to be higher (97% of TL) in the H extract than in the CM extract (93% of TL). TAG appeared to be the predominant NL subclass (89.7-91.9% of total NL). Linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) was the main fatty acid followed by oleic acid (C18:1n-9) as the second main unsaturated fatty acid, while palmitic acid (C16:0) was the major saturated fatty acid. With high temperature gas-liquid chromatography using a flame ionization detector (HTGLC/FID) and H 2 as the carrier gas, the actual TAG molecular species according to their carbon numbers were separated. TAG of even carbon numbers 16 and 18 were contained in six TAG molecular species. The major peaks occured at C54:6, and C54:3 corresponding to trilinolein and triolein. Furthermore, TAG molecular specie, expected to contain two molecules of linoleic acid (C54:5), was detected in a high level. Phytosterol pattern was determined without derivatization in the unsaponifiable fractions by HTGLC/FID. ST profile was characterized by a high total amount accounting for 4.22 g/kg of total H extract, and 4.00 g/kg of total CM extract. β-Sitosterol (2.035-1.929 g/kg TL) was the main component in both extracts. The major ST found were, in order of decreasing prevalence, β-sitosterol > campesterol > stigmasterol > A5-avenasterol > Δ7-avenasterol >lanosterol.
Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Protein Recovered from Fish Waste

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and functional properties of proteins recovered from whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) and Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) residues obtained by the process of acid solubilization using HCl at pH = 2 and alkaline solubilization using NaOH at pH = 12 and isoelectric precipitation (pH = 5.5). The proximate composition and functional properties were determined. The solubilization and water holding capacity (WHC) of the recovered protein were studied in the pH range of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The high protein content and lowest lipid reduction presented by the protein recovered from the whitemouth croaker residue and obtained by the acid solubilizing process was 97.1 and 98.4%, respectively. The maximum solubilized protein was at pH 3 and 11, and the minimum solubilized protein was at pH 5 for both species. The greater ability to retain oil was observed for the alkaline solubilization process (8.3 and 7.3). The lower WHC was at pH 5. The acid and alkali residue concentrates of the whitemouth croaker presented higher WHC at pH 3 and 11. These proteins can be used in preparing edible films and have been used to produce bioactive compounds for supplements or functional ingredients.
Growth, yield and nutrition of sugarcane ratoon as affected by potassium in a mechanized harvesting system.

Sugarcane mechanical harvest deposes straw residue on the soil surface, increases soil organic matter and improves nutrients cycling, especially potassium (K). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of K fertilizer on vegetative growth, mineral nutrition, straw yield and technological quality; i.e., levels of total soluble solids, industry fiber (bagasse), apparent sucrose, juice purity, and reducing sugars in a ratoon sugarcane grown in Oxisol in a mechanized harvesting system. The experiment design was carried out in the 2009/10 cropping season in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the first regrowth of sugarcane after harvest using cultivar RB 86-7515. The experimental design was a randomized block with five replicates and five rates of K-fertilizer: 0 (control); 32.5; 65.0; 130.0 and 195.0 kg ha-1 of K2O. Potassium levels in the soil and in the plant, stalk production and the technological quality were evaluated at harvest. The rate of 195 kg ha-1 of K2O increased in 279, 78, 142 and 29% the K exchangeable content in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm layers at 180 and 360 DAS, respectively, increased soil potassium availability and promoted higher absorption of nutrients by plants, reaching 9.8 g kg-1 in leaves; i.e. 22.6% higher compared to the control treatment. The higher absorption of potassium was reflected on yield gain of 28.6% with 147.5 kg ha-1 of K2O. Therefore, 130 kg ha-1 of K2O is the most appropriate rate for the production of stalks of sugarcane grown in an Oxisol within the range evaluated. This rate kept potassium nutritional status very close to the adequate and promoted its accumulation in stalks at levels considered satisfactory to reach high yields in the first ratoon. Potassium fertilization had little effect in the technological quality.
On the relation between movements and the shape of somites in early embryos of the teleost Brachydanio rerio

