Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Antibacterial Activity of Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Extracts against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

Recently, drug resistance due to the extensive abuse and over-use of antibiotics has become an increasingly serious problem, making the development of alternative antibiotics a very urgent issue. This study is aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina leaves against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. To achieve this, fresh leaves of V. amygdalina were harvested, air dried and milled into powder and extracted using ethanol and water as solvents. The antibacterial activities of both extracts were determined by diffusion method. Nutrient agar medium was prepared using standard method. Pure cultures of Coliform bacillus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus viridians, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli were obtained from the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The extracts were serially diluted to obtain 1.0%, 0.5%, 0.25%, and 0.125% solutions in sterile test tubes. The results showed that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina leaves has antibacterial potential against all the test organisms used in this study and also exhibited inhibitory activity against them. However, the inhibitory activity of the ethanolic extract was greater than that of the aqueous extract. This present study revealed that V. amygdalina extracts possessed antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, both extracts have a greater inhibitory potential against gram positive bacteria than the gram negative bacteria. In the same vein, ethanolic extract of V. amygdalina leaves possess higher inhibitory activity than its corresponding aqueous extracts.
Enzymatic Conversion of a Δ4‐3‐Ketosteroid into a 3α‐Hydroxy‐5β‐Steroid: Mechanism and Stereochemistry of Hydrogen Transfer from NADPH

The conversion of [4-14C]7α, 12α-dihydroxycholest-4-en-3-one into 5β-cholestane-3α,7α,12α-triol, catalyzed by Δ4-3-ketosteroid 5β-reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from rat liver, has been studied in the presence of tritiated water and NADPH labeled with tritium in the A- and B-positions. It was concluded that the reduction of the Δ4 double bond involves a direct hydride ion transfer from the A-position of NADPH to the 5β-position of the steroid and the addition of a proton to the 4-position of the steroid. The reduction of the 3-keto group was found to involve a direct transfer of hydrogen from the A-position of NADPH to the 3β-position of the steroid.
Copper impacts in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.): molecular, biochemical and biotechnological approaches

Since the development of Bordeaux mixture in the late 1800’s, copper-based fungicides have been widely used against grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) diseases, mainly in organic but also in conventional viticulture. Although they initially seemed to improve plant growth in unproductive lands, their intensive use has raised concerns regarding toxicity to plants and soil contamination, and research has emerged to characterize copper effects on grapevine physiology. However, at grape berry level the effects of plant exposure to copper remain largely unexplored. In the present study molecular, biochemical and biotechnological approaches were combined to investigate the mechanisms mediating copper transport and compartmentation in grape cells and the consequences of altered copper status in grape berry composition and wine quality. Toxicological assessments in grape cell suspensions (CSB, Cabernet Sauvignon Berry) showed that copper reduced the growth and cell viability in a dose-dependent manner above 100 μM and was accumulated in specific metal ion sinks. Copper transport across the plasma membrane of grape cells was characterized with the copper-sensitive probe Phen Green SK, and results showed that copper uptake was mediated by a high capacity saturable transport system (Km = 583 μM; Vmax = 177 x10 %ΔF min protoplast), that was regulated by copper availability in the culture medium. The compartmentation of copper in the vacuole of grape cells was studied by fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorimetry. The pH-sensitive fluorescent probe ACMA showed the involvement of H-dependent copper transport across the tonoplast, which was dependent on the transmembrane pH gradient generated by both V-H-ATPase and V-H-PPase, but apparently not regulated by copper availability in the culture medium. Eight putative COPT/Ctr-type Vitis vinifera copper transporters were identified in the grapevine genome, and expression studies in CSB suspensions showed that VvCTr1 and VvCTr8 were distinctly affected by CuSO4 availability. The in silico analysis of all VvCTr members showed a close phylogenetic relationship to COPT proteins from Arabidopsis and rice, and typical features of Ctr transporters, including the presence of three transmembrane domains. In a field trial, the expression of each
Foliar zinc fertilization improves marketable fruit yield and quality attributes of pomegranate

