Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritive value of maize and sorghum silages: fibre fraction degradation and rumen microbial density in buffalo cows

Sorghum could be a potential substitute to maize in Mediterranean buffaloes feed in order to improve sustainability of buffalo-based agriculture, due to its reduced water and nitrogen requirements com- pared with maize, which is currently fed primarily. The aim of this study is to obtain information on rumen degradability of fibre fraction of maize and sorghum silages and to investigate the relationship between degra- dability and rumen microbial populations. As such four cannulated buffalo milking cows were fed ad libitum two different iso-energetic and iso-proteic diets based on maize silage (MS) and sorghum silage (SS). Based on plate counts, values of cellulolytic bacteria showed to be higher within the rumen of SS fed buffaloes compared to MS fed buffaloes (4.4 × 10 9 vs 1.9 × 10 9 cfu/ml, P <0.05), on the contrary, those of xylanolytic bacteria (3.2 × 10 9 vs 1.3 × 10 9 cfu/ml, P < 0.01) were higher in MS possibly due to the different fibre degradability. Real-time PCR of total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens revealed no statistical difference in their 16S rDNA concentrations between diets. MS and SS were subsequently utilized for a degradability experiment. For this trial three cannulated Mediterranean dry buffalo cows were used (body weight 580 ± 8.5 kg). The MS was found to have an effective degradability of acid detergent fibre, hemicellu- loses, and cellulose which were always lower than SS. Maize neutral detergent fibre degradability and slowly degradable fraction were significantly (P < 0.01) higher, on the contrary the immediately degradable fraction was found to be significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared with sorghum. The better sorghum relative feed value (P < 0.001) was related to the major content of fibre fraction compared to maize. As recommended by the IPCC Guidelines, Tier 2 was chosen to estimate the enteric CH 4 emission factor. The estimate of methane production is significantly lower in animals eating sorghum rather than maize (63.48 and 103.00 kg CH 4 /head/ year respectively, P < 0.001). In conclusion, as no difference was observed in animal weight gain and milk yield, rumen microbiota or degradability, it could be possible to substitute MS with SS in buffalo diet.
Low water availability and salinity effects on seedling viability of Bassia indica compared to B. iranica and B. prostrata (Amaranthaceae)

Abstract Desert plants are exposed to water shortage and often salinity, instantly after dormancy withdrawal. We studied the effects of aridity and salinity on germination and initial growth of Bassia indica, B. iranica and B. prostrata. We hypothesized that: (1) all species would exhibit adaptations to water shortage immediately after germination, including rapid root growth and high seedling-survival rates; and (2) obligate halophytes benefit from positive effects of salinity on germination success and desiccation tolerance. After we germinated seeds in water or NaCl solutions, desiccated and rehydrated them, we found that all three species showed rapid germination and root elongation, as well as good germination success. However, salinity had a negative effect on the germination success of all three, with only B. indica germinating in 3% NaCl. Salinity had a positive effect on desiccation tolerance of B. indica seedlings, but had no significant effect on either B. prostrata or B. iranica. Thus the presence of salinity immediately after germination can protect halophyte seedlings from desiccation. To the best of our knowledge, survival of seedlings after periods of desiccation and rewetting with solutions of up to 3% NaCl has never been reported. Studying salinity tolerance in halophytes is important in a world exposed to expanding desertification.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) using a synthetic cry1Ab gene for enhanced resistance against Heliothis armigera