As a working hypothesis it is supposed that in the teleost Brachydanio rerio, the muscle contractions, the growth, and probably some other factors, cause the first changes in the shape of the somites. Furthermore, the movements of the embryo could yield the forces by which the somites are brought to their theoretically optimal shape. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the somite shape and structure of spontaneously immobile embryos. Although the results are difficult to interpret, they certainly do not contradict the hypothesis. For further analysis we applied two kinds of lesions in order to immobilize early embryos: removal of the brain, and damage to the midbody somites. The results of these experiments indicate that both the development of the shape of the somite and the arrangement of the muscle fibres are dependent on movements of the embryo.
Haplotyping cryptic Adélie penguin taxa using low-cost, high-resolution melt curves

ABSTRACT Distinguishing morphologically cryptic taxa, by definition, requires genetic data such as DNA sequences. However, DNA sequences may not be obtained easily for taxa from remote sites. Here we provide the details of a high-resolution melt-curve-based method using taxon-specific primers that can distinguish two taxa of Adélie penguins, and that will be usable in Antarctica when combined with some of the newly developed field-deployable thermal cyclers. We suggest that the wider adoption of field-deployable polymerase-chain-reaction-based techniques will enable faster assignation of haplotype to individuals in situ, and so allow the targeting of observations and sample collection to specimens relevant to the research question. Targeting individuals will also reduce the need to repeatedly handle animals and reduce the time and travel required to complete field work.
PAD4 inhibitors: potential sensitizers of tumour cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Targeting tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a mediator of apoptosis (cell death) and death ligand belonging to the TNF superfamily, represents a promising approach in anti-cancer therapy due to its selectivity to target cancer cell populations yet not normal cells. However, resistance to TRAIL is a common occurrence in tumours, limiting the effects of TRAIL to a minority of TRAIL-sensitive tumours. Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is a Ca2+-dependent enzyme catalysing the post-translational conversion of arginine residues to citrulline within histones (citrullination), implicated in the epigenetic modulation of gene expression, with a potential role in tumourigenesis. This study aimed to determine whether the PAD4 inhibitor F-amidine may sensitize tumour cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Expression of PAD4 mRNA was assessed in a panel of 18 cancer cell lines via real-time qRT-PCR to determine PAD4 sensitive cell lines. Prostate (LNCaP), breast (MCF-7), malignant glioma (U87-MG) and acute myeloid leukaemic (HL-60) cell lines were challenged with F-amidine in the presence or absence of death receptor 5 (DR5) agonists and nuclear morphology assessed via Hoechst 33342 staining. PAD4 mRNA expression was detected in 11 cancer cell lines from breast, prostate, leukaemic, glioma, neuroblastoma, myeloma, hepatocellular carcinoma and pluripotent embryonal carcinoma origin. F-amidine synergistically and significantly enhanced TRAIL responses within the PAD4 expressing TRAIL-resistant U87-MG cell line. PAD4 expressing TRAIL-sensitive HL-60 and resistant MCF-7 cell lines were not significantly sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Significant synergistic TRAIL responses were observed in the TRAIL-resistant and PAD4 mRNA-negative LNCaP cell line, revealing that F-amidine may also potentiate TRAIL responses independent of PAD4 inhibition. Overall, this study presents some of the first evidence that PAD inhibitors may possess roles as novel TRAIL sensitizers in epigenetic anti-cancer therapy, potentially independent of PAD4 inhibition.
Ediacaran distributions in space and time: testing assemblage concepts of earliest macroscopic body fossils

