Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of ripening on some physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of Çökelek cheeses: A market survey of fresh and skin-ripened Çökelek

Cokelek is a type of cheese produced via heating of skimmed buttermilk containing low- or no-fat. It is an important healthy dairy product being a cheap and good source of animal protein with low calorie. The present study evaluated some of the characteristics of fresh and skin-ripened Cokelek cheeses available in the Turkish market including compositional, microbiological, electrophoretic and colourimetric properties. The higher contents of total solids, salt and ash in the skin-ripened Cokelek were found to be the main compositional differences. None of the Cokelek samples contained Escherichia coli, coliforms, and fecal coliforms while the yeast and mould counts were 7.3 and 8.2 log cfu/g for fresh and ripened Cokelek samples, respectively. In terms of nitrogen fractions, there was no big difference determined between fresh and ripened samples suggesting that ripening did not affect proteolysis rates of Cokelek considerably. The ripened samples had lower brightness values (L*) while redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values were higher compared to the fresh ones.
Effects of different load on physiological, hematological, biochemical, cytokines indices of Zanskar ponies at high altitude

High altitude people required high endurance pack animals for load carrying and riding at prevalent mountainous terrains and rugged region. So far no studies have been taken to evaluate effect of loads on physiology of ponies in high altitude region. So, in this view we evaluated variation in physiological, hematological, biochemical, and cytokines indices of Zanskar ponies during load carrying at high altitude. Total twelve (12) numbers of Zanskar ponies, mare, age 4–6 years, were divided into three groups; group-A (without load), group-B (60 kg), and group-C (80 kg) of back pack loads. Track was very narrow and slippery with gravel, uneven with rocky surface and has a steep gradient of 4 km uphill at altitude 3291 to 3500 m. When we evaluate these parameters, it is understood that the heart rate, pulse rate and respiration rate was significantly (p<0.05) increased in 80 kg group among the three groups. The hematology parameters viz. hemoglobin, PCV, lymphocytes, monocytes%, ESR and eosinophil% significantly (p<0.05) changed in 80 kg group after load carrying among the three groups which was followed by control and 60 kg group. In biochemical parameters viz. LA, LDH, TP, HK, CORT, T3, CRT, AST, CK-MB, GPx, FRAP and IL-6 significantly (p<0.05) changed in 80 kg group after load carrying among the three groups which was followed by control and 60 kg group. The ALT, ALB, GLB, UR and UA significantly (p<0.05) changed in 80 kg group before and after load carrying among the three groups which was followed by control and 60 kg group. It has been concluded that, this result has revealed strong correlation of change in biomarkers level with performance in ponies during load carry. Hence, these parameters might be use for performance of endurance of Zanskar ponies in high mountain region.
Inference of Chromosome-length Haplotypes using Genomic Data of Three to Five Single Gametes

Knowledge of chromosome-length haplotypes will not only advance our understanding of the relationship between DNA and phenotypes, but also promote a variety of genetic applications. Here we present Hapi, an innovative method for chromosomal haplotype inference using only 3 to 5 gametes. Hapi outperformed all existing haploid-based phasing methods in terms of accuracy, reliability, and cost efficiency in both simulated and real gamete datasets. This highly cost-effective phasing method will make large-scale haplotype studies feasible to facilitate human disease studies and plant/animal breeding. In addition, Hapi can detect meiotic crossovers in gametes, which has promise in the diagnosis of abnormal recombination activity in human reproductive cells.
Management of Lettuce Rot Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lactucae in Hydroponically Grown Crop Using Microbial Consortia

Hydroponics or growing plants on mineral nutrient solutions without soil has many advantages, as the system has higher water and fertilizer use efficiency, and crop encounters very low pest and disease incidence which inevitably check the requirement of plant protection chemicals. However, recently few of the diseases caused by commonly observed pathogens in conventional soil based system have also been detected in hydroponic culture, bringing a serious risk to hydroponic crop production. The present investigation was made to assess the effectiveness of bio-intensive management of Fusarium rot of lettuce incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FoL) under hydroponic culture tank system in Assam during 2014-2016. Three rhizosphere inhabiting microbial agents, viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus thuringiensis and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested singly as well as in consortia against the pathogen. The microbial agent, T. harzianum exhibited comparatively high antagonistic activity showing highest suppression of FoL in vitro. In hydroponic tanks, T. harzianum applied as root application, showed lowest root infection (15.39%), leaf infection (18.09%) and overall lower disease incidence (17.29%) with highest crop growth attributes and yield. This was followed by treatment with consortia of T. harzianum and B. thuringiensis. The highest root infection (85.08%), leaf infection (70.02%), rot incidence (80.97%) and lowest yield (30.00 g/plant) have been recorded in untreated lettuce plants in control tanks.
Different maternal investment strategies for male and female calves in a polygynous mammal