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop in Iran, cultivated on 150000-200000 ha of land. In Iran the estimated loss due to the insect pest is more than 30%. Traditionally, pests are controlled by 10-12 times spraying per growing season of environmentally harmful chemical insecticides (e.g. endosulfan and/or methosystox). In order to produce transgenic cotton resistance to insects, hypocotyl explants were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring the recombinant binary vector pBI121 containing the cry1Ab gene under the control of CaMV 35S promoter. Neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene was used as a selectable marker. Inoculated tissue sections were placed onto co-cultivation medium. Transformed calli were selected on MS medium containing 50 mg/l of kanamycin and 200 mg/l of cefotaxime. Plantlets were subsequently regenerated from putative transgenic calli. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and southern blot analysis were used to confirm the integration of cry1Ab and nptII transgenes into the plant genome. Western immunoblot analysis of proteins extracted from leaves of transgenic plants revealed the presence of an immunoreactive band with a molecular weight (MW) of approximately 67kDa in transgenic cotton lines using the anti-Cry1Ab polyclonal anti-serum. Homozygous T2 plants (Line 61) for the cry1Ab gene showed significantly higher levels of insect resistance against Heliothis armigera larvae compared with the control plants. Transgenic plants are currently grown in the greenhouse and will be crossed with Iranian cotton breeding lines.
Involvement of Leptin Receptor Long Isoform ( LepRb )-STAT 3 Signaling Pathway in Brain Fat Mass – and Obesity-Associated ( FTO ) Downregulation during Energy Restriction

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, and accumulating evidence indicates that obesity is a heterogeneous disorder affected by both genetic and nongenetic factors. However, few genes have been identified as robust and reproducible candidates for the genetic basis of obesity so far. Recently, the association between polymorphisms of the fat mass– and obesity-associated (FTO) gene and obesity was revealed by several large human genome-wide studies (1–3). This result was subsequently confirmed by numerous investigations (4–7). Moreover, it was reported that variation in the FTO locus may also affect weight loss in humans induced by lifestyle intervention, including reduction of dietary intake (8) and moderate-intensity exercise (9). Although many studies have examined the effect of FTO gene variation on obesity risk, the biological functions of FTO in obesity and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In rodents, it was reported that the FTO mRNA is widely expressed in many tissues, with especially high expression in the hypothalamus and pancreatic islets (10). Some reports have indicated that the FTO gene seems to exhibit its function in the central nervous system (CNS) by modulating energy homeostasis (10–12). Hypothalamic FTO mRNA expression was downregulated by fasting in mice (10,11) but was upregulated in rats (12). However, the exact influence of long-term energy restriction (ER) on FTO protein levels has never been determined. Furthermore, apart from the CNS mechanism, whether FTO in peripheral metabolic tissues is involved in the energy intake/expenditure and obesity is unclear. It has been well established that leptin plays a critical role in feeding and energy storage (13–15). Leptin regulates energy balance throughout the body by controlling processes involved in energy intake and utilization both in the periphery and the brain (13,16). Leptin acts through its receptor to regulate the downstream signaling pathways. Alternative splicing of the transcript from a single leptin receptor gene produces multiple leptin recep-
Evaluation of Early Measures of Body Composition as Related to Beef Carcass Traits

Evaluation of Early Measures of Body Composition as Related to Beef Carcass Traits. (December 2009) Richard Paul Maulsby B.S., Oklahoma State University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Chris L. Skaggs Dr. Andy D. Herring Two similarly managed trials were conducted to investigate serial ultrasound measures of body composition (longissimus muscle area (ULMA), 12 – rib fat thickness (UFAT), and percentage of intramuscular fat (UIMF)) early in the lives of feeder calves as they compared to carcass traits. Group 1 cattle were Charolais-sired by Brahman-British crossbred dams whereas Group 2 cattle were purebred Beefmaster. Both groups were fed at the same commercial feedlot (Graham Land and Cattle Co.) in Gonzales, Texas. In both data sets classifications were developed for ribeye area of Lower (less than 70.95 cm, Middle (between 70.95 cm and 90.3 cm) and Upper (over 90.3 cm) based on a range that fit within the ribeye specifications of such branded beef programs as Certified Angus Beef and Nolan Ryan’s Tender Aged Beef. Differences among ribeye area and quality grade (Choice vs. Select) categories were evaluated for ultrasound and carcass traits. As reported previously, correlations between ultrasound measures and carcass traits became larger at times closer to harvest. In both sets of cattle, there were no differences in fat thickness or intramuscular fat at the ultrasound scan sessions or in these carcass traits due to ribeye area category. The same trend for
Character associations and path analysis for seedling vigour index in wheat under different temperatures