Abstract. The mid-late Ediacaran Period (∼579–541 Ma) is characterized by globally distributed marine soft-bodied organisms of unclear phylogenetic affinities colloquially called the “Ediacara biota. ” Despite an absence of systematic agreement, previous workers have tested for underlying factors that may control the occurrence of Ediacaran macrofossils in space and time. Three taxonomically distinct “assemblages,” termed the Avalon, White Sea, and Nama, were identified and informally incorporated into Ediacaran biostratigraphy. After ∼15 years of new fossil discoveries and taxonomic revision, we retest the validity of these assemblages using a comprehensive database of Ediacaran macrofossil occurrences. Using multivariate analysis, we also test the degree to which taphonomy, time, and paleoenvironment explain the taxonomic composition of these assemblages. We find that: (1) the three assemblages remain distinct taxonomic groupings; (2) there is little support for a large-scale litho-taphonomic bias present in the Ediacaran; and (3) there is significant chronostratigraphic overlap between the taxonomically and geographically distinct Avalonian and White Sea assemblages ca. 560–557 Ma. Furthermore, both assemblages show narrow bathymetric ranges, reinforcing that they were paleoenvironmental—ecological biotopes and spatially restricted in marine settings. Meanwhile, the Nama assemblage appears to be a unique faunal stage, defined by a global loss of diversity, coincident with a noted expansion of bathymetrically unrestricted, long-ranging Ediacara taxa. These data reinforce that Ediacaran biodiversity and stratigraphic ranges of its representative taxa must first statistically account for varying likelihood of preservation at a local scale to ultimately aggregate the Ediacaran macrofossil record into a global biostratigraphic context.
Evolution of fluoroquinolone resistance in Burkholderia cepacia.

This study investigates the evolution of fluoroquinolone resistance in Burkholderia cepacia and assesses fitness of clinical isolates of the B. cepacia complex. B. cepacia was chosen as a clinically relevant model of antibiotic resistance because these bacteria cause chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients, are highly resistant to killing by many antimicrobials and consequently require long term antibiotic treatment. Fluoroquinolones are a widely used class of antimicrobials, increasingly used in medical and veterinary practice. A method was optimised and used to determine the rate of mutation occurring in topoisomerase genes that confer resistance to fluoroquinolones. The fitness cost associated with fluoroquinolone resistance mutations was assessed as a measure of the stability of resistance in the bacterial population. Clinical isolates were assessed for hypermutability using mutation to fluoroquinolone resistance as a selective tool. In Gram-negative bacteria resistance to fluoroquinolones occurs via three major mechanisms drug efflux, reduced permeability and target alteration. The spectrum of fluoroquinolone resistance mutations occurring in vitro, the rate at which they arise, and the fitness costs of characterised topoisomerase mutations was investigated, using models relevant to transmission of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Previous studies have shown that single point mutations in DNA gyrase, conferring resistance, have no or low cost. Only double mutations in gyrA and parC conferred a fitness cost. Second step mutations occur at a faster rate than first step mutations. Mutation in gyrA, therefore, may predispose the genome to mutation in topoisomerase genes.
Characterization and optimization of agarase from an estuarine Bacillus subtilis

A bacterium producing agarase was isolated from the vellar estuary and potential strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. The ideal parameters was found to be of pH 8, temperature of 40°C and 3% of NaCl concentration for optimal growth and agarase activity. Agar as carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source was found to be suitable for optimum growth and agarase activity. The activity of enzyme obtained from the cell free filtrate was 15.2 U/L and the activity of the partially purified enzyme was 5.3 U/L and the purified enzyme activity was found to be 2.3 U/L. The stability of the partially purified enzyme on pH profile was found to be pH 8 and thermostability was found to be up to 40°C. The purified enzyme was determined to be homogeneous on the basis of SDS PAGE and had a molecular weight of 20 KDa.
The Branch Roots of Zea. I. First Order Branches, Their Number, Sizes and Division Into Classes

