Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Association between Acne Vulgaris and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents at Zagazig University Hospitals

Background: Acne vulgaris is an epidemic inflammatory disease of the human sebaceous follicle and represents the most common skin disease affecting about 85% of adolescents. Until recently, very little was known about the link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and skin diseases. Over the past several years, it has been reported that MetS is potentially associated with numerous dermatological conditions, of which acne vulgaris. Objective: To determine the relation between acne vulgaris and metabolic syndrome in adolescent males and females with different severities of acne vulgaris. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study on acne vulgaris patients, carried out in the outpatient clinic of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine of Zagazig University Hospitals in the period from October 2017 to August 2018. This study included 60 patients of acne vulgaris of both sexes aged 10-19 years old. Results: We found no statistically significant difference in age and sex between different patients with different disease severity. Also, no significant difference in fasting blood glucose, waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL, and blood pressure between different patients with different disease severity. There was a statistically significant difference in waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure only. There was no significant correlation between disease severity and metabolic syndrome criteria in the studied group. Conclusion: Face is the commonest site affected. No association was found between acne vulgaris and metabolic syndrome in our study. No significant difference between different patients with different disease severity and (laboratory data, blood pressure).
Using Expert Systems for Coaching and Mentoring ICT Project Managers

— Several risks, dynamics and challenges, including lack of skilled and experienced personnel, mobility associated with project management experts and tough economic conditions are just some of many issues that information and communications technology (ICT) organizations in the 21 st century have to deal with. Furthermore, these organizations are under constant pressure to improve project success rate which are unacceptably very low. Project managers who are ineffective in project leadership due to poor project skills pose a serious risk to project success. Some research studies indicate that the demand for ICT project managers with proper knowledge and expertise is ever increasing and the supply is nowhere near close in meeting the demand. As part of providing a solution to the abovementioned challenges and help equip ICT project managers with correct skills through mentoring and coaching, this research study is proposing the use of expert systems (ES). This proposal is a response to calls that have been made by other studies in project management that new approaches of developing project managers must be pursued. The use of expert systems to equip ICT project managers with the right skills and expertise will help advance and improve their software project management expertise. Just like ‘intelligent organizations’ that use expert systems to improve their decision-making processes in order to advance business efficiency and competitiveness so should expert systems be used to coach and mentor less experienced project managers. This research paper argues that the use of ES for coaching and mentoring yield many benefits for organizations.
Molecular Characterization of Fasciola hepatica Infecting Cattle from Egypt Based on Mitochondrial and Nuclear Ribosomal DNA Sequences

Background and Objective: Fasciola hepatica is a zoonotic liver fluke infects wide range of hosts (all ruminant animals, rabbits, horses and human). It is commonly prevalent where the intermediate snail host is present. The main objective of this study was to provide molecular characterization of F. hepatica using ribosomal DNA cluster (rDNA) of more conserved Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Materials and Methods: Adult fluke samples were collected from livers of infected cattle hosts. All flukes were subjected to DNA extraction for polymerase chain reaction. Results: A 421 bp fragment of COI and 603 bp ITS2 genes were amplified, purified and sequenced. The obtained sequence was compared to the corresponding sequences available in the GenBank. Phylogenetically, F. hepatica resembles closely the other members of family Fasciolidae, showing considerable, expectation value in the alignment. Conclusion: This study corroborate that the mitochondrial COI and ITS2 sequences could be used as species specific markers for characterization of F. hepatica.
Evaluation of a Culture Film (Petrifilm™ YM) Method for Enumerating Yeasts and Molds in Selected Dairy and High-Acid Foods.

