Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of administration of neurotransmitters: Serotonin and dopamine on testicular maturation in the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Crustacea: Gecarcinucidae)

The current investigation aimed at the effect of administration of the neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, on testicular maturation in the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Crustacea: Gecarcinucidae). Adult males in active, inactive and revival phases of spermatogenesis were injected with serotonin and dopamine in multiple doses and their dissected testes were submitted to histomorphological examinations. Though serotonin treatment during active phase showed increased values for testicular index, acinar diameter and proportion of mature spermatozoa, only the testicular index values differed statistically from that of controls. Serotonin administration during inactive phase caused an increase in testicular index and acinar diameter, reduction in intra and interacinar spaces and pycnosis of germ cells and detection of division stages. A notable increase in the testicular index, acinar diameter and fresh batches of spermatozoa was perceptible in crabs injected with serotonin during revival phase. In contrast, dopamine injection showed a decline in testicular activity irrespective of the phase of spermatogenesis, as evinced from low testicular index, acinar diameter, presence of small, irregularly shaped acini with indistinct acinar boundaries, reduction in the number of mature spermatozoa and absence of division stages. To conclude, the stimulatory neurotransmittant, serotonin can be used to induce testicular maturation in species of aquaculture potential.
Weed Diversity in Corn with Different Plant Arrangement Patterns Grown Alone and Intercropped with Palisade Grass

ABSTRACT: Composition and level of weed infestation interfere with crop yield and increase production costs. This study aimed to identify weed composition and infestation in corn grown with different plant populations, single, and intercropped with palisade grass. The phytosociological method was used to evaluate density, frequency, dominance, and infestation level of weeds in single and intercropped corn, a with conventional (0.90 m) and reduced (0.45 m) spacing, and low and high plant population in Dourados, MS, Brazil. Commelina benghalensis, Echinochloaspp. , and Euphorbia heterophylla were the species most found in the treatments. Single corn with higher plant population decreased weed occurrence. Treatments with palisade grass under a reduced spacing showed lower absolute weed infestation (about 75%) when compared to single corn. Weed infestation was lower in the intercropping of corn with palisade grass, with more pronounced effect under a reduced spacing.
Acaricidal activity of Fusarium subglutinans 12A on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae

Bu calismada, Fusarium subglutinans 12A izolatinin farkli spor konsantrasyonlarinin Tetranychus urticae Koch disi bireyleri uzerindeki etkililigi arastirilmistir. Denemeler, tesaduf parselleri deneme desenine gore 5 tekerrurlu olarak yurutulmustur. Calismada, 1x10 4 , 1x10 6 ve 1x10 8 spor/ml olarak hazirlanan spor konsantrasyonlari, 1 atm basinc altinda puskurtme yapilarak yaprak disk yontemine gore hazirlanan fasulye yapraklarina uygulanmistir. Disi bireylerde gerceklesen olum oranlari ve olu bireylerdeki mikozis gelisimine ait gozlemler, uygulamadan sonraki 3. , 5. ve 7. gunlerde yapilmistir. Calisma sonuclarina gore, uygulamalar sonrasi belirlenen olum oraninin her uc spor konsantrasyonunda da kontrolden istatistiki olarak farkli oldugu ancak, birbirleri arasinda fark olmadigi belirlenmistir ( F 44,239; df 3; P> 0.05). Mikozis gelisim orani icin her uc spor konsantrasyonu arasindaki farkin istatistiki olarak onemli olmadigi bulunmustur ( F 2,387; df 2; P> 0.05). Ayrica, zamana bagli gerceklesen olum oraninin her bir spor konsantrasyonunda da en yuksek 7. gunde gerceklestigi saptanmistir.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa lasR mutant fitness in microoxia is supported by an Anr-regulated oxygen-binding hemerythrin