Recent studies of the axile roots of maize have shown that they have immature late metaxylem for the first 30 cm, and so have a high axial resistance to water flow. This has focused attention on the older regions of the roots as sites of water uptake, and especially on the branch roots they bear. The first-order branches of field-grown roots have been measured, and values found for: (a) the numbers along the axile roots (average 12 cm-1 with small variances); (b) diameters of the branches; (c) diameters of their largest tracheary elements; and (d) branch lengths (mode 6-10 mm, mean 30 mm). On the basis of root diameters and vascular anatomy, four classes of branch root have been distinguished. Class 1 branches have several small tracheary elements and Classes 2-4 have one or more large central tracheary elements besides smaller peripheral ones. Branch diameters are grouped around the means: Class 1 (214 micromole), Class 2 (350 micromole), Class 3 (525 micromole) and Class 4 (675 micromole). Seventy-six percent of the branches are in Classes 1 and 2. Branch length and diameter were weakly correlated. The shortness of the branches is particularly striking, and seems characteristic of maize rather than other cereals or grasses. This study defines the range of material in which water and nutrient uptakes need to be investigated.
Interception and Retention of Atrazine by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Stubble

Atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] retention by standing and flat wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stubble was determined over time. Immediately following an application of 1.7 kg/ha atrazine, approximately 60% of the herbicide had been intercepted by the stubble and 40% was found in the underlying soil. After 3 weeks and 50 mm of rainfall, atrazine on standing and flat stubble had decreased by 90 and 63%, respectively, while atrazine in the soil increased nearly twofold. No atrazine was found in stubble 9 weeks after application, and only 17% of that originally applied remained in the upper 4 cm of the soil. Successive alternate-day applications of 12.5, 25, or 50 mm water on 14C-atrazine retention by stubble was determined. Atrazine loss from stubble was greatest during the first water application, but there was no linear relationship between water application rate and retention of the herbicide. Atrazine loss from stubble decreased significantly following the second water application in all treatments. The amount of water applied did not influence atrazine loss following the third washing. Subsequent loss after the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh washings was not significant at any water application volume. After the seventh washing, atrazine residues were greatest on stubble which had received the least amount of water.
Revealing the seed proteome of the health benefitting grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.)

Amaranth, a staple food source in ancient Aztec, Maya and Inca cultures, has been recognised as a 21st century crop. This superfood, known as Inca wheat, attracts the worldwide attention of researchers and farmers for its superior agronomical and technological properties but especially because of its exceptional nutritive value. A combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) with MS facilitating the effective differentiation of 13 classes of Amaranthus cruentus L. “Ficha” mature seed proteins was used in the current study. The best resolution results in the 2-DE were obtained using immobilised pH gradients strips with a pH range of 5–8. Out of the 461 spots detected, 249 were successfully identified by LC-MS/MS analysis, making this the most inclusive protein profile of mature amaranth seed. Unknown proteins represented the most abundant class of proteins (59), the second most abundant category was related to energy (46) and then to seed storage proteins (43). These results expand the knowledge of the amaranth seed proteome and it is expected that the data presented here will contribute to further in-depth characterisation of Amaranthus seeds.
Processos térmicos em dietas para frangos de corte na fase pré-inicial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance of broiler chickens 1-7 days old fed the inclusion of 20% parboiled rice bran (PRB) in the diet and different processes. The design utilized was in a 2x3 factorial, two types of diets (one based on corn and the other with the inclusion of 20% PRB) and three types of processing, with mash diets, pelleted and expanded pelleted, all isonutritives. Diets were pelleted at a temperature of 85 ° C and expanded in a temperature range of 110 ° C to 115 ° C. The study was conducted in experimental avian composed of 60 boxes experimental. Each experimental unit consisted of 58 male broiler chicks of the Cobb 500 ® line of one day old. Six treatments with 10 repetitions per treatment were used. The performance variables at 7 days of age were evaluated. Average when presented differences in 5% were compared by Tukey test. The variables analyzed showed no significant interaction (P <0.05) during the study period. Broiler chicks fed the inclusion of 20% PRB diet had lower body weight, weight gain and diet consumption at 7 days old. The expansion+ pelleted process promotes improvement in weight at 7 days of age and weight gain of the chickens until 7 days age.
New Zealand White Rabbits *

