Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection Of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Production And Multidrug Resistance In Clinical Isolates Of E.Coli And K.Pneumoniae In Mangalore

Purpose The incidence of Extended Spectrum F –Lactamase (ESBL) producing strains among clinical Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli isolates has been steadily increasing over the past years. ESBL producing organisms pose a major problem for clinical therapeutics. Identifying organisms that are ESBL producers are a major challenge for the clinical microbiology laboratory. An attempt was therefore made to study ESBL production and multidrug resistance in clinical isolates of K.pneumoniae and E.coli at a hospital in Mangalore. Method ESBL production and multidrug resistance was studied in a total of 228 isolates of K.pneumoniae and E.coli which were obtained from various clinical samples during one year period from January to December 2008. Identification of the isolates was done based on cultural characteristics and reactions in standard biochemical tests. All the isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disk diffusion technique according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The screening for ESBL production was done by the phenotypic confirmatory test using ceftazidime discs in the presence and absence of clavulanic acid. Result All the isolates showed resistance or decreased susceptibility to at least one of the third generation cephalosporins (ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone) which were used for the study. ESBL production was noted in 59.65% of the isolates tested. ESBL production was detected in 51.47% strains of E.coli and 48.53% strains of K.pneumoniae (70% of E.coli isolated from urine samples and 75% of K.pneumoniae isolated from exudates samples were ESBL producers). All the isolates were found to be sensitive to the antibiotic, imipenem. Sensitivity of E.coli to piperacillin-tazobactum (Pt) and cefaperazone-sulbactum (Cfs) was 100%, whereas K.pneumoniae showed 98% sensitive to Pt and 88% sensitive to Cfs. Conclusion The study has shown an increase in the incidence of ESBL producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae strains in Mangalore. The prevalence of ESBL and multidrug resistant strains constitute a serious threat to the current �–lactam therapy. Tests for the detection of ESBL producing bacteria should be carried out at all diagnostic centers routinely and the use of third generation cephalosporins should be restricted. This can reduce the prevalence of ESBL producing organisms.
Production of alkaline protease and larvicidal biopesticides by an Egyptian Bacillus sphaericus isolate

One strain, isolated from Egyptian soil, was identified as Bacillus sphaericus with powerful larvicidal toxicity against C. pipiens and extra-cellular production of alkaline protease (AP) in the growth medium. The pH adjustment of the growth medium between 6.0 and 7.5 resulted in the highest AP activity, peaking at pH 6.5. AP crude preparations exhibited optimum activity at pH 10 and at temperature range of 65 - 70oC. Interestingly, the highest AP activity was observed with 3% fodder yeast, as the sole component of the medium. Moreover, optimal AP yield was attained by using strong aeration at 9:1 (air : medium) ratio. Similarly, the highest AP enzyme level was consistently achieved 3-day after aerobic growth in shake flasks at 30oC, without significant decrease in AP yield upon extended incubation periods up to 6 days. Notably, maximum proteolytic activity was achieved with casein as a substrate followed by skim milk, gelatin and bovine serum albumin. The crude AP enzyme activity exhibited quasi-linear response with enzyme concentrations up to 0.25 mg ml -1 . The isolated B. sphaericus might be employed for the economic production of important products such as biopesticides and proteolytic enzymes.
EctOParaSitES ON mUrid rOdENtS caUgHt iN mtS. PaLaY- PaLaY/mataaS Na gULOd NatiONaL ParK, LUZON iSLaNd, PHiLiPPiNES

