Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of morphogens in B cell development

Morphogens are signalling molecules that play a significant role in modulation of cell fate and development. Hedgehog proteins (Hh) are morphogens that have been shown to be involved in the development of immune cells. In this study, it is demonstrated that treatment of B cells with rShh, can increase B cell activation and also promote survival of B cells at 18hours post-stimulus. Also, at this time point, there was found to be an increase in secretion of antibody isotypes and IL-6. By 40hours post-stimulus, it was observed that the level of B cell activation was apparently arrested in treated B cells, whereas the level of activation continued to rise in untreated B cells. Interestingly, it was observed that there was an increase in the percentage of; CD23-CD25+ B cells when B cells were treated with rShh and this was accompanied by an increase in apoptosis. Consistent with this finding in relation to apoptosis, there was an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bnip3 in B cells treated with rShh by 40hours post-stimulus. It was observed that there were three subsets of B cells arising in our culture at 40hours, which were all found to possess different characteristics. It was demonstrated that treatment with rShh can increase B cell differentiation towards FO-I at 18hours post-stimulus. By 40hours post-stimulus, Hh signalling can divert differentiation away from the FO-I B cell towards the T2-MZP, which was accompanied by an increase in IL-10 secretion. Gene expression analysis revealed that Hh signalling could modulate a number of molecules involved in delivering the BCR signal into the cells such as Btk, Nfatc1 and Traf2. Additionally, deletion of Dhh, showed that there was a skewed peripheral B cell development in the Dhh-/- mice. Overall, our data demonstrate that Hh signalling can regulate the development of B cells in response to an activation stimulus by strengthening the BCR signalling pathway.
Production and antioxidant activity of alcoholic beverages made from various cereal grains using Monascus purpureus NBRC 5965

Monascus sp. , which produces red pigments, has been utilized for brewing red alcoholic beverages and fermented foods in China and Okinawa, Japan. Novel red alcoholic beverages with antioxidant activity were made from cereal grains of various colours utilizing the saccharifying activity of Monascus purpureus NBRC 5965. The alcoholic beverage made from black rice and beni koji prepared with M. purpureus NBRC 5965 showed a deep red colour, and the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the alcoholic beverage made from black rice and beni koji was around a 3300 µm Trolox equivalent/mL-beverage. The antioxidant activity of this alcoholic beverage is thought to be a result of the combination of Monascus pigments and black rice anthocyanin. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation of an alcoholic beverage made with beni koji were higher than those of an alcoholic beverage made with ki koji prepared with Aspergillus oryzae. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling
Gracilaria corallicola and G. multipartita (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta), two related flattened European species

Two European species of Gracilaria possess flattened blades borne on cylindrical axes, namely, G. multipartita, known primarily from the Atlantic coast, and G. corallicola from the Mediterranean Sea. They are sister species that cluster with G. armata, G. bursa-pastoris and G. longa in rbcL analyses with strong bootstrap support. Blades of G. multipartita taper towards the tips, whereas those of G. corallicolla have broadly rounded tips. Spermatangia of G. corallicola are borne in shallow conceptacles (textorii-type) and data from the literature indicate that the same is true of G. multipartita. Cystocarp morphology is similar, with the gonimoblast filaments initially elongated, narrow and densely filled with cytoplasm, and with tubular nutritive cells issuing initially from lower gonimoblast cells and fusing with cells in the lowermost regions of the outer pericarp. Tetrasporangia are initiated terminally and displaced laterally with the production of side branches from the subterminal cell. The diagnostic characters of the Gracilariaceae are reviewed from a developmental perspective.
Inflammatory and degenerative changes in the endometrium of mares of the Crioulo breed

