Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Silver (Ag) Nanoparticles synthesis by Penicillium spp against the Toxicity of Echinococcus Granulosus in Adult Albino Male Rats

The aim of the study was to synthesize Ag nanoparticles by using filamentous fungusPenicillium sp. The fungal culture was isolated from the soil samples collected from agriculture fields in Kirkuk city. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was investigated by X-ray difraction peaks were measured at (101), (200) and (202) respectively, and scanning electron microscopy . The present study was designed to indicated the role of Ag nanoparticles synthesis by Penicillium spp against toxicity of Echinococcus granulosus. The present study used twenty adult albino male rats that distributed at random to following teams (each group consist five rats); management group received ad libidium, second group injected with 2,5 X 103 of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices third group injected with protoscolices and treatd with 50 mg/kg AgNanoPs, fourth group injected with protoscolices and treatd with 100mg/kg AgNanoPs. The results show high important exaggerated (P < 0.05) in levels of MDA (malonedialdehyied) and important decrease (P < 0.05) in levels of glutathione (GSH) and catalasce compared with management group. While, after used AgNPs with Echinococcus granulosus, the results indicated non-significant changes (P < 0.05) in MDA, GSH and catalse also showed non-significant changes (P < 0.05) compared with control group. histological study show decrease in numbers of spermatogonia and spermatocytes with absent of spermatid. While, after using AgNPs the testis in third and fourth groups appear semi-normal. It had been ended that AgNanoPs has been potential role against tocxicity of Echinococcus granulosus in rats male.
EVALUATING THE POSSIBLE USE OF PHYTOPLANKTON AND ZOOBENTHOS FOR WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY AT BUNG BINH THIEN RESERVOIR, AN GIANG PROVINCE, VIET NAM

The study aimed to evaluate water quality at Bung Binh Thien Reservoir, in An Giang Province, Viet Nam using Shannon-Wiener species diversity index (H’) and associated average score per taxon (ASPT) calculated from composition of phytoplankton and zoobenthos. The water quality index (WQI) was used as the reference for the quality of surface water. The samples of surface water quality, phytoplankton, and zoobenthos were simultaneously collected at 11 sites during the dry season. The results showed that WQI (57-88) classified water quality from good to medium, H’ calculated using phytoplankton species (1.12-2.71) presented water quality from medium to bad where as, H’z calculated (0 to 2.07) and ASPT (2-4.21) calculated from zoobenthos species divided water quality from bad to very bad. The findings revealed that assessing water quality should not totally rely on diversity indices (H’, ASPT), but compositions of phytoplankton and zooplankton should also be taken into consideration.
Conophthorin enhances the electroantennogram and field behavioural response of Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to ethanol

Ethanol acts as an attractant that aids Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) in locating living but weakened hosts. Electroantennogram (EAG) and field trapping experiments were conducted with conophthorin and other selected semiochemicals that function as important olfactory cues for various ambrosia beetles to characterize their effect on the attraction of X. germanus to ethanol and to assess whether EAG responses provide an indication of behavioural activity. Thus, semiochemicals hypothesized to enhance (i.e. conophthorin), reduce (i.e. terpinolene, verbenone) or have a negligible (i.e. lineatin, sulcatol, retusol) effect on the attraction of X. germanus to ethanol were selected for comparative purposes. Ethanol plus conophthorin elicited larger EAG amplitudes than binary (1 : 1) mixtures of ethanol plus the remaining semiochemicals at dilutions of 0.001%, 0.01% and 1% per compound. Conophthorin also enhanced the attraction of X. germanus, Euwallacea validus (Eichhoff) and Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff) to ethanol under field conditions. By contrast, terpinolene and verbenone reduced the attraction of X. germanus and other ambrosia beetles to ethanol. Semiochemicals that enhance (i.e. conophthorin) or reduce (i.e. terpinolene, verbenone) attraction by X. germanus may improve monitoring and/or management tactics. These results also suggest that EAG responses can indicate field behavioural activity and be useful for screening attractants for X. germanus.
Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Soluble Gas Stabilization on the Shelf Life of Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets

The suitability of soluble gas stabilization (SGS) to dissolve CO2 into skinless chicken breast fillets before modified atmosphere (MA) packaging (MAP) was investigated. Head space gas composition (%), top web deflation (mm), muscle surface color (Minolta L*a*b*), pH, exudates in the packages (%), microbial characteristics, and off-odor were assessed in the packaged fillets. Increased SGS treatment time (2 versus 12 h) before MA packaging increased the CO2 content in the packaged fillets and counteracted package collapse. High package filling degree (51.8%) (low gas to product volume ratio) gave significantly (P < 0.001) lower CO2 content in head space than normal filling degree (29.7%). Color, pH, and package exudates were not affected by SGS treatment. Aerobic plate count (APC), Enterbacteriaceae count (EC), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increased significantly (P < 0.001) at each sampling during storage (5, 11, 17, and 24 d). SGS treatment significantly (P < 0.015) decreased APC, EC, and Pseudomonas spp. counts (PC) compared with no SGS treatment. Filling degree did not have a significant effect on the investigated microbiological characteristics. Off-odor scores correlated highest with EC (r2(adj)= 0.82). Fillets SGS treated in 12 h were the only one not rejected at off-odor evaluation on day 24. The samples stored in air spoiled after 5 d. SGS treatment in combination with MAP can be used successfully on chicken breast fillets to improve the microbiological (APC, EC, and PC) and sensorial characteristics, and in addition reduce package collapse and possibly increase the filling degree.
Concordance of Species Composition Patterns among Microcrustaceans, Rotifers and Testate Amoebae in a Shallow Pond

In this study, spatial concordance among microcrustaceans, rotifers and testate amoebae was examined in a small pond in Central Brazil. The main goal was to test how consistently different taxonomic groups ordinate 9 sites distributed along the pond's main axis. Microcrustaceans were more abundant during the dry season, characterized by waters with high transparency and dissolved oxygen concentration. An increase in species richness and densities of rotifers and testate amoebae was detected during rainy season, with low values of Secchi disk and concentrations of dissolved oxygen. However, the ordination patterns generated by these groups were different. Concordant patterns across sites were found only between cladocerans and copepods. These results suggest that great care should be taken when ordination patterns based on some taxonomic groups are extrapolated to other groups for detecting environmental changes. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Factors Influencing on-line Game Addiction of Children

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors contributing to on-line game addiction in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th graders living in 2 cities of korea.Method/Statistical Analysis: This study applied cross-sectional research design with a structured questionnaire. The subjects were 381 elementary school students in Korea. Data were collected after describing the purpose and contents to the students and were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 program.Findings: The relative influence toward the children’s ego-resilience was shown in the order of importance as follows; trait anxiety, gender, internet time of use, perceived home atmosphere, and satisfaction with school life.Improvements/Applications: From the study, on-line game addiction appeared to be influenced by multiple factors such as gender, perceived atmosphere, satisfaction of school life, Internet time of use and trait anxiety and These variables should be considered when developing nursing interventions for online game addiction.
Does available foraging area, location or colony character control the size of multispecies egret colonies?

Food supply is commonly regarded as ultimately controlling the size of bird colonies. Most studies examining this problem have been on seabirds, and all in the Northern Hemisphere. To search more widely for evidence of the importance of food as a factor controlling the size of bird colonies, we investigated egret colonies in a Southern Hemisphere region. We examined the relationship between colony size and the area of potential feeding habitat around each colony, compared with variables associated with the location and the physical characteristics of each colony. All colonies (13 in total) along 800 km of coastline in New South Wales, Australia, were studied. Colony size ranged from 7 to more than 2000 nests. There were very few correlations between the number of nests and the areas of different types of feeding habitat within 20 km of colonies. However, the available area of saltmarshes proved to be a significant predictor of colony size for great (Ardea alba), intermediate (A. intermedia) and little egrets (Egretta garzetta). Saltmarshes may be stable, long-term feeding habitats for these three native ‘aquatic feeders’, but not for the terrestrially feeding cattle egret (Ardea ibis). Nest numbers of this latter species were related positively to the area of saltmarshes, and negatively to latitude, suggesting that nest numbers of this exotic species may be influenced by climate, with proximate factors such as colonial nesting with the three native species also being important. Because of the numerical dominance of cattle egrets, the numbers of nests of all species followed the same pattern as that for cattle egrets.
Inversion recovery zero echo time (IR-ZTE) imaging for direct myelin detection in human brain: a feasibility study.