Rodents in lowland, midland and upland areas of the forest of Mts. Palay-palay/Mataas na Gulod National Park (MPMGNP), Luzon Island, Philippines were trapped using a live capture method. All rodents trapped belonged to genus Rattus namely R. norvegicus (35.9%), R. everetti (27.8%), R. tanezumi (20.5%) and R. argentiventer (15.8%). Ectoparasites were recovered from the rodents through scraping of host's skin, hair and nails, and collection of dead ectoparasites after insecticide dusting. Among the ectoparasites identified based on their morphological characteristics were Polyplax spinulosa (68.0%), Chirodiscoides caviae (13.2%), Laelaps nuttali (11.5%), Ornithonyssius bacoti (4.5%) and Xenopsyllia cheopis (2.6%). The infestation rate of the parasite varied based on the rat species, with P. spinulosa parasitizing all the rodents caught, and R. norvegicus having the highest infestation rate. Chirodiscoides caviae parasitized predominantly R. norvegicus, while L. nuttali was found mainly on R. tanezumi. Ornithonyssius bacoti was found on both R. tanezumi and R. norvegicus, while X. cheopis was only recovered on R. argentiventer. Ectoparasite infestation was also influenced by the gender of the host, with male rats (71.43%) manifesting a significantly higher (p<0.05) infestation rate than female rats (28.57%). All recovered ectoparasites were common parasites of rats. Infested rats near human habitations in the area warrant possible rodent-borne diseases among the residents thus, an investigation of the occurrence of rodent-borne diseases among the dwellers may provide epidemiologic pattern related to such diseases.
Do herbivores cause habitat degradation or vegetation state transition? Evidence from the tundra

Range expansion and increasing densities of large herbivores are held responsible for large-scale habitat degradation in a wide range of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. Herbivore-driven ecosystem changes frequently represent predictable transitions from one vegetation state to another. Whether such predictable changes justify the value judgement 'habitat degradation' may be debatable as this strongly depends on individual perspective. To further the debate on herbivore-driven habitat degradation, I apply the concept of alternative stable states to arctic tundra as a framework to capture predictable stepwise vegetation transitions in which the productivity and hence herbivore-carrying capacity increases with grazing pressure. Specifically, evidence is provided that large parts of the tundra biome can be in either of three relatively discrete vegetation states and that changes in reindeer/caribou density are responsible for sudden, predictable but often reversible state transitions. From this, it appears that the relatively rapidly emerging vegetation changes do not necessarily equate to habitat degradation, but in many cases reflect predictable vegetation change. Acknowledgement of the existence of predictable state transitions in tundra ecosystems may help to evaluate the observed radical vegetation changes occurring throughout the reindeer/caribou range.
SEPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPOPHILIC EXTRACTS FROM BARLEY STRAW

Barley straw was extracted with toluene-ethanol (2:1, vol/vol), chloroform, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), hexane-acetone (2:1, vol/vol), and dichloromethane for 12 hours in a Soxhlet. The 51 individual compounds in 5 lipophilic extracts were separated by gas chromatography. Free fatty acids (15.18–38.20%), sterols (1.41–10.42%), waxes (3.45–11.87%), steryl esters (5.04–24.70%), and triglycerides (1.16–10.03%) were identified as the major 5 classes of lipids in the barley straw extracts. Minor components such as diglycerides (0.07–0.89%) and resin acids (0.12–0.57%) were also verified from the straw lipophilic extracts. Nonlipids detected from the barley straw extracts were composed of minor amounts of phenolic compounds (0.17–2.05%), noticeable amounts of azelaic and maleic acids (0.48–15.06%), and some quantities of co-extracted polysaccharides, ash, or salts. Of the individual compounds in each group, 16 free fatty acids, 5 steryl esters, 3 sterols, 3 triglycerides, and 2 waxes were quantitatively determined. Extraction with MTBE gave the lowest yield of total extracts (1.19%) but contained the highest amounts of lipophilic extracts (81.04%), which were enriched with steryl esters (24.70%), free fatty acids (23.60%), waxes (11.22%), sterols (10.42%), and triglycerides (10.03%). In contrast, extraction with 2:1 toluene-ethanol produced the highest quantities of total extracts (3.92%) but of the lowest purity of the lipid substances (49.69%) and were comprised mainly of free fatty acids (38.20%) and nonlipid substances such as maleic and azelaic acids (15.06%), phenolic compounds (1.89%), and noticeable amounts of released polysaccharides, ash, or salts.
Historical Biogeography of Sumatra and Western Archipelago, Indonesia: Insights from the flying lizards in the genus Draco (Iguania: Agamidae)

