Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KINETICS PARAMETERS DETERMINATION OF REFINED AND COLD–PRESSED RAPESEED OILS AFTER OXIDATION BY RANCIMAT

This works summarizes results of quality assessment of five refined and five cold-pressed rapeseed oils. The analyzed oils were characterized by a good quality that meet requirements of the Codex Alimentarius standard. Oxidative stability of the oils was determined in Rancimat test at five temperatures (90, 100, 110, 120, 130 oC). The oxidation rate constant (k) was observed to increase along with increasing process temperature. The Arrhenius equation and active complex theory were used to compute the exponential factor (Z), activation energy (Ea), reaction rate constant at various process temperatures (k) as well as enthalpy (ΔH++) and entropy (ΔS++) of the oxidation reaction of the analyzed oils. The Ea, ΔH++and ΔS++ values ranged from 76.43 to 82.44 kJ/mol, from 72.12 to 79.26 kJ/mol and from –48.35 to –68.45 J/molK for the refined oils as well from 74.24 to 77.56 kJ/mol, from 71.04 to 75.47 kJ/mol and from –56.40 to –69.99 J/molK for the cold-pressed oils, respectively.
Insight into the genetic variability analysis and relationships among some Aegilops and Triticum species, as genome progenitors of bread wheat, using SCoT markers

Abstract We assessed the molecular genetic diversity and relationships among some Aegilops and Triticum species using 15 start codon-targeted (SCoT) polymorphism markers. A total of 166 bands amplified, of which 164 (98.79%) were polymorphic. Analysis of molecular variance and inter-population differentiation (Gst) indicated high genetic variation within the studied populations. Our analyses revealed high genetic diversity in T. boeoticum, Ae. cylindrica, T. durum and Ae. umbellulata, low diversity in Ae. crassa, Ae. caudata and Ae. speltoides, and a close relationship among Ae. tauschii, T. aestivum, T. durum, T. urartu, and T. boeoticum. Cluster analysis indicated 180 individuals divided into 8 genome homogeneous clades and 11 sub-groups. T. aestivum and T. durum accessions were grouped together, and accessions with the C and U genomes were grouped into the same clade. Our results support the hypothesis that T. urartu and Ae. tauschii are two diploid ancestors of T. aestivum, and also that Ae. caudata and Ae. umbellulata are putative donors of C and U genomes for other Aegilops species that possess these genomes. Our results also revealed that the SCoT technique is informative and can be used to assess genetic relationships among wheat germplasm.
MODIFYING AND ADAPTING A PLANT-BASED DNA EXTRACTION PROTOCOL FOR HUMAN GENOMIC DNA EXTRACTION: A COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH

This research involved modification of a standard protocol for DNA extraction in plants for its suitability as an extraction method for DNA in human whole blood in which some of the plasma was removed. Human blood samples were obtained from a 100 apparently healthy individuals residing in Calabar. The modified DNA procedure yielded good quality genomic DNA which was used in carrying out allele specific polymerase chain reaction which also yielded good quality amplicons. This method is simple and suitable for the extraction of DNA from human red cell.
The historical connections between the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest revisited

To assess ancient biotic connections between the Amazon Forest (AmF) and the Atlantic Forest (AtF) based on environmental niche modelling (ENM), palaeobiological, and molecular evidence; to test Por ( )'s hypothesis of the south‐eastern—north‐western (SE—NW) route as the most important route in terms of frequency and duration; to evaluate past climatic conditions associated with the routes.
Microbial community assembly differs by mineral type in the rhizosphere