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is commonly observed in pomegranate (Punica granatum) orchards. In this study the response of four commercial pomegranate cultivars to foliar Zn fertilization at a rate of 0.4% was evaluated in a two-years field experiment. Although, Zn fertilization did not significantly increase total fruit yield the unmarketable yield was significantly reduced. Fruit juice dry weight, density and concentration of solid materials and minerals were significantly increased by foliar application of Zn, which have important implications on fruit quality for pomegranate processing industries. Zn application significantly increased Zn concentration in leaf in all cultivars and fruit juice in three cultivars. However, seed Zn concentration was not affected in all cultivars. Based on the results, different cultivars respond differently to Zn fertilization under irrigation with saline water.
Biología reproductiva de la raya Rhinoptera bonasus (Elasmobranchii) en el sureste del Golfo de México

The cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus is one of the most abundant batoid species in southeastern Gulf of Mexico, where it is occasionally caught and salt-dried for human consumption. To date, there are no estimates of the reproductive parameters which are needed to assess the dynamics of the local population of this species, and its vulnerability to fisheries. The analysis of 136 females with a size range of 43-106 cm disc width (DW) and 56 males with a size range of 43-93 cm DW, allowed to estimate that the lengths at maturity (DW50%) are 89.1 cm DW and 76.4 cm DW for females and for males, respectively. The female reproductive cycle is apparently biennial. The gestation lasts close to 12 months, gestation and vitellogenesis are consecutive, and ovulation and parturition occur from mid-March to mid-June. The results indicate a brood size of one and the lengths at birth ranged between 37.5 and 43 cm DW. Apparently, the sizes at maturity estimated for the southeastern and the northern Gulf of Mexico are different, because the data for the northern Gulf of Mexico indicate DW values of 65.3 and 64.2 cm for females and males, respectively. The biennial reproductive
Ocorrência do leite instável não ácido no noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul

ABSTRACT The unstable non-acid milk (UNAM) is characterized by loss of casein stability, which results in its precipitation at the alcohol test even though titratable acidity be lower than 18oD. This trial aimed to estimate the occurrence of UNAM in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, state and to verify seasonal variation and its effects on milk composition. From September 2002 to August 2003, approximately 200 dairy farms were monthly monitored. Milk samples from bulk tank were collected and analyzed for titratable acidity; precipitation at alcohol 76% test; percentages of fat, crude protein, lactose, total solids; and somatic cells count, totalizing 2,396 milk samples. UNAM occurrence was 55.2%, being highest in February and March 2002. UNAM occurrence was reduced as milk production of farms increased. Fat percentage did not vary between normal milk and UNAM. However, crude protein, lactose, total solids, and solids non-fat contents were lower in UNAM than in normal milk. Keywords: milk composition, milk quality, stability, alcohol test
Impac tof some Heavy Metals pollutants in Lake Temsah in relation to Red tilapia, Egypt

The present study aimed to investigate the type and degree of water pollution in Lake Temsah. Then, studying the effect of most recorded heavy metals on fish and role of garlic in improving the health status of exposed Red Tilapia . The results during the field survey revealed higher level of lead followed by cupper then iron with no cadmium record. A total number of 165 Red Tilapia fish were equally distributed into five groups each with a triplicate of 11 fish. Lead acetate was added to tank's water of all groups of experiment except the control group. Garlic was added and used as a treatment to selected groups. The groups exposed to Lead acetate only revealed decrease in the RBCs, Hb%, HCT with increase in MCV and MCH and MCHC in the 3 and 6 weeks of the feeding experiment. In addition, leukocytopenia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia with elevation in serum creatinine, ALT, AST in comparison with control group. When garlic added during the feeding experiment, an increase in the survival and significant increase in growth and weight-gain were seen in all treated groups beside significant improvement in the blood parameters and indices. It is concluded that, Garlic at dose 0.25 g / kg eliminated partially Lead toxicity from the fish body, which in turn improved the growth and immunity.
Leaf architecture and ecophysiology of an early basal eudicot from the Early Cretaceous of Spain