Abstract Maternal effects occur when the phenotype of the mother influences that of the young to the detriment of her survival, growth or fitness. The investment of the mother can be affected by maternal body condition and/or experience. Trivers–Willard Hypothesis (TWH) and Local Resource Competition Hypothesis (LRCH) are the main hypotheses used to explain bias in birth sex-ratios in mammals, as well as for sex-biased maternal investment. Both hypotheses suggest that a different amount of investment must be expected according to the sex of the young. However, recent studies suggest that these differences are not in quantity but in the strategies: mechanisms and objectives may differ for each sex. We studied how maternal characteristics (age, body mass, body condition, and dominance status) influence relevant aspects of the birth and early growth of the calf (birth date, birth body mass, body mass at weaning, and body condition at weaning) separately for each sex; and how that investment is mediated by milk production and composition (lactose, fat, and protein). One hundred eighty-eight newborns from 75 captive red deer hinds aged from 2 to 19 years were analyzed. The main differential investment observed was related to birth date: when producing a female, hinds give birth earlier in the season only if they have a good body condition; however, when gestating a male it is the older hinds those which deliver earlier. Subsequently, milk production and composition are correlated with birth body mass in female calves, but to weaning body mass in males. Thus, only hind body mass affects the weaning body mass of female calves, compared with age and hind body mass in males. These results suggest that while TWH fits the maternal investment strategy found for male calves, it is LRCH which correlates with the maternal investment patterns observed for females.
Preliminary Observations on Pathogenicity of Commercial Formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae 1 and Beauveria bassiana 1 Entomopathogenic Fungi for Control of Frankliniella invasor 2 Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract. At Chiapas, Mexico, Frankliniella invasor Sakimura (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) causes large economic loses to growers of mango (Mangifera indica L.), in addition to enormous ecological impact by insecticides used to control the thrips. We evaluated two commercial formulations Meta-TNK® [a.i. Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin sensu lato (s.l.)] and BotaniGard®, [a.i. Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. ] as potential alternatives for control of female F. invasor adults. We found 91 ± 2.0 and 95 ± 1.1% of individuals exposed to Meta-TNK® and BotaniGard®, respectively, dead by 48 hours after exposure. Both formulations have promising features to be used to control F. invasor.
Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests.

JEYANNY V, WAN RASIDAH K, AHMAD HUSNI MH, SIVA KUMAR B, MUHAMMAD FIRDAUS S & ARIFIN A. 2015. Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests. Leaf litter decomposition and soil respiration are of great interest in climate change studies due to their roles in recycling carbon and nutrients. These processes can be markedly different in tropical montane and lowland forests. Litterbag technique was used to determine the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of leaf litter in two different tropical forest types in Pahang, Malaysia for 480 days. Soil CO2 fluxes were measured periodically for up to 360 days. Mass loss, total C, N, S, P, K, Mn, lignin, cellulose as well as C:N and lignin:N dynamics of decaying leaves were quantified. Various mathematical models and regression analysis were used to describe litter mass loss trends. Rapid decomposition (k: -0.004 day-1) and weight loss (> 80%) took place in the lowland forest compared with the montane forest. Significant linear regression relationships between mass loss and litter quality were obtained for all sites except for cellulose (montane forest). Low soil CO2 fluxes (two to three folds) and 38% slower decomposition due to reduced soil and air temperatures were found in the montane forest, suggesting its role as potential temporary C sink. Decomposition rate, C:N, lignin:N and soil respiration can be used as potential indicators to predict C balance in forests.
Improving ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in dairy steers by banana flower powder-pellet supplementation

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of banana flower powder pellet (BAFLOP pellet) on nutrient digestibility, rumen ecology and microorganism population. Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers of 200 ± 20 kg bodyweight were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments were as follows: control (T1), NaHCO3 supplementation at 20 g/kg of total dry-matter feed intake (DMI; T2), BAFLOP-pellet supplementation at 20 g/kg of DMI (T3) and BAFLOP-pellet supplementation at 40 g/kg of DMI (T4). All cattle were fed roughage–concentrate mix (30 : 70 ratio) at 25 g/kg bodyweight. Standard management protocols were employed during the experimental periods. The results showed that nutrient digestibility was increased in steers supplemented with NaHCO3 and BAFLOP pellets at 40 g/kg DMI (P < 0.05). Although ruminal temperature and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by dietary supplementation, ruminal pH was increased (P < 0.05) in steers supplemented with NaHCO3 and BAFLOP pellets at 40 g/kg DMI. In addition, NaHCO3 supplementation increased bacterial and protozoal populations, whereas populations of fungal zoospores were similar among treatments. Supplementation with BAFLOP pellets at 40 g/kg DMI increased the bacterial count, whereas protozoal numbers were similar to those in the control group (P < 0.05). On the basis of the present findings, BAFLOP-pellet supplementation improved nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH and microbial population, without having any adverse effects on voluntary feed intake. The present study showed promising results for BAFLOP pellets (40 g/kg DMI) as a rumen dietary buffering agent, suggesting that these pellets could be used a replacement for sodium bicarbonate in ruminants fed high-concentrate diets.
Physicochemical changes of pepsin-solubilized and insoluble collagen in jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) muscle after cooking process