Inputs of root carbon (C) fuel growth of nearby soil microorganisms. If these microbes associate with soil minerals, then mineral-microbiome complexes near roots could be a gateway towards stabilization of soil carbon and may influence the quantity and quality of persistent SOM. To investigate the interactions between roots, soil minerals, and microbes, we incubated three types of minerals (ferrihydrite, kaolinite, quartz) and a native soil mineral fraction near roots of a common Californian annual grass, Avena barbata, growing in its resident soil. We followed microbial colonization of these minerals for 2.5 months – the plant’s lifespan. Bacteria and fungi that colonized mineral surfaces during this experiment differed across mineral types and differed from those in the background soil, implying microbial colonization was the result of processes in addition to passive movement with water to mineral surfaces. Null model analysis revealed that dispersal limitation was a dominant factor structuring mineral-associated microbial communities for all mineral types. Once bacteria arrived at a mineral surface, capacity for rapid growth appeared important, as ribosomal copy number was significantly correlated with relative enrichment on minerals. Glomeromycota (a phylum associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) appeared to preferentially associate with ferrihydrite surfaces. The mechanisms enabling colonization of soil minerals may be foundational to the overall soil microbiome composition and partially responsible for the persistence of C entering soil via plant roots.
The possible protective effect of metformin on acute experimental colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice: an immunohistochemical study

Introduction Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is a widely used model of large intestinal damage that closely resembles human ulcerative colitis. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of metformin on the expression of metallothionein (MT) and nuclear factor &kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B), apoptosis, and proliferation in a DSS-induced colitis model. Materials and methods Eighteen adult albino mice were divided into three groups and were treated for 7 consecutive days as follows: group I served as the control group; group II (the DSS group) received 3% DSS in drinking water; and group III (the DSS+metformin group) received 3% DSS in drinking water plus metformin at a dose of 200 mg/kg. The severity of the disease was evaluated on the basis of changes in body weight and the disease activity index. At the end of the experiment, the colon length was measured and the distal colon was processed for histological examination and immunohistochemical staining with MT, NF-&kgr;B (p65), caspase-3, or proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Results Metformin significantly improved the loss of body weight and the shortening of the colon and significantly decreased the disease activity index and histological scores in DSS-induced colitis. However, these parameters, with the exception of colon length, were still significantly higher compared with control values. Metformin treatment reduced the overexpression of NF-&kgr;B and MT in the mucosa and submucosa induced by DSS treatment. It also decreased the number of apoptotic cells and increased the number of proliferating cells. Conclusion Metformin attenuated DSS-induced colonic injury and inflammation in mice through modulation of MT and NF-&kgr;B expression and reduction of apoptosis and thus may have a protective effect in inflammatory bowel disease.
Effect of murine cytomegalovirus infection on haematopiesis and myeloid cell differentiation and function

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen affecting over 95% of the world’s population. While infection is typically asymptomatic in healthy individuals, the virus persists life-long in its host and can be reactivated following withdrawal of immune control. As such, it remains a serious clinical concern in individuals who are immunocompromised, such as newborns and neonates, transplant and/or chemotherapy recipients, and HIV/AIDS patients. CMV also has the ability to cause immunosuppression, the mechanisms of which include defective antigen presentation to T cells and interference with haematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM). Due to strict species specificity, murine CMV (MCMV) provides a relevant model for the study of CMV modulation of the immune system in vivo in its natural host. The type I interferons (IFNs) represent a major family of cytokines involved in the early response to MCMV infection. Their anti-viral activity and regulation of NK cell activation and cytotoxicity are of significant interest in the context of MCMV infection, as genetic resistance to MCMV is mediated by the ability of Ly49H NK cells to directly recognise and lyse infected cells. Chapter 2 comprises an analysis of acute MCMV infection in the absence of type I IFN activity. These studies were conducted in IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 deficient mice, which lack components of the type I IFN receptor. Data obtained from these studies confirmed the essential requirement for type I IFN in controlling viral titres, promoting expansion of splenic Ly49H NK cells, and inducing early activation of NK cell cytotoxicity. In addition, our data depicted an accumulation of infected myeloid cells in the absence of effective NK cell-mediated control. This was paralleled by a significant increase in the level of serum TNF-α and IFN-g, an effect which in some cases has been linked to serious pathological disease. Thus, the data described in this chapter provide an insight into the consequences arising from delayed NK cell responses to MCMV infection in the absence of type I IFN.
Phylogenetic patterns of rarity in a regional species pool of tropical woody plants