Author(s): Lawalata, Shobi | Advisor(s): McGuire, Jimmy A | Abstract: The island arc west of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, here referred to as the Western Archipelago, is home to many endemic flora and fauna. Despite their importance in the biogeographic theater of insular Southeast Asia, little scientific attention has been given to these islands, with the exception of the four islands that comprise the Mentawai group. In this dissertation, I used the evolutionary history of the flying lizards in the genus Draco to elucidate the biogeographical history of Western Archipelago relative to its neighboring mega-island Sumatra. In Chapter 1, I provide an updated checklist of the herpetofauna of the islands in the archipelago--a list that had not been revisited or updated in the last 20 years. My visit to the islands of Western Archipelago proved to add considerably to our knowledge of the herpetofauna occurring in the area. In Chapter 2, I present a revision of the molecular phylogeny of the genus Draco by incorporating sequence data from nuclear markers. And finally, in Chapter 3 I looked at the phylogenetics and population genetics of the most widely distributed species of flying lizards in Sunda Shelf--Draco sumatranus the common flying lizards--to discern the historical process by which they colonized the islands of the Western Archipelago. Using one mitochondrial locus and nine nuclear loci, I employed phylogenetic and coalescent-based population genetic methods to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Draco sumatranus. My results suggest that the islands of Simeulue, Nias, Siberut, Sipora, North a South Pagai and Enggano are monophyletic, but the Batu and Banyak Islands themselves are more closely related to Northwest Sumatran populations. This divergence is inferred to have occurred ~550,000 years ago. These findings reject the hypothesis of independent overwater dispersal onto each island, and support the hypothesis that the Western Archipelago had been colonized via the Batu and Banyak Islands and was subsequently isolated by a vicariant event--most likely related to the Pleistocene changes in sea levels. I also uncovered deep divergences of Sumatran D. sumatranus populations that cannot be adequately explained simply by the emergence of the Sunda Shelf basin during the last glacial maxima, or the modern-day geography of the island. This hints at the cryptic diversity harbored within Sumatra, and merits a more rigorous study of the island's biogeography.
New or Noteworthy Streptanthus (Brassicaceae) for the Flora of North America

ABSTRACT Streptanthus glandulosus Hooker subsp. josephinensis Al-Shehbaz & M. Mayer (Brassicaceae) is described as new. The new combinations S. glandulosus subsp. niger (Greene) Al-Shehbaz, M. Mayer & D. W. Taylor, S. glandulosus subsp. sonomensis (Kruckeberg) M. Mayer & D. W. Taylor, and S. vimineus (Greene) Al-Shehbaz & D. W. Taylor, as well as a new status for S. glandulosus subsp. albidus (Greene) Al-Shehbaz, M. Mayer & D. W. Taylor and S. glandulous subsp. hoffmanii (Kruckeberg) M. Mayer & D. W. Taylor, are proposed. A key to the eight subspecies of S. glandulosus is presented. Mesoreanthus fallax Greene and S. sparsiflorus Rollins are reduced to synonymy of S. vimineus and S. platycarpus A. Gray, respectively. The names M. vimineus Greene and S. niger Greene are lectotypified. The IUCN status of S. glandulosus subsp. josephinensis is given as Critically Endangered (CE).
The effects of bird predation on an estuarine stickleback (Pisces: Gasterosteidae) community

Eight species of birds fed on a community of sticklebacks living in salt marsh pools along the southern shore of the St. Lawrence estuary in May and June when the fish breed. Three birds, the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), the bronzed grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and the ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) accounted for 80% of the estimated captures. Bird predation removed about 30% of the sticklebacks in the marsh. Significantly more male than female Gasterosteus aculeatus and G. wheatlandi were eaten, indicating selective predation is playing a role in structuring this fish community.
The Epididymis as a Chloride-Secreting Organ

ABSTRACT The epididymis secretes C1- upon stimulation with secretory agonists. This creates an osmotic gradient for isosmotic fluid secretion. Electrolyte and fluid secretion by the epididymis regulates the fluidity of the luminal content. Defective secretion in cystic fibrosis leads to obstruction and atrophy of the epididymis, hence to male infertility.
Effect of HSV-2 serostatus on the acquisition of HIV by young men : results of a longitudinal study conducted in Orange Farm ( South Africa )

Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the role of HSV-2 status, first, on HIV acquisition by young men and secondly, on the protective effect of male circumcision on HIV acquisition. Methods: We used data collected during a male circumcision trial conducted in Orange Farm (South Africa). We estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) using survival analysis and background characteristics, HSV-2 status, male circumcision status and sexual behavior as covariates. Results: Compared to HSV-2 negative participants, HIV aIRR was 3.3 [95%CI, 1.5–7.4] P=. 004 among those who were HSV-2 positive at enrollment and 7.0 [95%CI, 3.9–12.4] P<. 001 among those who became HSV-2 positive during follow-up. The population fraction of HIV incident cases attributable to HSV-2 was 27.8% [95%CI, 17.7%–37.2%]. The intention-to-treat protective effect of male circumcision on HIV acquisition was the same among HSV-2 positive and HSV-2 negative men (0.38vs.0.37; P = .93). Conclusions: This study shows that HSV-2 has a substantial impact on HIV acquisition among young South African men. It suggests that HSV-2 infection enhances HIV acquisition and is responsible for about a quarter of HIV incident cases. However, the protective effect of male circumcision on HIV acquisition appears independent of HSV-2 serostatus.
Nutrient content, Uptake, Soil Enzymatic Activity and Available Nutrient status of Sweet sorghum as influenced by Nutrient Management in Agri silvi culture system

Sweet sorghum (SSV-84) was grown under two year old Pongamia grafts in red sandy loam soil with different nutrient management options viz., application of FYM 10 t ha−1, 100% RDF (80-60-40 NPK kg ha−1) alone, and in conjunction with 75% RD N with 25% N through FYM, Poultry manure, Vermicompost; also with biofertilizers @ 5 kg ha−1 Azospirillum and VAM. Grain and stover yield of sweet sorghum was significantly affected by different treatments over control. Maximum grain and stover yield (30.78 and 92.25 q ha−1) was recorded by the 100% RDF (80-60-40 NPK kg ha−1) followed by integrated use of 75% RD N + 25% N through Poultry manure (28.5 and 84.65 q ha−1) and lowest being control (18.38 and 48.88 q ha−1). Quality parameters such as brix and sucrose content in green stalks, influenced significantly among various nutrient sources in comparison to control. Among different combination treatments, the highest brix content was recorded in conjoint use of 75% RD N + 25% N through Poultry manure (12.14%) on par with 100% RDF (11.8%). In case of sucrose content the trend was in the following order 75% RD N + 25% N through Poultry manure (9.86%) > 75% RD N + 25% N through Vermicompost (9.29%) > 75% N through FYM (9.07%) > 100% RDF (8.85%). Pertaining to nutrient content, the integration of 75% RD N + 25% N through poultry manure was superior practice which resulted in significantly higher N, P, K content in both grain and stover ((1.41, 0.319, 0.46 and 1.36, 0.282, 2.68%) and uptake (58.86, 8.79, 12.53 and 38.90, 7.78, 73.85 kg ha−1) respectively in comparison with 100% RDF.
BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN GOAT MEAT DURING POSTMORTEM AGING

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of postmortem aging on pH, temperature, drip loss, sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), myofibrillar protein solubility, released calcium and myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity in longissimus dorsi (LD), biceps femoris (BF), semimembranosus (SM) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of goat maintained at 5C up to 20 days postmortem. The results showed that the rates of pH decline, temperature and sarcomere length decreased during aging. There was a significant increase in drip loss of LD, BF, SM and ST at 3, 6 and 9 days, respectively. The increased MFI followed a pattern of LD > ST > BF > SM at 20 days postmortem. The myofibrillar ATPase activity rapidly decreased between 0.1 and 0.2 M ionic strength in all the muscles. The biochemical index of myofibrillar aging (BIMA) value of LD, BF and SM muscles was constant after 9 days postmortem. The results obtained here describe a close relationship between rate of pH decline, decreased sarcomere length and increased MFI and BIMA value during postmortem aging. Therefore, the biochemical indices described in this article could be used as indicators of the degree of aging of the goat myofibrillar structure.
II. Description of fossil remains of two species of a Megalanian genus (Meiolania, Ow.), from Lord Howe’s Island

In a scientific survey by the Department of Mines, New South Wales, of Lord Howe’s Island, fossil remains were obtained which were transmitted to the British Museum of Natural History, and were confided to the author for determination and description. These fossils, referable to the extinct family of horned Saurians described in former volumes of the “Philosophical Transactions" under the generic name Megalania, form the subject of the present paper. They represent species smaller in size than Megalania prisca, Ow. , and with other differential characters on which an allied genus Meiolania is founded.
Discrete-Choice Modeling in Wildlife Studies Exemplified by Northern Spotted Owl Nighttime Habitat Selection