Iterophyllum lobatum gen. et sp. nov. is reported from the late Barremian lithographic limestones of Las Hoyas, Spain. It consists of a simple, petiolate leaf, with a pinnately lobed lamina. The dentate thickened margin bears chloranthoid-like glands at lobe apices and sinuses. The venation is pinnate and craspedodromous, with three discernible vein orders. Based on the low regularity of vein course and angles and the low leaf rank, such a venation pattern may represent an early evolved leaf archetype in early basal eudicots. An acropetal leaf development mode in I. lobatum is similar to that in several living Papaveraceae. The leaf architecture and ecophysiology, particularly the vein widths and the glands, indicate that I. lobatum leaves were aerial. The plant grew close to water in the wetland terrestrial ecosystem of Las Hoyas. Iterophyllum lobatum might have been an opportunist species in early ecological succession stages after wildfires.
Efeitos de tratamentos pré-germinativos na superação da dormência de sementes de arroz e na atividade enzimática da peroxidase

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em condicoes de laboratorio, na Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras, em 1989/90, com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiencia de tratamentos pre-germinativos na superacao da dormencia de sementes de arroz ( Oryza sativa L.), bem como seus efeitos na atividade enzimatica da peroxidase. As cultivares irrigadas Inca e MG 1, ambas apresentando dormencia pos-colheita, foram submetidas por varios tempos a diferentes tratamentos pre-germinativos: hipoclorito de sodio 1%; peroxido de hidrogenio (H 2 O 2 20 Vol.); envelhecimento acelerado 40°C a 100% UR; a pre-secagem em estufa de circulacao forcada de ar com combinacao de tempo x temperatura. A pre-secagem a 40°C por 168 horas apresentou os melhores resultados na superacao da dormencia das sementes em ambas as cultivares. Os tratamentos com pre-secagem foram tambem os mais eficientes na inibicao da atividade da peroxidase, especialmente para a cultivar Inca.
Morpho-histological study of the digestive tract and the annex glands of Chinchilla laniger

No detailed histological study of the segments of the digestive tract and of the post-diaphragmatic annex glands of Chinchilla laniger is available in the literature, to our knowledge. The study presented draws attention to the morphological characteristics of the digestive tract and their involvement in the digestive process, with important implications for the composition of formula diets. Histological study of the digestive tract and annex glands (liver and pancreas) of Chinchilla laniger shows no major differences from other mammals. The walls of the oesophagus, stomach and intestine are composed of four layers: the mucosa, sub-mucosa, muscularis mucosa and serosa (the fourth layer of the oesophagus being called the adventitia). A noteworthy feature of the species is the generous development of the caecum in proportion to body size, a characteristic shared with other rodent species.
Energy and protein interactions and their effect on nitrogen excretion in dairy cows

The principal driver of nitrogen (N) losses from the body including excretion and secretion in milk is N intake. However, other covariates may also play a role in modifying the partitioning of N. This study tests the hypothesis that N partitioning in dairy cows is affected by energy and protein interactions. A database containing 470 dairy cow observations was collated from calorimetry experiments. The data include N and energy parameters of the diet and N utilization by the animal. Univariate and multivariate meta-analyses that considered both within and between study effects were conducted to generate prediction equations based on N intake alone or with an energy component. The univariate models showed that there was a strong positive linear relationships between N intake and N excretion in faeces, urine and milk. The slopes were 0.28 faeces N, 0.38 urine N and 0.20 milk N. Multivariate model analysis did not improve the fit. Metabolizable energy intake had a significant positive effect on the amount of milk N in proportion to faeces and urine N, which is also supported by other studies. Another measure of energy considered as a covariate to N intake was diet quality or metabolizability (the concentration of metabolizable energy relative to gross energy of the diet). Diet quality also had a positive linear relationship with the proportion of milk N relative to N excreted in faeces and urine. Metabolizability had the largest effect on faeces N due to lower protein digestibility of low quality diets. Urine N was also affected by diet quality and the magnitude of the effect was higher than for milk N. This research shows that including a measure of diet quality as a covariate with N intake in a model of N execration can enhance our understanding of the effects of diet composition on N losses from dairy cows. The new prediction equations developed in this study could be used to monitor N losses from dairy systems.
Contribution to the karyomorphology of some species of the genus Quercus