Aim Rarity, which is believed to influence extinction risk, can be defined in terms of local abundance, geographical range size and habitat breadth. Phylogenetic patterns in these attributes provide insight into the extent to which rarity and extinction risk are conserved during evolution and the potential for species-level heritability. We evaluated phylogenetic signal (i.e., related species resembling each other more than species drawn at random) and evolutionary conservatism (similarity among related species exceeding that expected from a Brownian model of evolution) in three axes of rarity (local abundance, geographical range size and habitat breadth) among species in a regional pool of tropical woody plants. Location The Madidi region in Bolivia. Time period 2001–2010. Major taxa studied Lignophyta clade. Methods We used a network of 48 1-ha forest plots and 442 0.1-ha forest plots to measure local abundance and habitat breadth of 1,700+ woody plant species (from 100+ plant families). We estimated geographical range size from occurrence records of individual species across the Neotropics. We characterized overall phylogenetic patterns of rarity using Blomberg's K and applied variance partitioning among taxonomic levels, as well as disparity analysis, to describe patterns of trait distribution at different depths in the phylogeny. Results We found phylogenetic signal, but not evolutionary conservatism, in the three axes of rarity. The variance in rarity among supra-specific taxa, particularly families and genera, exceeded that calculated from random draws of species from the Madidi region. Phylogenetic signal, estimated by the proportion of variance among supra-specific taxonomic levels, varied between 23 and 36% for local abundance and geographical range size, and between 9 and 10% for habitat breadth. Main conclusions The regional pool of woody plant species in Madidi exhibits phylogenetic signal in rarity that is consistent with biologically significant species-level heritability.
Synaptic homeostasis at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction is a reversible signaling process that is sensitive to high temperature

Homeostasis is a vital mode of biological self-regulation. The hallmarks of homeostasis for any biological system are a baseline set point of physiological activity, detection of unacceptable deviations from the set point, and effective corrective measures to counteract deviations. Homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) is a form of neuroplasticity in which neurons and circuits resist environmental perturbations in order to maintain appropriate levels of activity. One assumption is that if an environmental perturbation triggers homeostatic corrective changes in neuronal properties, those corrective measures should be reversed upon removal of the perturbation. We test the reversibility and limits of HSP at a well-studied model synapse, the Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular junction (NMJ). At the Drosophila NMJ, impairment of glutamate receptors causes a decrease in quantal size, which is offset by a corrective, homeostatic increase in the number of vesicles released per evoked presynaptic stimulus, or quantal content. This process has been termed presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP). Taking advantage of a GAL4/GAL80TS/UAS expression system, we triggered PHP by expressing a dominant-negative glutamate receptor subunit at the NMJ. We then reversed PHP by halting expression of the dominant-negative receptor. Our data show that PHP is fully reversible over a time course of 48-72 hours after the dominant-negative glutamate receptor stops being genetically expressed. Additionally, we found that the PHP response triggered by the dominant-negative subunit was ablated at high temperatures. Our data show that the long-term maintenance of PHP at the Drosophila NMJ is a reversible regulatory process that is sensitive to temperature. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Biological homeostatic systems must upregulate or downregulate cellular parameters in order to maintain appropriate set points of physiological activity. Homeostasis is a well-documented mode of regulation in metazoan nervous systems. True homeostatic control should be a reversible process – but due to technical difficulties of presenting and removing functional challenges to living synapses, the reversibility of homeostatic forms of synapse regulation has not been rigorously examined in vivo over extended periods of developmental time. Here we formally demonstrate that homeostatic regulation of Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular synapse function is reversible and temperature-labile. This is significant because developing methods to study how homeostatic regulatory systems are turned on and off could lead to fundamental new insights about control of synaptic output.
Antifungal Efficacy of Floral Extracts, Biocontrol Agents and Fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri

The present investigation was conducted during 2011-2015 to evaluate the effectiveness of extracts of Marigold sp. (Tagetes erecta L.), Gaillardia sp. (Gaillardia pulchella), Chrysanthemum sp. (Chrysanthemum indicum) and Calotropis sp. (Calotropis gigantea) flowers, biocontrol agents and fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. Among the Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum tested by dual culture technique, P. fluorescens suppressed the colonisation of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri by 81.59%. The three fungicides viz., carbendazim (0.1%), metalaxyl (0.2%) and thiram (0.2%) were tested by poisoned food technique. Carbendazim @ 0.1% showed the highest effectiveness against F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. Seed treatment with P. fluorescens 10 g/kg seed + Trichoderma harzianum 4 g/kg seed + Marigold sp. (Tagetes erecta L.) floral water extract 4% proved highly effective in increasing seedling vigour index (3008.25) in chickpea in paper towel assay and was also effective to reduce incidence of Fusarium wilt (69.31%) under green house conditions.
Scent Marking and Factors Affecting on The Gestation Length in The Domestic Dog

Scent marking posture frequency of intact dogs and bitches was observed at two locations (kennel and open yard) in pre estrous and estrous phase in the domestic dog and effect of breed, age, parity and litter size of the gestation length. This study was carried out in Security and Guarding Dog Training Center, Cairo, Egypt. Twenty individuals (10 dogs and 10 bitches) for observation of scent marking posture, licking, sniffing the urine of female, tonguing response, sniffing and licking female perineal region, in pre estrous and estrous phase. Also data of 100 bitches were collected from the stud book record through the period between 2013-2015 analyzed to study the effect of breed, age, parity and litter size on the gestation length. The results indicated that there were a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between breeds, litter size and the gestation length, while no significant difference of age and parity of bitches. Also, there was a significant increase in mean frequencies of high leg raising, slight leg raising, squatting squat raising and raised leg display in dogs than in bitches and no significant difference in mean frequency of stand squatting. A significant increase in mean frequencies of licking and sniffing the urine of a bitch, tonguing response and sniffing and licking female perineal region and male investigating in the open yard.
Genetic analysis for fruit yield and its component traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

An investigation was undertaken with a view to study the nature and magnitude of gene action for 10 quantitative traits among five crosses of brinjal through generation mean analysis. The study involved six generation viz., P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 , BC 1 and BC 2 of five crosses derived from six diversified parents. The results indicated that the magnitude and type of gene effects differed for the same trait in different cross combinations. Therefore, for the improvement of particular trait, segregating generations of individual crosses should be handled according to the gene action involved in its inheritance. Additive [d], dominance [h], additive x additive, dominance x dominance gene actions were equally important for primary branches per plant, fruit breadth, fruit weight, yield per plant and seeds per fruit in most of the crosses. The complimentary type of epistasis was detected for inheritance of days to first flowering and days to first fruit picking in BNDT x PPC, number of fruits per plant in PPC x BB 64, yield per plant in N-1007 x BB-64 and KASARALI x PPC, while duplicate type of epistasis was important for inheritance of remaining traits in all the crosses except in BNDT x PPC.
Effect of calcium nitrate and boric acid on pollen germination of some date palm male cultivars

Date palm is one of the most important tropical fruits. It is a dioecious plant which needs artificial pollination for commercial fruit set. Pollen grains play an important role in the size, shape, weight of fruit and time of ripening, as metaxenia phenomenon. Favorable fruit production is related to quality of pollen and its compatibility with a certain female variety. The preparation of suitable medium is necessary for in vitro pollen germination of date palm cultivars. Existence of boron and calcium in medium are necessary for germination and pollen tube growth. In this experiment, the best concentration of boric acid and calcium nitrate was determined for pollen germination of 3 cultivars i.e. Jarvais, Fard and Beraem in a factorial based on completely randomized design, using Brewbaker and Kwack [5] modified medium. Medium containing 50 mgl-1 boric acid and 100 mgl-1 calcium nitrate, was the best for ‘Beraem’ pollen germination (85.47%). In this medium, the maximum pollen germination of ‘Fard’ cultivar was 64.49%. However ‘Jarvis’ pollen had highest germination (77.59%) in the same medium but with a concentration of 150 mgl-1 calcium nitrate. Thus, the different concentrations of B and Ca elements were most effective on date palm pollen germination for the mentioned cultivars.
Evaluating the Influence of Stem Form and Vigor on Product Potential, Growth, and Survival for Northern Commercial Hardwood Species