Summary In order to study the causes of infertility in mares of the Crioulo breed, we examined 960 mares served at pasture by 33 different stallions. At the end of the breeding season, open mares (118) were separated by rectal palpation (pregnancy rate of 87.7%). Those mares were subjected to endometrial biopsy and uterine swab for bacteriological examination. Histologically, the endometria were classified in 4 grades according to Kenneyand Doig (1986). Endometria classified as Grade I was observed in 49.2% of the open mares, grade II in 33.1%, grade III in 12.7% and grade IV in 5.1%. Severe inflammatory lesions were observed in 36/118 (30.5%) cases and degenerative lesions in 16.9% of the endometrium (20/118). In the following breeding season, the pregnancy rate of mares with or without inflammation was 59.3 and 85.5% respectively (P<0.01) and the pregnancy rate of mares with or without degenerative lesions, 47 and 84.8%, respectively (P<0.01). Old mares (> than 15) had a significantly (P<0.001) lower pregnancy rate (15/27, 55.5%) than young (= to or < than 15) mares (54/61, 88.5%). The frequency of inflammatory lesions was not significantly different (P>0.8) among older and younger mares (28.6 vs. 31.0 %, respectively), however, degenerative lesions were more frequent (P<0.001) in older mares than younger mares (40.0 vs. 7.0 %). We conclude that inflammatory and degenerative lesions are important causes of infertility in the Crioulo breed. <0,01). Stuten, die älter als 15 Jahre waren, wiesen eine signifikant (P <0,001) geringere Trächtigkeitsrate (15/27, 55,5%) auf als jüngere Stuten ( ≤ 15 Jahre) (54/61, 88,5%). Die Häufigkeit entzündlicher Alterationen war bei jüngeren und älteren Stuten nicht signifikant (P > 8) unterschiedlich (28,6% bzw. 31,0%), wohingegen degenerative Läsionen bei älteren Stuten häufiger (P <0,001) vorkommt als bei jüngeren (40,0% bzw. 7,0%). Zusammenfassend ist festzustellen, dass entzündliche und degenerative Alterationen eine wichtige Ursache für die Unfruchtbarkeit bei Stuten der Rasse Crioulo darstellt.
EXPLORATION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF PARTHENIUM AND LEMON GRASS FOR MANAGEMENT OF CITRUS SCAB (ELSINOE FAWCETTII)

Citrus scab/blemishes caused by due to different fungal pathogens is very common in citrus orchards and affecting the Pakistani citrus export considerably. Use of plant extracts against fungal plant diseases is very common because they are eco-environment friendly and is a cheap source to manage diseases. The aim of this research was to check the antifungal activity of two important plant extracts against Elsinoe fawcettii the causal agent of citrus scab. Ethanolic extracts of lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus ) and parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus ) were evaluated in vitro. The best disease inhibition zone (3.2mm) was recorded when we use Lemon Grass at the concentration 50µg/ml followed by 2.83mm by parthenium plant extracts at the same concentration. Ethanolic extract of lemon grass and parthenium can be best option for disease management in field conditions .
Régénération sexuée de Boswellia dalzielli Hutch., un arbre médicinal de grande valeur au Burkina Faso

Boswellia dalzielii Hutch. est une plante principalement utilisee en pharmacopee traditionnelle. Elle compte parmi les especes les plus menacees a l'est du Burkina Faso. L'espece subit un ecorcage intensif, qui la met en peril, et sa'regeneration est faible. Une collecte de fruits a ete realisee dans plusieurs peuplements pour etudier la viabilite des graines et evaluer les capacites germinatives de l'espece. B. dalzielii a un taux d'infertilite seminale relativement eleve (57 %). Cela explique, en grande partie, son taux de germination moyen. Toutefois, la bonne vitesse de germination et la longevite des graines fertiles constituent des atouts considerables pour la reproduction sexuee de l'espece. Cependant, la croissance lente des plantules est un desavantage pour la regeneration en milieu naturel. Meme si les jeunes sujets s'adaptent relativement bien a la secheresse grâce a leur caractere geophyte, la faiblesse de la croissance peut compromettre la regeneration de B. daizielii.
Quantitative genetics of gene expression during fruit fly development

Over the last ten years, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been used to identify genetic variants associated with many diseases as well as quantitative phenotypes, by exploiting naturally occurring genetic variation in large cohorts of individuals. More recently, the GWAS approach has also been applied to highthroughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data in order to find loci associated with different levels of gene expression, called expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). Because of the large amount of data that is required for such high-resolution eQTL studies, most of them have so far been carried out in humans, where the cost of data collection could be justified by a possible future impact in human health. However, due to the rapidly falling price of high-throughput sequencing it is now also becoming feasible to perform high-resolution eQTL studies in higher model organisms. This enables the study of gene regulation in biological contexts that have so far been beyond our reach for practical or ethical reasons, such as early embryonic development. Taking advantage of these new possibilities, we performed a high-resolution eQTL study on 80 inbred fruit fly lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, which represent naturally occurring genetic variation in a wild population of Drosophila melanogaster. Using a 3′ Tag RNA-sequencing protocol we were able to estimate the level of expression both of genes as well as of different 3′ isoforms of the same gene. We estimated these expression levels for each line at three different stages of embryonic development, allowing us to not only improve our understanding of D. melanogaster gene regulation in general, but also investigate how gene regulation changes during development. In this thesis, I describe the processing of 3′ Tag-Seq data into both 3′ isoform expression levels and overall gene expression levels. Using these expression levels I call proximal eQTLs both common and specific to a single developmental stage with a multivariate linear mixed model approach while accounting for various confounding factors. I then investigate the properties of these eQTLs, such as their location or the gene categories enriched or depleted in eQTLs. Finally, I extend the proximal eQTL calling approach to distal variants to find gene regulatory mechanisms acting in trans. Taken together, this thesis describes the design, challenges and results of performing a multivariate eQTL study in a higher model organism and provides new insights into gene regulation in D. melanogaster during embryonic development.
Effect of diallyl disulfide on physiological performance of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract Ephestia kuehniella Zeller is a key pest by severe deficiencies on quantity and quality of stored products. Due to concerns made by synthetic insecticides, use of natural products (like botanical insecticides) is of great importance as an alternative pest management. In the current study, the effect of diallyl disulfide was determined on digestive enzymes and those involved in intermediary metabolism of E. kuehniella. Concentration of 0.31% was obtained as LC50 of diallyl disulfide followed by bioassay experiments. Activities of α-amylase, proteases, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase significantly decreased in the treated larvae, while the adverse effects were observed in case of triacylglyceride-lipase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, aldolase and acid phosphatase. Results confirmed that diallyl disulfide interrupted larval digestion by lower activities of digestive enzymes indicating significant effect on intermediary metabolism.
Molecular Genetics Informs Spatial Segregation of Two Desert Stream Gila Species