Significance Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a versatile bacterium that lives in environmental habitats and causes life-threatening opportunistic infections, uses quorum sensing to coordinate gene expression. The lasR gene, which encodes a quorum-sensing regulator, is often found to have loss-of-function mutations in clinical isolates. Interestingly, LasR− strains have high activity of the oxygen-sensitive transcription factor Anr in microoxic conditions. This report identifies and characterizes an Anr-regulated microoxic hemerythrin that binds oxygen. We show that both anr and mhr are critical to fitness in microoxia and that these genes uniquely benefit LasR− strains in biofilms grown in normoxia. Our data suggest that the success of P. aeruginosa in chronic infections is in part through its propensity to lose LasR functionality resulting in increased microoxic fitness. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with loss-of-function mutations in the transcription factor LasR are frequently encountered in the clinic and the environment. Among the characteristics common to LasR-defective (LasR−) strains is increased activity of the transcription factor Anr, relative to their LasR+ counterparts, in low-oxygen conditions. One of the Anr-regulated genes found to be highly induced in LasR− strains was PA14_42860 (PA1673), which we named mhr for microoxic hemerythrin. Purified P. aeruginosa Mhr protein contained the predicted di-iron center and bound molecular oxygen with an apparent Kd of ∼1 µM. Both Anr and Mhr were necessary for fitness in lasR+ and lasR mutant strains in colony biofilms grown in microoxic conditions, and the effects were more striking in the lasR mutant. Among genes in the Anr regulon, mhr was most closely coregulated with the Anr-controlled high-affinity cytochrome c oxidase genes. In the absence of high-affinity cytochrome c oxidases, deletion of mhr no longer caused a fitness disadvantage, suggesting that Mhr works in concert with microoxic respiration. We demonstrate that Anr and Mhr contribute to LasR− strain fitness even in biofilms grown in normoxic conditions. Furthermore, metabolomics data indicate that, in a lasR mutant, expression of Anr-regulated mhr leads to differences in metabolism in cells grown on lysogeny broth or artificial sputum medium. We propose that increased Anr activity leads to higher levels of the oxygen-binding protein Mhr, which confers an advantage to lasR mutants in microoxic conditions.
Application of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms for Biocontrol of Root Rot Infection of Sugar Beet

Abstract The roots rot of sugar beet caused by the soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi genera Fusarium and Alternaria are serious causes yield loss in the world. In this study, the antagonistic cellulolytic bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of sugar beet plants. The cellulase, antifungal, and growth-promoting activities of strains were examined, and one strain Bacillus cytaseus C-82 was selected. When C-82 was tested for its fungal inhibition and biological control activity under field conditions against root rot of sugar beet, it significantly reduced the disease and increased sugar beet yields by 30–34 c/ha relative to the untreated control plants.
Influence of Low Crude Protein Diets on Broiler Chickens Performance

| Two hundred one-day old (Cobb 500) broiler chicks were used to investigate the influence of low crude protein diets (LCP) fortified with synthetic essential and non-essential amino acids (AAs) as well as L-Carnitine for as a new nutrient requirement on growth performance, some serum biochemical parameters, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency. Chicks were randomly divided into four experimental treatments with five replicates per treatment (50 chicks/ treatment; 10 chicks/replicate). Broiler chicks fed standard CP control diet (group 1), group 1 at which CP reduced by 2 %, group 3 and group 4 at which CP was reduced by 4% and 6%, respectively during starter, grower and finisher stages for 42 days. Group 2 fed LCP (decrease by 2%) were recorded marked improvement in feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) while other dietary groups were noted marked (P<0.05) decreased in feed conversion ratio. Also, results indicated that the lowest levels of serum glucose, triglyceride and serum chloride were found in all experimental groups, while these groups had a significant (P<0.05) increased HDL-cholesterol concentration. Percentage weights of all carcass characteristics had no marked (P>0.05) effect on broilers fed on LCP (P>0.05). The broiler chickens fed on (LCP) decreased by 2% had the best growth performance and net profit values. In conclusions, our data shows that crude protein was reduced up to 6% with synthetic essential and non-essential amino acids fortification without affecting the broiler performance.
Impact of Winter Feeding with Some Protein Pollen Supplement Diets on the Biological Activities of Honeybees

Different protein sources, defatted soybean flour, casein or whey protein concentrate, were used for the preparation of three protein pollen supplement diets to feed colonies of Apis mellifera carnica, during the winter season. The effect of studied protein pollen supplement diets on food consumption (%), sealed brood area (In), pollen stores (In) and honeybee strength (in terms of mean number of combs covered with bees) of the colonies were recorded. The results indicated that, the defatted soybean flour or whey protein concentrate pollen supplement diet was more consumed by the honeybee colonies than casein pollen supplement diet. Also, the highest areas of worker sealed brood, stored pollen and colony population density were observed with defatted soybean flour or whey protein concentrate pollen supplement diet. Casein pollen supplement diet was found to be the lowest consumed and showed the lowest biological activities among three tested pollen supplement diets. There was a positive relationship between the amount of diet consumed and the changes in worker sealed brood, stored pollen and colony population density. Defatted soybean flour or whey protein concentrate in pollen supplement diets of honeybees during winter season proved to be very effective and could be valuable to improve colony parameters.
The prognosis The prognosis and treatment and treatment of arteriovenous of arteriovenous malformations malformations of the brain of the brain

AVM (A, arrowed), with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography revealing feeders from the left middle and anterior cerebral arteries (B), and venous drainage to the straight and left transverse sinuses (C). He had presented with focal epilepsy at the age of 51 when MRI of the brain parenchyma surrounding the nidus was normal (D, arrowed). 14 months after diagnosis, he developed a progressive right hemiplegia and dysphasia, with corresponding high signal in the left hemisphere on MRI (E and F, arrowed), thought to be due to venous hypertension.
Highlighting curcumin-induced crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis: A biochemical approach coupling impedancemetry, imaging, and flow cytometry

