Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of natural fermentation on physico-chemical characteristics of rice noodles

Summary The influence of fermentation of whole milled rice granules on the physico-chemical characteristics of rice starch and the rheological properties of rice noodles was investigated. The rice granule samples were fermented at 35 °C for 27 h. The results indicated that fermentation did not have a significant effect on the starch and amylose content of rice granules. Protein, lipid and ash content decreased whereas free fatty acid increased during fermentation. The rice noodles made from fermented samples had a lower maximum stress, 54 kPa, and higher maximum strain, 10.8%, and had a white, transparent appearance and favourable chewy mouth-feel compared with the control sample.
Association of rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site of KRAS gene with colorectal cancer in a Mexican population

Objective(s): The rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site at KRAS gene has been associated with cancer. To examine its association with rs712 polymorphism, we analyzed Mexican individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Genotyping of the rs712 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction in 281 controls and 336 CRC patients. Results: The observed frequencies of rs712 polymorphism indicated an associated protective factor for CRC (P=0.032). An association between genotype and the disease was evident in: colon localization (allele T, odds ratio (OR) 3.82, 95% confidence Intervals (CI) 2.77-5.28, P=0.0001), node metastasis (genotype TT, OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.45-4.28, P=0.0009), poor differentiation (genotype GT, OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.35-4.1, P=0.0033), and poor chemotherapy response (genotype GT, OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.24, P=0.0001). Conclusion: Comparison of the data from patients with control group showed that polymorphism of rs712 in KRAS gene was protective factor, which was associated with susceptibility for CRC. However, the genotypes TT and GT of rs712 polymorphism in KRAS could contribute significantly to colon localization, node metastasis, poor differentiation and poor chemotherapy response in CRC patients in this sample population.
A Greenhouse Study on Growth, Yield and Anatomical Parameters of Three Pea Cultivars: under Different Irrigation Levels and Growth Regulators

This experiment was carried out during the fall season 2009-2010 in the vegetable greenhouse, Horticulture Department, Dohuk University. Three pea cultivars namely Local crinkle, Local Smooth and Canadian were subjected to three irrigation levels where plant irrigated whenever 25, 50 or 75% of pot available water capacity were depleted, besides plants were sprayed with either 100mgl -1 gibberellic acid (GA3), 100mgl -1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 2.5gl -1 micronutrient and distilled water as a check treatment. The objective was to evaluate the cultivar performance under adequate and inadequate irrigation during flowering, pod swelling and seed filling stages to find out which is the best, particularly under moderate and severe drought, besides that we intended to evaluate the possibility extent of boosting drought resistance of these cultivars by the aid of GA3, IBA and micronutrients. The obtained results exhibited that irrigating pea plants whenever 25% 0f pot available water capacity was depleted appeared to be the paramount irrigation treatment followed by that of 50% depletion and irrigation level of 75% are not advisable. 25% irrigation level manifested the highest leaf number per plant (26.33), plant height (141.15 cm), root dry weight (0.16g), flower number per plant (6.48), individual pod fresh weight (3.56g), seed number per pod (3.47), green pod yield per plant (14.53g), weight 100 seeds (23.02g), seed fresh weight per pod (1.44g), pericarp fresh weight (2.05g), aperture length of upper leaf stomata (4.38µm), stomata length of leaf lower surface (6.23 µm), stomata aperture length of leaf lower surface (4.75 µm), smallest vessel width (3.72 µm), protein content of dry seed (25.3%), GA3 (346.63 mgkg -1 dry seeds), and IAA (4109.72 mgkg -1 dry seeds). The best plant response was confined to these sprayed with micronutrient, then IBA and the lowest was GA3-treated pea. Pea sprayed by 2gl -1
Enzymatic activity, surface hydrophobicity and biogenic amines production in lactic acid bacteria isolated from an artisanal Spanish cheese