Background Myelin alteration is closely associated with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Unfortunately, due to myelin's extremely short T2* (~0.3 ms or shorter at 3T), it cannot be directly imaged with conventional MR imaging techniques. Recently, ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging-based methods have been proposed for direct imaging of myelin. In this study, we explore the feasibility and efficacy of inversion recovery prepared zero echo time (IR-ZTE) imaging for direct volumetric imaging of myelin in white matter of the brain in vivo. Methods In the proposed method, an adiabatic IR preparation pulse is used to suppress long T2 white matter signal, followed by dual echo ZTE imaging where the remaining long T2 components, including gray matter, are suppressed by dual echo subtraction. In the implementation of ZTE, the sampling strategy introduced in Water- and Fat-Suppressed Proton Projection MRI (WASPI) was incorporated to acquire the k-space data missing due to the radiofrequency (RF) transmit/receiver switching time. The IR-ZTE sequence was implemented on a 3T clinical MR system and evaluated using a myelin phantom composed of six different myelin concentrations (0% to 20%), a cadaveric human brain, four healthy volunteers, and seven MS patients. Results In the myelin phantom experiment, the ZTE signal intensity showed high linearity to the myelin concentrations (R2=0.98). In the ex vivo and in vivo experiments, the IR-ZTE sequence provided high contrast volumetric imaging of myelin in human brains. The IR-ZTE sequence was able to detect demyelinated foci lesions in all MS patients. Conclusions Adiabatic IR prepared dual echo ZTE imaging allows for direct, volumetric imaging of myelin in white matter of the brain in vivo.
Schizophyllum commune - the main cause of dying trees of the Banja Luka arbored walks and parks.

In the frame of investigation of the main cause of dying trees of the main arbored walks (Mladena Stojanovica Aley and Park), the investigation of the presence and diversity of macrofungi in Banja Luka City were undertaken in the period 2006-2011. Relatively poor generic diversity of lignicolous (pathogenic or potentially pathogenic and saprotrophic) macrofungi with only 16 species representing this group (13 basidiomycets: Schizophyllum commune, Fomes fomentarius, Stereum hirsutum, Coriolus versicolor, Flammulina velutipes, Pseudotrametes gibbosa, Ganoderma applanatum, G. lucidum, G. adspersum, Polyporus squamosus, Meripilus giganteus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Auricu­laria auricula-judae, and 3 ascomycets: Nectria cinnabarina, Xylaria hypoxylon, X. poly­morpha) were recorded. Such a poor qualitative composition of this very important fungal group could be explained by the reduction in the number of plant species in arbored walks and alleys, as well as the reduction in the number of fungi resistant to heavy air pollution caused by nearby (1-5m) fuel combustion in engines. Although only preliminary, our results pointed to the necessity of conservation and protection of the most beautiful features of Banja Luka and its alleys and arbored walks, by undertaking the measures of curing damaged trees and treating them with fungicides in order to wipe out the epiphytia caused in more than 95% of cases (dated May 2011) by Split-gill (Schizophyllum commune), present on dead wood but also on damaged trees of Aesculus hyppocastaneum (127 trees), Tilia cordata (124 trees), Tilia platyphyllos (36 trees), Tilia argentea (40 trees), Acer negundo (20 trees), Platanus acerifolia (2 trees), Robinia pseudoacacia (3 trees), Fraxinus ornus (1 tree), Betula pendula (1 tree), Catalpa sp. (2 trees), etc. Altogether, during the last decade, around 200 trees collapsed or were sanitary cut in Banja Luka arbored walk from the Malta site to the Green bridge, a total length around 5 km. The reason for this was primarily due to Split-gill fungus and the restoration of arbored walks in the streets extremely polluted by engine fuel consumption in the zone of Mladena Stojanovica street. By analyzing the trees along the City of Banja Luka main street it could be concluded that, besides the appearance of suffocation of plants, due to wide asphalt surfaces that are located immediately next to the tree-trunks and heavy air pollution, fungi caused illnesses are the most important cause of the decline of trees. With its great adaptation to arid climate and ability to resist to the air pollution, Schizophyllum commune turned out to be the most aggressive and successful universal fungal invader of trees from old alleys, even threatening immuno­compromised human individuals. However, man and his direct or indirect impacts contrib­ute to the dying of trees much faster than the fungal pathogens in the busiest and most polluted Mladena Stojanovica street.
Assessment of Butchers Attitudes and Practices Toward Food Safetyin Thi-Qar governorate in Iraq