ABSTRACT Collagen is the major connective tissue (CT) protein and one of the main constituents of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas). Therefore, physicochemical changes of pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) and insoluble collagen (IC) were studied after cooking (100°C/30 min) of muscle (mantle, fins, and arms). Different pyridinoline (Pyr) contents (the major cross-linking molecule in collagen fibers) were found in the fresh muscle of the three anatomical regions. After the cooking process, a decrease from 10 to 30% in the thermal resistance of collagen was observed, depending on the anatomical region and fraction evaluated. Furthermore, the electrophoretic profile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the amino-acid profile revealed that structural changes occurred in the two different collagen fractions caused by the thermal process, and the changes were greater in the mantle. Under the conditions applied in this study, collagen fractions from the squid arms showed more stability during the cooking process due to the high cross-linking degree of their fibers.
Taste input from tarsal sensilla is related to egg‐laying behavior in Papilio hospiton

In herbivorous insects, host selection involves various sensory modalities (sight, smell, taste), but the contact chemoreceptors capable of detecting stimuli both from host and non‐host plants play an important role in the final steps of oviposition behavior. Female butterflies scratch and drum the leaf surface and taste the compounds present in plant saps with their tarsal chemosensilla. We assumed that tarsal taste sensitivity may be related to the breadth of host selection in ovipositing females of Papilio hospitonGéné (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). The spike activity of tarsal taste basiconic sensilla was recorded in response to stimulation with NaCl, bitter compounds, and carbohydrates, with the aim of characterizing the gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) and of comparing the response patterns in the light of differences in acceptability of host plants. Then we studied the sensitivity of GRNs to saps of the host plants Ferula communis L. , Peucedanum paniculatumLoisel, Pastinaca latifolia (Duby) DC. (all Apiaceae), and Ruta lamarmorae Bacch. , Brullo et Giusso (Rutaceae), and evaluated the relationship between taste sensitivity and oviposition preference. The results indicate that (1) each sensillum houses sugar‐, bitter‐, and salt‐sensitive cells; (2) the spike activity of the gustatory neurons in response to plant saps produces a different response pattern across all active GRNs; and (3) the number of eggs laid on each plant is highest on F. communis and lowest on R. lamarmorae. These results suggest that the varying activity of the tarsal GRNs may affect host plant acceptability and that ovipositing females of P. hospiton seem to be able to discriminate between host plants.
Generation of bioethanol from common date byproducts, “Teggaza and Lebghel” in Southern Algeria

Date by-products constitute the principal food for the oasis populations in Middle East and North Africa. Dates contents consist of 70 to 80% of reducing sugars, and do not require an intensive energy and labour for thermophysical pre-treatment. They can serve as a good feedstock for bioethanol generation through fermentation and distillation. Algeria is among the top sixth producers of dates in the world with more than 250,000 tons/year; from these, more than 30% can be lost for different reasons and may be of low quality. In the laboratory, after an alcoholic fermentation of the substrate of the date varieties, Teggaza and Lebghel (T & L) using bakery yeast at 30°C for 72 h, the distilled and rectified date juice generated the highest ethanol ( 88° and 90°) with acceptable productions of 2.5 and 2.78 mL/kg/h, and assessed scale efficiencies of 23.57 and 26.2%. This is unlike the one (ethanol; 50%) directly generated by chemical reaction using the same quantity of sugar. The efficiencies that were obtained seem satisfactory and encourage the great scaling development of bioethanol generation using date waste biomass abundant in Algerian Sahara. Key words : Algerian Sahara, alcoholic fermentation, bioethanol, bakery yeast, dates by-product, distillation.
Revision of the Nearctic Drosophila pinicola species group (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Drosophila flavopinicola Wheeler, 1954 and D. pinicola Sturtevant, 1942, belonging to the small Nearctic pinicola group, are redescribed based both on types, whenever they were available, and ordinary specimens deposited in The American Museum of Natural History (New York), The National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.), and in the Zoologisches Museum der Universität Zürich. Drosophila luisserrai Vilela and Bächli, 2002, a species previously not assigned to any group, is considered a junior synonym of D. flavopinicola Wheeler, 1954. Photomicrographs and line drawings of male terminalia are also provided.
EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION SALINITY ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF MELON CULTIVATED IN COCONUT FIBER