In order to contribute to the knowledge of the taxonomic relationships between some species of the Quercus genus, the karyomorphology of 4 species (Quercus ilex L., Q. suber L., Q. robur L. and Q. pubescens WILLD.) was carried out. The somatic chromosome number 2n = 24 was found in all taxa examined. An evident differentaiation in karyotype structure of Q. ilex compared to other previous studied species has been found. Quercus suber, Q. robur and Q. pubescens possess moderately asymmetrical karyotypes Q. suber differs from other species of the subgenus Cerris on the basis of karyological data showing similarities with Q. robur and Q. pubescens.
Pharmacokinetics of 7α‐Methyl‐19‐nortestosterone in Men and Cynomolgus Monkeys

ABSTRACT: Testosterone and its esters are widely used for androgen replacement therapy. In the prostate, testosterone is 5α‐reduced to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which leads to an amplification of its stimulatory activity in this and other tissues that have significant 5a‐reductase activity. While this amplification is essential during fetal development, it has potentially undesirable consequences during adult life. 7α‐Methyl‐19‐nortestosterone (MENT) is a potent synthetic androgen that does not undergo 5α reduction and is therefore being investigated for long‐term clinical use because it is expected to be less stimulatory to the prostate. Since we anticipate using MENT acetate (MENT Ac) rather than MENT as the form of this androgen in humans, the bioavailability of MENT following the administration of MENT and MENT Ac was investigated in cynomolgus monkeys. Equimolar concentrations of MENT or MENT Ac were administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion via Alzet osmotic pumps. Serum MENT levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in blood samples collected daily for 4 days during steady state. The serum MENT levels were not significantly different in the two groups (11.3 ± 1.6 vs. 13.1 ± 1.2 nmol/L). This suggested that MENT Ac was rapidly converted to MENT in circulation. The hydrolysis of MENT Ac to MENT was confirmed by the in vitro incubation of MENT Ac with blood or plasma and the demonstration of MENT in products following separation by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Following the demonstration of the safety of MENT Ac in subchronic toxicity studies in rats and rabbits, a pharmacokinetic study was performed in men. In normal men, a single intravenous bolus of 500 μg of MENT led to peak serum MENT levels at 3 minutes after dosing (when the first samples were collected), followed by an exponential decline, reaching undetectable levels by 180 minutes. The average terminal half‐life and the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) were calculated to be 40 minutes and 2,360 L/day, respectively. The results of the pharmacokinetic studies show that in both men and monkeys, the MCR of MENT is much faster than the values reported for testosterone. The faster MCR can be attributed, in part, to the finding that, in contrast to testosterone, MENT showed no binding to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
Benthic meiofaunal predation and composition in the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon culture ponds, Malaysia

The tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon fabricius assumed a predator of meiofaunas (53–500mm) in addition to the larger benthic macrofaunas (>1000mm) in the culture pond. The natural selection of benthic meiofaunas as a food source by shrimps was indicated throughout the study period. Twenty species of benthic meiofaunas were found in the culture ponds, which included harpacticoid copepoda, ostracoda, gastropoda, crustacean nauplii, nematoda, bivalvia, polychaeta and insecta. No significant difference (ANOVA, p>0.05) was observed for the quantitative results of the benthic meiofaunas between aged and new ponds sampled. Copepoda was the dominant group throughout the culture period in both aged (19.99–44.22 indivi 10/cm2) and new ponds (4.03–13.01 indivi/10cm2). This was followed by insecta (10.57–23.50 indivi/10cm2), polychaeta (6.89–15.31 indivi/10cm2) and nematoda (6.44–14.31 indivi/10cm2) in aged ponds. In new ponds, nematoda (2.61–2.73 indivi/10cm2) was found to be the second dominant species followed by insecta (0.54–0.56 indivi/10cm2). A major trend of variation of total benthic meiofaunas was observed during the culture period leading speculations that culture shrimps preyed them as a live or dead food together with supplemental diet and detritus. In addition, soil organic matter, growth performance of shrimps and water quality data were also observed and compared.
Overlap in the diets of diurnal raptors breeding at the Michilia biosphere reserve, Durango, Mexico