Objectives: To assess of attitudes and practice of butchers in Thi-Qar governorate regarding food safety and to find out any association of different variables with practices and attitudes. Methodology: A descriptive cross – sectional study to assess the attitudes and practices of butchers. The data collection extended from the February 2018 and April 2018.each. The sample of (57) butchers was selected from (26) small slaughter houses in Thi-Qar governorate who agreed to participate were included in this study. Results: A total of fifty seven (57) butcherswere selected as a sample size for this study. 46(80.7%) were in the age of <30 and from the urban area. Most of butchers interviewed were married (52.6%). Based on length of experienceof butchers, The highest proportion of them) 59.6%) were in the length of experience(? 5) and the highest percentage of butchers were in the level of intermediate (31.6%). The overall attitudes and practices on food safety was poor, (67%) and (91%) respectively. Conclusions: There was high poor attitudes of food safety in of butchers. As an overall, nearly three quarters of the butchers having poor practice scores relating to food safety.
Vitamin D and its Association with the Severity and / or the Control of Asthma among Adult Iraqi Asthmatics

Background: asthma is one of the common chronic diseases with variable presentations and pathogenetic mechanisms. Vitamin D is thought to influence the expression as well as the severity, control and treatment responses in some asthmatic patients. Aim of study: to examine the possible association between asthma severity and level of control with vitamin D level in a sample of Iraqi adult asthmatics. Method: randomly selected 50 patients with asthma diagnosis were evaluated for medical factors of asthma harshness and control with measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum level (mean age ± SD: 48.5 ± 14.05 years, 30% males, FEV1:1.44 ± 0.63 L, 60 % severe, 60% poorly controlled). Results: most of asthmatic patients (96%) were found to have vitamin D level of less than 30 ng/ml (17.66 ± 7.06 ng/ml) and this was related to severity of airway obstruction (mild: 28.71± 5.52 ng/ml, moderate: 19.9 ± 4.56 ng/ml, severe: 13.81 ± 4.22 ng/ml, p < 0.001) as well as control of asthma (controlled: 27.13±6.12 ng/ml, partly controlled: 20.62±4.21 ng/ml, uncontrolled: 17.66±7.06 ng/ml, p < 0.001). In addition, the 25(OH)D level was significantly associated with history of ER visits and hospitalizations. No significant association between the gender, age, BMI, the presence of allergic rhinitis and the status of vitamin D level. Conclusions: low levels of 25(OH)D were common in this sample of Iraqi adult asthmatics and was most prevalent and severe in those with severe and/or uncontrolled asthma. This finding supports the hypothesis of possible vitamin D role in asthma.
Latitudinal Variation in Reproductive Characteristics of American Shad (Alosa sapidissima): Evidence for Population Specific Life History Strategies in Fish