1 School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New 5 Zealand; m.g. collett@massey.ac. nz (M.G.C.); z.matthews@hotmail.com (Z.M.M); k.parton@massey.ac. nz 6 (K.H.P.) 7 * Correspondence: m.g. collett@massey.ac. nz 8 9 Abstract: Cattle occasionally develop brassica-associated liver disease (BALD) and 10 photosensitisation when grazing turnip or swede (Brassica spp.) forage crops. The liver toxin in these 11 brassica varieties has yet to be discovered. Progoitrin is the dominant glucosinolate in incriminated 12 crops. Apart from goitrin, progoitrin hydrolysis yields the nitrile, 1-cyano-2-hydroxy-3-butene 13 (CHB), and the epithionitrile, 1-cyano-2-hydroxy-3,4-epithiobutane (CHEB). The two compounds 14 were custom-synthesised. In a small pilot trial, New Zealand White rabbits were given either CHB 15 or CHEB by gavage. Single doses of 0.75 mmol/kg of CHB or 0.25 mmol/kg of CHEB were subtoxic 16 and elicited subclinical effects. Higher doses were severely hepatotoxic causing periportal to massive 17 hepatic necrosis associated with markedly elevated serum liver biomarkers often resulting in severe 18 illness or death within 24 h. The possibility that one or both of these hepatotoxic nitriles causes BALD 19 in cattle requires further investigation. 20
Environmental remediation potential of Perinereis aibuhitensis (Polychaeta) based on the effects of temperature and feed types on its carbon and nitrogen budgets

ABSTRACT The effects of three temperatures (15°C, 20°C and 25°C) and four feed types (artificial feed, AF; sediment, SM; fish faeces, FF; and fish meat, FM) on the growth, carbon budget and nitrogen budget of the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis were evaluated over a 35 day period. The final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) of P. aibuhitensis were significantly affected by temperature and feed types (T, F = 15.831, P = 0.000; Feed, F = 81.827, P = 0.000), but the interaction between these factors was not significant (F = 0.435, P = 0.848). The worms achieved the highest SGR in the AF group at 20°C. However, the SGR in the SM group was only half that of the other groups. The food conversion efficiency (FCE) was significantly lower at 25°C than at 15°C and 20°C (P < 0.05). The FCE was highest in the FM group (P = 0.000), with a mean of 39.83%. The apparent digestibility rate (ADR) at 25°C was significantly higher than at 15°C and 20°C (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the higher FCE coupled with ADR (78.48%) resulted in higher SGR in worms that were fed artificial feed at 20°C. The slow growth in the SM group was attributed to the lower organic content in sediment and the higher expenditure of carbon and nitrogen in faeces and metabolism. The proportion of total C and N deposited was lower in groups fed with the higher-quality feed used for fish cage farming. Most of feed carbon and nitrogen were released into the water by polychaetes, which was good for the sediment environment recovery under the fish cages.
Fertilizer Concentration and Leaching Affect Nitrate-Nitrogen Leaching from Potted Poinsettia

The influence of fertilizer concentration and leaching volume on the quantity of applied N and water that were leached from a container-grown poinsettia crop ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) was investigated. The NO 3-N quantity leached after 71 days increased with higher NO3-N application rates (7, 14, or 28 mol NO 3-N/m 3 ) and higher leaching volumes; it ranged from 0.03 g NO3-N (7 molm -3 , 0.00 container capacity leached (CCL)) to 7.65 g NO3-N (28 mol·m -3 , 1.0 CCL). The NO3-N concentration for saturated media extracts increased with lower leaching volumes and higher fertilizer concentrations. For example, when 7 mol NO3-N/m 3 was applied, NO3-N in the medium was 27.1 mol NO3-N/ m 3 when 0 CCL was used, but it was 8.6 mol NO3-N/m 3 when 1.0 CCL was used. Shoot height and dry mass were not affected by the treatments. Leaching treatments also did not influenced leaf area, but leaf area was larger at 7 compared to 14 or 28 mol NO 3-N/m 3 .