The enzymatic activities of 24 lactic acid bacteria strains have been studied. Lactobacilli strains exhibited the highest β-galactosidase and aminopeptidase activities. Acid phosphatase activity was high in lactobacilli and lactococci strains. Esterase activity was observed for leuconostoc and lactobacilli strains. The hydrophobicity test and the biogenic amines detection were also tested in some strains selected for their use as autochthonous starters in cheese manufacture. In general, all strains showed degrees of hydrophobicity greater than 70%, and were poor former of histamine and cadaverine and medium putrescine former. Tyramine production was medium in three strains and low in two strains of Lactococcus. Key words: Autochthonous starters, cheese, lactic acid bacteria, biogenic amines, enzymatic activity.
Determinants of Delay in Malaria Treatment Seeking for Under-Five Children with Malaria Attending Health Centers of Bench-Maji Zone, South-Western Ethiopia. Case-Control Study

Introduction: Malaria has continued to be a public health problem in the World today despite concerted efforts aimed at its control and elimination. Prompt diagnosis and timely treatment of malaria within 24 hours after onset of first symptoms can reduce illness progression to severe stages, and therefore, decrease mortality. Thus the current study assessed determinants of delayed malaria treatment seeking for under-five children with malaria attending health centers of Bench-Maji zone from March
Temporal changes in allelic variation among Cape Dwarf Chameleons, Bradypodion pumilum, inhabiting a transformed, semi-urban wetland

Abstract The Cape Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum, is threatened by extensive habitat loss and transformation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As a result, the species exists as a collection of populations inhabiting an increasingly fragmented landscape within a critically endangered ecosystem. In this study we monitored microsatellite genetic variation in one of these populations of B. pumilum across a three-year period. From the results of a temporary site-vacancy of adult chameleons during the study, we anticipated a significant shift in microsatellite allele frequencies. Using data from eight highly polymorphic loci we detected differences in the allelic composition of chameleons inhabiting the study site between pre- and post-site-vacancy periods (AMOVA RST = 0.017; P = 0.019). Results suggest that recolonisation by immigrant chameleons, from an adjacent vegetation fragment connected to the study site by corridors, caused the recorded shifts in allelic frequencies. Pairwise tests of year by year comparisons revealed significant shifts in allelic frequencies between years one and two and between one and three, but not between years two and three. Our findings highlight the susceptibility of small vertebrates to stochastic changes in the allelic composition of populations in a fragmented landscape, and can be useful for the development of biodiversity management in an increasingly fragmented habitat mosaic.
Genetic Variation and Clonal Diversity of Psammochloa villosa (Poaceae) Detected by ISSR Markers

Genetic variation and clonal diversity of seven Psammochloa villosa(Poaceae) populations from northwest China were investigated using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Of the 84 primers screened, 12 produced highly reproducible ISSR bands. Using these primers, 173 discernible DNA fragments were generated with 122 (70.5%) being polymorphic, indicating considerable genetic variation at the species level. In contrast, there were relatively low levels of polymorphism at the population level with the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) ranging from 6.1 to 26.8. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that a large proportion of genetic variation (87.46%) resided among populations, while only 12.54% resided among individuals within populations. Clonal diversity was also high with 98 genets being detected from among 157 individuals using 12 ISSR primers. The evenness of distribution of genotypes in P. villosa populations varied greatly, with all of the genotypes being local ones. No significant differences in genetic or clonal diversity were found between populations in mobile or fixed dunes. The main factor responsible for the high level of differentiation among populations and the low level of diversity within populations is probably the clonal nature of this species, although selfing may also affect the population genetic structure to some extent. The efficiency of ISSRs in identifying genetic individuals was much higher than that of allozymes. An approximately asymptotic correlation was found between the number of genets detected and the number of polymorphic loci used, suggesting that use of a high number of polymorphic bands is critical in genet identification.
No-tillage and high-residue practices reduce soil water evaporation

Reducing tillage and maintaining crop residues on the soil surface could improve the water use efficiency of California crop production. In two field studies comparing no-tillage with standard tillage operations (following wheat silage harvest and before corn seeding), we estimated that 0.89 and 0.97 inches more water was retained in the no-tillage soil than in the tilled soil. In three field studies on residue coverage, we recorded that about 0.56, 0.58 and 0.42 inches more water was retained in residue-covered soil than in bare soil following 6 to 7 days of overhead sprinkler irrigation. Assuming a seasonal crop evapotranspiration demand of 30 inches, coupling no-tillage with practices preserving high residues could reduce summer soil evaporative losses by about 4 inches (13%). However, practical factors, including the need for different equipment and management approaches, will need to be considered before adopting these practices.
"The Invisibles"...Disability in China in the 21st Century.