The Petrifilm™ Yeast and Mold (YM) plate was compared to acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA) and chloramphenicol-supplemented plate count agar (CPCA) using pour- and surface-plating techniques for its ability to recover yeasts and molds from hard and soft cheeses, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, fruit juice, salad dressing, relishes, and tomato-based sauces. Correlation coefficients of Petrifilm™ YM plates versus pour-APDA, surface-APDA, pour-CPCA, and surface-CPCA for recovering total yeasts and molds from a composite of the eight test foods were, respectively, 0.993, 0.993, 0.994, and 0.995. Slope and intercept values for populations detected using Petrifilm™ YM plates versus traditional systems ranged, respectively, from 0.984 to 1.008 and -0.051 to 0.149. The coefficient of variation for total yeast and mold populations recovered on Petrifilm™ YM plates was 1.0% compared to 1.2 to 1.7% for traditional enumeration systems. Regardless of the enumeration system employed or the type of fungal cell, i.e., yeast or mold, being enumerated, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher populations were generally detected after 5 d compared to 3 d of incubation. After 5 d of incubation, in no case were yeast or total yeast and mold populations detected in the eight food products using Petrifilm™ YM plates significantly lower than respective populations detected using traditional pour- and surface-plating techniques and media. When Petrifilm™ YM plates were used, significantly higher total yeast and mold populations were detected in 3, 1, and 1 out of eight food products compared to using, respectively, pour-APDA, surface-APDA, and surface-CPCA enumeration systems. The Petrifilm™ YM plate offers an acceptable alternative to traditional methods for enumerating yeasts and molds in the dairy and high-acid products evaluated in this study.
Comparison between Pathogenic Streptomyces scabies Isolates of Common Scab Disease

Streptomyces scabies (Thaxter) causes destructive and serious damages to many vegetable field crops, including potato. Fourteen pure isolates were obtained from naturally diseased potato tubers showing symptoms of common scab disease, collected from different localities of Sohag governorate, Egypt. All tested isolates were identified as S. scabie s (Stc) according to morphological and biochemical tests. Isolate Stc 10 exhibited the highest activity of polyphenoloxidase enzyme, followed by isolate Stc 11, while isolate Stc 2 produced the lowest activity of this enzyme. Concerning the peroxidase activity, the isolates varied in their production; Stc 11 exhibited the highest activity enzyme, followed by isolate Stc 2, whereas isolate Stc 10 produced the lowest activity of enzyme. In regard with Tyrosine Amonnia Lyase (TAL) activity, isolate Stc 2 exhibited the highest activity, followed by isolate Stc 10, whereas isolate Stc 11 exhibited the lowest activity. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the PCR amplification products revealed a band representing the expected 279 bp DNA fragment in each DNA extracted from the highly pathogenic isolates Stc 10 and 11. The results demonstrated that PCR amplification of the nec1 gene could be used as a reliable marker for detecting pathogenic Streptomyces isolates on potato tubers.
OUT OF THEMATIC ISSUE: REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS SEÇÃO / SECTION / SECCIÓN REVISÃO DE LITERATURA / THEORETICAL REVIEW / REVISIÓN DE LITERATURA

Due to globalization, gaining competitive advantage has become an important problem for all enterprises. Especially hotel enterprises can face with certain problems such as providing similar and easily imitable products and services. Therefore, they are in the need of employees delivering services in such an innovative way that cannot be imitated easily. First in this study, the factors affecting the innovative behaviors of employees in hotel enterprises were examined in detail. Second, it was explained how employees’ innovative behaviors, which would bring a significant competitive advantage to hotel enterprises, could shape consumer perceptions and attitudes. Lastly, the matters to be taken into notice by hotel enterprises were mentioned and it was tried to pave the way for future researches so that hotel enterprises can benefit from their employees’ innovative behaviors in a more efficient way.
Changes in soil carbon stock under the wheat-based cropping systems at Vojvodina province of Serbia

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in relation to the carbon (C) input from nine wheat-based cropping systems and untilled grass. The SOC pool ranged from 32.1 to 49.4 Mg ha−1 at 0–20 cm and from 94 to 171 Mg ha−1 at 0–100 cm for the arable soil, while in untilled grassland, it was higher (54 and 185 Mg C ha−1, respectively). SOC stock was observed to be lower at the unfertilized 2-year rotation and higher at the 4-year rotation with manure and mineral fertilization. The study showed a winter wheat yield decrease of 176.8 kg ha−1 for a 1- Mg ha−1 SOC stock change in the 0–20-cm soil depth. The estimated C input for SOC stock maintenance was from 266 to 340 g C m−2 year−1 for winter wheat and rotations, respectively. Additional C input did not increase the SOC pool, suggesting that arable plots had a limited ability to increase SOC. These results provide guidance for the selection of management practices to improve C sequestration.
Reversed size dimorphism in birds of prey, especially in Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus: a test of the "starvation hypothesis"