Curcumin, a major active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa, L.), is known to have various effects on both healthy and cancerous tissues. In vitro studies suggest that curcumin inhibits cancer cell growth by activating apoptosis, but the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of curcumin is still unclear. Since there is a consensus about endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress being involved in the cytotoxicity of many natural compounds, we investigated by Amnis®Imaging flow cytometry the mechanistic aspects of curcumin’s destabilization of the ER, but also the status of the lysosomal compartment involved in curcumin-associated apoptosis. Curcumin induces ER stress thereby causing an unfolded protein response (UPR) and calcium release which destabilize the mitochondrial compartment and induce apoptosis. These events are also associated with secondary lysosomal membrane permeabilization and activation of caspase-8, mediated by activation of cathepsins and calpains. We previously showed that sequence lead to the generation of truncated tBid and disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis. These two pathways of different intensities and momentum converge towards an amplification of cell death that still needs to be studied in more detail. It has been suggested that it may be possible to exploit autophagy for cancer therapy. There is a complex interplay involving early autophagy as soon as mitochondria produce superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide. Treatments with 10 µM to 20 µM curcumin induce autophagosome formation, while only early events of cell death are detectable.In the present study, curcumin-induced autophagy failed to rescue all cells since most cells underwent type II cell death following initial autophagic processes. However, a small number of cells blocked in the cell cycle escaped and were rescued to give rise to a novel proliferation phase.
Bacteriological and Molecular Studies on some Bacteria Isolated From Mastitic Cattle and Humans Contact

This study was done on a total of 92 mastitic milk samples (50 clinical, 42 sub-clinical) and 40 hand swabs from contact humans were collected from different dairy farms at Gharbia governorate. The collected samples were examined bacteriologically to isolate mastitis pathogens (Staph. aureus, Strept. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and Strept. uberis). From clinical mastitic samples, six isolates were S. aureus ( 12%) and one isolate was (2%) S. dysgalactiae. Among sub clinical mastitic milk samples two isolates were S. aureus (4.6%) and one isolate (2.3%) S. agalactiae. While S. uberis were not detected. From contact human hand swabs both S. aureus and Streptococcus species were s were highly sensitive to Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all bacterial isolate not detected. gentamicin respectively, while all isolates and enerofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sulpha |trimethoprim were resistant to penicillin followed by amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid. Two isolates of S. aureus were screened for detection of enterotoxin genes (Sea, Seb, Sec, Sed and See) by multiplex PCR. Only Sed gene was detected in one isolate. Cfb gene (CAMP factor) and hyl (hyluronidase) gene were detected in S. agalactiae. mig (surface-expressed mig protein) gene was detected in S. dysgalactiae.
Leprosy: Chronicles of a disabling disease

The history of leprosy dates back to antiquity. [1] It is a complex disease with multifaceted history ranging from medical-scientific to legal, social, and political. [2] The word leprosy is derived from the Greek word “lepros,” meaning scaly. The disease was named after Gerhard Armauer Hansen as Hansen’s disease following his identification of a bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae as the causative agent of leprosy. Despite the various advances in the field of leprosy management, it is still referred to as “living death. ”[1]
Change in Traits’ Association with Intermating

The present investigation was conducted to examine the extent of phenotypic and genotypic correlation in bi-parental mating and selfing for yield and related components. Sixty plants from every cross of barley (IBON-W-61 x DWR91, BH935 x BH902 and BH902/DWRUB64) were randomly selected and crossed as well as selfed to generate 30 BIPs and 30 selfed progenies in 2012-13. In 2013-14 those slefed and intermated progenies were grown in a compact family block design with three replications. Data were recorded on days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, grain/spike, effective tiller number per plant, biomass yield per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index and 1000-grain weight. The genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients were calculated between pair of characters. From the study it was concluded that intermating has improved mean performance and variance of characters by breaking linkages between genes and resulted in breakage of coupling phase and repulsion phase linkages that led to decreased and increased correlations, respectively.
A specialized deceptive pollination system based on elaborate mushroom mimicry

Despite its potential effectiveness for outcrossing, few examples of pollination via mushroom mimicry have been reported. This may be because the conditions under which the strategy can evolve are limited and/or because demonstrating it is challenging. Arisaema is a plant genus that has been suggested to adopt mushroom mimicry for pollination, although no compelling evidence for this has yet been demonstrated. Here, we report that Arisaema sikokianum utilizes mostly a single genus of obligate mycophagous flies (Mycodrosophila) as pollinators, and that the insect community dominated by Mycodrosophila is strikingly similar to those found on some species of wood-decaying fungi. Comparative chemical analyses of Arisaema spp. and various mushrooms further revealed that only A. sikokianum emits a set of volatile compounds shared with some mushroom species utilized by Mycodrosophila. Meanwhile, other closely related and often sympatric Arisaema species do not possess such typical traits of mushroom mimicry or attract Mycodrosophila, thereby likely achieving substantial reproductive isolation from A. sikokianum. Our finding indicates that mushroom mimicry is an exceptional and derived state in the genus Arisaema, thus providing an unprecedented opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying the coordinated acquisition of mimicry traits that occurred during a recent speciation event.
COMMENTARY The Role of Soy Products in Reducing Risk of