This study explores the effects of traditional beliefs, Confucian ideology, Chinese government policy and western influences on China’s inclusion of people with a disability in the Chinese community in the 21st century. Using visual ethnography and an auto-ethnographic approach, the study examines data obtained over a period of five years to analyse the impact of recent initiatives of the Chinese government in disability policy and planning on attitudes towards people with a disability and the accommodation of people with a disability within the community. Findings from the study suggest that a series of positive legislative and administrative policies that guarantee equal rights for people with disabilities in China have had some positive outcomes, and that social attitudes towards the disabled are gradually changing, mainly as a result of the active advocacy of the disability community. However, despite these initiatives and changes in attitude, there is little evidence of the impact of Chinese disability policy on the built environment in China outside the major cities, and the disabled are still largely invisible in public spaces.
The ecology of Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) on arable farmland

The ecology of Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) was studied by live trapping and by examining the stomach contents of killed animals on an arable farm in West Suffolk. The study area included several fields but only a short length of hedgerow and was distant from other hedges and woods. Wood mice were trapped in the open fields throughout the year and their burrows were also found there. Population densities were comparable with those reported from deciduous woodland and seasonal population changes, ranging behaviour and timing of the breeding season were also broadly similar. The survival rate of juvenile mice varied greatly within and between breeding seasons tending to improve when young of the year replaced overwintered animals in the adult breeding population. Wood mice showed no marked preference for fields with different crops in winter when the main foods were grain, waste sugar beet roots, weed seeds and soil invertebrates. In spring and early summer they preferred winter wheat fields where seeding weeds provided most of their food.
Evaluation of threat of mobile phone – addition among Belarusian University students

__________________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction: The use of mobile phones has increased worldwide during the last decade, especially in adolescents. Objective: The assessment role of mobile phone in the students' life, evaluation of the mobile phone addition symptoms among the Belarusian university students. Material and Methods: The study comprised 160 students from Belarus. We used a questionnaire included the test of mobile phone addiction. Results. The majority of the students had the mobile phones. Of the students 68.8% were convinced on the harmful effects of mobile phone. Nearly 1/3 of the respondents declared that mobile phone should switch off in the theatre (30%), and in the church (33.8%). Of the students 28.8% knew a monophobia definition. Most respondents (71.9%) have never switched off their phones. Only 10.4% of the students had the symptoms of mobile phone addiction. Conclusions. Most students from Belarus were convinced on the harmful effect of the mobile phone using. Most respondents knew that mobile phone users could be addicted. Almost 1/10 of the students had the symptoms of mobile phone – addiction.
Morphological, biochemical and phylogenetic assessments of water‐bloom‐forming tropical morphospecies of Microcystis (Chroococcales, Cyanobacteria)