Germination (%) showed significant positive correlations with shoot length, test weight and mobilization efficiency (%). Germination efficiency index displayed highly significant positive association with mobilization efficiency (%). Path analysis indicated positive direct effect of shoot length, root length and germination efficiency index on seedling vigour index of wheat under different ternperatures.
Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on telomere maintenance in hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells

PCBs are persistent organic pollutants that are carcinogenic, immunotoxic and have developmental toxicity. This suggests that they may interfere with normal cell maturation. Cancer and stem/progenitor cells have telomerase activity to maintain and protect the chromosome ends, but lose this activity during differentiation. We hypothesized that PCBs interfere with telomerase activity and the telomere complex, thereby disturbing cell differentiation and stem/progenitor cell function. HL-60 cells are cancer cells that can be differentiated into granulocytes and monocytes. We exposed HL-60 cells to the PCB126 (dioxin-like) and PCB153 (non-dioxin-like) 6 days before and during 3 days of differentiation. The differentiated cells showed G0/G1 phase arrest and very low telomerase activity. hTERT and hTR, two telomerase-related genes, were down regulated. The telomere shelterins TRF1, TRF2, and POT1 were upregulated in granulocytes, TRF2 was upand POT1 down regulated in monocytes. Both PCBs further reduced telomerase activity in differentiated cells, but had only small effects on the differentiation and telomere-related genes. Treatment of undifferentiated HL-60 cells for 30 days with PCB126 produced a downregulation of telomerase activity and decrease of hTERT, hTR, TRF1, and POT1 gene expression. With PCB153 the effects were less pronounced and some shelterin genes were increased after 30 days exposure. With each 2 With permission of Springer, this chapter was reproduced from accepted manuscript: Xin X, Senthilkumar PK, Schnoor JL, Ludewig G. 2015. Effects of PCB126 and PCB153 on telomerase activity and telomere length in undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells. Environmental science and pollution research international. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5187-y. Copyright: © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015. My role in this work was to conduct all the experiments, analyze data and prepare the manuscript.
The transmission of European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius) to artificially reared honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera)

SUMMARY The transmission of European foulbrood (EFB) was investigated by feeding larvae raised in vitro with a diet containing Melissococcus plutonius that had been artificially cultured or extracted from diseased larvae. EFB did not develop in larvae fed 1.1 × 109 artificially cultured M. plutonius organisms/ml. However, the use of M. plutonius extracted from diseased material effectively transmitted EFB to larvae at a minimum concentration of 200 M. plutonius organisms/ml. The method used to raise and infect larvae in vitro had an associated larval survival of 81.2–100% (mean 91.9%). A strong correlation (r2 = 0.96) was established between the mortality of larvae that died from EFB and the dose of M. plutonius organisms. A clear linear relationship exists between the time duration of feeding M. plutonius inoculated basic larval diet (2 × 105 organisms/ml) and larval mortality (r2 = 0.92).
Screening for XPD312 polymorphisms in human oral cancer: a preliminary study

Xeroderma pigmentosum-D (XPD) is one of the genes that play a role in the Nucleotide-Excision Repair (NER). Polymorphisms in XPD gene have been identified and reported to be associated with many types of cancer with two common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely, XPD312 and XPD751. The XPD312 polymorphism is at exon 10 codon 312 Asp to Asn (A→G) and the association of this polymorphism with oral cancer is very little known, especially, in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to screen for XPD312 gene polymorphisms in human oral cancer patients attending Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Malaysia. Blood samples were collected from 10 oral cancer and 10 normal healthy subjects with their consent. DNA was extracted using commercial DNA extraction kit and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the XPD312 gene. The PCR products were digested using restriction enzyme, Sty I and analyzed on a 3% agarose gel for the detection of polymorphisms. This was followed by DNA sequencing to confirm the findings. In the current study, only homozygous wild type polymorphisms in the XPD312 gene was noticed in the oral cancer tissues as revealed by the restriction enzyme and DNA sequencing analyses.
Effect of Different Levels of Boron and Sulphur on Growth of Chickpea with Mustard Intercropping System