5 Introduction . 5 Methods . 12 Study area . 12 Penobscot Experimental Forest . 13 Austin Pond . 14 Holt Research Forest . 14 Scientific Forest Management Area . 15 Kingman Farms Research Forest . 15 Field measurements . 15 Classifying trees using NHRI system . 17 Modelling saw log recovery . 17 Modelling occurrence of stem form and vigor . 23 Model selection and evaluation . 25
Comparative Analysis of 2,4-D Uptake, Translocation, and Metabolism in Non–AAD-1 Transformed and 2,4-D–Resistant Corn

The Enlist™ traits provide 2,4-D resistance in several crops. Though corn is naturally tolerant to 2,4-D, the engineered trait conferred by the aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase-1 (AAD-1) enzyme provides enhanced 2,4-D tolerance and confers resistance to the graminicide herbicide family, the aryloxyphenoxypropionates. The objectives of this research were 2-fold: (1) measure and compare uptake, translocation, and metabolism of 2,4-D in Enlist™ (E, +AAD1) and non–AAD-1 transformed (NT, −AAD1) isogenic corn hybrids; and (2) and investigate the effect of glyphosate and/or the Enlist™ adjuvant system (ADJ) on these factors and corn injury. Uptake of radiolabeled 2,4-D acid applied alone in corn was not altered by the addition of ADJ when tank mixed at 24 h after application (HAA). By contrast, uptake of radiolabeled 2,4-D was significantly lower (69%) compared with 2,4-D plus ADJ (89%) at 24 HAA with a premixed formulation of 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate-dimethylamine (Enlist Duo™ herbicide [EDH]). Translocation of 2,4-D between the two corn hybrids was not different. E corn metabolized more 2,4-D (100% of absorbed) than NT corn (84%), and glyphosate did not alter 2,4-D metabolism. Furthermore, the metabolism of 2,4-D to nonphytotoxic dichlorophenol (DCP) and subsequent DCP-derived metabolites formed in E corn was examined. Injury to E corn is not typically observed in the field; however, injury symptoms were clearly evident in E corn (within 24 HAA) when formulated acetochlor was tank mixed with EDH, which correlated with an increase in 2,4-D uptake during this time period. In summary, the lack of injury in E corn following EDH applied alone may be attributed to a relatively low amount of 2,4-D uptake and the combination of natural and engineered 2,4-D metabolic pathways. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; acetochlor; Enlist Duo™ herbicide; glyphosate; corn, Zea mays L.
Disrupted carbon cycling in restored and unrestored urban streams: Critical timescales and controls

Carbon fixation and respiration in flowing waterways play significant roles in global and regional carbon budgets, yet how land use and watershed management interact with temporal disturbances (storms) to influence metabolism remains poorly understood. Here, we combine long‐term with synoptic sampling of metabolism and its variable controls in neighboring watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay to resolve limiting factors and critical timescales associated with recovery from disturbance. We found that, relative to predictions of the river continuum concept, focal streams have “disrupted” carbon cycles, with carbon balances closer to zero, and, in some cases, tighter coupling between gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER), attributable to carbon limitation. Carbon became limiting to ER where flashy storm hydrographs and simplified channel geomorphology inhibited accumulation of fine sediment. Shannon entropy analysis of timescales revealed that fine sediment served as a time‐release capsule for nutrients and carbon over 4–6 months, fueling biogeochemical transformations. Loss of fines through hydraulic disturbance had up to 30‐d impacts on GPP and 50‐d impacts on ER in the stream with carbon limitation. In contrast, where GPP and ER were not tightly coupled, recovery occurred within 1 d. Results suggest that a complex interplay between nutrient and carbon limitation and mechanical and chemical disturbance governs patterns and consequences of disrupted carbon cycling in urban streams. Carbon limitation and tight GPP/ER coupling enhance the vulnerability of stream ecosystem functions, but best management practices that target stormflow reduction and channel geomorphic diversity can break that coupling and minimize carbon cycle disruptions.