Previous polyphasic analyses of five morphospecies of the water‐bloom‐forming cyanobacterial genus Microcystis, Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Lemmermann (=Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing), Microcystis ichthyoblabe Kützing, Microcystis novacekii (Komárek) Compère, Microcystis viridis (A. Braun) Lemmermann, and Microcystis wesenbergii (Komárek) Komárek in Kondratieva, have shown them to be conspecific and they have been proposed to be included under the binomial Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Lemmermann. However, several morphospecies from tropical regions, such as Microcystis bengalensis Banerji, Microcystis panniformis Komárek, Komárková‐Legnerová, Sant'anna, Azevedo & Senna, Microcystis protocystis Crow, Microcystis pseudofilamentosa Crow, Microcystis ramosa Bharadwaya, and Microcystis robusta (Clark) Nygaard, have never been analyzed biochemically or phylogenetically; consequently, their taxonomic status is uncertain. To resolve this issue, we collected 57 strains of Microcystis from Vietnam for taxonomic analysis using a polyphasic approach. Strains were assigned to the six tropical morphospecies listed above or to four morphospecies with cosmopolitan distributions (M. aeruginosa, M. ichthyoblabe, M. novacekii, and M. wesenbergii). Several strains produced colony variants in different culture media; some of these variants had forms that overlapped with those of other morphospecies. Cell diameters varied widely between strains (2.6–9.3 µm) and were unrelated to morphospecies discrimination criteria. Strains of the 10 morphospecies examined had similar fatty acid compositions and closely similar 16S rRNA gene sequences (>99.2% similar). Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer sequences did not identify any clear separations corresponding to morphospecies concepts or microcystin‐producing abilities. Thus, the six tropical morphospecies (M. bengalensis, M. panniformis, M. protocystis, M. pseudofilamentosa, M. ramosa, and M. robusta) are not natural taxonomic units within the genus Microcystis and should be included under M. aeruginosa.
THE EFFECT OF EXCLUSION FENCES ON THE COLONIZATION OF RUTABAGAS BY CABBAGE FLIES (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Abstract A specially constructed fence was developed to exclude cabbage flies, Delia radicum (L.), from plantings of rutabaga. The number of first-flight female D. radicum caught on traps inside fenced enclosures declined linearly with fence height from 0 to 90 cm. Females caught in plots surrounded by a 90 cm high fence were 80.6 and 82.8% fewer than in open check plots in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The percentage of transplanted rutabagas killed by cabbage maggot in the 90 cm high enclosures was 1.4% in 1991 and 25.5% in 1992, compared with 11.8 and 84.5% in the open check plots, respectively. The mean damage index rating for rutabagas was severe in the open check plots but slight in the 90 cm high enclosures in 1991. Only 1.2% of rutabagas in the open check plots would have been of marketable grade in 1991, compared with 54% in the 90-cm enclosures. The mean damage rating was highest in the open check plots in 1992, but damage was also severe in all fenced plots due to the heavy infestation levels that year. The potential of exclusion fences for use in pest-management programs for rutabagas and other brassica crops is discussed. Résumé Un type particulier de barrière a été mis au point pour empêcher l’entrée de l’anthomyiie Delia radicum (L.), la Mouche du chou, dans les cultures de rutabagas. Le nombre de femelles de D. radicum attrapées au cours de leur premier vol à l’intérieur d’enceintes clôturées a diminué de façon linéaire en fonction de la hauteur de la barrière entre 0 et 90 cm. Les femelles capturées dans les enceintes entourées d’une barrière de 90 cm de hauteur ont été de 80,6% et 82,8% moins nombreuses que les femelles dénombrées dans des parcelles de terrain ouvert en 1991 et 1992. Le pourcentage de rutabagas tués par la Mouche du chou dans les enceintes entourées d’une barrière de 90 cm a été de 1,4% en 1991 et de 25,5% en 1992, comparativement à 11,8 et 84,5% dans les parcelles témoins ouvertes. Le coefficient moyen des dommages infligés aux rutabagas a été élevé dans les parcelles témoins, mais faible dans les enceintes fermées d’une clôture de 90 cm en 1991. Seulement 1,2% des rutabagas dans les parcelles témoins ouvertes auraient pu être vendus en 1991, comparativement à 54% dans les enceintes protégées. Le coefficient moyen des dommages a été maximal dans les parcelles de terrain ouvert en 1992, mais les dommages ont été élevés dans toutes les parcelles clôturées cette année-là, à cause des taux particulièrement élevés d’infestation. Le potentiel de ces barrières dans les programmes de lutte contre les insectes nuisibles dans les cultures de rutabagas et d’autres plantes du genre Brassica est examiné. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Understanding the establishment success of non-indigenous fishes: lessons from population genetics