ABSTRACT Brackish waters represent great potential for profitable agricultural production; however, productive usage depends on the adoption of proper cultural practices as well as a culture tolerant of salinity, which can require some restrictions related to soil and crop production. Given the lack of information pertaining to hydroponic melon culture, the objective of this study was to investigate physiological changes promoted by the use of brackish water in the preparation of the nutrient solution for melon (Cucumis melo L., cv. AF 015) growth in coconut fiber substrate under greenhouse conditions in Mossoró-RN, a semiarid region of Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 12 treatments arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial scheme, with 4 salt concentration levels (1.1 - control, 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5 dS m-1) and 3 exposition times (vegetative growth: 10-30 days after transplanting, DAT; flowering: 31 to 50 DAT; and fruiting and ripening: 51-70 DAT, which are the assessment phases of physiological maturation). Increasing salt concentrations in the nutrient solution reduced photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance and transpiration, but increased the intercellular CO2 concentration in melon plants. A salt concentration in the low to intermediate range (2.5 dS m-1) resulted in the best water use efficiency by melon crops.
Frequency-Dependent Response of Chromobacterium violaceum to Sonic Stimulation and Altered Gene Expression Associated with Enhanced Violacein Production at 300 Hz

In this study, Chromobacterium violaceum was subjected to sonic (100–2000 Hz) stimulation. Sound waves of 300 Hz frequency promoted bulk production of the quorum-regulated pigment, violacein. Whole transcriptome analysis indicated that a total of 342 genes (i.e. 4.63% of the whole genome) were significantly upregulated in the sonic stimulated culture. Enhanced violacein production in the sound-stimulated culture seems to have stemmed from enhanced expression of the genes involved in pentose phosphate pathway, resulting in an increased availability of erythrose-4-phosphate to be used in the synthesis of tryptophan – the precursor of violacein synthesis. This study is a good demonstration of the ability of sound waves to alter bacterial metabolism.
Artificial Pollination in Kiwifruit and Olive Trees

In the last 10 years, kiwifruit vine artificial pollination became a widespread practice useful to increase fruit quality. Kiwifruit size is directly proportional to the number of seeds, i.e., to the number of fertilized ovaries. However, artificial pollination efficiency depends on many parameters such as pollen quality (germinability, humidity, and conservation), pollination system (dry or liquid), coadjuvants, and flowering stage. Those parameters were well defined in Actinidia in recent studies, however, they remain quite undefined for other anemophilous pollinated trees such as olive tree, hazelnut, pistachio, and palm. In these plants, the flowers are very small and extremely numerous, so the pollination was difficult to study. In addition, there are incompatibility factors (genetic and physic), long lap time from pollination to fertilization, and alternate bearing, lower economic gain for these fruits, low agronomic input, and low innovation level in the field. All these aspects had reduced the application of pollination technique for these cultivations. The experiences developed in kiwifruit lead to define a new model crop fruit set that could be applied to anemophilous pollinated plants such as olive tree, where the fruit set are lower than 2%. The first experiences have shown a great potential and have encouraged the development of this technique.
Espermatogénesis, ciclo anual e inducción hormonal de la espermiación en el pez protogínico diándrico, Synbranchus marmoratus Bloch, 1795 (Teleostei, synbranchidae)

En el presente estudio se ha determinado que, en las zonas muestreadas en Argentina, la anguila criolla, S. marmoratus, es una especie protoginica diandrica, presentando dos tipos de machos: los primarios, que nacen como tales y los secundarios que provienen de la reversion sexual de hembras funcionales. La poblacion estudiada presento un 20% de machos primarios y un 80% de secundarios. Utilizando tecnicas para microscopia optica y electronica, se caracterizaron anatomica e histologicamente las gonadas de ambos tipos de machos y de los revertantes asi como la espermatogenesis y el ciclo testicular anual. Ambos machos poseen testiculos de tipo lobular irrestricto y la espermatogenesis se desarrolla a lo largo del ano. Las gonadas poseen un compartimiento germinal, organizado en lobulos donde la diferenciacion celular es sincronica dentro de cada espermatocisto. En el compartimiento intersticial se observan celulas de Leydig, celulas mioides, fibras colagenas y vasos sanguineos. El ciclo anual fue dividido en 5 clases reproductivas: regresada, maduracion temprana, maduracion media, maduracion final y en regresion, basandose en los cambios del epitelio germinal y en la preponderancia de los distintos tipos de celulas germinales. Se observo la presencia de un epitelio germinal permanente y no se han encontrado diferencias entre ambos tipos de machos. Se identificaron las formas de GnRH en cerebro (salmon y chicken-II). Se indujo artificialmente la esperrniacion utilizando un analogo superactivo de GnRH y un antagonista dopaminergico, obteniendose un 100% de liberacion de esperma a la tercera semana de tratamiento. Esto se corroboro a nivel histologico. Se observo un aumento significativo de los niveles de testosterona y estradiol en sangre respecto de los animales control.