The reproductive characteristics of five populations of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) on the Atlantic coast were studied. The proportion of repeat spawners increased with the latitude of the home river. Relative and absolute fecundities decreased as the proportion of repeat spawners increased. These reciprocal trends in reproductive characteristics are independent of growth parameters. The principal factor influencing reproductive strategies in shad appears to be variability in the thermal regime of the home river which influences egg and larval survival. Northern populations, spawning in environments that are thermally harsh and variable, allocate a greater proportion of their energy reserves to migration thereby ensuring higher postspawning survival. This is accomplished by reducing the energy allocated to gonads. The pattern of reproductive responses of shad to the thermal environment of the natal river is consistent with existing ecological theory concerning the evolution of reproductive strategie.
Considerations for the use of SADIE statistics to quangify spatial patterns

The SADIE methodology has recently been developed to quangify spatial patterns, particularly in determining the randomness of observed patterns, estimating patches and gaps, and quangifying correlation between species. We used argificially generated data sets to investigate the relationship of the SADIE pattern and association statistics with patch number and spatial positions of the patches. Results showed that SADIE statistics are critically dependent on the absolute positions of quadrat counts, and not just on their relative positions. In particular, degree of patchiness increased as the patch was displaced away from the centre. Therefore, the dependence of SADIE statistics on absolute sampling positions should be taken into consideration when using and interpreting SADIE-based results.
Development of conventional and quantitative real‐time PCR assays for the detection and identification of Rhizoctonia solani AG‐3 in potato and soil

A specific and sensitive PCR assay was developed for the detection and identification of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3, the main causal pathogen of stem canker and black scurf of potato. A conventional primer set (Rs1F2 and Rs2R1) was designed from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions of R. solani. Following PCR amplification, a 0·5-kb product was amplified from DNA of all isolates of AG-3 using primers Rs1F2 and Rs2R1. No product was amplified when DNA from isolates belonging to a range of other R. solani anastomosis groups or from a selection of other potato pathogens was tested, confirming the specificity of the primers for AG-3 only. Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 was also detected in potato tissue with varying black scurf severity, and in soil inoculated with sclerotia of R. solani to a minimum detection level of 5 × 10−4 g sclerotia/g soil. In addition, specific primers RsTqF1 (based on the Rs1F2 sequence) and RsTqR1, and a TaqMan™ fluorogenic probe RQP1, were designed to perform real-time quantitative (TaqMan) PCR. The conventional PCR and real-time PCR assays were compared and combined with direct DNA extraction from soil and a seed-baiting method to determine the most reliable method for the detection and quantification of AG-3 in both artificially inoculated field soil and naturally infested soils. It was shown that direct DNA extractions from soil could be problematic, although AG-3 was detectable using this method combined with the real-time PCR assay. The amplification of Rhizoctonia solani by seed baiting increased the sensitivity of the assay compared with direct extraction of DNA from the soil, and AG-3 was detectable in artificially inoculated and naturally infested soils when seed baiting was combined with either the conventional PCR or the real-time PCR assay. The potential for using these rapid and quantitative AG-3-specific assays to address epidemiological questions and as tools for decision-making in disease management is discussed.
Comparative Basipetal Transport of 6-Benzylaminopurine-8-14C, Gibberellin A3-3H, IAA-2-14C, and Sucrose-14C in the Root of Intact Citrus aurantium Seedlings

The transport and distribution of IAA-2-14C, gibberellin A3-3H, 6-benzylaminopurine-8-14C and sucrose-14C (U) were studied in whole seedlings of Citrus aurantium L. after “replacing” the root tip with the solution of radiochemicals. All four substances were transported basipetally in the root and were distributed to the stem and leaves. The pattern of distribution of the label from 6-benzylaminopurine was similar to that of sucrose, while a considerably larger amount of gibberellin A3 was transported to basal regions of the root, away from the tip, and into the shoot. Contrary to these three substances, the basipetal transport of IAA in the root was very low, and the majority of the label was retained in the terminal sections of the root. It is suggested that the different efficiencies at which various hormones move in the transpiration stream in the root may be an important factor in the attainment of a certain balance of hormones in the shoot.