During the last 10 years, an increasing number of studies have explored evolutionary aspects of biological invasions. It is becoming increasingly clear that evolutionary processes play an important role during the establishment of non-native species. Genetic drift during the colonization process followed by strong selection imposed through a change in biotic conditions and co-evolutionary disequilibrium set the conditions for rapid evolutionary change in introduced populations. Different hypotheses, which have been proposed to explain how evolutionary and genetic processes, can facilitate invasiveness are explored and their relevance for fish invasions is discussed. Empirical evidence increasingly suggests that admixture after multiple introductions, hybridization between native and non-native species and enemy release can all catalyse the evolution of invasiveness. A number of studies also suggest that genetic bottlenecks might represent less of genetic paradox than previously thought. Much of the theoretical developments and empirical evidence concerning the importance of evolution during biological invasions has been provided from studies on invasive plants. Despite their prominence, fish invasions have received little attention from evolutionary biologists. Recent advances in population genetic analysis such as non-equilibrium methods and genomic techniques such as microarray technology provide suitable tools to address such issues.
THE ADVERTISEMENT CALL OF LEPTODACTYLUS LATICEPS (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE): PREDATORY AURAL LURING?

Aggressive mimicry, where a predator deceives its victim by imitating something desirable, is a fascinating phenomenon that has been well documented in arthropods (e.g., fireflies—Lloyd 1981; jumping spiders—Jackson and Wilcox 1998). We do not know of any case of aggressive mimicry in frogs, but may have found such a system operating in the Gran Chaco of South America. Some frog predators use advertisement calls of the prey species to locate their prey (e.g., bats—Ryan 1985: Chapter 8), including frogs (Bufo marinus and Leptodactylus pentadactylus feeding on Physalaemus pustulosus—Rand 1983:414). We know of no instance where a frog uses its advertisement call as a lure to attract prey. We present data that are consistent with the hypothesis that male L. laticeps not only use their advertisement calls to attract conspecific females, but also as an aural lure to attract L. bufonius, upon which they have been shown to prey. Leptodactylus laticeps (Fig. 1A) is a species characteristic of the Gran Chaco of South America. The species produces toxic skin secretions and has bright coloration and aggressive behavior, presumably aposematic in function (Cei 1980; Scott and Aquino, in press). Leptodactylus laticeps often cooccurs with viscachas (Lagostomus maximus: Rodentia), and uses their burrow systems, including calling from the burrow entrances (Lavilla et al. 1995). To date, neither advertisement call nor larvae of L. laticeps have been described. Although Eterovick and Sazima (2000: Table 1) reported the call of L. laticeps as unpulsed, this is a mistake and refers to L. labyrinthicus instead (P. Eterovick, pers. comm.). Herein, we describe the advertisement call of L. laticeps. Leptodactylus laticeps is a member of the L. pentadactylus species group (Heyer 1979), but its call has features similar in many respects to those of L. bufonius (Fig. 1B), a L. fuscus group member. We suggest that the advertisement call of L. laticeps acts as an aural lure to attract female L. bufonius as prey, in addition to attracting female L. laticeps. We further propose that the call of L. laticeps underwent selective pressure to be similar enough to the advertisement call of L. bufonius as to serve as an aural lure for female L. bufonius.
SYNCHRONOUS GROWTH OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE): A REVIEW OF OPTIMAL CONDITIONS 1

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard was synchronized at optimal growth conditions under a 12:4 LD regime at 35 C and 20,000 lx with serial dilution to a standard starting cell density of (1.4 ± 0.2) × 106 cells/ml. Synchronous growth and division were characterized by measuring cell number, cell volume and size distribution, dry weight, protein, carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll, carotenoids, nucleic acids, nuclear and cytoplasmic division during the vegetative life cycle. The main properties of the present system are: Exponential growth with high productivity, high degrees of synchrony and reproducibility during repeated life cycles. The degree of synchrony of this light‐dark synchronization system was evaluated and compared with those described in the literature using probit analysis of the time course of DNA synthesis, nuclear and cytoplasmic division and sporulation (increase in cell number). The results showed that the degree of synchrony is highest for cells grown under optimal conditions.