A field experiment was conducted during the two consecutive post rainy seasons (rabi) of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHIATS, Allahabad, to study the effect of Boron and Sulphur on growth and yield of chickpea under chickpea + mustard cropping system, the experiment was conducted in factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. The combinations of treatments consisted of 4 intercropping system viz., sole chickpea, sole mustard, chickpea + mustard 4:1 (row ratio) and chickpea + mustard 5:1(row ratio) and consisted of 6 boron and sulphur levels viz., control, borax 10 kg ha−1, boric acid 0.25% foliar spray at 30, 45 and 60 DAS, sulphur 30 kg ha−1, borax 10 kg ha−1 + sulphur 30 kg ha−1, boric acid 0.25% foliar spray at 30, 45 and 60 DAS + sulphur 30 kg ha−1. Significantly increased plant height due to intercropping of chickpea with mustard 4:1 rows ratio and no. of branches, no. of nodules and dry weight were obtained in sole chickpea than intercropping of chickpea with mustard 4:1 and 5:1 were on par. Borax 10 kg ha−1 + sulphur 30 kg ha−1 gave the significantly highest plant height, no. of branch, no. of nodules and dry weight of chickpea and mustard and it was on par with boric acid 0.25% trice spray + sulphur 30 kg ha−1 followed by different borax and sulphur levels were on par over the control.
ASPECTOS REPRODUTIVOS DO ARIACÓ, Lutjanus synagris NAS ÁGUAS COSTEIRAS DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

O ariaco , Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758) e um peixe marinho de grande valor comercial que contribui para a producao pesqueira artesanal do Brasil. Por ser alvo preferencial de pescarias por todo o mundo, os estoques dessa especie vem sendo ameacados pela pesca intensiva. Dessa forma, se torna importante realizar estudos sobre aspectos reprodutivos de peixes que servem para o entendimento dos mecanismos que envolvem a perpetuacao dessa especie e que tambem fornece subsidios para a gestao pesqueira. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a relacao peso-comprimento, a proporcao sexual, o comprimento medio da primeira maturacao e a caracterizacao macroscopica do desenvolvimento gonadal de L. synagris capturados no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte, durante o periodo de 2010 a 2011. A relacao peso-comprimento indica que os machos e as femeas de L. synagris crescem com incremento s iguais em comprimento e peso. A proporcao sexual mostra a predominância de machos na populacao. O comprimento em que 50% da populacao de L. synagris atinge a maturacao foi 25,7 cm. As caracteristicas macroscopicas dos ovarios e testiculos revelaram quatro estadios de desenvolvimento gonadal: imaturo, em maturacao, maduro e esvaziado. A descricao macroscopica dos ovarios e testiculos demonstra como ocorre o desenvolvimento gonadal durante o ciclo reprodutivo, fornecendo dados para indicar o periodo reprodutivo da especie na regiao. Palavras-chave: ariaco, L. synagris , relacao peso-comprimento, desenvolvimento das gonadas.
Production Levels and Life History Traits of Mass Reared Queensland Fruit Fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) during 1999/2002 in Australia

Quality control data for three years of production (1999-2002) at the Camden sterile insect facility was analyzed. Pupal weight was positively and significantly related to per cent emergence and flight ability. Lifespan was negatively related to pupal weight. Per cent emergence was positively and significantly related to flight ability. Increasing weekly production volumes adversely affected most variables but did not affect egg hatch. However egg hatch was significantly and negatively linked to pupal weight. Increasing pupal weight also adversely impacted on the proportion of males produced. The outside weather, assessed by CLIMEX also impacted on production, indicating that the facility climate control was not independent of the local weather conditions.
Are bioassessments based on the reference condition approach affected by rapid approaches to sample collection and processing