AbstractHeadwater Chub Gila nigra and Roundtail Chub G. robusta are two distinct but morphologically similar cyprinid species that historically were parapatric in Fossil Creek (Gila River basin) in central Arizona. The creek was chemically treated in 2005 to eradicate nonnative fishes, and chubs salvaged before the treatment were repatriated afterward. Annual samples from multiple sites along a transect throughout the treated reach were characterized for mtDNA and microsatellites from 2008 to 2014. Genetic variation was compared within and among Fossil Creek samples and with reference material for Headwater Chub from Fossil Springs at the headwaters of the creek and for Roundtail Chub from the Verde River and West Clear Creek. Measures of mtDNA and microsatellite diversity identified significant differences among Headwater Chub from Fossil Springs, Roundtail Chub from the Verde River, and samples above and below Irving Falls, a natural fish barrier within the treatment reach. The frequency of Headwater Ch.
Theoretical modeling of long wavelength n+‐on‐p HgCdTe photodiodes

The performance of long wavelength infrared high quality n+‐on‐p HgCdTe photodiodes is reexamined theoretically. It is shown that the performance can be explained taking into account only thermal generation governed by the Auger mechanism. The investigations are carried out for photodiodes operated in a temperature range between 300 and 50 K. The effect of doping profiles on the photodiode parameters (R0A product, I–V characteristic, photoelectrical gain and noise) is solved by forward‐condition steady‐state analysis. The theoretical predictions of photodiode parameters are compared with experimental data obtained at the Laboratoire d’Electronique de Technologie et d’Instrumentation (Grenoble, France). Excellent agreement between both types of results has been achieved.
Freshwater leeches (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinida) of the Czech Republic (Central Europe): check-list, new records, and remarks on species distributions

Freshwater leeches (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinida) of the Czech Republic were studied on the basis of recent literature, information in selected databases, and results of recent surveys conducted by the authors. The objectives of this study were to summarize recent taxonomic information, and to update the check-list of leeches using records collected during an eleven-year study (1998 through 2008). Altogether, twenty-four species representing 12 genera and five families are reported for the Czech Republic, including the first reports of Piscicola cf. haranti Jarry, 1960 and Dina punctata Johansson, 1927 for the country. A detailed description of the distributions of rare species and characterization of localities from which they are reported are presented. Plausible modes of dispersal and propagation of species in Central Europe are discussed. According to recent records, leech species are divided into three groups: indigenous species with stable and strong populations (12 species), indigenous species with weak populations known from a limited number of localities (9 species), and species only recently recorded in the Czech Republic (3 species). For scarce or rare species, a category of threat in the Czech Republic according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature is recommended. Most of threatened species are inhabitants of lowland wetlands and lowland larger rivers—habitats that are negatively impacted, often catastrophically, by human activities throughout Central Europe. The protection of suitable habitats is the most effective way to protect extant populations of endangered leech species. Six species of leeches are recommended for permanent addition to the Red list of threatened species in the Czech Republic.
Haematological and serum biochemical profiles of broiler chickens fed diets containing moringa leaf meals