We studied the diets of the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus), Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis), Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) by examining pellets collected during 1981 and 1982 breeding seasons in the reserve of La Michilla, Durango, Mexico. Diet overlap was small. The Turkey Vulture and the Black Hawk had little overlap by feeding on restricted types of food (carrion and fish). Hawks (Buteo and Accipiter) ate prey of similar types and sizes but hunted in different habitats and captured different species. The American Kestrel ate the same prey as the Red-tailed Hawk but selected younger and smaller individuals.
Effect of Nitrogen Levels and Growing Media on Growth, Flowering and Bulb Production of Lilium Cultivars

To find out the optimum levels of nitrogen, four Lilium cultivars viz., Brunello, Novacento, Romano and Elite were supplied with nitrogen@10, 20, 30 and 40g/m2 and grown in two media i.e., natural soil mixed with coco peat and natural soil alone. Among the cultivars tested; Elite was found to produce longest stem (85.13 cm) and the heaviest bulbs (55.14 g) when nitrogen was applied @ 30g/m2. The longest bud (7.65cm), bigger flower(18.30cm) and higher number of bulblets (1.83/bulb)were produced by cv. Elite with the application of nitrogen @ 20g/m2. The experiment established that cv. Elite produced more number of leaves (37.37/stem) and longest bud (7.60 cm), followed by cv. Novacento (35.78 leaves/stem) grown in mixture of soil and coco peat
Influence of density on intermediate wheatgrass and spotted knapweed interference.

Establishing competitive plants is essential for restoring spotted knapweed infested grasslands. Revegetation attempts typically fail becanse of weed competition during the initial stages of establishment. We hypothesized that competitive interactions can be shifted from spotted knapweed to intermediate wheatgrass by increasing wheatgrass seedling density over 1,000 plants m-2. Spotted knapweed and intermediate wheatgrass were grown in addition series mixtures to assess their interference at low (0 to 1,000 plants m-2) versus high (1,000 to 10,000 plants m-2) densities. In the spring of 1995, 7 densities (0, 100, 500, 1,000, 3,000, 6,000, and 10,000 plants m-2) of each species were seeded in a factorial arrangement (49 density combinations) in a randomized-complete-block design and replicated 3 times at 2 sites in Montana. Plants were grown in pots (2,250 mm2 X 380 mm deep) for 60 days before harvesting. Regressions predicting shoot weight, root weight, total weight, leaf area, and root length were calculated using 1) low knapweed:low wheatgrass, 2) low knapweed:high wheatgrass, 3) high knapweed:low wheatgrass, and 4) high knapweed:high wheatgrass densities. Regression coefficients indicated intraspecific interference was most important in predicting intermediate wheatgrass weight at both sites. At the wet site (457 mm, annually), interspecific interference only occurred at high spotted knapweed densities. At the dry site (305 mm, annually), interspecific interference occurred at low densities. Increasing intermediate wheatgrass from low to high densities removed the effect of spotted knapweed on intermediate wheatgrass where interspecific interference occurred.
Changes in chemical properties of soil and sour cherry as a result of sewage sludge application

This study, aimed at assessment of the effects of different sewage sludge application rates on heavy metal accumulation in the soil and in sour cherry leaves was carried out in the years 2005-2007. The rates applied were 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 kg of dry matter per tree. Eighteen uniform one-year-old Kutahya sour cherry trees on Prunus mahaleb rootstock were used. Sewage sludge not only improved soil chemical properties but also resulted in an increase of nutrient content in cherry leaves. Sewage sludge application increased heavy metal content of soils. However, this increase did not exceed the critical values and was not reflected in the leaf contents of heavy metals. The most effective application rate was 7.5 kg per tree. Studies should be continued to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge on vegetative and generative growth, yield and fruit quality parameters.