Suggestions and predictions of hypotheses (especially those of the "starvation hypothesis") concerning reversed sexual size dimorphism of birds of prey were tested using field data collected in western Finland. Early breeding species in two communities of birds of prey were more dimorphic in weight than late-breeding ones. The degree of weight dimorphism between mates in 20 pairs of Tengmalm's Owl correlated negatively with the timing of egg-laying, while the wing length of males correlated positively with the laying date of their partners. Clutch size and number of young produced decreased with degree of weight dimorphism within owl pairs. Data from Finnish owls did not support the hypothesis that the need to defend the nest has caused the evolution of larger females, but partly agreed with the "starvation hypothesis", which states that selection acts on owl females to withstand food shortage in the breeding season. It seems that female Tengmalm's Owls chose light, shortwinged males because of their aerial agility; these males probably competed more efficiently for good territories and nest-holes and also hunted more effectively and economically. Because of their aerial agility, owl males tended to catch more birds and less mammals than did females. This niche separation may reduce intersexual competition for food and select for the high degree of size dimorphism.
SPECIES-DEPENDENT 5’-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL FORMATION IN SLOWLY DRIED FRUITS

The aim of the work was to determine 5-hydoxymethylfurfural (HMF) content in fruit samples dried by slow convective method. Additionally, the nutritional value, mineral composition and antioxidant activity were investigated as parameters confirming the quality of the product. Seven different kinds of dried fruits certified as ecological products (apricot, gooseberry, cherry, cornel, blackcurrant, plum and apple) were tested. Analysis covered: reducing sugars, protein content, moisture content, energy value, antioxidant activity, total phenolics content, mineral composition and HMF content (chromatographic and spectrophotometric method). Samples were abundant in reducing sugars (25-51% of dry weight), protein (1.0-5.4%), minerals (Ca, K, Fe, Mg) and were heavy metals-free. The strongest antioxidant activity for blackcurrant and the weakest for dried apple were observed. The highest average content of HMF was found in blackcurrant fruits (3102.2 mg/kg), while the lowest in apple (75.6 mg/kg). Results obtained by Winkler’s and HPLC methods were strongly correlated (r = 0.976). It was found that applied slow convective drying method provide to obtain dried fruits rich in health-promoting properties and HMF quantified in examined fruits was found on the safety level for recommended daily consumption.
Electropenetrography: A New Diagnostic Technology for Study of Feeding Behavior of Piercing-Sucking Insects

Studying the feeding, plant damage, and transmission (i.e., acquisition, retention, and inoculation) of plant pathogens caused by hemipteran insect pests has always been a challenge. This is primarily because their specialized, piercing-sucking mouthparts, the stylets, perform probing/penetrating action into opaque plant tissues in which the stylets cannot be directly visualized. This challenge was overcome by a technological revolution over 50 years ago; the invention of electropenetrography, or electrical penetration graph (EPG) monitoring, the most rigorous method to identify feeding behaviors of hemipteran crop pests. Today, EPG is used in three main areas for the development of novel integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for hemipteran pests. Firstly, in cases where the fundamental mechanisms of feeding damage or transmission of a plant pathogen are unknown, EPG is instrumental in identifying such mechanisms. Secondly, once the feeding-related causes of damage or pathogen transmission are understood, EPG can be used to demonstrate the effects of insecticides, antifeedants, or other chemical compounds on specific feeding behaviors responsible for the damage or transmission. Thirdly, EPG can similarly identify the effects of resistant vs. susceptible varieties of crop plants, including transgenic plants genetically engineered to express biopesticides. The purpose of this paper is to review: (1) principles and history of EPG, especially development of the new and improved, third-generation AC-DC monitor, (2) what waveforms and types of information can be gained via EPG, using aphid pests as a model system, and (3) how EPG can be applied to the special needs of Taiwanese agriculture, especially for some species of aphids of economic significance in Taiwan. For the first time in print, our review describes and discusses in details the information of all three types of EPG monitors used for researches on aphids.
Temporal relationship between the daily profiles of gut melatonin, oxidative status and major digestive enzymes in carp Catla catla