Abstract Discrete-choice models are a powerful and flexible method for studying habitat selection, in part because they allow resource availability to change at every choice. Here, we consider application of discrete-choice models to data typically collected in wildlife science because different discrete-choice data are usually collected in other disciplines. We generalize the classic discrete-choice model to the situation in which multiple choices are made from 1 or more choice sets, and only 1 random sample from each choice set is available. We discuss analysis using 1) logistic regression, 2) maximum likelihood when choices are made with replacement, 3) maximum likelihood when the temporal order of selection is known, and 4) maximum likelihood when the order of selection is unknown. We show that 1) provides a good approximation to discrete choice models if the expected number of uses is much <1 for all units. We show that 2) and 3) can be fit using stratified Cox proportional hazards software. Analysis 4) must be fit using special purpose maximization routine such as Newton-Raphson. Finally, we demonstrate 2) on a case study of nightime habitat selection by 28 northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina), and conclude that these owls selected for locations low on the slope in stands >41 years old with high levels of hardwoods adjacent to stands 6–20 yrs old.
Seed regeneration of Scots pine in boreal forest stands dominated by lichen and feather moss

Six old-growth, late postfire Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) dominated forest stands of the Vaccinium–Cladina type were selected along a latitudinal gradient in northern Sweden. In two of the stands, Scots pine seedlings that had naturally regenerated during the last 40 years were surveyed in relation to field- and bottom-layer vegetation. The most abundant forest floor species, viz. Cladina spp. , occupied 41% of the ground cover and dominated the microhabitat of Scots pine seedlings 10 years), however, the cover of Cladina spp. significantly decreased and the cover of P. schreberi and various ericaceous species slightly increased. Thus Scots pine seedlings initially establish in lichen-dominated vegetation but as they devel.
Small intestinal histology, production parameters, and meat quality as influenced by dietary supplementation of garlic (Allium sativum) in broiler chicks

Four hundred day-old male hatchling chicks were obtained from the female line of Lohmman grandparent stock farms and fed rations supplemented with different levels (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.0%) of dried garlic powder. Each treatment consists of 5 pens. Feed and water were provided as ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Production parameters measured were body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio. Final body weight and feed conversion ratio were not affected (P>0.05) by garlic supplementation. However, feed consumption was the lowest (P<0.05) at 0.5% and 1%. Small intestinal histological measurements were influenced (P<0.05) by garlic powder supplementation. In duodenum, villus length was the highest (P<0.05) in birds fed with diets containing 1% garlic powder, and villus and epithelial width were the highest (P<0.05) in chicks fed with diets containing 0.5 percentage of dried powder. In jejunum, the villus length was the highest (P<0.05) in birds fed with diets containing 0.25% and 1% garlic powder, while villus and epithelial width were the lowest (P<0.05) in chicks fed with diets containing 0.5% of dried powder. Carcass traits were not affected (P>0.05) by garlic supplementation. All meat quality parameters measured were not affected (P>0.05) by garlic powder supplementation (cooking loss percentage, shear force, lightness, redness and yellowness), except for juiciness percentage and pH, which were the lowest (P<0.05) at 1.0% and 0.25%, respectively. As a conclusion, this study shows that garlic at a 0.5% level might be of beneficial effect on intestinal morphymetry parameters, as well as on production parameters.
EFFECT OF TG AND DGAT1 POLYMORPHISMS ON BEEF CARCASS TRAITS AND FATTY ACID PROFILE

The objectives of this study were to determine allele frequency and genotype count of thyroglobulin (TG) and diacylglycerol-0- acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1), genes encoding the TG and DGAT1 enzymes, and to determine the effect of the TG and DGAT1 polymorphisms on fatty acid profile in beef carcass. All genotypes were determined by PC-RFLP assay. The polymorphism of TG and DGAT1 had no significant influence on the total lipid content, backfat thickness, EUROP and carcass conformation score. The TT genotype of TG gene resulted in a lower total lipid content and backfat thickness, while KK genotype of DGAT1 gene showed a greater total lipid content and backfat thickness. The content of the majority fatty acids in MLD and subcutaneous fat tissue was not significantly affected by the TG and DGAT1 polymorphisms. The results confirm the lack of an association found by other studies. Further research should be carried out to validate the initial observation.