A study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the haematological and serum biochemical profile of broiler chickens. Fresh Moringa leaves (FML) were shade-dried for four days and milled into meal. A total of two hundred broilers unsexed chickens (Anak strain) were randomly allotted to five treatment groups at forty (40) birds per group. Each treatment group was further divided into five (5) replicates. MOLM was incorporated into the broiler starter and finisher diets at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels. The proximate composition of the MOLM showed percentage increases in crude protein, crude fibre, calcium and iron contents. The anti-nutritional factors showed higher tannin, phytic acid, saponin and oxalate contents in the MOLM than FML. The heamatological profile in the birds showed higher (p 0.05) among birds fed 5%, 10% and 15% MOLM based diets, but reduced significantly (p<0.05) in birds fed 20% MOLM. The white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds fed 15% MOLM, while the lowest was observed in those fed with 20% MOLM. The serum biochemical indices showed significant (p<0.05) reductions in albumin, total protein, uric acid, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase in birds fed 20% MOLM. The creatinine content was significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds fed 20% MOLM based diet. It was therefore concluded that MOLM can be incorporated into broiler diets at 15% level without adverse effects on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of the birds. Keywords: Moringa leaf meal, broilers, haematology, serum profile
Response of muskmelon cultivars to plastic mulch and irrigation regimes under greenhouse conditions.

Mulching and irrigation water management is among the vital practices that are being applied in commercial vegetable production. White-on-black plastic mulch in combination with four irrigation levels (40, 60, 80 and 100% based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) was applied to assess growth and yield responses of two F1 muskmelon cultivars (‘Velta’ and ‘Parana’) under greenhouse conditions. Crop water productivity (water use efficiency, WUE and irrigation water use efficiency, IWUE) were also evaluated. Plastic mulch treatment resulted in higher plant height, leaf area, fruit number, early fruit yield, total yield and crop water productivity than non-mulch treatment. High and medium irrigation levels (100 and 80% ETc) enhanced plant height and leaf area and increased fruit number, early and total yield. On the other hand, low irrigation levels (40 and 60% ETc) decreased yield and increased WUE and IWUE. ‘Velta’ plants showed superior vegetative growth, higher crop yield, WUE and IWUE than ‘Parana’ plants. A higher crop production was observed with mulch and 100% ETc treatment for ‘Velta’ cultivar. However, higher WUE and IWUE values were found under mulch with the lowest irrigation level (40% ETc) for ‘Velta’ cultivar. Plastic mulch with 80% ETc water treatment was considered more suitable for optimizing WUE with no major yield reduction. For muskmelon yield enhancement with 20% saving in irrigation water, it is recommended to apply medium irrigation level (80% ETc) and plastic mulch under greenhouse conditions.
Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyceae) Mikroalg'inin Büyümesine ve Bazı Biyokimyasal Özelliklerine Sıcaklığın Etkisi.

The effects of temperature on growth and some biochemical characteristics of microalgae Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyceae). Blue-green algae Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira) have found world-wide interest as photosynthetic planktonic organism suitable for mass production. It can be an alternative source of protein for human food and feed purposes, with the possibility of obtaining other products like pigments (carotenoids, phycocyanin and chlorophyll), vitamins and lipids. The biomass can be introduced directly in the diet and it can also be used in case of malnutration. In this study, S. platensis was grown in continuous culture under constant light (2000 lux), and temperatures to examine how its metabolism was influenced by high growth temperatures between 28°C to 45°C at laboratory system. Elevated temperatures determined changes in filament morfology, growth rates, macromolecular composition, lipid and fatty acid composition. At 43°C a significant decrease in the protein content (20%), a considerable increase of lipids (45%) and carbonhydrates (32%) were observed. Finally, the biochemical characteristics and growth of S. platensis was relatively stable up to 35°C and this indicate that S. platensis requires for its mass production
Withania somnifera L. Dunal

Scientific Name: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Synonyms: Physalis s omnifera L. , Withania kansuensis Kuang & A. M. Lu, Withania microphysalis Suess. Family: Solanaceae Genus: Withania Species: somnifera Parts used: Root, leaf Common Name: Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, winter cherry. Plant Description: W. somnifera is an erect, greyish, slightly hairy evergreen shrub that grows to about 1.5 m in height and has fairly long tuberous roots. The smal l and greenish-yellow flowers can be single or in clusters. The fruit is smooth, round, and fleshy , with many seeds; it is orange-red when ripe and enclosed in a membranous covering. Chemical Constituents: The principal bioactive compounds of W. somnifera are withanolides, which are triterpene lactones. More than 40 withanolides and approximate ly 12 alkaloids and several sitoindosides have been isolated and identified from W. somnifera.Withanine, somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine tropan e, pseudotropine, choline, anaferine, anahydrine, isopelletierine. Isolated chemical constituents of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Individually distinct hooting in male Pygmy Owls Glaucidium passerinum: a multivariate approach

During a study of territorial behaviour of the Pygmy Owl in NE Italy we used spectrographic analyses of recorded territorial calls to distinguish individual males. Two temporal parameters and the mean fundamental frequency of the song were selected and measured. All parameters of calls varied significantly within the population and discriminant analysis correctly classified 84.6% of the individual Pygmy Owls. Most individuals differed from each other with respect to the three selected parameters.