Abstract The present study demonstrated a temporal relationship between the concentrations of melatonin, oxidative status and digestive physiology in the gut of a tropical carp Catla catla. We measured the levels of gut melatonin, malondialdehyde (MDA) – a faithful marker of intracellular stress, different antioxidants and major digestive enzymes in the carp gut at four different clock hours in a daily cycle under natural photo-thermal conditions. A correlation between the gut variables was sought to point their possible functional relationship. Gut melatonin titers displayed significant diurnal variations with a peak at midday. An identical temporal pattern with the highest value at midday and nadir at midnight was noted in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In contrast, levels of MDA and reduced glutathione (GSH) were highest at midnight and lowest at midday. The activity of all the studied digestive enzymes (α-amylase, cellulase, protease and lipase) showed significant daily variations with a peak at midday. Gut melatonin concentrations by showing a positive correlation with the activity of both enzymatic antioxidants and digestive enzymes, and a negative correlation with the levels of GSH and MDA indicated their possible physiological interplay in a daily cycle. Collectively, our study presented the first information on the daily profiles of oxidative stress, different antioxidants and digestive enzymes in the gut tissues of any fish species, and suggested their functional relationship with the concentrations of gut melatonin in carp Catla catla.
Physicochemical Properties and the Radical Scavenging Capacities of Pepsin-Solubilized Collagen from the Body Wall of Starfish (Asterina pectinifera)

ABSTRACT Pepsin-soluble collagen was successfully prepared from the body wall of starfish (Asterina pectinifera) (PSCBWS). Amino acid composition suggested that the collagen might be classified as type I collagen. Ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses showed that the PSCBWS was a high-purity collagen that maintained the intact triple-stranded helices. Physical and chemical characterizations of the PSCBWS showed an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.0 ± 0.2, superior moisture-absorption and retention capacities compared with glycerol, a minimum solubility at pH 5.0 in 0.5 M acetic acid, and a sharp decrease in solubility in the presence of low concentration of NaCl. The PSCBWS was evaluated for antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and hydroxyl radicals. Results indicated that PSCBWS possessed DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging capacity in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that PSCBWS might be used as a new collagen resource in the food and cosmetic industries.
Fear of the human “super predator” far exceeds the fear of large carnivores in a model mesocarnivore