Since the initial recognition that diet plays a role in the etiology of certain cancers, particularly cancers of the breast and colon, considerable progress has been made in identifying dietary patterns associated with cancer risk. There is general agreement that a high-fat, low-fiber diet, like that consumed by much of the industrialized world, increases cancer risk and that plant-based diets, rich in whole grains, legumes, and fruits and vegetables, are protective. It has been, however, considerably more difficult to identify specific foods, types of food, or components of foods that influence cancer risk. The recent workshop on The Role of Soy Products in Cancer Prevention, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, had two objectives: I) to evaluate the role of soybeans, food products derived from soybeans, and specific components of soybeans in the dietary prevention of cancer and 2) to recommend research initiatives and approaches for further studies of the effect of soy intake on human cancer risk. The meeting was chaired by Stephen Barnes and organized by Mark Messina. Isoflavones in Cancer Prevention
Study on mutagenicity of cotton seed powder and cotton seed oil of transgenic CryIA (c) cotton

The results showed that, the seed powder and seed oil of transgenic CryIA (c) cotton lines and regular cotton showed no cytomutagenicity or genomutagenicity on mice. No dose effect was observed. NaF can induce significant increase of micronucleus frequency in eripheral erythrocytes of Zebrafish. Neither transgenic CryIA (c) cotton seed powder nor regular cotton seed powder has obvious effect on micronucleus frequency in eripheral erythrocytes of Zebrafish. The use of common proportion of transgenic CryIA cotton seed powder in fish^s feed does not induce the increase of micronucleus frequency obviously.
Potential of Cultivating Dry Season Maize along a Hydrological Gradient of an Inland Valley in Uganda

Inland valley wetlands with higher soil moisture than surrounding uplands offer a yet unexplored opportunity for increasing maize production in East Africa. For three consecutive years, we conducted field experiments to assess the potential of an inland valley in Central Uganda for producing dry season maize. A randomized complete block design was used with six treatments including farmer’s practice, unfertilized control, organic and inorganic fertilizer applications at high and low rates. These were repeated four times at each of the three hydrological positions of the inland valley (fringe, middle, and center). The maize grain yield of 3.4 t ha–1 (mean across treatments and years) exceeded the national yield average by 42%. High and sustained soil moisture in the center position of the inland valley was associated with the highest grain yields irrespective of the year. Due to soil moisture deficit in the fringe and middle hydrological positions, grain yields were not only lower but also highly variable. Intensive manuring with a combination of green and poultry manure produced high yields that were comparable to those with mineral fertilizers (both at 120 kg N ha–1). Lower amounts of either mineral or organic fertilizer (60 kg N ha–1) provided no yield gain over the unfertilized control. Inland valley wetlands, thus, offer promise for farmers to harvest an additional maize crop during the dry season, thus contributing to farm income and regional food security.
Biased M1 positive allosteric modulators reveal novel role of phospholipase D in M1-dependent rodent cortical plasticity

Highly selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the M1 subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor have emerged as an exciting new approach for the potential improvement of cognitive function in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. M1 PAM discovery programs have produced a structurally diverse range of M1 PAMs with distinct pharmacological properties, including different levels of agonist activity and differences in signal bias. This includes the recent discovery of novel biased M1 PAMs that can potentiate coupling of M1 to activation of phospholipase C but not phospholipase D (PLD). However, little is known about the role of PLD in M1 signaling in native systems and it is not clear whether biased M1 PAMs will display differences in modulating M1-mediated responses in native tissue. We now report a series of studies using novel PLD inhibitors and PLD knockout mice to show that PLD is necessary for the induction of M1-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Importantly, biased M1 PAMs that do not couple to PLD not only fail to potentiate orthosteric agonist-induced LTD but also block M1-dependent LTD in the PFC. In contrast, biased and non-biased M1 PAMs act similarly in potentiating M1-dependent electrophysiological responses that are PLD-independent. These findings demonstrate that PLD plays a critical role in the ability of M1 PAMs to modulate certain CNS functions and that biased M1 PAMs function differently in brain regions implicated in cognition. Summary We demonstrate a novel role of phospholipase D in M1-dependent rodent cortical plasticity and M1 PAMs that do not couple to phospholipase D have functionally distinct effects on cortical plasticity than non-biased M1 PAMs.