Benthic invertebrates are used by a number of agencies worldwide as indicators for assessing stream health, which has resulted in the development of a variety of protocols for collecting and processing benthic samples. The large number of methods used means that calibration of data collection is not always possible, but if different methods produce similar estimates of community composition and metric values, then sharing of data can make bioassessments more efficient. This study explored the effect of two approaches to subsampling and sorting of benthic invertebrates on community composition, calculation of metrics, and assessment of stream health. We compared two commonly used sampling methods: a rapid approach, employing live, unaided sorting and a standard approach using microscope sorting of preserved samples, through a comparison of replicate samples collected from 61 streams. This study found that both methods resulted in similar estimates of community composition at a site, as determined by the Bray-Curtis similarity index. However, the live sorting methodology resulted in greater family richness and higher estimates of metrics that reflect large taxa ( i.e ., %EPT). Despite differences in a number of metrics, both methods performed equally well at identifying impairment in the test sites, with livesorting samples slightly more sensitive.
Colheita Transcervical de Embriões Ovinos da Raça Santa Inês no Semi-árido Nordestino

Um dos fatores que limitam a utilizacao da Transferencia de Embrioes (TE) em ovinos e a dificuldade de serem realizadas colheitas pelo metodo nao cirurgico, devido ao obstaculo da transposicao do canal cervical, ja que este e longo, sinuoso e de diâmetro reduzido nesta especie. Com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiencia da colheita transcervical de embrioes em ovelhas da raca Santa Ines, 49 animais foram submetidos a um programa de Mutiplas Ovulacoes e Transferencia de Embrioes (MOET), sendo sincronizados com um dispositivo vaginal impregnado de progesterona (CIDR-G, Interag, Nova Zelândia) durante 13 dias e superovulados com 200mg NIH-FSH-S1 de FSHp (Folltropin-V, Vetrepharm Inc., Canada) durante tres dias consecutivos em doses intervaladas por 12 horas, a partir do 11o dia do programa; receberam ainda 200UI de eCG (Novormon, Syntex, Argentina) juntamente com a ultima aplicacao de FSHp, quando tambem foi retirada a fonte progesteronica. As doadoras foram inseminadas laparoscopicamente com semen fresco 36 horas apos a remocao do CIDR. As femeas foram divididas em tres grupos. O G1- grupo controle (n= 13) nao recebeu nenhum tipo de tratamento para dilatar a cervix, o G2 (n=17) recebeu uma aplicacao de 50g de cloprostenol (Ciosin, Coopers, Brasil) 12 horas antes das colheitas e, no G3 (n=19) foram instilados 200g de misoprostol (Cytotec, Searle, Brasil) no fundo de saco vaginal cinco horas antes dos procedimentos. Estes medicamentos tinham como objetivo provocar uma dilatacao cervical, a fim de viabilizar a colheita nao cirurgica. O grupo controle (G1) nao permitiu a passagem do cateter e foi dessa forma encaminhado a colheita cirurgica, juntamente com as femeas que receberam dilatadores cervicais e que, mesmo assim, nao foi possivel a transposicao cervical. Do G2, 59% das doadoras foram colhidas transcervicalmente enquanto 63% das femeas do G3 permitiram este procedimento. Quanto a resposta superovulatoria, a relacao de embrioes viaveis nos grupos foi de 3,70±4,56; 3,30±3,47 e 4,00±4,33 e a quantidade de estruturas totais colhidas por doadora foi de 6,15±7,02; 6,50±2,01 e 6,50±4,6, respectivamente para os grupos G1, G2 e G3, mostrando nao ter uma diferenca significativa entre os grupos trabalhados (p>0,05). Conclui-se com os trabalhos realizados que a tecnica de colheita transcervical de embrioes ovinos da raca Santa Ines e possivel em ovelhas pluriparas, mas que existe uma grande variacao individual no grau de complexidade na transposicao cervical em um mesmo grupo racial mesmo utilizando para isso um dilatador cervical farmacologico, e que o resultado da colheita entre os grupos, em relacao a embrioes encontrados nao diferiu, mostrando ser exequivel a colheita transcervical de embrioes em ovelhas Santa Ines em condicoes de fazenda.