The fear (perceived predation risk) large carnivores inspire in mesocarnivores can affect ecosystem structure and function, and loss of the “landscape of fear” large carnivores create adds to concerns regarding the worldwide loss of large carnivores. Fear of humans has been proposed to act as a substitute, but new research identifies humans as a “super predator” globally far more lethal to mesocarnivores, and thus presumably far more frightening. Although much of the world now consists of human-dominated landscapes, there remains relatively little research regarding how behavioral responses to humans affect trophic networks, to the extent that no study has yet experimentally tested the relative fearfulness mesocarnivores demonstrate in reaction to humans versus nonhuman predators. Badgers (Meles meles) in Britain are a model mesocarnivore insofar as they no longer need fear native large carnivores (bears, Ursus arctos; wolves, Canis lupus) and now perhaps fear humans more. We tested the fearfulness badgers demonstrated to audio playbacks of extant (dog) and extinct (bear and wolf) large carnivores, and humans, by assaying the suppression of foraging behavior. Hearing humans affected latency to feed, vigilance, foraging time, number of feeding visits, and number of badgers feeding. Hearing dogs and bears had far lesser effects on latency to feed, and hearing wolves had no effects. Our results indicate fear of humans evidently cannot substitute for the fear large carnivores inspire in mesocarnivores because humans are perceived as far more frightening, which we discuss in light of the recovery of large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes.
Endocytosis of keratinocytes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: To quantify endocytosis of keratinocytes (EK) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and correlate it with different clinical and histopathological parameters. Further, the expression of cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) and lysozyme was studied in tumor cells to corroborate this phenomenon. Materials and method: EK per high-power field (HPF) was calculated on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections and correlated with clinical and histopathological parameters. CD68 and lysozyme were studied in tumor cells using immunohistochemistry. Results: The mean EK per HPF was higher in stage IV (4.450 ± 2.241) than stage III (3.333 ± 1.543) OSCC (p = 0.1978). Although there were more EK in N2 stage (4.362 ± 0.3405) as compared to N0–N1 (3.462 ± 0.4178), the results were statistically insignificant. Statistically significant difference in mean EK was observed in all the grades of OSCC: well versus moderate (p = 0.0052), moderate versus poor (p < 0.0001), and well versus poor (p = 0.0001). There were significant differences in the mean EK (p < 0.05) between different grades of stromal degenerations (mild: 2.654 ± 1.093, moderate: 5.115 ± 1.774, and severe: 7.250 ± 2.217). Statistically significant differences were observed in CD68 expression in tumor cells of various TNM stages (p = 0.049), histopathological grades (p = 0.045), and stromal degeneration (p = 0.024). Likewise, lysozyme expression in tumor cells was also statistically significant in histopathological grades (p = 0.004) and mean EK value (p = 0.0119). Conclusion: The mean EK in OSCC increases with increasing histopathological grades, TNM stages, and stromal degeneration. CD68 and lysozyme can be used as markers of EK in OSCC.
BUTTERFLY DIVERSITY, SEASONALITY AND STATUS IN LAKKAVALLI RANGE OF BHADRA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KARNATAKA

Butterflies are important bioindicators which should be protected to conserve the biodiversity and environment. Different species of plants and habitats of Lakkavalli range attract wide variety of butterfly fauna, which play a vital role in pollination of various flowering plants besides a key component of food chain. Regular survey were conducted from November 2009 to October 2010 by visual observation. A total of 54 species of butterflies belonging to eight families viz., Papilionidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Danaidae, Satyridae, Acracidae, Pieridae ,Hesperidae were recorded, Out of which 16 species were abundant, 20 species common and 18 species rare. The study of seasonal variation revealed that 44 species present in monsoon which increased to 49 in winter and a least of 26 species in summer and 20 species were recorded all-round the year.
Production of an extracellular alkaline lipase from a new Bacillus sp. RSJ1 and its application in ester hydrolysis.

A thermophilic isolate, Bacillus sp. RSJ1 from hot-spring, grew in temperature range of 40 - 65°C and a pH range of 5 -12 with the optima at 50°C and pH 9. The organism grew logarithmically at 50°C from 2 to 13 h in shakecultures before entering into the stationary phase. The pattern of extracellular alkaline lipase production was found to be growth associated and its secretion started as soon as the organism entered the logarithmic phase with the maximum release (9.2 U mL - 1 ) in the late exponential phase (at 12 h). Production of lipase was substantially enhanced when the type, concentration and sources of carbon, nitrogen and surfactant were consecutively optimised. Cotton-seed oil at a concentration of 0.75% in combination with 0.5% Tween 80 and yeast extract in combination with peptone (0.75% each) were found best sources of carbon and nitrogen giving maximum lipase yield. None of the metal ion salts, other than calcium chloride and sodium chloride, incorporated in the production medium improved the lipase yield. The enzyme was found to catalyze reactions of ester hydrolysis with lighter substituents like the chloro and methyl, but was unable to recognize the bulkier substituents like the bromo and the phenyl. Lipase catalyzed the hydrolysis of the esters - butyl phenylacetate, butyl 2-chloropropanoate and butyl 2-methylbutyrate.